Unfortunately, Colorado fell victim to it's first avalanche fatality of the 2009-10 season when 2 backcountry skiers uncovered the body of a 19-year old male while skiing out of bounds near the Vail ski resort on January 14, 2010. Presumably, the snowboarder self-triggered the life ending avalanche on January 6 while riding outside of the Blue Sky Basin boundary line, on a day that the Colorado Avalanche Information Center issued a hazard warning of Considerable. A danger rating of this level assumes that human triggered avalanches are probable and that natural avalanches are possible.

Thus, we are urging all backcountry users to hire a guide if you are planning to venture into avalanche terrain. Colorado is experiencing an unusually dry winter, which relates to unusual and less predictable avalanche activity. A guided ski tour focused on identifying the potentially deadly characteristics associated with a thin and shallow snowpack, techniques intended to mitigate against injuries related to skiing through a variable snow conditions and identifying terrain deemed appropriate for the current danger will all be addressed in detail. Backcountry awareness classes cost about $150 per person, but we suggest that you sign-up with the partners whom you travel with in the backcountry on a regular basis.

Please remember, every group member you ski or snowboard with must have a beacon, shovel, probe and most importantly, every group member MUST know how to use their rescue equipment and be proficient in companion rescue techniques! Avalanches do not care that you have skied the terrain before, that you make false assumptions about snow stability, or care how "Rad" of a skier you think you might be.

Hire a guide that will help you to better understand the human factors associated with most avalanches fatalities at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and then spend a day skiing the best powder available and laughing the entire time.

Come and experience Colorado's backcountry on a guided ski tour. Our AMGA guides will take care of all the trip planning and preparation so that clients receive the best snow conditions possible and travel through avalanche terrain with lowered risk. Ski tours in Summit County are just over an hours drive from Denver and trips are completed in one day. Tour Further offers guided skiing and snowboarding on Loveland Pass and the legendary Buffalo Mountain.

Please come and show your support for the annual Colorado Avalanche Information Center fundraiser. This years event is again being held at the River Walk Center in Breckenridge, CO on November 14 at 6 o'clock in the evening. Donations generated from this grassroots event are essential for avalanche and weather forecasting throughout the entire state. Come drink some beer, bid for gear at the silent auction and support your local avalanche center! For more information please visit www.friendsofcaic.org/.