Our MOuntain ClassrOOM

CMC Schools Prepare Members to Achieve Their Outdoor Goals

"Mountains are not fair or unfair, they are just dangerous." — Reinhold Messner

HAMS alumni build a tent pad at Kahiltna Base Camp, Alaska.

In the summer of 2011, while I was belaying my two teammates to the summit of denali for our near-midnight summit snapshots, I had a few moments of calm to reflect on what I was doing up high; how it came to be that I was leading a team up this beautiful mountain. Only six years earlier I was stuck on idle in my quest to do the last half of the Colorado 14ers. I did not possess the knowledge, skills, experience, and confidence I needed to continue. So I did what many have done before me when their mountaineering ambitions exceeded their abilities: I joined the Colorado Mountain Club and went back to school.

One of the best benefits members receive from the Colorado Mountain Club is outdoor recreation skills and safety training in a variety of outdoor activities. Want to learn about ice climbing, rock climbing, and winter survival? There are CMC schools that do that.You’re new to Colorado and have an interest in acquiring some basic backcountry and Colorado wilderness travel skills? Welcome to denver’s Wilderness Trekking School. Interested in an alternative to fighting I-70 traffic and wanting to experience winter backcountry skiing or snowshoeing? The Pikes Peak Winter Schools will get you ready. Aspiring to climb tall mountains the world over? The High Altitude Mountaineering Schools in boulder, denver, and Pikes Peak will get you ready. Want to learn about fly fishing? The Colorado Mountain Club has you covered with its Fly Fishing School.Want to ski 14ers and navigate through avalanche territory? Our AIARE 1 and Ski Mountaineering Schools will help you enjoy and survive the winter season. Schools can run one day, multi-day, or modular. CMC members have flexibility in how they pursue their curriculum goals. Each year, the Colorado Mountain Club trains over a thousand members who use their newly minted skills to tackle the Colorado backcountry in a variety of outdoor recreation disciplines.

For the outdoor recreation industry, one of the major goals is public safety. The acquisition of a body of knowledge, skill sets, and experience related to the activity undertaken is one of the surest ways of reaching that goal. The CMC’s approach is to provide a progressive learning environment

through a series of specialized schools that focus on subjects of interest to the members. Not everyone wants to climb rock or scale Aconcagua. Some want to be able to backpack or learn to use a map and compass. Some just want to know how to pick out a pair of good hiking shoes. With the diversity of schools offered by the Colorado Mountain Club (over 50 schools), no subject is wanting, no member need unmet.

How is the CMC able to build an inventory of high quality schools without imposing huge costs on its members? by tapping into its greatest resource: CMC member volunteers. The Colorado Mountain Club has a wealth of well-trained and experienced members in a host of outdoor recreation disciplines. In addition, some of the CMC communities provide professional training opportunities to current and potential CMC instructors. This includes being trained by American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) certified professionals. It is true that some of our best instructors started out as our best students. Our School directors were once Senior Instructors. The member who did not know how to swing an ice axe was evaluated for instructor potential, recruited, trained, and now is the one teaching a CMC member how to swing the ice axe. Students coming into the schools can be confident that they are working with instructors who are well trained and experienced.

How do our schools actually work? Let’s look at denver’s Wilderness Trekking School (WTS). School director Joe Griffith has a committee that manages the school’s schedule, curriculum, roster, marketing, and communications. They have a progressive WTS instructor development program: the Assistant Instructor works up to Senior Instructor over a period of years. The committee ensures that each class is consistent in its teaching methodology and education outcome expectations. Instructors have training days to attend prior to each school session. There is a curriculum to follow. There are performance metrics to be met. because of this discipline, the Wilderness Trekking School over the years has provided a consistent high-quality program that prepares our CMC members for achieving

A HAMS alumnus in Ecuador climbs Cotopaxi.

AIARE 1 students discuss an avalanche case.

their outdoor goals.The school is mindful of instructor recruitment and retention. The goal is to have the volunteer instructors do their tour of duty with qualified volunteer replacements right behind. This infrastructure and methodology is consistently practiced throughout all the CMC schools.

Colorado Mountain Club schools enrich our members’ outdoor recreation experience. because of the emphasis on skills acquisition and experience building, the CMC consistently produces a better, safer, more skilled and aware outdoor recreationalist. Our members not only possesses the skill sets and experience necessary to be safe and successful in pursuing their outdoor endeavors, but they also learn about the values and ethics that are important to the CMC, such as Leave No Trace.

One of the future challenges for the Colorado Mountain Club is providing education opportunities to members beyond the Front Range. The CMC is committed to providing education opportunities to all of its members. Our Front Range CMC communities are resource-rich in volunteers who can build and run schools. Some of our smaller CMC communities are not able to mobilize a cadre of instructors across a diverse range of outdoor recreation activities. What to do? The CMC State Safety and Leadership Committee is piloting a program called “School in A Box.” The concept is pretty simple–gather up the resources and transport them to our smaller CMC communities, delivering a la carte training. This concept is not new. bill Houghton, a long-time Pikes Peak volunteer leader and instructor, led a CMC Trip Leader School program for the CMC Aspen members. We are keeping that tradition alive and looking to build on it. The denver Trip Leader School provided the resources for the latest CMC Trip Leader School in Aspen this past May.

In addition to School in a Box programs, another potential tool is technology. The Internet, GoToMeeting, WebEx, YouTube, these all can be utilized to present ondemand knowledge classes for a variety of outdoor recreation subjects. We would have revolving field practicals around the state to complete the hands-on training and skill building required by the CMC schools. With the backing of our volunteers, we’d be able to build sustainable programs that bring the same education opportunities our Front Range members enjoy to the rest of the CMC communities.

When we start moving towards accomplishing these aggressive goals, we will find them tempered by money and resource capacity. It will take pilot programs, small successes, hard selling, and CMC community buy-in. It will take time, patience, and hard work. The outcome is well worth the effort. Think about it. Our members engage in high-risk activities. Our education and training programs are one of the best ways we can mitigate risk. It is our contribution to efforts to increase public safety in the Colorado outdoors.

Through our schools, we are saving lives in the Colorado backcountry and creating lifelong advocates for preserving and protecting the Colorado outdoors. The next time you see your CMC school director or instructor, thank them for their effort, dedication, and passion. They just may have saved your life and played a role in your success. I can say with certainty they have done both for me. If you want to be one of the instructors or run a school, step up. The CMC needs you! △

BMS alumni descend after a climb of Pyramid Peak.

June 7 Trip Leadership School June 10 Basic GPS, Compass, and Map Reading Workshop June 10 Rock Leading School June 10 Basic Rock School-Session B June 11 Basic Mounteering School-Colorado Wilderness Backpacking June 16 Teen Ventures! Outdoor Leadership Summit June 23 Rock Seconding School June 24 Backpacking School June 28 Astronomy for Educators July 23 Traditional Lead Climbing School August 6 Backpacking School

Find more classes and trips at www.cmc.org/calendar

BMS rock climbing students.

CMC schools are your pathway to mountaineering success.

The Best Aspen Hikes

Exploring the Roaring Fork Valley and Beyond

By Christian Green

The Maroon Bells reflected in Maroon Lake. Photo by Rod Martinez

IN EARLY JuNE, CMC Press will publish The Best Aspen Hikes, which includes 20 hikes within an hour or so drive of Aspen. The pack guide easily fits into your back pocket or daypack and not only features hikes within a short drive of town but also trails near Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Leadville. Casual hikers will be awed by the reflection of the iconic Maroon bells in Maroon Lake, one of the prettiest and most photographed spots in North America, while they stroll along the Maroon bells Scenic Loop. Conversely, experienced hikers will revel in the challenge presented by the twin-summited Mount Sopris, which rises more than 6,000 feet above the Roaring Fork Valley to serve as a stunning backdrop to the town of Carbondale. In addition, trailblazers will delight in the opportunity to hike to the top of the state’s highest named pass—Electric Pass—where they will be rewarded with stunning views of the fourteeners Capitol Peak (14,130 feet), North Maroon (14,014 feet) and Maroon (14,156 feet) peaks, Snowmass Mountain (14,092 feet), Pyramid Peak (14,018 feet), and Castle Peak (14,265 feet). Farther from town, near Glenwood Springs, awaits the enchanting Hanging Lake. designated a National Natural Landmark in 2011, the travertine lake is known for its crystal clear aquamarine water and alluring waterfalls.

For outdoor enthusiasts who would rather stay in close proximity to Aspen, the Rio Grande Trail, a paved wheelchair-accessible path, allows for easy access to many of Aspen’s parks and provides a beautiful panorama of the surrounding mountains and Roaring Fork River. Another option, though much more strenuous, is ute Trail, which climbs high above town and offers striking views of Aspen.

In addition to detailed comments, route descriptions, and directions, each of the 20 hikes contains a map segment,

elevation gain, difficulty rating, estimated time of the hike, round-trip distance, and nearest landmark. *** during my time as director of publishing for CMC Press, I have had the privilege to hike several of the trails in our pack guides. Taking into consideration that the project manager for the Aspen book, Rod Martinez, lives in Grand Junction, I decided that I would hike the two trails—Timberline Lake and Native Lake—closest to the Front Range and spare him the longer drive to the Leadville area. Although Native Lake and Timberline Lake are within a few miles of each other and transport the hiker to serene and scenic mountain lakes, the former takes you above tree line, where you are exposed to the elements, while the latter is a short, fairly level hike. Only 10 miles west of Leadville—and less than an hour from Aspen when Independence Pass is open—Timberline Lake makes for a pleasant family hike. It is also barely two hours from denver, so when the temperatures begin to soar along the Front Range, a day trip to historic Leadville and Timberline Lake is a fantastic way to beat the summertime heat. What follows is the description of the Timberline Lake Trail from The Best Aspen Hikes:

The lake from the eastern shore. Photo by Christian Green

At the trailhead. The Colorado Trail and Timberline Lake Trail are the same trail for a brief stretch at the beginning of the hike. Photo by Christian Green

The poisonous Amanita muscaria is plentiful along the trail. Photo by Christian Green

Shortly after the hike begins, the trail crosses Lake Fork. Photo by Christian Green

Timberline Lake Trail

Maps:

Trails Illustrated, Holy Cross/Reudi Reservoir, Number 126; USGS, Homestake Reservoir 7.5 minute

Elevation Gain:

855 Feet

Rating: Easy Round-Trip Distance: 4.4 miles (more if you continue hiking along the western side of the lake) Round-Trip Time: 3–4 hours (plus time to enjoy the lake) Nearest Landmark: Leadville Comment: If you’re looking for an easy hike near Leadville, Timberline Lake Trail is an excellent choice. A relatively level and short trail leads to a remarkably beautiful lake, which not only offers picturesque views of the lake’s placid waters, but also of the surrounding Holy Cross Wilderness Area. The lake also offers some good catch-andrelease fishing for Colorado’s state fish, the greenback cutthroat trout, which was reintroduced into the lake by the Division of Wildlife in the spring of 1999. During wet summers, the trail is also a prime location to spot wild mushrooms, such as the poisonous Amanita muscaria (a red-capped mushroom, with white or yellow warts), which grows in close proximity to the many coniferous trees that line the trail. Getting There: During the summer, when Independence Pass is open, take CO 82 east from Aspen over the pass to US 24 (just under 40 miles). Make a left and head north on US 24 for approximately 14.0 miles to mile marker 177, which is just south of downtown Leadville. There you will make a left on McWethy Drive/County Road 4. Continue on CR 4 for 1.5 miles, then turn right onto CR 9, which you will follow for 1.5 miles. Turn left (staying on CR 9) across from the large parking area (Leadville Junction) and cross the railroad tracks and Tennessee Creek. At the T-intersection (less than 0.5 mile from Leadville Junction), take a right (north) onto Turquoise Lake Road (also CR 9) and drive 7.0 miles (Turquoise Lake will be on your left for a good portion of this section of the road) to 104E, which is a short dirt road (less than 0.1 mile) that takes you to a small parking area for both Timberline Lake and segments 9 and 10 of The Colorado Trail.

If Independence Pass is closed, travel north on CO 82 fromAspen to I-70, where you will head east toward Denver. Take exit 171 (CO 24) and head south (just over 30 miles) to Leadville. In Leadville, make a right onto 6th Avenue and follow it until it runs into McWethy Drive (less than 1.0 mile). Make a right onto McWethy Drive and follow the directions above. The Route: The trailhead is on the northwestern side of the small parking area, and both the Continental Divide and The Colorado Trails can be accessed from here. Shortly after starting the hike (less than 0.1 mile), you will cross a bridge that takes you over Lake Fork, a stream that flows out of Turquoise Lake. You will actually be on The Colorado Trail for about 0.25 mile when you come to a split in the trail. At this juncture, The Colorado Trail heads off to the left (south), while Timberline Lake Trail, which is marked by two large metal Xs (in the ground), heads west toward the lake. Within a few hundred feet of the split, you will see a sign for the Holy Cross Wilderness Area, which you are about to enter.

The first two-thirds of the trail is fairly level, going in and out of stands of evergreens. In the shady, wooded areas, many varieties of mushrooms can be spotted near the trail. However, be aware that some of these mushrooms are poisonous and should not be eaten. While heading up to Timberline Lake, you will also pass through several small meadows, many of which contain wildflowers during midsummer. For the length of the trail, Lake Fork flows just off to the right and then the left, and a couple of times it crosses the trail; it can easily be forded during the summer and fall, via rock footpaths in the creek.

At about 1.5 miles into the hike, the trail begins to ascend toward the lake, as you gain a few hundred feet in elevation. This is the only portion of the hike that gets the heart pumping. However, the trail quickly levels out again after only about 0.25 mile. Once you reach the lake, at approximately 2.2 miles, grab your camera and take a minute to savor the pristine views of the lake. You can then continue for a few tenths of a mile along the southern and western end of the lake, which takes you to a marshy area where a small stream enters Timberline Lake, on the north side. Be aware that the trail ends before you get to Lake Fork, although there are a couple of social trails on the east side of the lake.

Timberline Lake Trail is a great hike for families, but it can often get crowded during summer weekends. It’s also a nice spot for a picnic and for trying your luck at catching greenback cutthroat trout. Once you spend some time admiring the beauty of Timberline Lake and enjoying some lunch, retrace your steps and head back down the path toward the parking area.

104 pages, 4 x 7, rounded corners, 60 color photos, 21 color maps, paperbound, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-937052-08-9. GUIDEBOOK/COLORADO. AVAILABLE IN EARLY JUNE

Also from CMC Press: The Best Front Range Hikes for Children

An easy-to-use guide to 46 of the best Front Range hikes for children

* Kid-friendly trail ratings and symbols. * Detailed directions and full-color easily readable maps. * Sidebars on historical and educational information, as well as activities children can enjoy on the way home from each hike.

Colorado’s Front Range is a wonderful place to introduce children to the outdoors and hiking. From Fort Collins and Rocky Mountain National Park, to Boulder and Denver, and south to Colorado Springs, trails abound for kids who love spending time outside. This essential guide helps parents select age- and ability-appropriate trails at a glance with a handy rating system. Choose trails that are fun and just challenging enough for children between the ages of 2 and 16.

From wheelchair-accessible to more challenging trails, the 46 hikes that comprise The Best Front Range Hikesfor Children were selected for their variety, ease of access, unique natural beauty, educational opportunities, and proximity to some of the best known attractions along the Front Range, including the Platte River, Pikes Peak, Mount Evans, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Children may spot wild turkeys while exploring the Boulder Creek Trail, near Colorado Springs; enjoy visiting two historic homesteads in the Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, near Fort Collins; or catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep along the Waterton Canyon Trail, south of Denver.

Tony Parker is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, who spent his early years hiking in the foothills near Colorado’s Pikes Peak. Years of hiking with his wife, Nancy, and their three kids, along with his love of teaching 7th–12th grade students, helped entice him to share some of his favorite Front Range hikes for children. 304 pages, 6x9, rounded corners, 120 color photos, 51 maps, paperbound, $24.95, ISBN 978-1937052-06-5. GUIDEBOOK/COLORADO. AVAILABLE NOW

The trail is generally level; though there is a bit of an incline approximately 1.5 miles into the hike. Photo by Christian Green

Timberline Lake from the end of the trail. Photo by Christian Green