Mountain Rescue Aspen passes re-accreditation exam
 
Mountain Rescue Aspen passed its re-accreditation exam last weekend, a rigorous two-day test given every five years.
 
The process involved an avalanche scenario, winter steep snow evacuation, vertical rock rescue, low-angle rock rescue and a missing person search. A 32-person evaluation group, comprised of members from 12 other regional Mountain Rescue teams, traveled from as far away as Alaska to test Mountain Rescue Aspen. Over 40 Mountain Rescue Aspen personnel were involved in the exercise. Flight for Life Colorado also joined the re-accreditation exam on Sunday during the avalanche and winter steep snow evacuation. 
 
Mountain Rescue Aspen would like to remind everyone traveling in the backcountry to be prepared for any emergency by carrying appropriate equipment and ensuring that someone knows your travel plans. Mountain Rescue Aspen is an all volunteer organization dedicated to saving lives through backcountry rescue and mountain safety education, and is an arm of the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office. In case of an emergency please call 911. For more information on backcountry travel and safety please visit www.MountainRescueAspen.org [1].

NASTAR Championships ink two-year deal with Snowmass
 
The NASTAR National Championships will be held in Snowmass for the next two winters.
 
NASTAR — the public ski racing purveyor found at most U.S. resorts — 
will host the five-day event March 20-24 next year, and dates unannounced in 2014, at the Spider Sabich race area at Snowmass Ski Area. Skiers ages 3 to 90 from around the country will converge on the resort in a week full of activities including concerts, giveaways, ski clinics and family activities. Participants and their guests will receive discounts on lift tickets and lodging.
 
To qualify for next year’s NASTAR National Championships, racers must earn a top-five resort ranking in their ages and ability category by Feb. 18, 2013. Racers will be categorized by age, gender, division and discipline and take two runs on Friday and two runs on Saturday. Holders of the best handicap scores from Friday and Saturday will be invited to compete in the final Race of Champions competition on Sunday. A trip to a U.S. Ski Team training camp in South America will be on the line for the fastest man and woman.  
 
The event will be put on in conjunction with the Aspen Skiing Co. and Nature Valley granola bars. For complete information visit www.NASTAR.com [2].