Backcountry
Featured Article
Brought to you by Monarch Mountain
Saturday, January 11 is Backcountry Day at Monarch Mountain! Join Monarch’s expert staff and CO AVITalks as part of NSAA National Safety Month with backcountry education and activities for all. The event is FREE, you just need a lift ticket or season pass to access the mountains lifts.
Included at this year’s Backcountry Day at Monarch are:
- A Know Before You Go (KBYG) Program
- Merchandise Vendors
- Uphill/downhill activities
- Backcountry equipment demos
- Meet and greet with the avalanche dogs
- A dawn patrol tour
- Backcountry workshops and trip planning
- Avi beacon use
- Snowpit tutorials
- Backcountry tours
- Participants taking part in uphill travel activities must sign an uphill waiver.
This year’s top tier vendor list includes:
Back Country Access
CO Mountain College
Cold Smoke Splitboards
Heuberger Subaru
Nikwax
Salewa
Salida Mountain Sports
Scarpa
Venture Snowboard
Weston snowboard
Having the proper knowledge and skillset when venturing out into the Backcountry is HUGE! Knowing what to do in a rescue situation could just save someone’s life, but not knowing could cost them it. That’s why we recommend to anyone who is interested in skiing the backcountry or even those who already do to attend this event and refine their knowledge by staying current with proper backcountry procedures. Plus, it’ll be fun for everyone and a great way to meet potential touring partners. See you there!
Event Schedule
Time |
Activity | Location | Presenter |
7:00 a.m. |
Dawn Patrol to the summit of the Mountain.
Skin up/Ski Down with Ski Patrol. (Must have own equipment & skins) |
Free Uphill ticket (Good for the Season)
General Waiver |
Patrol
Cara Kathryn |
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
Equipment Demos – Parking lot between lodge and patrol
(Skiers Left, consider closing section of Freeway for uphill demo of equipment) |
Set-up at 7:30 a.m.
Free Uphill ticket (Good for the Season) |
Base Services
Season Pass Desk |
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. |
Backcountry Planning Tips: unpacking the Avalanche Bulletin and helpful tour planning tools | Conference Room
Audio/Visual Equip |
CMC
|
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
Know Before You Go. A KBYG Program, presented by Zach Moore, Director of Ski Patrol. Info on Uphill Policy. | Conference Room
Audio/Visual Equip (Dongle) |
Zach Moore |
12:00 – 3:00 p.m. |
Backcountry Tour, (Ski/Splitboard) – Uphill route, tips and techniques. (Recommended that participants attend the Trip Planning Basics at 10:00 a.m.) | CMC Tent
Waiver and uphill ticket |
CMC
Kathryn |
12:00 – 2:00 |
Snowpits 101 – Dig a snowpit with a pro, learn what it’s all about | Meet at Top of Breezeway | CMC |
1:00 PM |
Monarch Avi Dog Demonstration: Anchin do a single burial search and then show some runaways | Skywalker on top of Quick Draw | Patrol – R2 & Anchin, Ski & Suka |
2:30 – 3:30 |
Avalanche Beacons 101: Avalanche Beacon Basics | Bottom of Garfield | CMC |
2:30 – 3:30 |
Avalanche Beacons 201: Avalanche Beacon searching techniques and tips. | Beacon Basin (Bottom of Doc’s Run) | CMC |
