As we anticipate another year of increased recreation in Colorado’s backcountry, we ask for your continued help to educate visitors and residents on how they can prepare for an amazing, yet safe adventure this winter. By sharing the assets and content below, we are encouraging everyone from backcountry beginners to experienced outdoor enthusiasts to practice the Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principles.
We want to thank all of the Care for Colorado Coalition Stewardship Partners and Members who continue to educate, promote and practice backcountry safety and awareness. We also want to express our gratitude to all those who are involved in Colorado Search and Rescue (CSAR) for their tireless efforts, especially in winter. These volunteer responders provide their skills, experience, physical capabilities, mental fortitude and teamwork to serve Colorado visitors, residents and communities.
The Colorado Tourism Office is wishing you a safe and happy holiday season this year, and we hope to see you in the new year for our January Care for Colorado Coalition Meeting.
Yours in stewardship,
Tim Wolfe, Director, Colorado Tourism Office
Dana Watts, Executive Director, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Help Us Share the Care for Colorado Monthly Messaging
Please feel free to share these assets on your own channels — just be sure to credit the partner organization and link back to their site.
- Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principles
- Colorado Tourism Office: Get Out in Front of Backcountry Danger
- Colorado Tourism Office: Take a Winter Backcountry Class
- Colorado Tourism Office: How to Recognize the Risks in Colorado’s Backcountry this Winter
- Colorado Tourism Office: Resources by Sport
- Leave No Trace for Backcountry Snowsports
- Leave No Trace: How to Plan a Backcountry Trip
- Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office: Winter Outdoor Recreation Directory
- Colorado Avalanche Information Center
#CareForColorado social media posts
Share any of the winter-safety-focused social-media posts below to encourage visitors to Care for Colorado on all their adventures. Use one (or all) of these ready-made social posts or create your own. Don’t forget to tag @VisitColorado and @LeaveNoTraceCenter on all your posts.
- Caption 1: In the backcountry, unpredictable weather and avalanches can strike even the most seasoned winter recreationist. Make sure you #KnowBeforeYouGo and check conditions with the @ColoradoAvalancheInformationCenter. #CareForColorado #LeaveNoTrace
- Caption 2: The beauty of the backcountry is unmatched--so let’s keep it that way for generations. Whatever you pack in, pack it out. It’s all of our responsibility to keep Colorado landscapes clean and to #TrashtheTrash. #LeaveNoTrace #CareForColorado.
- Caption 3: Before you adventure out in Colorado’s backcountry, always tell someone where you’re headed and when you’ll be back home. Some areas that are easy treks in the summer can become dangerous in winter conditions. #KnowBeforeYouGo and respect trail and area closures. #CareForColorado #LeaveNoTrace
Know Before You Go/Care for Colorado Additional Resources
- COtrip, for road conditions
- OpenSnow, for daily snow, forecast and a ski report
- Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), for avy forecasts
- COTREX, Colorado Trail Explorer
- Colorado Cross Country Ski Association
- Colorado Snowmobile Association
- Colorado Concierge Traveler Safety Module
- National Weather Service
Care for Colorado Coalition News
- Leave No Trace went through a rebrand last October and all assets have been updated to reflect their new logo. The assets can be found in the Care for Colorado Principles Toolkit.
- Berthoud Pass has been selected as a Leave No Trace Hot Spot. To see how you can help, click here.
- CPW Partners in the Outdoors Conference is calling for session proposals. If you are interested in submitting a proposal follow this link for more information.
- GOI70 has two new carpooling apps to connect drivers and passengers on I70 headed to the mountains and ski resorts-designed to reduce mountain corridor congestion. To check out the new carpooling apps, click here.
Care for Colorado Coalition Highlight
Stewardship Partner: Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
OREC provides a central point of contact, advocacy, and resources at the state level for the diverse constituents, businesses, and communities that rely on the continued health of the outdoor recreation economy. OREC encourages people to spend time outdoors for the mental and physical health benefits outdoor activities provide, as well as the economic benefits outdoor recreation provides to our communities.
A priority of the office is to raise awareness about the risks inherent to outdoor recreation, and ensure safety messaging reaches the greatest number of people possible. To that end, the office has built a central directory of winter recreation safety and educational resources to help Colorado locals and visitors safely get outdoors in the winter. The Winter Outdoor Recreation Directory makes it easy for everyone, from novice to experienced recreationists, to find information on avalanche safety training, winter guide and outfitter services, and educational materials. OREC urges you to share the directory with your networks to ensure everyone has access to winter safety resources. If you would like to contribute to the directory, please use this form.
For more information about the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office click here.
Stewardship Member: Aspen Expeditions
Aspen Expeditions has been running backcountry mountain adventures in Aspen and around the world since 1977. All of our staff are trained and/or certified through the American Mountain Guides Association as well as through in-house ongoing training, including Leave No Trace.
Our activities run a wide gamut of adventures: from intro to ice climbing, Level 1 and 2 AIARE avalanche education courses, private hut trips, and international climbing and skiing expeditions. As mountain guides we are always acting as stewards of the land by introducing clients to the wilderness and teaching them how to be safe and care for the natural environment.
For more information about Aspen Expeditions click here.
Care for Colorado Coalition
If you have any questions about the Care for Colorado Coalition or would like to refer an organization, agency or business to be a Partner or Member, please email Barb Bowman.