Overview

Given Colorado College's fantastic location, there are multitudes of outdoor opportunities available to our students. From Rocky Mountain National Park to the world-class skiing of Vail and Aspen, the CC community has easy access to dozens of naturally magnificent locations.

Skiing

The Freeriders Union of Colorado College (FUCC) is a student organization dedicated to skiing, snowboarding, and other snow-based shenanigans. FUCC provides vans to ski resorts, sponsors screenings of ski movies, and arranges Winterfest, CC's annual Block 7 ski trip to a local ski resort (and yes, of course we have T-shirts).

Climbing

Love climbing? Perfect! You've come to one of the best places in the country to exercise that passion. Be sure to check out the Climbing Association of Colorado College (CACC) and the student expense-free Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym in El Pomar Sports Center. Ritt Kellogg gives all students, no matter their experience level, a space to hone and refine their climbing skills and techniques.

The Ritt Kellogg Fund

So named for CC alum Ritt Kellogg '90, who was tragically killed in an avalanche on June 18, 1992 on the east face of Alaska's Mt. Foraker, the Ritt Kellogg Fund offers up to $1500 in funding to its applicants. The mission of the fund is to allow Colorado College students the facility and funding to promote exploration, imagination, and personal growth in the outdoors. Both of wondrous locations and on a deeply personal level, the Ritt Kellogg Fund offers true exploration to CC students.

CC Gear House

The Gear House at CC provides a wide range of equipment - including tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, stoves, telemark gear, etc. - to all students and staff for rent at reasonable rates. The Gear House has a variety of maps, books, and outdoor guides to help students plan their own trips; a ski tuning bench where students can work on their own ski/snowboard equipment; and a bicycle work stand and tools for students to work on their own bikes.

Report an issue - Last updated: 12/17/2020

Backcountry Recreation

If you want to be directly involved in the outdoors via Colorado College, then the Outdoor Recreation Committee (ORC) is for you. CC's student-led ORC facilitates such outdoor activities as hiking, camping, backpacking, canyoneering, cross-country skiing, back-country skiing, cycling, kayaking, ice climbing, and rock climbing. The ORC organizes at least one off-campus trip during block breaks and spring break. Colorado College students lead a majority of these trips, and the ORC offers outdoor leadership training for anyone who wishes to pursue it.

The Priddy Experience

The Priddy Experience is an assortment of student-led trips that takes place during New Student Orientation (NSO), the week before classes begin. As a welcome to first-year students, the Priddy Trip serves as an introduction to the CC experience by fostering a sense of civic involvement, responsibility, and partnership with our local community. All incoming students are divided into small groups and engage in both urban and backcountry service trips throughout the Southwestern region of the country.