Field trip: CMC State AIARE Avalanche Rescue
Field Day – Berthoud Pass
We'll be in the Pumphouse Basin Area .5 miles south of Berthoud Pass. Expect to spend 7 hours outdoors working on your avalanche rescue skills. It will be cold. Bring something hot to drink.
Contacts
- Sun, Feb 15, 2026
- CMC State
- Avalanche Education
- Adults
- Moderate
- Mileage: 1.0
- Elevation Gain: 600 ft
- High Point Elevation: 11,000 ft
- Pace: 1 mph
- 1 (6 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
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, January 31st.
Most of the time is in the field practicing burial/rescue scenarios as individuals, as teams, single burials to multi-burials being instructed/coached by an AIARE Professional.
Meet: Parking Area, east side, .5 miles below Berthoud Pass, across from Pumphouse Basin Area.
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, transceiver - inside your outer layer or pocket if it has a loop to hook your transceiver to. Have it turned on. We'll hop across highway and skin to the meadow below Russell Peak.
Have questions? Email Uwe Sartori
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.