Intro to Hiking Safety

Intro to Hiking Safety

Learn how to be safe in the Colorado backcountry. Even if you are a proficient mountaineer from other mountain states, Colorado mountains present very unique challenges. From high altitude concerns, to intensely fast weather changes, learn how to prepare yourself and your group for a fun day in the Colorado mountains. This course is great for anyone new to Colorado or new to the Colorado outdoors.

INTRO TO HIKING SAFETY

The Intro to Hiking Safety seminar is a one-evening session held four times throughout the spring and summer months. You will leave the seminar with a basic understanding of the following topic areas:

  • Safety Concerns: lightning, avalanche, animal encounters, getting lost (or staying found), cold weather gear, staying warm, hypothermia, and being stranded overnight
  • Tools: how to prepare, what you need in your pack, how to respond to safety challenges
  • Into to the hands on safety training you can get by taking other CMC courses

These evening sessions are open to both CMC members and non-members, alike. 

Subjects will include: 

  • Trip planning
  • 10 Essentials to carry in your pack
  • Basic Navigation: how to stay found
  • Clothing: layering, materials, rain gear, sun protection
  • Animal Encounters: bear, moose, mountain lion, rabies, mosquitoes, ticks, snakes, etc. 
  • Trail nutrition and hydration
  • Trail Sense: registers, noting location, reading trail markers, trail etiquette 
  • Obtaining Search and Rescue Support
  • Mountain Weather - including lightning safety
  • Avalanche terrain avoidance
  • Cold weather concerns

  • All sessions run from 6:30pm - 9:00pm 
  • April 24th, May 22nd, June 26th, and July 24th
  • Please register through the monthly calendar by clicking on the date you want to attend.

 Location: American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St, Golden, CO 80401 - (303) 279-3080

 Price*: 

  • Members: $10
  • Non-members: $15

 *Because of the low tuition for this course, refunds will not be possible. However, if you must cancel, please notify the school directors and we will provide no-cost attendance to a future session of the course. 

Have questions? Contact the school director: Art Hogling - ahogling@aol.com 

For downloadable material from the course content, click the link below: Student Handouts