As more people access the backcountry, learning how to safely and responsibly spend time in these spaces is a critical part of being prepared. Join Aspen Public Radio and The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the Roaring Fork Valley’s second annual Backcountry Symposium.
This FREE event will convene local and visiting backcountry enthusiasts to learn about outdoor education, recreation ecology, and mapping technology — plus tips and tools for wilderness safety and backcountry decision-making.
Register now to be entered into a drawing for amazing backcountry gear and prizes!
The day will include a series of panel discussions and presentations exploring the outdoors and sharing key resources and tools for understanding the landscape of backcountry adventure.
Beginning with a Resource Fair, area organizations and businesses working in outdoor education and adventure will provide information and resources, including: Colorado Mountain College, Aspen Valley Land Trust, Buddy Program, Wilderness Workshop and Explore Booksellers who will be onsite with a selection of recommended titles available for purchase. Find the book list here.
Just announced! Get your portrait professionally taken by Rising Sun Photog as part of this special event (for FREE), as we work to capture images of the real & aspiring adventurers who are spending time in the backcountry.
And we’ll have The Whole Empanada onsite selling their delicious empanadas.
Symposium Agenda
11:30 a.m.: Prevention, Preparation and Practice: A Guide to the Wilderness Medicine Reference App
From pre-trip checklists to decision-making in the field, it takes both knowledge and practice to make sure you’re equipped for backcountry safety. Kaen Lapides (known as kl), founder of the Wilderness Medicine Reference app, explains how backcountry users can use this digital guide to respond to injuries and illness — and, crucially, prevent those incidents in the first place.
12:00 p.m.: Nature’s Classroom: The Evolution of Outdoor Education
In the eyes of outdoor educators, resilience and “roughing it” go hand-in-hand, teaching real-world skills while introducing young people to the backcountry. Join students and organizers alike for a conversation on the history of these wilderness programs — and how experiential education is evolving to meet the current moment.
Featuring Eric Boggs, a story strategist and experience developer at Intuit and senior faculty for NOLS, the National Outdoor Leadership School; Taylor Anthes, alumna of the Buddy Program's Outdoor Leadership class at Basalt High School and Outward Bound; and John Brasier, LEAD program director for the Buddy Program and former Outward Bound instructor, in conversation with Aspen Public Radio reporter and associate editor Halle Zander.
1:15 p.m.: New Owner, Same Traditions: The Future of the Marble Basecamp
A secluded basecamp near Marble has been a hub of outdoor education since the 1960s. Now, it’s turning to the next chapter under new ownership. Anjanette Garcia, community engagement manager of Aspen Valley Land Trust, explains why the conservation nonprofit bought the property in 2023 and what their vision is for the future.
2:00 p.m.: From Strava Clubs to Secret Trails: Tech and Ethics in the Outdoors
GPS apps like Strava, OnX and AllTrails are ubiquitous in the outdoors community, both a form of social media and a resource for backcountry access. How can we use these apps as a tool for connection — and what does it mean to use them responsibly?
Featuring Quinton Gonzalez, trail crew manager for the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association; Simi Hamilton, endurance athlete and Aspen Expeditions guide; and Zoë Rom, long distance trail runner and journalist, moderated by freelance journalist Kaya Williams.
3:15 p.m.: Out of Service, Still InReach: Satellite “SOS” Signals and Emergency Rescues
Deep in the backcountry, and far away from cell service, satellite communication devices let users call for help with an emergency “SOS” signal. Greg Shaffran, vice president of Mountain Rescue Aspen, explains what happens next — whether the signal has been activated on purpose or on accident.
4:00 p.m.: The Impact of Adventure: A Crash Course in Recreation Ecology
Outdoor recreation is a gateway to the natural world — but it can also have lasting impacts on wildlife, vegetation and soils. How can land managers mitigate the effects and still maintain backcountry access to the wild places people love?
Featuring Katy Nelson, wilderness and trails program manager for the U.S. Forest Service Aspen-Sopris Ranger District; Noah Creany, PhD, an ORISE postdoctoral fellow with the U.S. Forest Service; and Brittany Parker, chapter leader of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, whitewater paddler and member of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Sportsperson's Roundtable, in conversation with KUNC reporter Alex Hager.
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This symposium is being produced by Aspen Public Radio and TACAW, made possible by the generosity of Will and Nathalia Dolan, along with support from Colorado Mountain College, Bristlecone Mountain Sports, Aspen Valley Land Trust, Wilderness Workshop, Buddy Program, and Mountain Rescue Aspen.
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About Aspen Public Radio: Aspen Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to support, nourish, and enrich our community by providing informative, entertaining, and educational radio and digital programming in a reliable and professional manner. Founded in 1980 as Roaring Fork Public Radio Translator, broadcasting from Sy Coleman’s living room in 1981, Aspen Public Radio has now grown into one of the most relied upon news institutions in the Roaring Fork Valley. The station is located in the Red Brick Center for the Arts at 110 E. Hallam Street, Suite 134, Aspen, Colorado.
You can listen to Aspen Public Radio at 91.5FM and 88.9FM, along with other repeater signals depending on location throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, or by streaming the station at aspenpublicradio.org from anywhere in the world.
About TACAW: The mission of The Arts Campus at Willits is to present exceptional performing arts, cultural events, and thought-provoking programming that sustain a connected, engaged, and inspired community. The nation’s first net-zero, all-electric performing arts facility that functions using at or near net-zero energy usage throughout the year, TACAW features music, theater, comedy, film, lecture series dialogues and more. Learn more at tacaw.org or by calling 970-510-5365.