Colorado

Originally posted by killclimbz I posted this up in the Knowledge base forum, but since this is a Colorado based thread...The Free Avalanche Awareness class schedule for the 2012-13 season from Friends of Berthoud Pass has been announced.  First class is this coming Tuesday.  Here is the info. Friends of Berthoud Pass 2012-13 avalanche classes FOBP is pleased to continue our free series of avalanche awareness classes for the 2012-13 season. We will provide backcountry travelers with a classroom overview of avalanche awareness, avoidance, rescue and forecasting methods and skills.     Topics such as route selection, hazard minimization, best practices, preparedness and terrain analysis will be covered in a 2-hour classroom presentation.     The course is free and open to the public. Donations are kindly accepted. No RSVP is needed.     The class runs from 7:00pm until approximately 9:00pm.     Full-day on-snow sessions at Berthoud Pass will be conducted in February 2013. You must attend a classroom presentation in order to register for the on-snow.     MORE DATES ARE BEING ADDED, SO CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR UPDATES     Tuesday, October 30 - University of Denver, Sturm Hall 281 (Lindsey Auditorium), Denver     Thursday, November 15 - Bent Gate Mountaineering, Golden     Monday, December 3 - CU-Boulder, location tba, Boulder     Wednesday, December 18 - Bent Gate Mountaineering, Golden     Wednesday, January 23 - Bent Gate Mountaineering, Golden     Wednesday, January 30 - CU-Boulder, location tba, Boulder

Thanks for the post. I've been looking for a free Avy class in the Denver area. I was hoping REI would announce one but this is even better.

I just found out that REI is also having an Avalanche class on 11/29 at 6:30 p.m. It's the REI by Park Meadows mall if anyone is interested.

Originally posted by letourneau41 I just found out that REI is also having an Avalanche class on 11/29 at 6:30 p.m. It's the REI by Park Meadows mall if anyone is interested.

is it free?

i see some snow falling today - need much much more!!!  my vail trip is in 1 month and 5 days.

Conditions on the 1st are typically manmade groomers. About 30-50% open terrain, some visible dirt areas, usually some
Amount of ice

Ive also had some decent powder days that early. For the most part not the greatest.

Originally posted by sopel10    that sucks although it's still going to be 100x better than what we have here in midwest.

Exactly. I moved to CO from NC and even last year's worst season ever it was still my best season ever. Stoked for a REAL season in Colorado this year!

Originally posted by sopel10 i'm wondering if i should move it to dec 15th - would 2 weeks make any difference? (i know it is all speculative though)

It could make all the difference in the world. We could get 12" Dec 1st and then get nothing till after Xmas. There's no way to predict the weather ;)

Later is a better bet than earlier in general at this time of year. 

Originally posted by sopel10 i know flights will cost me about $100 extra a person since we paid $93 roundtrip when southwest had a sale....   thx for the input

$93 round trip per person? That's dirt cheap.

You may get lucky.  If you get a storm cycle that starts a week or two before you arrive, it can be really fun.  You can't expect the resorts to be operating at much more than half of their terrain.  Though if it's snowing enough, new runs will probably be opening on a regular basis.  You might score some "directed skiing".  That means ski patrol will open a run for a short period, meaning all powder.  They then close it once enough traffic has gone through to compact the snow.  It is an avalanche mitigation and base building technique basically.  Do expect core shots if you get to do this.  I wouldn't be riding brand new gear at this time.

There's a current SW deal that is valid to Dec 20th in case you wanted to move it back a week or two.

Originally posted by sopel10 [QUOTE=Superorb]we will probably stick with dec 1st and pray for snow   ...and plan another trip for January

I'm not saying the snow will be terrible. It'll still be decent. March is our snowiest month and Feb is good as well.

Just visited A-basin today! Snow quality was awesome..I was expecting spring conditions but it was legit! 1 lift running, 2 runs open...and tons and tons of people. 

Originally posted by killclimbz A-Basin was probably better than what I found.  You be the judge. And yes Cody was there too...

Just got notice that I won a day at the US Ski Team's training center with a private tour by an Olympian for this Wednesday at Copper Mountain! That's 2 days BEFORE the resort officially opens to the public.

Originally posted by Superorb Just got notice that I won a day at the US Ski Team's training center with a private tour by an Olympian for this Wednesday at Copper Mountain! That's 2 days BEFORE the resort officially opens to the public.

After free lunch we get to free ride, but I'm not sure if that includes regular trails or just the ski team area. I entered a drawing on their Facebook page. The first 200 people were picked a few days ago, so I guess one of them didn't RSVP and I was next down the list.

Wife and I only ride blue runs so hopefully we don't have to ride the double black ski course. We could probably do groomed blacks, but we haven't tried is since we moved out here. I'll be on a reverse crew too so I'm gonna get my ass handed to me.

Originally posted by Mandiiella Utah is better

Yep it definitely is.  Everyone go there please.

Originally posted by Scorer099 Originally posted by killclimbz A-Basin was probably better than what I found.  You be the judge At some point i want to get out there with you.

Just let me know.

^^^ wow sounds like a cool company!!!  Where can I get more informations???

Ha!  Those pics are from Cameron Pass on the South Diamond area.  It is pretty good there.  Probably as good as it got all of last season actually.  Get your avy gear mluu and a good mode of winter (I recommend splitboards) travel, a tolerance for suffering and we can get you on some good stuff.  Check out one of the FOBP classes I posted above.  They contain knowledge you'll need to know out there and it'll probably help you decide if it's something you really want to get into or not.  For free...

Originally posted by mluu003 Looks like we're getting some snow this weekend...who's riding??

Maybe Sunday, it depends on if I can fix my wife's car tomorrow. I thought the transmission or center diff exploded but it turned out to be a crappy axle the cheap bastard put in before he sold the car to us. The thing fell apart in my hands and now half of it is stuck in the transmission. I picked up a pry bar today and I'll get medieval on it tomorrow. If we go it'll be Sunday at Copper.

Added a couple of dates to the Free Avalanche Awareness classes.  One in December and one in January.  Boulder/Denver classes. 

Im a CO boarder and had a few buddies head up to copper this past weekend. They said it was bad but it wasnt great either. There needs to be more snow everywhere. 

We are 40% BELOW the average snow pack for this time of year. That is terrible. We moved to CO last year and have had two shitty (so far) years in a row, all the time we've been in CO. Too bad we didn't move here a year earlier for the epicness of 2010/2011.