As more people access the backcountry, learning how to safely and responsibly spend time in these spaces is a critical part of being prepared. Join Aspen Public Radio and The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) on Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the Roaring Fork Valley’s inaugural Backcountry Symposium.
This FREE event will convene local and visiting backcountry enthusiasts, following the AVSC Community Sports Swap. Taking place in Willits Town Center beginning at 9 a.m., this annual event is a perfect opportunity to score great deals on equipment, soft goods, and accessories from community members and local vendors.
Then head over to the Backcountry Symposium!
Register here to secure your spot and be entered into a drawing for amazing backcountry gear and prizes, including touring packs, beacons, shovels, probes, ski tuning equipment and more. You could win a Jetforce Avalanche Pack provided by Bristlecone Mountain Sports, a state-of-the-art Infrared Waxer from mountainFLOW, or a generous gift basket from Gear Head Outfitters! Must be present to win!
Beginning with a Resource Fair of area organizations and businesses working in outdoor education and adventure, the day will include a series of panel discussions and presentations exploring the backcountry, sharing key resources and tools for understanding the season ahead and the demands of these spaces, with lots of storytelling and some of the history of going backcountry in our region.
Symposium Agenda
12:00 p.m.: “Documenting Responsibly in the Backcountry” | Join Aspen Public Radio’s Kaya Williams, in conversation with local filmmakers Pete McBride, Michelle Smith and Sierra Schlag, to explore the significant responsibilities when filming and sharing adventures from these remote places.
1:30 p.m.: Spotlight Talk: 2024-2025 Aspen Snowmass Winter Forecast with Sam Collentine, Chief Operating Officer and Meteorologist at OpenSnow
2:00 p.m.: “Communication and Decision-Making in the Backcountry” | Join NPR’s Kirk Siegler, in conversation with CAIC Deputy Director Brian Lazar, Aspen Expedition owner and head IFMGA guide Amos Whiting, and AMGA Certified Splitboard Guide and AIARE Instructor and Staff Member Sarah MacGregor to discuss the natural tendencies that influence our decisions, risk tolerance, and important lessons learned from guides in navigating the backcountry.
3:30 p.m.: Spotlight Talk: Backcountry Safety Basics with Brian Lazar, CAIC Deputy Director
4:00 p.m.: Keynote: Lou Dawson in conversation with Chris Davenport
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The day will also include a Resource Fair, where you can explore information and offerings from Aspen Expeditions, Colorado Mountain College - Avalanche Science, Gear Head Outfitters, Cripple Creek Backcountry, Ute Mountaineer, onX Backcountry, CAIC - Colorado Avalanche Information Center, AVSC Ski Mountaineering, Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, Aspen Valley Land Trust, Wilderness Workshop, Crystal River Environmental Protection Agency, 5Point Film Festival and Explore Booksellers who will be onsite with a selection of recommended titles available for purchase. Find the book list here.
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To request an accommodation, please contact the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) at 303-499-9650 or CAIC@state.co.us at least two weeks in advance of the event. CAIC will make every effort to provide an accommodation.
This symposium is being produced by Aspen Public Radio and TACAW, made possible by the generosity of Will and Nathalia Dolan & Sam and Kiki McBride, along with support from Aspen Expeditions, Colorado Mountain College - Avalanche Science, Cripple Creek Backcountry, Gear Head Outfitters, Ute Mountaineer, and Bristlecone Mountain Sports.
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About Aspen Public Radio: Aspen Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to support, nourish, and enrich our community by providing informative, entertaining, and educational radio and digital programming in a reliable and professional manner. Founded in 1980 as Roaring Fork Public Radio Translator, broadcasting from Sy Coleman’s living room in 1981, Aspen Public Radio has now grown into one of the most relied upon news institutions in the Roaring Fork Valley. The station is located in the Red Brick Center for the Arts at 110 E. Hallam Street, Suite 134, Aspen, Colorado.
You can listen to Aspen Public Radio at 91.5FM and 88.9FM, along with other repeater signals depending on location throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, or by streaming the station at aspenpublicradio.org from anywhere in the world.
About TACAW: The mission of The Arts Campus at Willits is to present exceptional performing arts, cultural events, and thought-provoking programming that sustain a connected, engaged, and inspired community. The nation’s first net-zero, all-electric performing arts facility that functions using at or near net-zero energy usage throughout the year, TACAW features music, theater, comedy, film, lecture series dialogues and more. Learn more at tacaw.org or by calling 970-510-5365.