Backpacking Section (BPX)

“JOIN THE PACK”

(Updated 04-01-2022)

BPX Statement of Purpose

The purpose of BPX is to promote backpacking as a core CMC activity, organize and coordinate backpacking trips, create and support a community of backpackers, and provide early notice of BPX events to members.

The annual dues of $20 provide members with benefits including first-in-line signup for the season’s trips, educational programming, and special events. More importantly, they support the mission of the CMC Backpacking Section – to build and sustain a program that provides life changing backpacking adventures to you, the BPX member.

NEW in 2022 are Car Camping Trips in a variety of Colorado’s beautiful outdoor wilderness and park areas!

Major 2022 BPX Activities

• Feb 3 – “Stake Your Claim” where 90+ pre-planned backpacking trips will be rolled out to BPX Trip Leaders
• March 1 – Enrollment begins for Denver Backpacking School
• March 15 – BPX members-only In-Person and Zoom 2022 BPX Trip Rollout Event
• April 1 – BPX members-first begin registering for 2022 BPX Trips
• May 1 to Oct 30 – Main BPX Backpacking Season, with 50 Backpacking and 7 Car Camping trips scheduled as of 4/1, and more added as the season progresses
• April 28 – Gear Shakedown, Pike National Forest cmclink
• May 14 – Gear Shakedown, Segment 3 of Colorado Trail cmclink
• May 27 – Gear Shakedown, Outside Nederland cmclink
• June 17 – Gear Shakedown, Mayflower and Mohawk Lakes cmclink
• Oct – Annual Member Event

BPX Social Media

• Facebook Page: Colorado Mountain Club Backpacking Section
• Instagram: @co_backpacking_bpx

Pack Leaders

• Trip Leader Names
• Benefits of Being a BPX Trip Leader
• Satellite Communication Device Data Plan Benefit
• Trip Leader Qualifications
• Paths to BPX Trip Leader
• BPX Trip Definition
• Vetting Questions
• CMC COVID-19 Programming Protocols

Members

• Benefits of Membership
• Trip Registration Guidelines
• BPX Suggested COVID-19 Ride Share Protocols

Resources 

• Backpacking Trip Classification is assigned for the entire trip based on the most difficult day of the trip:
  • Easy Backpack: <5 miles/1000′ (Easy Hike is <8 miles/1200′)
  • Mod Backpack: 5-10 miles/1000′-2000′ (Mod Hike is 8-12 miles/1200′-2500′)
  • Diff Backpack: > 10 miles/2000′ (Diff Hike is >12 miles/2500’+)
• BPX Policies and Procedures (P&P) e-Manual
  • BPX explains nearly every operating practice here. Scroll down the P&P Table of Contents to a topic, click on the topic, and a paper opens to give the rationale behind the practice
• BPX Newsletter
  • Backcountry Cache, distributed electronically monthly. Here
• CMC Backpacking School (BKPS)
  • BPX supports BKPS, which teaches the skills needed to safely and comfortably backpack in the Colorado Mountains. Here

Operations Committee

• Committee Members and Bios (click here)
• Committee Meeting Minutes
• Key Documents:
  • Denver Group Council Section Requirements
  • Application to and Approval of BPX by DGC
    • Committee Organization Amended April 13, 2021
  • Core Values
  • The Making of a Backpacking Community
  • New Committee Member Orientation
  • Complete 2020 Strategy & Objectives
  • 2020 Annual Report
  • 2021 Operating Plan Summary
• BPX Committee Functional Duties & Responsibilities
  • Communications Coordinator
  • Events Coordinator
  • Research Coordinator
  • Trip Leader Coordinator
  • Trips Coordinator

Important Links for Additional Information

• Public Health Orders by County
• Parks & Open Space Closures COTREX
• Federal, State and Tribal Outdoor Recreation COVID-19 Resources
• Find a Hospital

Educational

• Notes on Lightweight Backpacking by Bob Dawson
• How to Get On The Trail Quickly When Breaking Camp by Linda Lawson
• How to Set Up a Tent in the Rain
• “Lightweight and Thru Hiking”, A Zoom Presentation by Karl Ford (Note: this YouTube video is 1 hour, 55 minutes)