Alpine Rescue Team’s 2018 Backcountry Safety Programs

Join us at our HQ at El Rancho for this year’s series of free classes and programs (donations are appreciated). Seating is limited, so register by clicking on the links below.

February 18, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM – Backcountry navigation – learn to use a compass and a map! – Limited to 16.

March 8, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM – Skills for the Hills ’18: Technical Rock Climbing Safety

April 5, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Lightning, Hypothermia and Altitude Sickness

Basic to Intermediate Map and Compass Navigation

• Topographical maps: What do all those marks mean?

• How to read map contour lines, general markings, map colors, etc.

• Understanding and using Universal Transverse Mercators (UTMs).

• The compass and its parts.

• Understanding "magnetic declination," and how to adjust for it with your compass.

• Route navigation: plotting a point and course on a map.

• Overcoming obstacles on your route.

• GPS overview.

• Translating UTM’s to a map and vice versa, and using with GPS units.

This is an intensive class and is limited to 20 students. We will begin promptly at 8:00 AM.

If you have a GPS unit, feel free to bring it. We will discuss its use.

Please bring pencil, paper and a straight edge.

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Please park in RTD’s El Rancho Park n’ Ride across the street or the lower, dirt lot – DO NOT park on Alpine’s or Foothill Fire Department’s asphalt parking lots or driveways. Thank you.

The training calendar below shows Wednesday trainings, which are open to the public, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Weekend events are for members only unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Skills for the Hills is Alpine Rescue Team's public wilderness and backcountry education program. Our classes are free, however we appreciate donations at the door. We never charge you, your family or the local authorities for search and rescue.

Support Alpine Rescue Team and all Colorado SAR teams by purchasing a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) Card. Buy a five-year ($12) or one-year ($3) card online .

"Skills for the Hills" is used with permission of Mountain Aid, Scotland.