Good News....

Good news, it’s going to snow this winter and after enough snow, there will be backcountry skiing.  I am sure the majority of my snow sliding brethren feel like I feel.....we want a refund from the end of the 2019-2020 season.  FOBP’s on-snow events had barely finished when our team was put into lockdown, ski resorts abruptly shut down and we were strongly discouraged from venturing out into neighboring mountain communities to reduce their exposure.

Now we are embarking into the great unknown together with pandemic recreation education!The potential influx of new BC travelers was the primary topic of conversation on our weekly FOBP Zoom calls during the lockdown.  We had a period of great concern regarding how we will get our message out when we can't perform our education in person.  For the last 16 seasons, all we did was in-person education.  We want you to hear our voice of concern, warning, and excitement that we put into each presentation.  Hearing your questions, concerns, and doubts keep us on our toes engaged in this venture.  We love what we do.  Most of all, we want you to make smart, educated decisions every time you go into the backcountry.Our Education team has a new director and seasoned FOBP educator, Jeff Welch, who has been diligently learning about broadcasting, microphones, lighting, editing, and importantly, ZOOM.  Then he pivots and is teaching the rest of the education members, who are going to in-turn teach the team members, who are then going to bring all of this hard work to you in the form of online Avalanche Education. 

FOBP will be in full swing late this fall broadcasting the science that you need to get your backcountry smarts started, refreshed, or fine-tuned.We are embarking upon a new time in recreational skiing.  Resorts will not look the same, neither will backcountry skiing.  We, the cumulative "we", as in all backcountry travelers of all types, are going to experience an influx of newcomers, once-upon-a-timers, has-beens, mixed with the old heads, everyday travelers, and pros.  I suggest spending extra time, being EXTRA careful, taking this season slow, making sure we read the CAIC daily bulletin, and put it into your travel plans.  Enjoy the fact that you are still here on this snow globe to lay down tracks.  Look for more engaging content from FOBP this season, as there have been a lot of new ideas being developed.This is just a message from your pals and gals at Friends of Berthoud Pass, who are just as excited about education as you are of your first turns this season.  Online education will bring new challenges that we are taking in stride, so please join us this season to spread the word about avalanche safety.   Our season schedule will be released in October with learning opportunities starting in early November 2020.

Cheers,
Brian