Document type : vocene
Date : 2010-11-30
Description : VOCene #30
Content :
VOCene #30 – November 30th, 2010
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In this VOCene:

I. Upcoming Events and Trips
 1) Jared Stanley mountain safety memorial lecture, Dec 1 (Wed), 7-8pm
 2) Beacon practice session, Dec 1 (Wed), 8pm
 3) Beginner friendly day trip to Coliseum, Dec 4 (Sat)
 4) Banff Mtn. Film Festival, Dec 2-4 (Thu-Sat)
 5) Brew hut snowshoe and potluck, Dec 11-12 (Sat-Sun)

II. Miscellaneous
 1) Journal deadline coming up 
 2) Avalanche course signup
 3) Rewards and incentives for trip organizers
 4) Looking for slideshow presenters
 
III. Ms. Manners
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I. Upcoming Events and Trips

1) Jared Stanley mountain safety memorial lecture, Dec 1 (Wed), 7-8pm
 
For the past few years the VOC has been in charge of organizing the yearly Jared Stanley memorial lecture. Jared was a UBC student that died in Seymour mountain after getting himself in an accident. It took several days for the search operation to even start, as he hadn't informed anyone of his wherabouts, and his abandoned car was ignored. This year we'll have an SAR member and a VOCer who was involved in an avalanche last year.

http://www.geog.ubc.ca/avalanche/Jared.html
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=50697&t=50697

2) Beacon practice session, Dec 1 (Wed), 8pm

Beacons are devices that we wear when we play in the snow in avalanche terrain. In the event of a burial, we hope to use them to find our partners before it is too late. This event is for everybody. If you have never used a beacon before and want to know what the big fuss is, or if you want to practice your triple burial recovery skills with that new Tracker 2 you just bought, this event is for you. The practice will start immediately after the Jared Stanley mountain safety lecture, at 8pm at Wreck Beach.

http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=16320&t=16320
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Beacon_practice_session_Dec_1

 3) Beginner Friendly Day Trip to Coliseum, Dec 4 (Sat)

Coliseum Mountain is a modest bump on the North Shore visible from much of Vancouver. The trail begins with an easy 6km hike starting in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and continues up a moderately steep, marked trail to the summit. Snow shoes will probably be necessary to ensure everyone's sanity, but don't distress, the club has them for rent! With good weather we should have a great view of Vancouver and other north shore mountains. If the group is feeling strong and the conditions are good then we may continue on to the summit of Mt. Burwell (a neighboring peak) or even Cathedral.

http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Geoff%27s_Beginner_Friendly_Day_Trip_to_Coliseum_Mountain
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=16448&t=16448

 4) Banff Mtn. Film Festival, Dec 2-4 (Thu-Sat)

This is a great chance to see a selection of mountain films from the famous Banff Mountain Film Festival, from the comfort of Vancouver. We are selling a limited number of tickets. The shows will be December 2 and 3 in the Hollywood theatre, and December 4 in North Van. If you buy them from the VOC you'll save $3 compared to if you buy them online or at the door. To buy the tickets drop by the clubroom during gear hours or most days during lunch time and ask an exec member to sell you the tickets.

http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=49878&t=49878
http://www.accvancouver.ca/bmffworldtour_2010.htm
Movie lineup:
http://www.accvancouver.ca/bmff_playbill_10.htm

5) 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

III. Miscellaneous

1) Journal deadline coming up

Every year around March/April the VOC publishes its annual journal. This wouldn’t be possible without the help of all of you! To find out how you can contribute/help take a look at the link below, and feel free to contact the Journal Editor, Kathrin Lang at journal@ubc-voc.com. First deadline for articles covering stories from April to October 2011 is December 1st!

http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/VOC_Journal_2010_-_2011

2) 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
 
3) 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
 
4) 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,

I keep on forgetting important gear at home. Last weekend I forgot my skins at home and couldn't go backcountry skiing. Quite embarassing too. Do you have any suggestions how to avoid this situation in the future?

I hope to hear from you soon,
Forgetful

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Dear Forgetful,

It seems this is quite a common predicament, at least in the VOC. There are stories of people forgetting stoves, tents, tent poles, dinner - you name it, someone has forgotten it. The consequences run anywhere from being uncomfortable or cold to having to turn around and beyond.

It might be helpful to try and be more organized. Pack your backpack in advance, so that you have time to remember things that you forgot. Use a list. Try and keep your gear together from weekend to weekend. If you own a car, consider packing it in advance. Try and minimize gear that has to be grabbed at the last minute in the morning, and again, use a list of last minute stuff.

and... if you find yourself at the trailhead and discover that you have forgotten a critical piece of gear, have the strength of heart to consider changing plans - don't endanger yourself and/or your team mates just to save face.

Yours,
Ms. Manners

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