THE QUARTERLY
THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB / cmc.org
WINTER ‘20 ISSUE 1037
15 MINUTES ON THE SUMMIT pg. 1
BACKPACKING FOR LIFE pg. 2
CLUB UPDATES pg. 3
UPCOMING COURSES pg. 4
Letter from the Marketing Director A TIME FOR PROGRESSION Dear Trail & Timberline Readers, Last August I found myself sitting atop the Third Flatiron, stunned. I went to the University of Colorado and in my four years there, I never once looked at the Flatirons and said, “I want to climb one.” But that day I found myself looking down at CU’s campus feeling immeasurably grateful to the amazing volunteers in the Colorado Mountain Club for helping me get there. From Wilderness First Aid, to Wilderness Trekking & Backpacking Schools, and finishing with Intermediate Climbing School, my CMC instructors – Norm, Paul, Andy & Val, and others – gave me the confidence to go after bigger and better adventures. They not only taught me the skills I would need, but also believed in me enough that I finally started believing in myself. They helped me progress from someone that stays in my comfort zone to a person willing to try for more. That support is not only helping me progress personally, but it’s helping the Club progress, as well. With your help on the creation of Strategic Plan 2025, the Club now has a “True North;” an expedition to go on, and a summit to reach. And we are already on the move. Our new Recreational Impact Monitoring System (RIMS) App, developed by our Conservation team, will turn each of us into active trail stewards, helping land managers
The official publication of the Colorado Mountain Club since 1918.
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maintain our public lands around the state. We have a new Backpacking Section (BPX), the first of many new interest groups, to welcome and connect people of all outdoor interests. This June will be our inaugural Pride month, following our second annual Women’s Month in March, first steps to ensure that we are an inclusive and welcoming Club for all Coloradans. While I am excited to continue my personal progression through the Club with you by my side – Anchor Building, Rock Self-Rescue, Wilderness Survival, and Alpine Scrambling Schools come to mind – I am even more excited to see the progression of the Club towards becoming a leader in outdoor education and recreation, both in Colorado and around the US. None of which could be possible without your support and guidance – thank you! I can’t wait to see you all in a course or out on the trail soon. Cheers,
Brittany Smith Marketing Director
Final Backpacking School trip in 2019, WY
ABOUT THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB The Colorado Mountain Club has been delivering conservation, education and recreational opportunities to the Colorado public since 1912. The CMC acts as a gateway to the mountains for novices and experts alike, offering an array of year-round activities, events and schools centered on outdoor recreation. The Club connects thousands of adventure-loving mountaineers and teaches the skills to safely and respectfully maximize living in an outdoor playground. © 2020 COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Trail & Timberline (ISSN 0041-0756) is published biannually by the Colorado Mountain Club located at 710 10th Street, Suite 200, Golden, Colorado 80401. Advertisements in Trail & Timberline do not constitute an endorsement by the Colorado Mountain Club. Cover: Jesse Bray on the East Ridge of Mt. Bancroft. Taylor Brown
Trip Highlight
15 MINUTES ON THE SUMMIT Tales from Mt. Kilimanjaro By Kahle Toothill – Boulder Group Council Member
It was 11:00pm and my phone alarm went off. After less than five-hours of sleep, it was time to make the push to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I awoke already dressed in multiple layers – it’s cold at 15,331’. By midnight, our team was on the trail, guided by headlamps and the stars above, and we were moving fast. With dawn upon us, we pushed past a notable landmark on Kilimanjaro, Stella Point, which serves as a turnaround point for many climbers. Undeterred, we forged ahead. As we continued to climb, my eyes became fixated on the glaciers that seemed to both distract me from the task at hand and guide me the rest of the way to the summit. One foot in front of the other; rinse and repeat. That had, in fact, been the prescription for the entire trip. Over the previous six days of hiking, we had covered nearly 30 miles, and had ascended over 17,000 feet while climbing through five different climate zones. In just a few days we went from hiking beneath the rainforest with monkeys, to the arid heath, followed by the alien-like moorland, high alpine desert (like Colorado’s 14ers), and finished in the high-alpine arctic with glaciers. The scenery was breathtaking, but the challenge was inevitable. We chose to hike the Umbwe Route – the least crowded and most
[TOP] Camp on Kilimanjaro. Kahle Toothill [BOTTOM] The CMC Kili Team. Hillary (Guide)
difficult route on Kilimanjaro. It is known for having the lowest summit success rate. After the years of accumulating experience and gear, after the months of planning and training, would our group defy that summit statistic? One foot in front of the other… At 6:40 am on October 8, 2019, all eight members of the Colorado Mountain Club reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. For 15 minutes, we were on the roof of Africa. For 15 minutes, we were too euphoric to acknowledge how tired or sore we were. For 15 minutes, nothing seemed beyond reach. Now, nearly five months later, we are too steeped in nostalgia to remember the pain. Going on an expedition like this is life changing. It’s fulfilling and exhilarating to see what you’re capable of accomplishing. It refills your cup of life. As I write this, I sit in a dim office cubicle thinking of “what’s next” because I know I will need that refill soon. WINTER 2020 / THE QUARTERLY
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Trip Highlight Four Pass Loop – Maroon Bells. Courtesy of John Walters
BACKPACKING FOR LIFE By John Walters
I was a skinny, 12-year old kid the first time I backpacked the Grand Canyon. My Boy Scout Troop hiked down Supai Canyon to pitch our canvas pup tents and spread our “bedrolls” near the blue-green waters of Havasu Falls. The highlight was skinny dipping in the cool, clear waters beneath a warm sun and blue sky. This had to be the most beautiful place on earth! I learned that backpacking could take us to wonderful landscapes that few people ever see. As a young fighter-pilot, I attended an Air Force Survival School at Stead Air Force Base, near Reno. With a dozen other students and instructors, we backpacked the pristine mountains of northern Nevada in February. We were wearing our state-of-the-art, rawhide snowshoes. The most beautiful, snow-laden forests lay in every direction. We learned to survive freezing temperatures with only the standard-issue survival gear attached to our parachute harness. We understood the true meaning of self-sufficiency. While stationed at the Pentagon, I took my 13-year old daughter on a backpacking trip to Shenandoah National Park. Rangers warned us to watch out for bears as we hiked and camped for three-days among cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, and quiet wooded hollows. There, we formed strong bonds that remain today. When we retired, my wife and I moved to
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Denver, where I joined the Colorado Mountain Club. After hiking, snowshoeing, camping, and backpacking nearly 100-days a year for 12 years, I believed backpacking offered the greatest rewards, by far, as it takes a few nights under the stars to start becoming aware of our true place in nature. We encountered more wildlife at dawn and dusk than on day hikes. In recent years, CMC scheduled only a handful of “General” backpacking trips. “General” refers to trips taken solely for the rewards of backpacking. Other trips that involved backpacking were a vehicle for peak bagging, fly fishing, or trail maintenance. Part of the new Strategic Plan is to enhance activity-specific offerings. So, in September 2019, CMC’s 2017 Volunteer of the Year, Linda Lawson, CMC Backpacking School Director, Jennie Popovich, and myself, the former chair of Denver Safety & Leadership, founded the CMC Backpacking Section (BPX). The purpose of BPX is to promote backpacking as a core CMC activity. Even before it’s launch, BPX already has more than 600 members. In the spring of 2020, BPX will offer 35 fantastic backpacking trips around the Rockies – that’s more than six times the total number of backpacking trips in all of 2019! Will you “Join the Pack” and backpack for life?
Club Updates SECOND ANNUAL WOMEN’S MONTH
In 1912, nearly half the original signatories of the Club were women. Mary Sabin hosted the original gathering and was the Club’s first Secretary. Eleanor Davis was Albert Ellingwood’s partner on many first ascents, including the Crestones in the 19teens. Mary Cronin was the first woman to summit all the 14ers in 1934. In 2020, our High-Altitude Mountaineering School of Denver Group has a predominantly female instructor crew! We honor the women of our past, present, and future with our annual Women’s Month all March long. March 8, International Women’s Day, is first ever all-female trip leader school. Reclaim your Wednesdays with our Women Crush Wednesday hike to happy hours, join us for climb night, and enjoy the outdoor women specific films, too. We invite all girls, women, those who identify as women, and allies to join us for a month
The 2020 Female HAMS Instructors: Makayla Braden, Shelby Marks, Ashley Rasmussen, Sheryl Lampert, Ariana Antonio, Maddie Miller (not pictured), Ryan McCauley, Allison Franz. Brandon Daniell
celebrating the women who continue to make the Colorado Mountain Club an extraordinary part of Colorado’s outdoor community. Learn More: bit.ly/CMCWomensMonth.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025
We spent over 18-months planning, researching, and collaborating with members from across Colorado and are proud to present the Colorado Mountain Club’s Strategic Plan 2025 – a plan made by the members and for the members.
THE CONTEXT
Colorado’s Population is EXPLODING!!!
THE PEOPLE
Gear Guru
(Intermediate)
Not sure about the outdoOrs
Experienced MountaineEr
(beginNer)
(Advanced)
With your voice, we constructed a bold plan to address what you value most: Q A more diverse and inclusive CMC encouraging people of all ages, races, gender identities, orientation, and experience levels Q More trips and enhanced investment in trip leaders Q A better website and database ensuring a better user experience for our members, trip leaders, volunteers, and staff Q A wider variety of activities with specialty sections to find your community and achieve your outdoor goals Q More educational offerings, with schools and classes to help your skills progress, and more support after graduation This is just a small part of what’s included in our plan for the next five years. We want to
THE PLAN
Life is BetTer at 14,000’ THE FUTURE OF MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE + EDUCATION IN COLORADO THE IMPACTS
Mentor Student Education | Inclusion | Personal Growth | FulfilLment I am New adventure partners I wish RichnesS of life
THE OUTCOME Vibrant CoMmunity
Empowered Individuals
Cared for Lands
CMC.ORG
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Statistics from the stragegic plan.
thank the CMC members who gave their time, feedback, and shared their stories and passions through surveys and engagement sessions. You can read the full strategic plan at bit.ly/ StratPlan2025. WINTER 2020 / THE QUARTERLY
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Upcoming Courses Quick Start Seminar – Climbing Spring Snow – Denver Group
Golden • Mar. 12, 2020 • 6:30 PM $8 members / $14 nonmembers / $4 CMC Trip leaders Colorado’s mountains are full of couloirs – steep, narrow valleys of snow between rock cliffs – that ripen for climbing every spring. They’re the perfect place to learn and hone true mountaineering skills, including using technical gear such as ice axes and crampons.
AIARE Level 2 – Boulder Group Boulder • Mar. 13–Mar. 15, 2020 $500 members / $545 nonmembers
The AIARE 2 course provides backcountry travelers an opportunity to advance their decision-making skills in more complicated situations.
Wilderness First Aid – Denver Group – Members Only
Denver • Mar. 15 and Mar. 22, 2020 • 8:30 AM $125 members The WFA course follows a standardized program from the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI) and consists of approximately 8-hours of lectures, 8-hours of practical training, a written test, and practice. Students must attend both days.
CPR / AED for Outdoor Recreationalists – Denver Group – Members Only Denver • Mar. 30, 2020 • 6:30 PM $30
The CMC Denver Group’s Wilderness First Aid School (WFA) is offering a two-and-a-halfhour ESCI (Emergency Care and Safety Institute) Adult CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) certification class.
Trip Leader Training – Pikes Peak Group
Colorado Springs • Mar. 30, 2020 • 6:00 PM $25 group price / $35 nongroup price Learn to lead trips for the Pikes Peak Group so you can plan where to go and take members with you. This class requires two classroom
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sessions and a field day to show off the skills you have learned to become a CMC leader.
Ski Mountaineering School – Members Only
Denver • Apr. 2–May 31, 2020 • 6:00 PM $300 Learn to climb and ski Colorado’s steepest lines and get the confidence to take your skiing to the next level in the world’s wildest ranges.
Quick Start Seminars: Stop the Bleed – Denver Group Golden • April 9, 2020 • 6:30 PM $10 members / $15 nonmembers
Join Nicole Gordon, RN and Trauma specialist for a night to save lives. Learn three quick actions to control life threatening, serious bleeding. You will also learn how to apply a tourniquet, and how to recognize life threatening blood loss. Come early for apps and drinks.
Colorado Alpine Snow Mountaineering – Pikes Peak Group – Members Only
Colorado Springs • Apr. 14–Apr. 16, 2020 $65 group price / $70 nongroup price The Colorado Alpine Snow Mountaineering course is two class lectures discussing evaluating weather and snow conditions, terrain and avalanche risk assessment, route finding, and snow travel.
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) with CPR / AED – Pikes Peak Group – Members Only Colorado Springs • May 2–May 3, 2020 $85 group price / $95 nongroup price
This two-day ECSI accredited course presents dynamic instruction devoted to teaching you how to respond to medical emergencies in a remote setting where definitive medical care is unavailable.
Scrambling Class – Pikes Peak Group – Members Only Colorado Springs • May 9, 2020 $40
Rock scrambling students will improve the ability to move safely and efficiently on Class 3 and 4 routes with exposure. Learn to avoid rockfall and dangers, and to utilize protection.
Upcoming Events Open Climb Night
Denver • Four Sessions: Mar. 10; Mar. 18; Mar 24; and Mar. 30, 2020 • 6:30 PM Free for members and nonmembers Join us for a fun evening of top-roping at the CMC Clubhouse in Golden. Basic Climbing or equivalent experience required. Harness, locking carabiner, and belay device required.
Backcountry Film Festival – Leadville Leadville • Mar. 7, 2020 • 7:00 PM $12 members / $15 nonmembers
We’re bringing the Backcountry Film Festival to Periodic Brewing in Leadville. Come celebrate the human-powered experience and enjoy a free beer with every ticket! Don’t miss this award-winning collection of backcountry films.
Denver New and Prospective Member Orientation
Golden • Two Sessions: Mar. 17 and Apr. 28, 2020 • 6:30 PM Free Learn more about the CMC! This monthly orientation meeting is for new and prospective members to learn about all the Club has to offer, ask questions, and provide tools to get started.
Backpacking Section (BPX) Season Kick-off Party Golden • March 18, 2020
The Season Kick-off is a chance to meet fellow backpackers, celebrate a new season, and learn about over 40 backpacking trips that we will be going on from May through October.
CMC Film Series – Pretty Strong Golden • March 19, 2020
Danny Daycare – one of the films of the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Dave Mackison
to Historic Park Theater in Estes Park. Come celebrate the human-powered experience through award-winning collection of backcountry films.
YEP – Family Climb Night
Denver • Apr. 3 and May 15, 2020 • 3:30 PM Free for members / $5 nonmembers This is a family-oriented open climbing event for all ages! We will have volunteers to teach climbing techniques and help parents support their kids through the sport. No experience required.
Pretty Strong follows eight of the world’s strongest female climbers as they explore new climbing areas, send hard projects, and push the boundaries of the sport and themselves.
An Evening with Gary Neptune: Eckart Roder Education Fund Annual Dinner
Backcountry Film Festival – Estes Park
Enjoy an evening with CMC friends while supporting important CMC education programs! This year’s dinner will include a presentation from world-class climber and longtime dedicated volunteer, Gary Neptune.
Estes Park • Mar. 19, 2020 • 6:30 PM $12 members / $15 nonmembers We’re bringing the Backcountry Film Festival
Denver • Apr. 23, 2020 • 5:30 PM $15 members / $15 nonmembers
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710 10th St #200 Golden, CO 80401