Avalanche Safety + State of the Snowpack – Golden, CO

Refresh the Fundamentals. Understand This Season.

This clinic is designed for backcountry travelers who already have some experience and want a practical refresher on the avalanche-safety fundamentals that matter most before and during a tour.

We’ll review forecast interpretation, rescue gear, weather and snowpack observations, terrain selection, and group communication — then connect those skills to the actual evolution of this season’s Colorado snowpack.

What We’ll Review

• Avalanche rescue gear and training progression
• Reading the avalanche forecast beyond the headline danger rating
• Weather, wind, snowfall, and field observations
• Snowpack layering and common avalanche problems
• Slope angle, aspect, elevation, terrain traps, and trigger points
• Group communication and exposure management
• How the season’s weather has shaped the snowpack we are traveling on now

These themes come directly from the clinic presentation, which moves through gear, training, forecast use, field observation, snowpack structure, terrain, and group management.

Reading the Mountain

A forecast is only part of the picture. Participants will review what to look for in the field, including wind direction and drifting snow, recent snowfall, temperature changes, snowpack structure, terrain characteristics, and signs of instability. The presentation’s observation framework centers on weather, snowpack, terrain, and team.

State of the Snowpack

The key differentiator in this clinic is tracking the story of the season.

Avalanche conditions develop over time. Early-season snow, dry periods, faceting, wind loading, buried weak layers, warming events, and later storms all influence the structure we are traveling on today.

We’ll look at how the season has progressed and connect that history to the current avalanche forecast and terrain choices. The presentation’s State of the Snowpack section specifically follows the season month by month, showing how persistent weak layers, wind loading, storm cycles, and new loading can build on one another.

Who Should Attend?

Best for backcountry skiers, splitboarders, snowmobilers, and other winter recreationists who have some previous experience or avalanche education and want a seasonal refresher.

Experience Level: Beginner–Intermediate / Refresher

Reserve Your Free Spot

Space is limited. Advance RSVP required.

Event Team:

• Organizer: Colorado Adventure Guides
• Hosted in partnership with: Bentgate Mountaineering

Explore all free Avy Savvy Winter Clinics →

Ready for formal avalanche training? Explore CAG Avalanche Courses →