The Colorado Mountain Club offers a wide range of educational opportunities: program nights, seminars, educational hikes, and a great variety of schools using fellow CMC members--volunteer instructors--to teach members everything from basic hiking skills to high-altitude expeditions and technical rock and ice climbing. Virtually every mountain-oriented skill set is represented among the CMC 's educational opportunities. These courses appeal to people new to the area and the outdoors, as well as to those looking for new ways to enjoy the mountains and expand their personal horizons.

HIKING

One of the main reasons someone joins the CMC is to go on one of our many hikes. This is a great place to learn and practice skills, make new friends, and become a safe backcountry traveler. Many of our groups offer classes and seminars on what kind of gear to carry, nutrition and conditioning, how to travel on different types of terrain in different seasons, and the theories and techniques of safe backcountry travel.

Hiking offered by Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins and Pikes Peak.

MOUNTAINEERING

Are you interested in high peak climbing or rock climbing? Would you like to have the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue these sports safely and sensibly? We have courses specifically designed to teach members how to have an appreciation of their own strengths and limitations with an understanding and respect for the mountain environment. Navigation and route finding, planning and organizing climbs, rock climbing and snow climbing with ropes and crampons are among some of the topics covered.

Mountaineering offered by Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Pikes Peak.

HIGH ALTITUDE MOUNTAINEERING

When we say high altitude , we are referring to climbing areas that offer unique problems of extreme altitude, complicated logistics, and technical difficulties not typical of our mountains in Colorado . Often for the sake of an example, we use the popular West Buttress Route of Mt. McKinley in Alaska as a benchmark that illustrates all these problems. Such an expedition requires months of planning and conditioning, special skills and techniques, and intense teamwork among all expedition members. Equipment, fitness, nutrition and menu planning, group dynamics, high altitude illnesses, cold and related injuries, and basic technical skills of glacier travel, including crevasse rescue are among some of the topics covered during our seminars and classes.

High Altitude Mountaineering offered by Boulder, Denver.

ROCK CLIMBING

Whether you are someone who has little or no rock climbing experience, or you want to extend your skills to include leading climbs, we have classes that will satisfy your need for knowledge. Beginning climbers will learn to tie into the rope, belay, move over rock, and rappel. For the more experienced climber, you can gain the skills necessary to safely lead technical climbs.

Rock Climbing offered by Boulder, Denver, and Pikes Peak.

ICE CLIMBING

Climbers who would like to extend their rock climbing skills to high angle ice found in mountain couloirs, frozen waterfalls, glaciers, and on expedition climbs can find expert instruction with the CMC . Some of the topics covered in our classes are proper technique, balance, protection, crevasse rescue, winter survival training, construction of snow shelters and evacuation procedures for injured climbers.

Ice Climbing offered by Denver and Pikes Peak.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Want to experience Colorado 's finest snow, away from the crowds and away from expensive lift tickets? We have classes in cross-country skiing that present you with an excellent opportunity to learn a new winter sport or to reacquaint you with an old one. The seminars are designed to appeal to a wide range of skiers, from folks who have skied for years to those who have never stood on skis before. Some topics covered are safety, avalanche awareness, and selection of skis.

Cross-Country skiing offered by Boulder and Denver.

TELEMARK

Discover the elegance, usefulness, and fun of sweeping downhill on your skinny skis and leaving just one curved track. The telemark turn has been around since skis were 12 feet long, made of wood, and lashed to the feet with reindeer thongs. Our training is designed for backcountry cross-country skiers who want to learn to telemark or to improve their telemark technique with an emphasis on backcountry skills .

Telemark offered by Boulder and Denver.

BACKPACKING

The mountains of Colorado and the surrounding states offer a wide range of opportunities for extended backpack trips. The CMC offers many activities for the avid backpacker as well as the chance to brush up on their skills. We offer classes and seminars that cover a wide range of topics such as what to carry with you, what to wear, what to eat, map and compass skills, basic first aid and survival skills, weather and avalanche awareness and winter travel skills (snow shoes and ice ax).

Backpacking offered by Denver.

WINTER CAMPING

If you miss the snowflakes, feel the lack of oxygen and cannot stand overheated rooms, perhaps it's time to experience the outdoor comfort of winter camping. Here is your chance to get some tips on how to make the uninviting pleasant. Our classes will teach you how to prepare for and to enjoy the night out comfortably, how to pull your gear instead of carry it, and how to become a gourmet cook.

Winter Camping offered by Denver.

AVALANCHE AWARENESS

Every winter backcountry traveler - skier, snowshoer, climber, or backpacker - should have basic knowledge of avalanche safety. The CMC in conjunction with and The Colorado Avalanche Information Center offer exceptional instruction on this topic. This training will help you recognize when and where avalanche danger may exist and help you learn rescue techniques. For example, dangerous slopes are not always obvious: gentle, tree-covered slopes can be deadly avalanche areas.

Avalanche Awareness offered by Boulder and Denver.

FLY FISHING

With many of Colorado 's rivers and streams easily accessible, this is the perfect opportunity to get out and enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors. The CMC has activities and training geared toward the fishermen in the club. Our instruction is designed for those with little or no experience. So, here is your chance to try something new.

Fly Fishing offered by Denver.

LEADERSHIP

As our membership increases, more responsible, capable leaders are needed to guide the hundreds of CMC excursions into our beloved mountains. To ensure that our trips will be pleasant and as safe as possible, we offer training to individuals interested in becoming trip leaders for the CMC .

Leadership offered by All Groups.

SURVIVAL

If you were stranded in the backcountry, would you know enough to make it until you were rescued? Do you have the level of skills and confidence to survive an unexpected stay in the wilderness? If you don't or you would just like to brush up on your knowledge, the CMC offers training in wilderness survival skills. The topics covered include preventing a survival emergency, psychology/attitude, shelters, signaling, firecraft, and hypothermia.

Survival offered by Denver.

MAP AND COMPASS

By learning how to use a map and a compass, you can experience the freedom of traveling in the backcountry. Anyone who wishes to travel safely in wilderness areas should have a basic understanding of this skill. Even the experienced hiker can make the occasional "wrong turn". But, by using these navigational tools, the backcountry traveler can easily get back on track. The CMC provides training in this area through its many schools and seminars.

Map and Compass offered by Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins and Pikes Peak.

FIRST AID

Being able to treat an injury while traveling in the backcountry is vital for the CMC member. We offer training in Mountain Oriented First Aid. This skill allows the member to be self-sufficient and well prepared should an emergency occur.

First Aid offered by Boulder, Denver, and Pikes Peak.