Thursday, December 23, 2010

CMC's Winter Schools Include Snowshoeing, Ice Climbing and More

Winter Jump Snow
The CMC has winter schools coming up in all kinds of activities and locations around the state.  Check out some of these offerings and call our office (303-279-3080) to sign up.

01/03/2011
Pikes Peak Snowshoe Class
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Group Snowshoe Class

01/03/2011
Pikes Peak Backcountry Ski Class
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Group Backcountry Ski Class

01/06/2011
Ice Climbing School, Boulder Group
Sponsoring Group: Boulder an introduction to basic ice climbing safety and techniques. No ice experience required. Prerequisites: BMS or minimally BRS & Basic Snow Read More

01/09/2012
2012 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Ice Climbing
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This is a great course for the aspiring Colorado mountaineer who wants to bury sharp pointy things in ice. One of (6) BMS courses you take towards earning a BMS Alpine Mountaineering Certificate.

01/11/2011
Advanced Mountaineering School
Sponsoring Group: Boulder AMS teaches mountaineers to successfully plan and climb peaks in high altitude winter conditions all over the world. Topics include glacier travel, crevasse rescue, winter camping, snow structures, ice climbing, fixed lines, and expedition planning. Read More

01/11/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Ice Climbing
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This course introduces you into the world of ice climbing. This is a great program for the aspiring Colorado mountaineer who wants to bury sharp pointy things into ice.

01/11/2011
Avalanche Awareness School
Sponsoring Group: Denver This course will teach students how surface hoar differs from depth hoar, how to determine snow stability, how to use beacons and locate a “victim” caught in an avalanche, as well as terrain recognition features. Whether skiing or snowshoeing, this Read More
01/12/2011
Winter Camping, Boulder Group
Sponsoring Group: Boulder This clinic is geared toward those with minimal winter camping experience. Covers tent camping, building snow structurs such as kitches, walls and emergency shelters. Read More
01/19/2011
Tele/AT Backcountry Ski School
Sponsoring Group: Boulder The Tele/AT Backcountry Ski School is designed to provide basic back country /peak skiing safety skills for the Colorado backcountry, including survival skills, survival skiing and peak skiing/navigation . The school is open to Intermediate Telema Read More
01/19/2011
High Altitude Mountaineering School
Sponsoring Group: Denver The Next Step: The High Altitude Mountaineering School was created to address the needs of CMC members interested in preparing, planning, and gaining skills to safely climb and enjoy bigger mountains: Rainier, Denali, Aconcagua, the Mexican Volcanoes Read More
01/25/2011
Winter Camping School
Sponsoring Group: Denver This is a school for those who want to enjoy camping, while being comfortable in the mountains during winter conditions. Learn how to stay warm, not how to tolerate cold. You will have fun and learn skills that will open a fourth season for your camp

02/03/2011
Pikes Peak Telemark Ski Class
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Group Telemark Ski Class

02/17/2011
Pikes Peak Introduction to Avalanche
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Group and CAIC Introduction to Avalanche Class

03/10/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Wilderness Fundamentals
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This course covers the introductory information and skills needed for safe travel in the Colorado wilderness. This course is one of (3) you can take towards earning a PPG-CMC BMS Wilderness Trekking Certificate.

03/14/2011
Basic Mountaineering School
Sponsoring Group: Denver Please register for Trip #13262 in order to receive your application link (you must have your C Classification to register for this trip). Once your application has been reviewed you will receive an authorization code if accepted into the school.

04/04/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Wilderness Land Navigation
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Ever been lost in the woods? How about cloud cover or whiteouts? Working through these situations requires solid map & compass skills. This course is one of (3) you can take towards earning a PPG-CMC BMS Wilderness Trekking Certificate.

04/26/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Alpine Snow Mountaineering
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This course gives you specific knowledge and skill sets to help you safely tackle your Colorado winter mountaineering activities. One of (6) BMS courses you take towards earning a BMS Alpine Mountaineering Certificate.

05/10/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Rock Climbing
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This course will help you acquire the rock climbing fundamentals you need to efficiently and safely climb rock in a top rope environment. One of (6) BMS courses you take towards earning a BMS Alpine Mountaineering Certificate.

Visit www.cmc.org/schools for more info.

Backcountry Skiing in the News

Early season avalanche tragedies remind Colorado skiers to be careful in the backcountry.  Scott Kay, the Wolf Creek Ski Area Ski Patrol director, was killed in an avalanche in early December, while working to protect others from avalanches.  A man from Golden, Kyle Shellberg, was also killed around the same time, skiing in Dry Gulch near Georgetown. 

Any backcountry skier should carry safety equipment and have taken an avalanche safety course.  CMC offers an avalanche awareness school.  So does Friends of Berthoud Pass.  CAIC gives updated avalanche warnings on its site. You can find more general info on avalanche safety at CAIC's website.

According to Bob Berwyn's Summit County Citizens Voice article of October 10, recent storms may have an impact on avalanches in Colorado.  CMC will be hosting a talk on the impact of dust on snow as part of the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum's Speaker Series on March 2.  Stay tuned for more info or send us an email if you have questions. 

If you see something else in the news, send it to bsi@cmc.org for next month's newsletter.

Backcountry Ball a Success! Wooden Ski Rendezvous in the Works


Wooden Ski
Friends of the Routt Backcountry Group hosted their annual Backcountry Ball in early December.  The Steamboat Depot was packed with zanily dressed backcountry aficionados.  Money raised at the door and on silent auction items goes to support Friends of the Routt's work in the Steamboat Area. 

If you missed this event, fear not!  Friends of the Routt hosts two major annual events, and the second is just around the bend.  The Wooden Ski Rendezvous is a weekend-long event in early March that will include wooden ski racing, dancing, a potluck, a pine tar clinic, and maybe even a trip up Hahns Peak.  For more info on the event, email Leslie at frb@cmc.org.

Conservation Expo in Denver


hahn peak


This event has been put together via feedback from CMC consevation leaders across our state. 


Socializing with each other, building our skills together and comparing notes on campaigns are all important to keep us doing the work that we do.  These activities are also a great tool for recruitment to your local stewardship and advocacy work, so I encourage you to bring along anyone you can from your groups.  We would like to make this kind of event at least an annual occurrence, so let’s start out strong.  Anyone can come to learn more about the conservation work CMC does, whether or not they think they will soon be a volunteer. 

Since this date coincides with the state board and council meetings, we’ll have a chance to share some of our campaign work with those volunteer leaders… and you can probably carpool to Golden with them as well.   

If you have questions about the event, would like to arrange a carpool or if you’d like to RSVP, please email us or call 303-996-2759.

Monday, November 29, 2010

CMC Hosts WWA Backcountry Film Festival Events

This winter season, CMC hosts four amazing Backcountry Film Festivals at locations across the state.  Many of you have supported Winter Wildlands Alliance's recent petition to the Forest Service to improve management of snowmobiles.  Now you can support WWA and CMC while being entertained by some of the best new ski films out there.  Proceeds at each event will benefit CMC’s Backcountry Snowsports Initiative and other conservation efforts.  Tickets are available online and at the door for the Golden showing (www.cmc.org/bcff) and at the door for all other showings.  Call a number below for details on a CMC-hosted showing near you. 

December 7 - Fort Collins - The Mountain Shop - 970-493-5720

December 16 - Golden - American Mountaineering Center - 303-996-2759  [ Buy tickets online at www.cmc.org/bcff ]

January 5 - Ouray - Main Street Theater - 970-729-0753 [ Selections only; also showing Switchback.  Buy tickets online at www.cmc.org/bcff_ouray ]

January 20 - Boulder - Neptune Mountaineering - 888-499-8866

January 26 - Aspen - Aspen Center for Environmental Studies - 970-925-5756 [ Buy tickets online at www.cmc.org/bcff_aspen ]

Visit www.backcountryfilmfestival.org to watch trailers and see the list of films.  Contact bsi@cmc.org for more info.



Backcountry Ball in the North Routt Dec. 4

Colorado Mountain Club, Friends of the Routt Backcountry and many of you readers submitted comments to the Forest Service on or before November 1, asking the agency to cancel or amend a damaging plan that would put new snowmobile trails and motorized parking in the heart of historically non-motorized areas near Steamboat. 

 To support Friends of the Routt Backcountry and have a great time, attend their annual silent auction and Backcountry Ball, held on December 4 in Steamboat.  Zany outfits are encouraged, as are dancing shoes.  For more info on the event, email frb@cmc.org or click here.

Backcountry Skiing and Conservation in the News

CMC Director Bryan Martin co-authored an opinion piece on the Eagle and Summit Wilderness Preservation Act.

Congressman Jared Polis introduced a CMC-backed wilderness bill.

The Forest Service will continue lynx studies at Vail Pass. 

See something else in the news?  Send it to bsi@cmc.org for next month's newsletter.

Winter Schools Available at the CMC

The CMC's Winter Schools Begin
 
The CMC is offering great schools again this winter.  Check out some of these offerings and call our office (303-279-3080) to sign up.

11/15/2010
Knot Tying School
Sponsoring Group: Denver Two night classes on knot tying for those new to knots and those who are just a little rusty and whose lives will depend on those knots!!

12/01/2010
Area Telemark Clinic
Sponsoring Group: Boulder Learn to tele, or renew your skills for the coming season. Read More
12/07/2010
Denver Backcountry Ski Touring School (BSTS)
Sponsoring Group: Denver Want to experience Colorado's finest snow, away from the crowds and expensive lift tickets? Learn to cross-country ski and prepare for the backcountry! We can accommodate students ranging from never-evers to folks who have skied for years.

01/03/2011
Pikes Peak Snowshoe Class
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Group Snowshoe Class

01/03/2011
Pikes Peak Backcountry Ski Class
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Group Backcountry Ski Class

01/06/2011
Ice Climbing School, Boulder Group
Sponsoring Group: Boulder an introduction to basic ice climbing safety and techniques. No ice experience required. Prerequisites: BMS or minimally BRS & Basic Snow Read More
 
01/09/2012
2012 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Ice Climbing
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This is a great course for the aspiring Colorado mountaineer who wants to bury sharp pointy things in ice. One of (6) BMS courses you take towards earning a BMS Alpine Mountaineering Certificate.

01/11/2011
Advanced Mountaineering School
Sponsoring Group: Boulder AMS teaches mountaineers to successfully plan and climb peaks in high altitude winter conditions all over the world. Topics include glacier travel, crevasse rescue, winter camping, snow structures, ice climbing, fixed lines, and expedition planning. Read More

01/11/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Ice Climbing
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This course introduces you into the world of ice climbing. This is a great program for the aspiring Colorado mountaineer who wants to bury sharp pointy things into ice.
01/11/2011
Avalanche Awareness School
Sponsoring Group: Denver This course will teach students how surface hoar differs from depth hoar, how to determine snow stability, how to use beacons and locate a “victim” caught in an avalanche, as well as terrain recognition features. Whether skiing or snowshoeing, this Read More
01/12/2011
Winter Camping, Boulder Group
Sponsoring Group: Boulder This clinic is geared toward those with minimal winter camping experience. Covers tent camping, building snow structurs such as kitches, walls and emergency shelters. Read More
01/19/2011
Tele/AT Backcountry Ski School
Sponsoring Group: Boulder The Tele/AT Backcountry Ski School is designed to provide basic back country /peak skiing safety skills for the Colorado backcountry, including survival skills, survival skiing and peak skiing/navigation . The school is open to Intermediate Telema Read More
01/19/2011
High Altitude Mountaineering School
Sponsoring Group: Denver The Next Step: The High Altitude Mountaineering School was created to address the needs of CMC members interested in preparing, planning, and gaining skills to safely climb and enjoy bigger mountains: Rainier, Denali, Aconcagua, the Mexican Volcanoes Read More
01/25/2011
Winter Camping School
Sponsoring Group: Denver This is a school for those who want to enjoy camping, while being comfortable in the mountains during winter conditions. Learn how to stay warm, not how to tolerate cold. You will have fun and learn skills that will open a fourth season for your camp

02/03/2011
Pikes Peak Telemark Ski Class
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Group Telemark Ski Class

02/17/2011
Pikes Peak Introduction to Avalanche
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Group and CAIC Introduction to Avalanche Class

03/10/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Wilderness Fundamentals
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This course covers the introductory information and skills needed for safe travel in the Colorado wilderness. This course is one of (3) you can take towards earning a PPG-CMC BMS Wilderness Trekking Certificate.

03/14/2011
Basic Mountaineering School
Sponsoring Group: Denver Please register for Trip #13262 in order to receive your application link (you must have your C Classification to register for this trip). Once your application has been reviewed you will receive an authorization code if accepted into the school.

04/04/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Wilderness Land Navigation
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak Ever been lost in the woods? How about cloud cover or whiteouts? Working through these situations requires solid map & compass skills. This course is one of (3) you can take towards earning a PPG-CMC BMS Wilderness Trekking Certificate.

04/26/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Alpine Snow Mountaineering
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This course gives you specific knowledge and skill sets to help you safely tackle your Colorado winter mountaineering activities. One of (6) BMS courses you take towards earning a BMS Alpine Mountaineering Certificate.

05/10/2011
2011 PPG Basic Mountaineering School - Colorado Rock Climbing
Sponsoring Group: Pikes Peak This course will help you acquire the rock climbing fundamentals you need to efficiently and safely climb rock in a top rope environment. One of (6) BMS courses you take towards earning a BMS Alpine Mountaineering Certificate.
 
Visit www.cmc.org/schools for more info.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Bash Tickets Available Now!








Buy tickets online now!




Colorado native and world-renowned extreme skier Chris Davenport will be joining us at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden on the night of November 13 to watch his new film Australis: An Antarctic Odyssey.

We'll have beer from Avery Brewing Company, food Rudi's Organic Bakery, and amazing live and silent auctions on everything from ski vacations in Telluride to K2 skis and snowshoes.  Join us!


Buy tickets online now!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

18th Annual Backcountry Bash: Save the Date!

Believe it or not, it's time to mark your calendars for the 18th Annual Backcountry Bash!
The Bash is CMC's largest fundraiser, and all the proceeds benefit BSI's conservation and travel management planning. 

Planning is in the early stages, but we expect - as always - that there will be great food and drink, a fun atmosphere for viewing the lastest ski movies, a tremendous silent auction and live auction full of cool winter gear, and the inspiring company of BSI members, volunteers and staff. Hundreds of people attended last year's event, had a great time, and helped raise $20,000 for backcountry advocacy.

2010's Backcountry Bash will be held on the evening of Saturday, November 13. 

Tickets will be available soon.

Victory! State Parks Board Votes 5-0 for OHV Reform

On Friday, July 16, the Colorado State Parks Board voted 5-0 in favor of strong reforms to the OHV Grant Program. Our coalition of over 40 Colorado Sportsman, recreationist and conservationist organizations applaud the Colorado State Parks Board for making sweeping changes to the state's $4M annual OHV Grant Program at their Board meeting in Aurora.

These reforms come after a year-long campaign to reform the program. We encourage you to thank the State Parks Board for making this sound decision.

We view these changes as a balanced and necessary step in the evolution of a program that has grown ten-fold over the last ten years. As this program continues to grow it is critical that all aspects of responsible OHV management, especially law enforcement and habitat protection, are included in the grant funding and that more and more public land users are bought into the program.

The reforms to the OHV Program are a culmination of work, research, and negotiations over the past year. Since the fall of 2009, the State Parks board has held nearly one public meeting a month to discuss the issues at stake in the modification of the program.

State Parks Board members, State Trails Committee members, State Parks staff and Department of Natural Resources staff have heard from thousands of constituents across the state. The proposal is a reflection of the diverse views, observations, and input the public has had in this process over the past 10 months. Click here to send a Thank You.

The reforms approved today to the OHV Program, which is funded by an annual $25.25 registration fee on OHVs include the following:
  • Law Enforcement, Education and Travel Management Plan Implementation (i.e. trail closures, barriers, signs, etc) will now become an official criterion and treated the same as any OHV trail maintenance grant, which has received the majority of funding in the past. The New Grant Selection Criteria will be:
    • Need and Benefit of proposed grant (25 pts)
    • Law Enforcement, Education & Travel Management Plan Implementation (25 pts)
    • Resource and Habitat Protection (25 pts)
    • Local Partnerships & Leverage (25 pts)
  • An element of "Need" will now be incorporated into the "Benefit" criterion so that a variety of grant applicants (i.e. Enforcement, habitat protection, etc.) will be allowed to earn points vs. just awarding points to grant applications benefiting OHV recreationists.
  • OHV Subcommittee Reconfiguration & Diversity: The OHV Subcommittee which reviews, scores and approves the $4M in grants annually will no longer be comprised of (10) OHV enthusiasts and instead the OHV Subcommittee will now be comprised of (8) motorized and (3) non-motorized and (1) diversified user for an 8-4 Subcommittee Composition for the 2011 grant cycle. This diversity of interests will allow for a more transparent and balanced review of grants.
  • (1) Division of Wildlife Law Enforcement expert and (1) Wildlife or Biologist expert will now serve as ex-officio members of the Subcommittee. These experts who have never participated in the process and will be able to provide input on enforcement needs and help the OHV Subcommittee understand the impacts OHV use has on wildlife, hunting and habitat.
  • The (2) state OHV trail coordinators (state employees) who have close ties with OHV Clubs will no longer be able to score the grants and now only Subcommittee members will be able to score grants.
  • In order to promote transparency and prevent OHV Subcommittee members from subjectively giving artificially low or high scores to select grants, all scores given by each OHV Subcommittee member will be made public and shared with the entire Subcommittee instead of those scored remaining secret and averaged together with all other scores.
  • The OHV Program will incorporate an "escalation procedure" that will allow any grant that does not receive OHV Subcommittee approval to be escalated and considered for funding by the State Trails Committee and/or the State Parks Board.
Please take a moment to send the State Parks Board a Thank You today.

Thank you for taking the time to make a difference.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If you are unable to use the webform, you can email parksinfo@state.co.us with a message like the one below. Be sure to include your name and address when you sign your letter.
Dear State Parks Board,
Thank you for your leadership on the OHV Grant Program. The reforms you have approved are necessary and sensible and set the stage for better management of a program that is growing at an astounding pace. Ensuring law enforcement and habitat restoration are funded through this program makes sense. Additionally, we support the inclusion of diverse parties to the grant review subcommittee. Your efforts to support sound public land management policy at the state level is sincerely appreciated.
Sincerely,

End the Snowmobile Exclusion!

BSI's partner group, Winter Wildlands Alliance, has created a comprehensive petition to the Department of Agriculture to overturn the 2005 Travel Management Rule's exemption of snowmobiles from enforcement regulations. 

Currently, snowmobiles are not restricted to certain trails and areas like other backcountry motorized vehicles are, even though snowmobiles are clearly defined as off-road vehicles in the ORV Executive Orders (11644 and 11989) that the 2005 Rule is supposed to implement. CMC, of course, has signed on to the petition.

Winter Wildlands Alliance has good info on the executive orders and legal framework here, and more general resources here.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Snodgrass Protected!

Last week, Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell has upheld two lower level decisions protecting Snodgrass Mountain from an ill-planned ski area expansion. Crested Butte Mountain Resort may yet litigate the Forest Service Chief's decision, but it will have a high hurdle to overcome if it does. Read the full story at the Summit Voice or the Denver Post.
 

As Matt Reed from Crested Butte-based High Country Citizen's Alliance wrote, "This is a great day for Snodgrass Mountain and the people who care so much about it." 

Reed points out several highlights of the decision:

1. “The analysis in this appeal record, which appropriately addressed only the proposal under consideration, does not adequately support a suitability determination for any downhill skiing on Snodgrass Mountain. Such a determination should only be made through the land management planning process.”
2. “A management emphasis on downhill skiing for Snodgrass Mountain in the GMUG Forest Plan does not obligate the Forest Service to provide that opportunity. If changes in physical, social or economic conditions lead to a reassessment of suitability for a particular resource or opportunity, it is the responsibility of the Forest Supervisor to prepare an amendment to the Forest Plan.”
3. “The agency’s current schedule for land management plan revisions calls for the GMUG to update a notice of intent to prepare a forest plan revision in fiscal year 2012 and to complete the revision by fiscal year 2014. The change to the boundary of Management Area 1B that was the subject of [Pena’s] instruction could be included as part of the scheduled GMUG forest plan revision, but does not itself warrant initiation of a revision because it does not affect overall goals or uses for the entire National Forest.”
4. “I am amending the instruction to the GMUG Forest Supervisor to state: I am instructing the Forest Supervisor to fulfill the requirements of 36 CFR 251.54(e)(3) by providing guidance to the Appellant on how they should submit a proposal to provide downhill skiing on Snodgrass Mountain that the authorized officer would find acceptable and consistent with the Forest Plan. If no such alternative exists for downhill skiing on Snodgrass Mountain that is consistent with the Forest Plan, the GMUG Forest Supervisor is instructed to apply the direction in FSM 1926.5 and 1926.6 to consider whether a change to the Forest Plan is needed to reflect current suitability determinations for Snodgrass Mountain and, if so, to determine the most appropriate time and means for changing Forest Plan guidance.”
5. “The Forest Supervisor appropriately applied the screening criteria to CBMR’s proposal. The purpose of screening is to eliminate proposed uses that are unsuitable and to save the proponent and the Agency the time and expense of conducting environmental analysis of proposals that will be rejected on other grounds.”
6. “The record shows that the Forest Service repeatedly advised CBMR that evidence of general community support for the Snodgrass proposal was necessary before the proposal would be accepted as an application and subjected to environmental analysis. The comments received by the Forest Service provide no evidence of general community support or a trend toward general support for expansion. To the contrary, the more than 500 e-mails and letters sent to the Forest Service between 2007 and 2009 demonstrate that the local community is divided on the proposed Snodgrass expansion.”
Thank you and congratulations to all of you who have submitted comments during this process of decion-making and appeals.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

CMC and SRCA Introduce Winter Recreation Policy Principles

The story of winter backcountry travel management has too often been one of quiet users and conservationists fighting last minute, defensive battles against the ever-increasing threat of reckless or misplaced snowmobile use. Summer recreation management has taken the spotlight in recent years, during a period of advancement in engine technology that has allowed snow machines to penetrate deeper into once quiet animal habitat and backcountry recreation areas. The damage caused by these machines and their toxic emissions is being closely watched by Colorado Mountain Club, government agencies, and others.
 
CMC, working with the Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance (SRCA), has just put the finishing touches on a policy paper that will help land managers put good, proactive policy in place to prevent snowmobile damage before it occurs. CMC and SRCA have delivered the policy to the U.S. Forest Service at the Regional level and soon will be sitting down with local managers around the state to discuss its details. Read the policy here.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

COME TO A MEETING to Support Colorado Wilderness

© Aron Ralston
© Aron Ralston
As many of you know, snowmobile groups are stone-walling wilderness designation for many special places in Colorado, even places that are currently closed to motorized traffic (but are unfortunately visited regularly by snowmobiling scofflaws). The Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal needs your help now!


Congressman Polis is reviewing the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal for Summit and Eagle Counties.


It is absolutely critical that as many people as possible contact Rep. Polis in the next 20 days and urge him to introduce and support legislation protecting the Hidden Gems.


There are two really important ways you can act:
1) Simply click here to send Representative Polis a letter.
2) Attend one of three OPEN HOUSE MEETINGS during the first week of June. This is the single most important thing you can do to help make the Hidden Gems a reality and leave a legacy of wilderness for your children and grandchildren - in perpetuity. 


Click here to sign up for one of these CRITICAL meetings.


For other actions (make a phone call, sign our open letter of support, etc.) visit the Hidden Gems Action Center.


With your help, we can protect more than 243,000 acres of wild lands, backcountry opportunities and vital habitat in Central Colorado. Your action can preserve Colorado's backcountry!

Thank the Forest Service for Protecting Snodgrass Mountain

Let's take this opportunity to THANK the Forest Service for their good work.


On May 6th the U.S Forest Service upheld its recent decision not to allow ski area expansion on Snodgrass Mountain, just north of Crested Butte. Deputy Regional Forester Jim Peña affirmed GMUG Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond's denial of Crested Butte Mountain Resort's (CBMR) expansion proposal for Snodgrass. After a thorough analysis of a complex situation, the Forest Service has now twice come to the conclusion that Snodgrass is fundamentally unsuitable for lift-served skiing. We applaud the Forest Service's well-reasoned decision. However, the fight to protect this beautiful mountain and its wildlife isn't over.


Now, more than ever, we ask you to voice your opinion and support the Forest Service decision to protect wildlife habitat and roadless areas from proposed development. Snodgrass Mountain's public lands remain threatened by unnecessary, environmentally destructive development. Proponents of the expansion continue to put pressure on agency employees and elected officials in attempts to overturn the recent decision and open the mountain to the bulldozers, logging and disturbance required to expand lift-served skiing. Ecologically sensitive roadless areas offering solitude could still give way to ski trails and lifts. Habitat for endangered species, including the magnificent Canada lynx, could also be impacted if the Snodgrass decision were reversed.


Please click here to send a letter to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service - Tom Tidwell. Tell Chief Tidwell that his agency has done the job right and that protecting Snodgrass Mountain protects an area important to you. It won't take more than five minutes, but it could make all the difference. It is essential that the Forest Service hear your support today! Thank you.
Click HERE to Support Snodgrass Mountain!

Ask the Forest Service for Winter Travel Management Planning



The USFS is considering including Winter Planning as part of the new Planning Rule. The Planning Rule guides the creation process for all of the Forest Plans and Travel Management Plans that affect the places we care about. Adding Winter Planning to the new rule would greatly benefit human powered winter recreation and the conservation of winter wildlands across the United States. Together, we can make this a reality!


Comment now via the Planning Rule blog. Tell the Forest Service to include winter travel planning in the new Forest Planning Rule. Motorized winter travel is the last, greatest unregulated use in our National Forests. It is time for the Forest Service to recognize its negative impacts and bring it into line with regulated summer travel use.

For additional info, check out the Planning Rule website.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

WRNF Travel Plan Addresses Lynx, Winter Travel


Great article in the Summit Daily Voice.  And a good quote from a Forest Service biologist:


“There’s a tendency to focus on summer,” McGuire said, explaining that, for lynx, the exact location of cross-country ski and snowmobile routes is crucial.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Friends of Berthoud Pass Cleanup Day


Check out the Facebook page for the event.


Date:
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Time:
8:00am - 2:00pm
Location:
Berthoud Pass summit

Description

Just announced: June 19th, 8:00am - 2:00pm, Berthoud Pass Adopt-a-Highway litter clean-up.

We'll spend an hour or two picking up other people's candy wrappers and cigarette butts along US40, then fire up the grill, toss a Frisbee and down some cold ones.

Bring sunscreen and work gloves. We'll provide trash bags, safety vests and lunch. Every volunteer gets a "I (heart) Berthoud Pass" t-shirt!

Come on out and join us in a really worthwhile effort.

Meet at the summit parking lot at 8:00.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Skiing Mag: Hillbilly Haute Route

Skiing Magazine reported recently on skiing the backcountry in Colorado. Check out their story.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Denver Post Supports Snodgrass Decision

Check out a new editorial by the Denver Post on the proposed and denied Snodgrass expansion. The editorial supports the Forest Service's decision to "take population, climate and industry concerns into consideration in its duty to protect public lands." Senator Udall, who has often supported wilderness and other beneficial conservation measures, has asked the Forest Service to review the decision at a higher level. An affirmation of the Forest Service decision at a higher level, particularly one that fleshes out the rationale for the decision, would be an important precedent for the management of public lands in Colorado and around the country. Read more about the Snodgrass decision on the Earthjustice site.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Friday, March 5, 2010

Backcountry Snowshoeing & Banff Film Festival

Banff Mountain Film Festival in Colorado
If you didn't catch the first night of Banff Film Festival in Denver, buy your ticket early for tonight -- the event is likely to sell out.

If you live outside of Denver, check the schedule to see when the Film Festival will be near you.

Backcountry in the News
The New York Times has a recent travel article on backcountry snowshoeing in Minnesota. 

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Steamboat Today Covers Rendezvous

Read the article:  "Tom Ross:  Old School Way to Go at Rendezvous"

                                                                                                    © Tom Ross 2010
Read the article:  "Tom Ross:  Old School Way to Go at Rendezvous"

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Wooden Ski Rendezvous 2010

On Feb 26-28, Friends of the Routt Backcountry Group hosted their annual Wooden Ski Rendezvous at Columbine Cabins near Steamboat Springs.  Check out the photos and join us next year!



To view all the photos from the weekend, click the image below:

Wooden Ski Rendezvous 2010


Wednesday, February 17, 2010

News Updates from CMC Members


Several astute members have sent in these news items:


The first two articles of a three-part avalanche series from Bob Berwyn and the Summit County Citizens Voice:  

Further evidence suggests winter travel management is important not just to backcountry skiers and snowshoers, but to endangered species as well.  Federal Biologists' Study Stalls on Missing Lynx  More info on lynx here.

Is your avy training up to snuff?  CMC offers several low-cost classes for members.  Fatal Avalanche that Killed Vermont Grad "Human" Triggered

A reminder to pay attention to snow conditions:  Sugar Snow:  How Sweet It Isn't!

Monday, January 25, 2010


Click the image for info on the Wooden Ski Rendezvous:

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Routt National Forest Needs to Hear From You



From Friends of the Routt Backcountry Group:
TRILBEY FLATS in North Routt near the Columbine area is under attack.
We are not certain who is doing this, but suspect it originates with the Routt Powder Riders.
These snowmobile attacks on the area have corresponded with each weekend that Mark Hartless (Past president of the Routt Powder Riders) is up at his property in Columbine and now others are just following the tracks into the Trilbey area, as they do.
Eight years ago the Steamboat Lake SnowClub working with different user groups in North Routt, created a Parking Plan, which they hoped would give Trilbey some sort of non-motorized protection against this sort of assault. On the Snowclub map, Trilbey Flats is signed with a skier symbol. Hybrid users do occassionally park here to unload their snowmobiles and then they stay on a route to access further areas west to park and ski. The Home Ranch and Vista Verde have outfitters permits to take their clientel here to ski. Nordic users ski here all the time. It is close to the road and easily accessed for non-motorized users. We were in a comment period last summer (and many of you commented on this) to help try and preserve this area as "Suggested-Use" non-motorized.
At this point we are thinking that we should just push for a Forest Supervisors order to put this area under Designated non-motorized use, as is Rabbit Ears and Buffalo Pass. It may take longer, but will be more effective in the long run. Obviously "Suggested-Use" is just asking for them to come in and track it up!
Please write letters to the Forest Service and send this on to your friends who care about the future of our backcountry.
Comments can be sent electronically to Kent Foster kfoster@fs.fed.us and please cc: frb@cmc.org

Skied Out