Ski Mountaineering School

The CMC Denver Ski Mountaineering School Program 2023

The program is a combination of lectures and progressive field days. The goal of the course is to prepare CMC members to make the transition from skiing groomed slopes at resorts to touring the off-piste environment in the mountains. Although terrain requiring technical gear such as crampons, ice axes, ropes, etc., may be encountered during the field trips, the school will not cover glacier travel and crevasse rescue. Read on!

Prerequisites:

• Steep ski skills (black diamond) in varied terrain and snow conditions, including ascending and descending in controlled manner. No need to be a “ripper”, but skiing in full control in all snow conditions (breakable crust, mank, wet grabby powder, perfect corn and white smoke) is important.

• Fitness and stamina to climb/travel at 1000’/ hr and 3 mph on skis for 3000+ foot, 3-5 mile ascents.

• Experience with traveling on skins (ski or splitboard) in mountain terrain for at least 2 full seasons including at least 1 CMC ski outing or the CMC "Introduction to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding", with instructor/leader reference.

• AIARE avy 1 in last 5 years; CMC "Alpine Climbing School" snow travel class, or similar experience (crampon, axe and snow climbing skills/experience).

• Current First aid or WFA cert.

• Modern AT or tele skiis or splitboard, with functional and comfortable boots and modern free pivot bindings, full width skins, and ski crampons. Some of these can be rented/demo-ed, but self- owned is expected before end of season for familiarity, efficiency, and safety in the later bigger outings.

• Modern 3- antenna Beacon, shovel and probe, and know how to use them. Ice axe and boot and ski crampons, and the skills to use them properly.

Registration is by application only.  Skiers need to have all the basics for backcountry ski travel and touring solidly down prior to this class, it is an advanced mountaineering skiing course. 

2023 Schedule:

All 3 evening lectures, as well as the first field outing are mandatory.  4 of 5 one day field trips, and one of the 2 multi day field trips are required for successful completion of this class.

March 30, Thursday, SMS classroom #1, 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Apr 1 Saturday, Saturday, SMS Field Trip #1,                        Vasquez Pk/ Pk 12,090

April 6, Thursday, SMS classroom #2, 6:00 – 9:00 pm

April 8, Saturday, SMS Field Trip #2                                        Citadel/Pettingell/Hagar

April 13, Thursday, SMS classroom #3, 6:00 – 9:00 pm

April 22, Saturday, SMS Field Trip #3                                       Grays/ Torreys peaks

May 6 Saturday, SMS Field Trip #4                                          Quandary Pk

May 13, Saturday, SMS Field Trip #5                                       Mt Democrat

May 20- 21, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday  

SMS Multi-day Field Trip #1 –                                 Brainard Lake Cabin, Indian Peaks

May 27-29 Friday PM, Saturday, Sunday

SMS Multi-day Field Trip #2 -                         Mt Sopris / Indy Pass or Lake City 14ers

COST:

Registration is by application only. The cost of the school is $350

For more information, please contact this year’s Director John Morrone at: jmorrone57@gmail.com For general information, please contact CMC Member Services at (303) 279-3080 x 1 or office@cmc.org

Application: 2023 Ski-Mountaineering-School-Student-Application Please fill out and email to jmorrone57@gmail.com, then click here to sign-up for CMC’s Ski Mountaineering School.

Applications to be reviewed in February, and best candidates will be chosen and notified before March 1.

• This course adheres to the club's Cancellation and Refund Policy which can be found here: www.cmc.org/about/cancellation-and-refund-policy   

• There is an exception to this policy in that those who are dismissed from the class, due to an inadequate skill level, will be refunded their entire tuition less a $35 processing fee.