ORTOVOX Safety Session: SAM3D Avalanche Terrain & Tour Planning – Golden, CO
Colorado Adventure Guides and ORTOVOX are bringing the ORTOVOX Safety Session on Avalanche Terrain and Tour Planning to Bentgate Mountaineering in Golden, CO.
This interactive clinic gives participants the opportunity to work through avalanche-terrain and tour-planning scenarios using the ORTOVOX Safety Academy Mountain 3D model. Working in small groups, participants identify terrain features, interpret avalanche forecast information and use that information to make route-planning decisions.
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
The seminar specifically works through slope steepness, aspect, elevation, weather, terrain traps and avalanche-forecast interpretation before moving into route planning.
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.
Group Decision-Making
A central part of the session is understanding how group dynamics affect backcountry decisions. Participants consider compatibility of goals, skills and equipment, experience, familiarity with terrain and risk tolerance before making route choices together.
About the ORTOVOX Safety Academy Mountain 3D Model
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.
Reserve Your Free Spot
Space is limited. Advance RSVP required.
Event Team:
- Organizer: Colorado Adventure Guides
- Presented in partnership with: ORTOVOX
- Hosted at: Bentgate Mountaineering
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