Friends of Berthoud Pass stoke and big thank you.

[Pinner]

This past Saturday and Sunday FOBP organized our first on-snow avalanche practice field days. Both days were a resounding success and by all accounts the day was packed with solid hands-on learning, lots of laughs and even a few face shots thrown in for good measure.

The weather cooperated and all participants were prepared, energized and eager. The energy was positive and the facilitators were fantastic.

FOBP owes a lot of people for making this happen.

Primary thanks go to Halsted Morris for his classroom presentation which set the stage for our on-snow sessions. From the particpants for their enthusiasm and patience, to the facilitators for their knowledge and understanding, to our sponsors for stepping up where we needed them, it took volumes of effort to do this right.

Personally, I think my three partners in this monkey house are due all the credit.

Back in August Foggy Goggles had an idea. He ran with it and, through many hours of phone calls, personal contacts and not just a little hair-pulling, had a solid framework for an avalanche awareness clinic. Hev stepped up to organize a registration and payment structure and managed the rosters and all the technical and logistical viscera. Strand wrote the on-snow curriculum, called in favors and goaded and threatened everyone he knows to assemble a solid crew of facilitators. I was put in charge of handwarmers.

We're proud, satisfied and just a little tired. We'll be taking a few weeks of needed rest to enjoy the holidays, attend to some housekeeping, lay some turns down at the Pass and plan future good stuff for FOBP. We're hoping to offer more of these educational opportunities and starting to take other ideas from conception to reality. Stay in touch, let us know how we're doing, and let's get together to ski or just to shoot the breeze.

Thanks again for all your support.

See ya at The Pass!

berthoudpass.org
fobp_info@yahoo.com

[Below Zero]

I'd like to give a big thanks to all the FOBP facilitators, organizers, and volunteers. Sunday's on snow session was a great learning experience, plus it was a fun time. It was great to meet a bunch of maggots I had never met.

Thanks guys!

[The Reverend Floater]

Pin, Hev, Strandmang, and Froogle Google are serious heros, y'all. Recognize!

[Lurch]

Thanks for all the effort guys; you did a very good job especially for the first time ever doing anything like it.

[lemon boy]

Yes, Thank you guys for putting that all together. It was quite enjoyable for me.

[co lurker]

My wife & I want to thank all the volunteers for their time and effort this past Saturday. This was our first exposure to any hands on snow study and avy work. We found the the morning session snow study the most satisfying of the classes. The mix of our group included novices and some experience. The size (6) of the goup was manageable. Our team leader, STD, did a very good job of getting everyone to participate in the tests and decision making.

We wish we had more energy to participate in additional avy rescue scenerios, but the long postholing hike to the debris field wiped us out, especially my wife who unfortunately did most of the work as she somehow found herself breaking trail at the front of the group. (Our new AT rigs will prevent this problem in the future)

Despite the troublesome avy scenerio, we fully enjoyed the day and look forward to future FOBP productions. The more exposure, the better.

Side note: My wife definately had a boost to her self esteem from this class. Being twice the age as some of the participants, she was concerned that she was not in shape to keep up. It turns out she was the one busting trail and setting pace most of the time. :D

[Crinkle]

Seriously good work on all fronts by the bbbboys from FOBP. Great to get some hands on experience up there. FOBP put some serious work and it definitely paid off well in my opinon. The turns weren't too bad either. :cool:

mr lurker, i was in your group in the AM session on saturday. (red jacket and the only other guy than STD on skis, horrible head cold) Your wife was a trooper breaking trail in the afternoon. Finally i yelled up from the back for someone to sack up and take over for her. I can't belive those creeps let her do all the work.

[co lurker]

Crinkle, nice to have met you. Maybe we'll share some turns one day.

I was the primary creep behind my wife. I wanted to get in front of her, but everytime I tried she got stuck to her hips.

Eh, that workout will make her stronger in the long run. :wink:

[telechuck]

Huge props to the FOBP crew. This was a great event and a great opportunity to brush up the skills while meeting new people.

Oh yeah, we even got in a few turns.

Not sure what favor Strand called in, but the free pint at the brewery afterwards was outstanding.

I certainly hope they have the energy and resources to do another event like this one.

[Foggy_Goggles]

It sounds like everything worked out well. Thanks to everyone that came and especially those that helped out. A one point I wondered if FOBP could get 20 people to attend a classroom session. This shit is blowing up. I'm sending for help.

[SheRa]

I'm glad this went off well. I wanted to come so badly, but the store kept me in the county so I couldn't make the classroom time. Halsted said something about doing another round in January and I'd really like to come to that.

[Ireallyliketoski]

That was some funny looking crew up there on Sunday. Dig a pit, this snow sucks, dig a pit, this snow is garbage, rinse and repeat. FOBP is a fine organization, everyone should support it regardless of your political affliliation.

[STD]

Hey Pinner, where are my handwarmers? ;)
Contrary to his statement, Pinner spends as much time if not more than any of us on helping out with FOBP.

Special thanks to Grandpa Yossarian, Lemon Boy, homerjay, Crinkle, and other non-maggot facilitators for volunteering extra time & knowledge to help out.

Great to see some maggots again who I've met before, and also meet new ones. Halsted even asked the group "So, how many of you here tonight are maggots?" or something of the like. heh

We really appreciate all the feedback....we want to ensure that anytime there is an FOBP event that a good time is had by all. You all here have helped us accomplish that. Stay tuned for further events!

[Pinner]

heh

Remember this thread? Stay tuned for some really good news in just a minute...

[Cornholio]

I waited a whole hour. What's up?

[Pinner]

Hello Friends!

The high country was dusted this week with fresh snow. The ski movie premieres are upon us. We’re digging out the tuning bench, talking about season passes and making travel plans. And we’re thinking about backcountry safety.

Building on the success of last year’s FOBP avalanche training, we're offering a series of awareness clinics again this season and as a big thank you to the Front Range backcountry community, going to kick off the season by offering our first classroom session free of charge to the general public on Tuesday, October 11, at the Oriental Theater (4335 W. 44th Avenue, Denver) from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

We’re hoping to offer at least two or three additional classroom sessions in the Denver/ Boulder area and hope to arrange one in Grand County this year too. On-snow sessions will be announced shortly.

The October 11 session is a really special opportunity for us. In a comfortable and informal setting, our good friend Halsted Morris, the Colorado Avalanche Center’s Training Coordinator and Chief Instructor will provide backcountry travelers with an overview of avalanche awareness, avoidance, rescue and forecasting methods and skills. Topics such as route selection, hazard minimization, best practices, preparedness and terrain analysis will be covered. Morris is one of the most respected and experienced avalanche educators in North America and we’re honored and fortunate to have him share with us.

Please arrive early as Halsted will start promptly at 7:00 pm. Parking is available in the neighborhood, though we respectfully request that you don’t park on Stuart Street north of 44th Avenue as a courtesy to the residents on that block.

Registration is not required for this event, but if you feel like it, RSVP us and direct any questions or comments to fobp_info@yahoo.com Please forward this to anyone in the area who you think might be interested.