Weekly Wednesday Trip Report: CMS Guide staying on top of it.

We are now entering the 2011-2012 winter season here at the Colorado Mountain School.  The CMS team has been training with one another in the Boulder Rock Club climbing gym, skiing in the field, and refreshing the Avalanche department with current and relevant information that has been presented by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center avalanche forecasters.

In addition I've been sitting in on live research discussions from snow scientists from around the globe lecturing about the importance of digging ample snow pack tests, like the compression test and others, that help us mountain guides have more snow awareness.  I've been interpreting all this research, looking at avalanche forecasts, and observing snow pack stability so that when I'm traveling through the backcountry, I can accurately assess the avalanche danger for the day.

As one of the Colorado Mountain School's AIARE level 1 instructors, staying up to date on avalanche education is so important.

Our AIARE courses have been filling to near full capacity (which is great to see).  CMS participants are checking slope angles and digging to gather information from the snow pack to help make group decisions.

But staying up to date on avalanche safety isn't just for avalanche courses.  My continued professional development is an important key to offer my mountaineering guests an educational and exciting experience. 

I've recently been out ice climbing as ice season is in "full swing"!! Here Mitch Lasky is climbing his way up a classic pillar in the Loch at RMNP.

As I mentined earlier, I've had the pleasure of spending a fair bit of time out in the field with my co-workers.  Here we are getting ready for snow cat skiing at Vail Pass Colorado with the ski staff at CMS and Vail Powder Guides this past Monday.  We discussed operating standards and shared info with one another as well as skied down to Black Lakes, a wonderful early season ski with colleges in the back country of Vail.

It is important for my profession, as a mountain guide, to refresh current data regularly, train hard, and have friendly relations with a wide variety of professionals in the industry.  Education is key to success when traveling through the wilderness.  This allows the individual to enjoy the process of making decisions and see the mountains from another prospective.  Please feel free to call or email with questions on our avalanche education or reserve your private one on one with me.  I am more that happy to answer your questions comments and concerns with his coming winter season.

Thanks,

Joey Thompson
Senior Level Mountain Guide
Colorado Mountain School
800-836-4008 x3