Savvy Ski Tour Planning – Boulder, CO
Build essential skills for exploring the backcountry and earning those turns!
Join Ortovox, and Colorado Adventure Guides at Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, CO to discuss planning, prepping, and safely executing a ski tour. We’ll alternate between three stations:
- Simulate collaboration, risk management, and tour planning with Ortovox’s Safety Academy Mountain (SAM) 3D mountain model.
- Cover basic avalanche safety specifically for travelling in the Colorado backcountry.
- Discuss touring gear and what to pack for a ski tour.
This event is designed for backcountry skiers of all ability levels.
More about the ORTOVOX Safety Academy Mountain 3D Model Station
The SAM model is designed to make avalanche risk management and tour planning more visual and interactive. Participants use the model to examine terrain factors such as slope steepness, aspect and danger areas and then combine those observations with avalanche forecast information to select routes appropriate to the group’s risk tolerance.
How the Clinic Works
Participants begin by identifying avalanche terrain on a topographic map, including slopes steeper than 30°, relevant aspects and terrain traps. They then transfer that information to the SAM 3D mountain and use avalanche forecast information to identify terrain of concern.
From there, each group plans and evaluates ascent and descent routes. The exercises ask participants to consider whether a route avoids avalanche terrain and terrain traps, whether it exposes the group to remotely triggered avalanches, and whether the route fits the group’s agreed-upon level of acceptable risk.
What We’ll Work On
During the session, participants will explore:
- Slope angle and why slopes over 30° matter in avalanche terrain
- Slope aspect and elevation
- Terrain traps and other terrain hazards
- How to read avalanche danger ratings
- How to interpret an avalanche forecast by aspect, elevation and avalanche problem
- How to apply forecast information to terrain
- How to identify safer and higher-risk route options
- How group goals, experience and risk tolerance influence tour planning
Reserve Your Free Spot, Space is limited.
Event Team:
- Organizer: Colorado Adventure Guides
- Presented in partnership with: ORTOVOX
- Hosted at: Neptune Mountaineering
Check out other clinics from our friends at Neptune Mountaineering
Explore all free Avy Savvy Winter Clinics →
Ready for formal avalanche training? Explore CAG Avalanche Courses →