Winter Backcountry Clinics in Colorado

Front Range Splitfest is an annual splitboard-focused backcountry community gathering based out of the amazing Headwaters Event Center in the gorgeous mountain town of Winter Park, CO.

Each evening will feature a variety of activations including happy hours, gear demos, the opportunity to find new touring partners, educational guest speakers, movies, and a massive gear raffle on Saturday. Each day will be spent riding the amazing terrain on Berthoud Pass with the local backcountry crew or learning new uphill skills on the safety of the resort.

The event itself caters to all ability levels and we will have something for everyone with course booking links coming soon!  All proceeds will go directly to our favorite non-profit avalanche education partners – Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (FOCAIC), and Friends of Berthoud Pass (FOBP),

When:  March 22, 2025, 7:30 – 9 pm

Where: Higher Minds Loft, Headwater Center, Winter Park, CO

As an ORTOVOX Safety Academy Partner we are pleased to provide the   “Ortovox Avalanche Danger and Tour Planning” clinic, an in-person, interactive snow-safety course.

Presented by ORTOVOX USA & CAG

Learn how to identify and avoid avalanche terrain on your next tour.  Participants will form touring groups (4 groups of five) and through a variety of guided exercises will learn how to choose a tour that fits the conditions and minimizes avalanche risk.

ORTOVOX’s Safety Academy 3D Mountain model is used by each touring group as an interactive learning tool to graphically demonstrate avalanche terrain and simulate tour planning.  Participants learn how to identify avalanche terrain, interpret an avalanche forecast, apply the forecast to their mountain model, and in the end will draw and explain their route.

Participants can practice a variety of scenarios. Information from an avalanche bulletin can be weighed against factors such as slope steepness, slope aspect, and relevant danger areas plotted by participants on the 3D mountain model. Our SAM3D clinics were sold out this season, so don’t miss this last chance of the season to check the model out!

(Photo by Kristen Smith.)

Colorado Adventure Guides is excited to announce a full season of backcountry safety and education programming again this season through our Avy Savvy Clinic Series.  The series consist of five different clinics that focus on how to successfully prepare for the backcountry, stay safe while you there and get you home at the end of the day. All clinics are presented by members of our staff and the series is sponsored by our valued partners at Weston & Ortovox.

In this 1.5 hour clinic you will learn about the resources used to make smart decisions in the backcountry. We will talk about the gear, using the forecast, and avenues for backcountry education. We will also end the clinic with an update of the current state of the snowpack.

Join us for a free introductory classroom course to help you learn the next steps that you’ll want to take to get ready to explore Colorado’s pristine backcountry. This Backcountry Ski/Splitboarding 101 Clinic will introduce skiers and riders to backcountry equipment and available resources. We will define what the backcountry is and take a look at the specialized equipment that is necessary to use while traveling in the snowy mountains to Go Forth & Slay Pow.

In this course we’ll cover things like:

• Gear Discussion
• Educational Resources
• Backcountry Ethics
• Trip Planning Resources
• Local Events + How to Get Involved/Meet Partners

As an ORTOVOX Safety Academy Partner we are pleased to introduce our new  “Risk Management in Avalanche Terrain and Tour Planning” Clinic, an in-person, interactive snow-safety course.

Presented by ORTOVOX USA
Learn how to identify and avoid avalanche terrain on your next tour.  Participants will form touring groups (4 groups of five) and through a variety of guided exercises will learn how to choose a tour that fits the conditions and minimizes avalanche risk.

ORTOVOX’s Safety Academy 3D Mountain model is used by each touring group as an interactive learning tool to graphically demonstrate avalanche terrain and simulate tour planning.  Participants learn how to identify avalanche terrain, interpret an avalanche forecast, apply the forecast to their mountain model, and in the end will draw and explain their route.

Due to the hands-on nature of this clinic, attendance is capped at 20.
RSVP required, with standby and overflow allowed.  Free with RSVP.

Each participant will receive a free gift from ORTOVOX!

Time duration:  1.5 hours

Join us on a Hut Trip 101 Clinic to learn the basics about using a backcountry hut in the winter. From tour planning to food and gear planning we will be covering a wide array of topics that involve your hut adventures.

Terrain management is a tool we can use to reduce our risk in avalanche zones.  In this intermediate-level snow talk, we cover the basics of how a backcountry traveler should arrive at choosing appropriate terrain for a backcountry ski or snowboard tour.  We’ll look at weather history and forecast, snowpack conditions, an avalanche hazard forecast, the details of our group and human factors, and discuss how these ingredients help us make our daily terrain choices.  Attendees will be introduced to the resources used by professionals and experienced recreational skiers, key observations, and considerations needed to make an effective tour plan.

Duration:  1.5 hours