Did you hear?… BCA to team up with Alaska salmon fishing industry to throw a fund-raising bash for CAIC

Backcountry Access (BCA) — a Boulder, Col.-based manufacturer of ski touring and avalanche safety equipment — has informed SNEWS® that they will team up with the Alaska salmon fishing industry this fall to throw a fund-raising bash for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). BCA will host the first annual “Avalanche Jam” on Sept. 6 at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Col. This fund-raising party is to benefit the CAIC, which provides avalanche forecasting and education to Colorado backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers. Kodiak Island Salmon will be one of the event’s Summit Sponsors, providing 250 pounds of premium sockeye salmon, which will be barbecued on location by a Kodiak Island representative. Other key sponsors include New Belgium Brewery, Lowe Alpine Systems, Patagonia, Cloudveil, Lowa, and Mountain Hardwear. According to BCA marketing guru Bruce Edgerly, who once worked on Kodiak in the fisheries, BCA saw a perfect opportunity to provide a strong draw for the event and to support Kodiak’s sustainable fishing practices. The Alaskan salmon industry has faced increasing competition from the Japanese and Norwegian salmon-farming industries. Wild Alaskan salmon is generally considered more healthy, robust and tasteful than farmed salmon — and is considered more sustainable, as wild salmon are more able to resist disease and other harmful influences caused by domestication, Edgerly told us. The fund-raiser will be emcee’d by Denver radio personality and backcountry aficionado Biff America, and will feature bluegrass music from Boulder’s Ogallala String Band. For sponsorship or ticket information, contact BCA at 303-417-1345 or info@bcaccess.com.