Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:05:12 -0800 From: Warren Caldwell To: alpine-club AT lists.stanford.edu, climbing AT lists.stanford.edu, redwood AT lists.stanford.edu, powderbound AT lists.stanford.edu Subject: [SAC] Intro to Mountaineering: March 3-4 SAC will be offering an Introduction to Mountaineering class in the end of February. There will be two classroom sessions and one weekend of practice in the mountains. Classroom Session 1: Thursday, Feb. 22, 7pm Classroom Session 2: Thursday, March 1, 7pm Weekend: March 3-4 Location: (possibly) Round Top, near Tahoe DESCRIPTION If you are a hiker hoping to start climbing some more challenging peaks, or a rock climber looking to experience the icy and snowy realm, or you've simply always wanted to get into mountaineering, here's your chance. We will cover such topics as proper and effective use of ice axe and crampons, self arrest, anchor construction, rope team management, as well as basic skills for winter camping and travel. A detailed itinerary will be available shortly for those who are interested. The weekend trip will give everyone the chance for extensive practice with the various techniques, and we hope to cap it off with a half day climb up a moderate peak. This is guaranteed to be great time. Stomping around in crampons, digging snow anchors, sliding down hills, and learning cool new skills will be both very satisfying and very fun. It will not be a boring class! REQUIREMENTS You won't need any special skills to participate other than general outdoor experience and fitness. We will be camping in the snow, with a possibility of bad weather, so you should be comfortable with camping and cooking outdoors, staying warm, and keeping your equipment organized and dry. GEAR You will need a lot of gear for this class, but don't let that deter you. Much of it can be rented or borrowed. I will consider gear in three categories: Clothing, Camping, and Climbing. I hope that you will all already have most of the appropriate clothing to keep yourself comfortable for two days in the mountains. Camping gear (tent, warm sleeping bag, pad, stove, pack, etc.) that you don't already have can be borrowed, shared, or rented without much trouble. Climbing gear (ice axe, crampons, etc.) can also be rented, but I will be happy to offer guidance for those of you who are considering purchasing these items. I will distribute a detailed equipment list to those people that submit applications. Please fill out the application below, and don't hesitate to contact any of us with questions or concerns! You friendly neighborhood mountaineering instructors, Warren Caldwell Paul Csonka Eu-Jin Goh APPLICATION (due midnight on Wed Feb 7) We are flexible and able to tailor the class to people's abilities. This application will help us do so. 1.) Name and Stanford affiliation 2.) How much camping and traveling in snow have you done before? 3.) What mountaineering experience do you have, if any? 4.) Do you know how to use a harness and tie several basic climbing knots? 5.) You have two lines to brag about your one greatest outdoor accomplishment. Show us how skilled/tough/capable you are. Highest peak, longest trip, toughest rock climb, hardest ski run... or just the best day you've had in the outdoors. 6.) Why do you want to take this class? 7.) Do you have any questions or concerns regarding: Scheduling? Your experience level? Gear? Anything else?