As more people access the backcountry, learning how to safely and responsibly spend time in these spaces is critical to being prepared. Aspen Public Radio and The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) present the Roaring Fork Valley’s second annual Backcountry Symposium on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This FREE event will convene local and visiting backcountry enthusiasts to learn about outdoor education, recreation ecology, and mapping technology, as well as tips and tools for wilderness safety and backcountry decision-making.
Here is how to Register, which will enter you 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.
NEW: Get your portrait professionally taken by Rising Sun Photog as part of this special event (for free), as we work to capture images of real and aspiring adventurers who are spending time in the backcountry. The Whole Empanada will be on-site, selling delicious empanadas.
Find the agenda here.
