Welcome!

Are you new to mountain hiking and want to jump in with both feet? Are you an experienced backcountry traveler who wants to gain mountaineering knowledge and improve skills? Plan to join the 2012 edition of the Fort Collins CMC Mountain Hiking School. We will meet in four interactive classroom sessions, practice skills learned on four field trips, and utilize the gamut on graduation peak day. Topics include dry land travel (gear, weather, knots, scree, and talus), navigation with map and compass, emergency survival, and snow travel. An optional GPS class and field trip is offered as part of the school. Experienced volunteer instructors will help you learn and practice techniques in an open group environment.

Sessions begin in March with completion in June. You must be a CMC member. You may participate in a specific class and the related field trip if you are not seeking knowledge in the other areas, if space allows. Contact David Wasson at wasson3@msn.com or call 970.217.9068 (evenings between 6 and 9PM or on weekends) to enroll or ask questions. Be safe and leave no trace!

Leslie Wharton, Jax Camping Manager, will be at Avogadro's Number on February 9, for this free hands-on demo of What's New In Winter Gear. She'll be bringing the latest and greatest in gear for the winter backcountry enthusiast. The presentation begins at 5:30PM. No registration required. Sponsored by the Cameron Pass Nordic Ranger Volunteers, a backcountry patrol organization of the US Forest Service.