WINTER PARK, Colo. – Berthoud Pass ski area’s Powder Guides will be giving FREE avalanche-awareness classes at REI stores and locations in Winter Park. The next class will be given Jan. 4 at the REI in Englewood. With the Colorado Avalanche Information Center calling 2000/01 a potentially severe avalanche season, outdoor enthusiasts are looking for classes to educate themselves. Due to popular demand, the Powder Guides added an Avalanche Level 1 class at the REI Flagship and Berthoud Pass on March 2 – 4.

The hour-and-a-half evening Avalanche class begins at 7 p.m. and is for skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, snowshoers, cross-country skiers and winter climbers – anyone who spends time in the backcountry. Participants will learn the basics of slope and snow conditions, avalanche danger indicators, survival tactics and equipment. Classes are part of the REI Outdoor School and Denver Flagship.

Jamie Wolter, Mountain Operations Manager, said they created the Berthoud Powder Guides/REI Avalanche Programs to address a growing interest in backcountry sports. "We generated so much interest with our programs last year that we decided to create a new class that would bring avalanche education to anyone who plays in the backcountry."

The curriculum is based on the Powder Guides’ 25-plus years of backcountry-ski guiding and avalanche experience. For further avalanche education, the Powder Guides offer on-mountain Level I (3-day) and Level II (4-day) avalanche courses for $165 and $295 respectively.

Jan 4 REI, Englewood

Jan 31 REI, Denver

Feb 15 Black Dog Mountaineering, Winter Park

March 15 Black Dog Mountaineering, Winter Park

Dec 15-17 REI, Flagship with 16, 17 at Bethoud Pass

Jan. 12-14 REI, Flagship with 13, 14 at Bethoud Pass

March 2-4 REI, Flagship with 3, 4 at Berthoud Pass

Feb 8-11 REI, Flagship with 9, 10, 11 at Bethoud Pass

Prerequisite: Avalanche Level I

The free avalanche classes are on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you have questions, please call 800-SKI-BERT. Please register 48-hours in advance for the Level I and II classes.

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• Any four people riding together in a car ski at Berthoud for $40. Good Fridays 1/12, 1/19, 1/26 in January.
• Bring in a lift ticket or season pass from another ski area and ski for $7 off a daily lift ticket at Berthoud. Good Mondays all season.
• Women ski free Sundays! Good Sundays 1/14, 1/21, 1/28 in January.

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