Document type : vocene
Date : 2010-12-08
Description : VOCene #31
Content :
VOCene #31 – December 8th, 2010
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In this VOCene:
I. Special announcements:
1) Message from your Journal Editor
2) VOC Voile straps on sale!
3) VOC T-Shirts on sale soon!
II. Upcoming Events and Trips
1) Ski movie: The Way I See It, Dec 8 (Wed, Today!)
2) Intuition Buy Night, Dec 10 (Fri)
3) Downhill ski: Seymour, Dec 11 (Sat)
4) Brew hut snowshoe and potluck, Dec 11-12 (Sat-Sun)
5) Keith's Hut Expedition, Dec 12-13 (Sun-Mon)
6) Powcrastination: Lizzy hut exam escapism, Dec 11-15 (Sat-Wed)
7) Beginner Friendly Black Tusk Meadows, Dec 18-19
8) Russet Lake Ski (or Snowshoe?) Trip, Dec 18-20
9) Annual Brian Waddington New Year Trip, Dec 27-Jan 3
III. Miscellaneous
1) Avalanche course signup
2) Rewards and incentives for trip organizers
3) Looking for slideshow presenters
III. Ms. Manners
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I. Special announcements:
1) Message from your Journal Editor
Wow, time is flying by! And yet, another fun and adventurous year is coming to its end. I had an awesome summer and a great beginning of the winter and I hope you had so too! Many adventures, not only outdoors, but also to get to know many of you. Adventures we have in common, adventures we share, and we may want to share in our annual journal.
The journal will be published at the end of February. Everyone interested in writing an article should do so in the next few weeks. If you could submit something before Christmas, that would be awesome. If you would like to add illustrations to your article or you are good at illustrating, let me know.
Please check the wiki (http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/VOCJ53) for guidelines, ideas, and "deadlines". If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me at journal@ubc-voc.com. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Good luck with the exams, Happy Holidays and a great new year!
Cheers,
Kathrin
2) VOC Voile straps on sale!
Yes, Voile has made us a special, limited edition, of their popular "Voile Straps", with the VOC logo printed on them! These straps are invaluable in many situations. Just this weekend our beloved Public Relations guy, Ignacio, broke a binding while out backcountry skiing. The fix? Two long Voile straps to lash his boot to the ski, and he managed to ski out. They have been used in the past for to tie skis together, tie skis to roof racks, hold broken skis together, make a sled, and much more! They are one hell of a useful item. We have three sizes, and prices are lower than MEC! The VOC straps will be on sale during normal gear hours, get them while they last!
3) VOC T-Shirts on sale soon!
Rumor has it that the VOC shirts will be arriving on Friday and will be available soon after for about $15. This is a great Christmas present for your friends and family, or a way of showing your pride in being a member of the coolest club at UBC. Watch the message board for updates.
II. Upcoming Events and Trips
1) Ski movie: The Way I See It, Dec 8 (Wed, Today!)
An evening of ski porn! There's no slideshow tonight, so instead, Phil is going to be showing one of this year's new ski movies (The Way I See It - by MSP). The movie will start rolling at the usual 7pm slideshow start time. There's a strong possibility that we'll end up at The Gallery afterward, as usual...
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=51016&t=51016
2) Intuition Buy Night, Dec 10 (Fri)
Big discounts on Intuition Liners! That's right, the liners you know and love (or don't realize you're missing) for cheap! Intuition has invited the VOC down to get big discounts on their liners. We're still hammering out the exact details, which will be posted on Monday, December 6th but all 'Dead Stock' (old models, weird sizes, stuff like that) will be offered at distributor pricing ('Cost'). There will also be significant discounts (30%) on all current stock and members who have 'Trip Organizer' status can get liners at the Promotive discount (40%). To make things even better, we've heard there's even going to be refreshments.
A few notes: sizes for the dead stock stuff is a little random, they don't have all sizes in all styles. Also, they may not be able to fit everyone that night, but will allow you to book a fitting for a later date. Oh, and BRING YOUR BOOTS! You can't figure out what liner works best for you if you don't have your boots with you.
Address: Intuition Sports Inc. 101-1715 Cook St. Vancouver, BC V5Y 3J6
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=50924&t=50924
3) Downhill ski: Seymour, Dec 11 (Sat)
Caitlin is organizing a group to go up to Seymour for some cheap downhill, telemark or snowboarding at the ski hill. This is a good opportunity to practice your turns.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=16603&t=16603
4) Brew hut snowshoe and potluck, Dec 11-12 (Sat-Sun)
A trip to Brew Hut to celebrate the end of the school term and the beginning of the winter holidays. The aim of this trip is to get people who have not been up to Brew Hut in winter a chance to make it up there. Since a fair few folk don't ski, people are encouraged to come on snowshoes. This is because as long as you walk, you can pretty much snowshoe. Skiers are welcome of course, but any lame skier heard mocking snowshoes will find that they have neither in the morning.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=16290&t=16290
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Brew_Hut_Snowshoe_and_Potluck
5) Keith's Hut Expedition, Dec 12-13 (Sun-Mon)
On the 12-13th December we're heading up to Keith's Hut for some skiing and wine drinking. Leaving early on the 12th and getting back into town late on 13th, it's a short access so we can take more wine. Anyone welcome as long as you have skinned and skied before or have a car. Avalanche gear and knowledge of how to use it is helpful. Snowshoers are more than welcome to come too.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=16609&t=16609
6) Powcrastination: Lizzy hut exam escapism, Dec 11-15 (Sat-Wed)
From Skyler: I have this silly exam schedule whereby I have a week off in the middle. So skiing is to be had at the Lizzy Cabin. The claims to sleep 8, but I've been in there with 8 and there was still breathing room. Probably 10 would be fine. I'm planning to be there from December 11-15th with two others (thus claiming 3 of the spots). If others are interested in joining anytime in or around the 11-15th please post here. You can really come and leave whenever you want if you have a vehicle of people in agreement.
The access to Lizzy Hut is not exactly beginner friendly. Mostly it's a long 15km from the parking which has on at least one occasion taken two days to do. But if you're a good skinner and a sufficient survival skier, you would be fine. Probably. The whole point it for powder turns though.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=16544&t=16544
7) Beginner Friendly Black Tusk Meadows, Dec 18-19
Black Tusk is a really cool looking mountain with some great meadows around it to ski. I like to ski. Let's go skiing! This is a beginner friendly trip, though it will be 'strenuous', particularly if you want to get some actual skiing done. The game plan is to drive to the Rubble Creek parking lot, then head up to either the Taylor Meadows, or the Black Tusk Meadows (preferable) depending on how we're feeling. Days are short so we'll probably just get up and make camp Saturday and then do a couple of laps Sunday morning before heading down. http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=16667&t=16667
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Dec_2010_Black_Tusk_Meadows
8) Russet Lake Ski (or Snowshoe?) Trip, Dec 18-20
This is a somewhat mellow three day ski trip up to Russett Lake in Whistler. Plan is to ski the 15km up to the hut via the Singing Pass trail, spend a day skiing some easy stuff around Whirlwind Peak, and then head home via the Musical Bumps, or back down the Singing Pass trail if things get tricky. Hopefully there will be room in the hut, but be prepared to tent.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=16601&t=16601
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Russett_Lake_Ski_Trip
9) Annual Brian Waddington New Year Trip, Dec 27-Jan 3
In what has now become an annual tradition, many VOCers head to the Brian Waddington Hut (aka Phelix Creek) to celebrate the New Year and shred the local gnar. It is one of the most beautiful VOC huts, and can hold the most amount of people, making for a pretty awesome New Years party. The hut can comfortably fit 24, and more if needed. You can stay for as little or as long as you want, everyone is welcome to come and go as they please. Please note that this is not a guided/instructional trip, but more of a gathering of like minded powder hounds. However, if you've never been to the hut before, you'll most likely find someone willing to show you the way.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Annual_Brian_Waddington_new_year_trip
III. Miscellaneous
1) Avalanche course signup
Don't want to get hit by an avalanche this winter? Well, the easiest thing would be to stay in the city... but if you want to keep going on out into the mountains then taking an avalanche course would be a good start. Soon there will me meters of snow covering our favorite playground, and these courses give you the basic knowledge you need to start becoming aware of the special hazards so much snow poses - that way you can actually make decisions. Information on specific dates/prices is posted on the wiki, so find a date which works for you and pay as soon as possible - payment is the only way to secure your spot, and these courses fill up quickly.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/2010_2011_Avalanche_Courses
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=15889&t=15889
2) Rewards and incentives for trip organizers
In an effort to reward our dedicated members who spend time teaching and leading our beginner members on some of the most fun trips to some of the most beautiful places in BC, we have developed a partnership with ProMotive.com to offer discounts on backcountry brands. These discounts are open to members who we call VOC Trip Organizers. You may be thinking to yourself, "I have led trips for the VOC! Am I a VOC Trip Organizer?" Or "how do I lead trips for the VOC to become a VOC Trip Organizer?" Well, in order to answer these questions, the exec has come up with a handy check list to determine if trips you have already led qualify you as a VOC Trip Organizer, or how help you lead your first trips to qualify you as a VOC Trip Organizer. See more info in the links below.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=49623&t=49623
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Discounts_for_VOC_Trip_Organizers
3) Looking for slideshow presenters
Every year we hold weekly slideshows at the clubroom (and sometimes in bigger rooms if it gets crowded). We're looking for people to talk about cool trips and adventures they've been involved in, basically show us your cool pictures and tell us about all the cool/hardcore stuff involved. After the slideshows we usually go for a beer at the Gallery upstairs.
Email Ignacio at rozada@math.ubc.ca if you want to give a slideshow. The format is very flexible and we've had a few instructional seminars too (how to build a harness, how to pack super light). We might even show some of the movies in our library, especially since we now have a new fancy projector, and a freshly painted wall (coming very soon).
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=49186&t=49186
III. Ms. Manners
Do you have a question for Ms. Manners? If so, email it to to your friendly neighbourhood VOCene editor and he'll forward it to Ms. Manners for review. Remember, there's no such thing as a stupid question, so ask away.
Dear Ms. Manners,
Lately I've been hearing lots of talk about how good the pow is, and how amazing the gnar was last weekend, and shredding and slaying gnar, pow-gnar, gnar-pow... I'm confused, what's this gnar thing? Should I try it next weekend?
Cheers,
Confused
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Dear Confused,
There is a brand of VOC'er that is hopelessly addicted to this drug known as gnar. From November to June they spend most of their free time thinking about it, planning how to get it, reminiscing about past experiences with it, looking at photos of it or making money so that they can pay their way to it. The most addicted of them all cannot forgo the drug even for a few months, and go looking for it in far away places even in the fall, when it is scarce and of low quality. This just makes them want it all the more. Don't be surprised if they reach out to you from their completely drugged out existence, trying to pull you in. This is just the drug's evil way of propagating.
The safest course of action is education. The VOC organizes courses about how to interact with this drug in a safe manner, taught by professionals with many years of experience with the drug. Safety bulletins are posted online. There is even a group which has gone so deep that they now require an advanced course to protect them from the slippery slope they are slithering down. Stay away from them and the white stuff.
Watch out for peer pressure. They will try to get you hooked. Tell you that they are not addicted. That you can try it once, and stop whenever you want. That with the proper safety devices the risks can be reduced. But remember, if you try it once, it will be physically nearly impossible for you to ignore the lure of the dry fluffy stuff ever again. It's scary and dangerous, stay away if you value your life as it is.
Yours,
Ms. Manners
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