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Field Day – Berthoud Pass

Field trip: CMC State AIARE Avalanche Rescue

Field Day – Berthoud Pass

Expect to spend 7-8 hours outdoors working on your avalanche rescue skills. It will be cold. Bring something hot to drink.

Contacts

Uwe Sartori
Uwe Sartori
Primary Leader
  • Sat, Feb 21, 2026
  • CMC State
  • Avalanche Education
  • Adults
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 0.5 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 200 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 11,500 ft
  • Pace: 1 mph

This is an 8 hour course with an online learning component which can be accessed prior to the class and afterwards.  The AIARE site requires a login and a code to get to the on-line materials.  You will receive the link and code upon registration via e-mail, Sunday, January 31st

Most of the time is in the field practicing burial/rescue scenarios as individuals, as teams, single burials to multi-burials being coached by an AIARE Professional.

Have questions? Email Uwe Sartori

Meet: Berthoud Pass Parking Lot on east side of the pass. We'll meet at the warming hut at the north end of the parking lot.

Class Start Time: 07:00 - you should be passing Woolly Mammoth P&R at least by 05:45 to avoid getting stuck in traffic and arriving late.  Don't be late.

Departure Time: 14:00

We'll have a working lunch

Recommend car pooling to keep the CMC footprint small.

Have all your gear on, including your boots, transceiver - inside your outer layer or pocket if it has a loop to hook your transceiver to. Have it turned on. Leave helmet, backpacks, skis, split-boards and snowshoes in your car.  The warming hut is a public place. We want to keep the CMC footprint as small as we can.

Have questions? Email Uwe Sartori

Route/Place

Berthoud Pass

Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Clothing  Bundle up folks. 8 hour field days will commence even during very cold and snowy weather. In Colorado that means layers and back-ups. Hand and toe warmers. Extra gloves and insulation recommended.

Helmet for skiers and split-boarders; optional for snowshoers & ski goggles/sunglasses

Mode of Travel: AT or Tele skis, split-board, snowshoes

Food for the day, consider hot drink, water, energy snacks

Sunblock, personal med kit, your normal repair kit suitable for your gear

Think 10 essentials to keep you alive in the cold Colorado winter.  

Avalanche Gear - The Club has Transceiver/Probe/Shovel kits available to loan to those students who do not possess their own avalanche gear.  If you do not presently own the gear, you may hold off on purchasing it, and consider borrowing this gear from the club. Especially if you have not made any decisions about the extent of your backcountry winter forays, whichever winter discipline you are contemplating pursuing.

Have questions? Email Uwe Sartori

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