For many years, the basic requirements for certification for trip leaders for the Denver Group have been to have a current first aid card, preferably for Mountain-Oriented First Aid (MOFA), attend a Leadership Seminar, and go on two Leader-in Training (LIT) trips. There have been no restrictions on the sequence of the program, but there has been a nominal two-year limitation on the time to fulfill the requirements. Many prospective leaders lost track of their progress, lost interest, and left the program.
The Denver Safety and Leadership committee, under the direction of Chair Barb Evert, has continually sought to improve the program with changes to the seminars and other means to provide a better system to train leaders for club trips. In recent years, special seminars have been provided to supplement the Trekking and Backpacking Schools so students could meet the seminar requirement.
Now, with the impetus of Denver Group Chair John Mill, another step is being taken: the development of a Leadership School. On consecutive weeks, two evenings of classes will provide the lectures, small discussion groups, and case studies that were components of earlier seminars. On the second evening, students will arrange to take a Saturday or Sunday field hike on the following weekend; they will also be assisted with arrangements for an LIT trip.
Field trips will occur on the weekend following the second class. Here, two experienced CMC trip leaders will meet with several students. They will meet to form a carpool, drive to a trailhead, organize the party, and conduct a hike. The leaders will discuss organization, pace, breaks, watching the weather, and use of map and compass. They will inspect the leader’s pack for special items (extra clothing, food, water, etc), and they will assist the leader in planning alternative routes and other pertinent topics.
Then, over the next two weeks, students will take MOFA. This is optional for those who already have met the first aid requirement.
The new system allows students to pass all of the requirements for leadership status in just a few weeks. We hope that this will encourage more and better leaders for the CMC.
In the future, we expect to add additional classes to the curriculum. Kay Miller has wisely recommended that map and compass, as well as other topics, be added to the school.
Barb Evert is the Chair of the Denver Group’s Safety and Leadership Com mit
tee. Al Ossinger has been appointed director of the Leadership School.
The Colorado Trail Foundation has announced its programs for the summer of 2000. They fall into three categories: the education classroom series, trail treks, and trail crews.
In their tenth year, the July-August week-long workshops of the educational classroom series are based on the Colorado Trail or at the Colorado Trail Foundation’s educational facility southwest of Lake City. The workshops will be managed and meals prepared by Gudy Gaskill. They will be taught by instructors from Western State College in Gunnison, Fort Lewis College in Durango, and retired professors. Located in superb mountain settings, they include daily classroom hikes and excursions. The cost is $290 per week for any course. The schedule is: “A Colorado Sampler” the week of July 9–15 or July 16–22; “Rocky Mountain Watercolor, July 23–29; “Wildflowers of the Rocky Moun tains” with two hours of graduate recertification credit, July 30–August 5 or August 6–12; and “Geology of the San Juans” with two hours of graduate recertification credit, August 6–12. For more information about classes, contact Gudy Gaskill, (303) 526-2721 or (303) 526-0809, or send her e-mail at gudyct@aol.com.
The six weeks of supported treks along the Colorado Trail allow hikes carrying only a day pack. The support crew transports gear from campsite to campsite and sets up and operates the community camp each night. This summer’s schedule is: Section 1—Chatfield Reservoir to Kenosha Pass (moderate), June 25–July 1; Section 5—Marshall Pass to San Luis Pass (moderate; one advanced day; limit twelve), July 9–July 15; Section 6—San Luis Pass to Molas Pass (advanced, limit twelve), July 16–22 or July 30–August 5; and Section 7—Molas Pass to Durango (moderate; one advanced day; limit seventeen), July 23–July 29 or August 6–12. For more information, contact Lila Miller (719) 685-1278 or by e-mail at glmctf@clsp.uswest.net.
Week-long trail crews are sponsored along the Colorado Trail from the South Platte River to the Continental Divide, between Breckenridge and Lake City to the scenic San Juan National Forest west of Durango. Bring your own tent and sleeping gear, but all meals, tools, and instruction are included for the nominal fee of $40 per week. Crews begin in mid-June and run through Labor Day weekend. For more information, call the Colorado Trail Foundation (303) 384-3729, x113.
The CTF has a website that contains a vast array of information on the Colorado Trail and the programs offered by the Foundation. Visit the site at www.coloradotrail.org.
Colorado Hiking Certificates are available for sale at the office of the Colorado Trail Foundation for $5. Certificate holders receive the benefit of having the Colorado Search and Rescue Fund pay all costs associated with their search and rescue incurred by local government agencies and its volunteers. Contact the CTF at 303-384-3729 x113, or send e-mail to ctf@coloradotrail.org for more information.