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What's New
- Usher in Winter at the 16th Annual Backcountry Bash
American Mountaineering Center - Golden, CO
The 16th Annual Backcountry Bash, a benefit for winter backcountry preservation, will take place on Saturday November 8, 2008 at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Colorado. The Backcountry Bash, the largest annual fundraiser for the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance, will feature complimentary food and refreshing hand-crafted beer by Avery Brewery, silent and live auctions, gear giveaways, and a special screening of Powderwhore Productionsí The Pact.
The 16th Annual Backcountry Bash will feature more than $10,000 in auction items from leading outdoor industry manufacturers and retailers, as well as lodging and services from around Colorado. Items for auction will include hut stays in numerous Colorado locations, avalanche safety equipment, and technical apparel. As always, this yearís event will also feature giveaways for high quality outdoor gear.
Admission to the 16th Annual Backcountry Bash is $30 and will be available for advance purchase at the REI Denver Flagship and Boulder stores, and Bent Gate Mountaineering.
You can also purchase advance tickets online.
Tickets purchased online will be available for Will Call at the door.
For more information, or to volunteer, contact Brian Holcombe brian@backcountryalliance.org
November 8, 2008, 5:30 - 10:30pm
American Mountaineering Center
710 10th Street
Golden, Colorado
- Loveland Ski Area abandons plan for snowcat expansion
In a recent phone call, Bob Magrino, of Loveland Ski Area's Trails Department, told BSA Executive Director Brian Holcombe that the ski area will not pursue a controversial snowcat expansion into the Mt. Trelease (Dry Gulch) area adjacent to the ski area. Magrino cited internal concerns over profitability and terrain availability and the concerns of groups including BSA in the ski areaís decision to abandon any expansion within the ski areaís permitted boundary near Mt. Trelease.
In April 2008, many skiers and climbers, including BSA Board Member Heath Mackay witnessed Loveland snowcats operating in the Dry Gulch area near the current ski area boundary. When contacted, ski area staff explained that Loveland was exploring an expansion, with new snowcat skiing to occur in the area.
Our organization immediately became active in the issue, conducting a thorough review of the Loveland Ski Areas Revised Master Development Plan of 1995, the document that guides the ski areaís use of US Forest Service land within the permit boundary. BSA also distributed email messages and online news content regarding the potential expansion, while attempting to meet with Loveland Ski Area staff.
When that meeting finally occurred via phone in September, Magrino informed Holcombe of the ski area's intentions, "We (Loveland Ski Area) will not move to expand into the Mt. Trelease area in the foreseeable future."
We would like to thank Loveland Ski Area for acknowledging the importance of human-powered recreation. If you would like to thank Loveland Ski Area personally, call 800-736-3SKI or email loveland@skiloveland.com.
BSA will continue to monitor this situation and will inform our members if any activity occurs here.
To join BSA and receive email news updates and more benefits, click here.
Your membership support is vital to our work in preserving human powered recreation across Colorado.
- 2008 Backcountry Film Series
Film premieres across Colorado benefiting BSA
Join us in Fall 2008 for your local screenings of the Powderwhores' newest film, The Pact, and Sweetgrass Productions' first feature length film, Hand Cut. Each event will benefit the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance and our mission to preserve backcountry areas for human-powered users.
For dates and locations, click here.
- Backcountry Snows Sports Alliance Summer 2008 Newsletter
- Forest Service delays White River NF plan
Wendy Haskins of the White River National Forest recently announced via email that the release of the White River National Forest Revised Draft Travel Management Plan has been delayed until mid-September. This latest delay is due, according to Haskins, to the priority placed on the Colorado Roadless Rule publication, due out in August. We will receive a copy of the plan as soon as it is released and will update you on how you can help protect backcountry resources from Vail to Aspen.
- Dry Gulch Snowcat Update
As you know, backcountry skiers and climbers were surprised by snowcat operations underway in the Dry Gulch area, near Mt. Trelease and Loveland Ski and Snowboard Area in late April 2008. BSA continues to monitor the situation. We are working with the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest and Colorado Wild in reviewing the current Loveland Ski and Snowboard Area Master Plan and have attempted to contact Loveland representatives repeatedly since June 2008. We hope to meet with representatives from the ski area soon to discuss developments in this issue.
Dry Gulch is a popular backcountry zone for Front Range skiers, riders, and climbers. The Colorado Mountain Club operates numerous courses and trips in the area and each season sees increased use in the zone.
Help us protect your backcountry resources in Dry Gulch by making a tax-deductible contribution today! We need your help to protect this and other vital Colorado resources. Click here to donate today.
- Eclipse Snowpark
On Tuesday June 10, representatives from the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance (BSA) met with the group planning to develop a new ski area, Eclipse Snowpark, in the St. Mary's Glacier area in Clear Creek County, Colorado. More
- Survey Contest Winner
Long-time BSA volunteer Nicole Gordon has been selected as the grand prize winner for our Backcountry Survey Contest! Nicole, who has helped out at numerous Backcountry Bash events in recent years has won a pair of Voile 3-pin Hardwire CRB bindings!
If you have not yet, please complete our brief survey. We want to know more about our backcountry users! Brief Survey
- Spring 2008 Fresh Tracks Newsletter
- Snowcats in Dry Gulch
Backcountry skiers and climbers were surprised to find snowcats operating at the Dry Gulch backcountry zone adjacent to Loveland Ski Area on Friday and Saturday April 18-19. BSA Vice President Heath Mackay was skiing in the area on Saturday and made contact with the snowcat operator, Loveland Trails Manager Mark Abrahamson, who told Mackay that the ski area is exploring the opportunity for a snowcat skiing operation in Dry Gulch.
Dry Gulch is a popular backcountry zone for Front Range skiers, riders, and climbers. The Colorado Mountain Club operates numerous courses and trips in the area and each season sees increased use in the zone.
BSA is investigating this development and will keep you up-to-date as information becomes available.
For more information, call 303-494-5266.
- You've helped protect Red Mountain Pass!
Together, we've told the US Forest Service to protect skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing opportunities at Red Mountain Pass! Thank you for writing your letters - your efforts matter!
In an effort led by our Red Mountain Pass Area Chapter (RMPA), BSA and our members submitted comment letters supporting the designation of Red Mountain Pass as unsuitable for snowmachine travel in the agency's San Juan Draft Land Management Plan. The plan, due in its final edition in February 2009, will outline management of the forest through 2025. More
- Interview with Author/Photographer Peter Bronski
Boulder-based adventure writer and photographer Peter Bronski has been digging around Colorado history, researching backcountry skiing at Colorado's abandoned ski areas. He is researching the defunct hills for his forthcoming book, Powder Ghost Towns: The Backcountry Skier’s Guide to Colorado’s Lost Ski Areas. BSA caught up with Peter, fresh off an assignment at the Chic Choc Lodge for Vermont Sports Magazine. More
- Wooden Ski Rendezvous Photo Gallery This year's Wooden Ski Rendezvous was a glowing success! Visit our gallery to view images from the event, which took place February 29 - March 1 near Hahn's Peak. More
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CAIC Avalanche Map
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We have brought our new
blog, News from the Deep White Online!
http://backcountryalliance.blogspot.com
This site will be an online journal hosting the latest
news from our organization, as well as photography and stories
from skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing adventures around
the world. We will update the blog frequently with entries
from members and staff, so check back weekly and email info@backcountryalliance.org to submit a story. 
Submissions of all types and lengths are
welcomed and encouraged! Write about a recent day in the
backcountry, send photos of an adventure, submit a gear review,
or provide some other form of journal entry! |
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