Document type : vocene
Date : 2011-02-02
Description : VOCene #37
Content :
VOCene #37 – February 2nd, 2011
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In this VOCene:
I. Special Announcements
1) Final journal deadline
2) Photo contest now open
3) The Quartermasters need your help!
II. Upcoming Events and Trips
1) Slideshow: Mountaineering in the Cordillera Blanca (Peru), Feb 2 (Wed, Today!)
2) Beacon Practice, Feb 3 (Thu)
3) Intro to Ice Climbing, Feb 5-6 (Sat-Sun)
4) Richard's Ski Adventure: Ipsoot Mtn., Feb 5-6 (Sat-Sun)
5) Gili's Beginner Friendly Day Trip, Feb 6 (Sun)
6) Semi-Weekly Kayak Polo, Feb 8 (Tue)
7) Slideshow: Ski Mountaineering in Sphinx Bay, Feb 9 (Wed)
8) Sphinx Ski Camp, Feb 14-20 (Reading Break)
9) Bike Trip: Vancouver-Seattle (Reading Break)
10) Skyler's Himalayan Experience, Mt. Rainier, Feb 12-15 (approximate dates)
III. Miscellaneous
1) Rewards and incentives for trip organizers
2) Looking for slideshow presenters
3) VOC T-Shirts on sale!
4) VOC Voile straps on sale!
IV. Ms. Manners
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I. Special Announcements
1) Final journal deadline
The final journal deadline is coming up very soon: February 15th.
If you know you will write an article or have already submitted one, please update the wiki with the title and author name. When submitting, please remember to submit photos, and captions for your photos as well! Please include the location, names of people in the photo and who took the photo.
If you decide to change a trip report (TR) into a journal article, please don't just send the TR, but reread it, consider adding some information, give it a personal twist if it doesn’t have one yet, maybe some background about the region the trip was, why you were on the trip (especially if you did that trip by yourself and with friends). If you need some ideas you can also ask people you were on the trip with. If you’re not sure, just read a couple of articles from old journals and you will get a hang of it, or you can send your article to the journal editor and she will send it back to you with some suggestions. Also, if anyone is interested in some illustrations, comics,… simply some fun stuff, that would be great. Ideas can always be discussed on the message board!
Last but not least: HELP NEEDED!
Contact Kathrin Lang if you would like to help with editing - you get a sneak preview of the journal!
If you are interested please email journal@ubc-voc.com.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=49224&t=49224
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/VOCJ53
2) Photo contest now open!
The annual and much acclaimed VOC photo contest is now open! The deadline for submission is February 15th at 4pm. You may submit a maximum of six photos.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=51587&t=51587
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Photo_Contest_2010-11
3) The Quartermasters need your help!
The club has grown and so has the pile of gear in the gear room. This has resulted in a huge work load for our poor quartermasters. Therefore, they need some helpers! Here's your chance to give something back to the club, and also learn a bit about our equipment and meet lots of new people.
The Quartermaster helpers do things like:
-help fit boots to peoples' feet
-help adjust ski bindings to boots
-help people get the right pair of climbing shoes
-help adjust crampons to boots
-help people try their harness on
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=50366&t=50366
II. Upcoming Events and Trips
1) Slideshow: Mountaineering in the Cordillera Blanca (Peru), Feb 2 (Wed)
The Cordillera Blanca ('White Range') is a beautiful range of mountains in northern Peru. It has 33 peaks over 5500m, and reaches 6768m (22,200') in altitude. Yet it has some of the easiest access and logistics for any peaks of its size. You can have a mule carry your pack to basecamp, and you can get back to town for pizza and beer within a day of climbing a 6000er. Come learn about mountaineering in the Blanca, as James Murphy recounts tales from his expedition there in June 2008. Clubroom, 7pm.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=51977&t=51977
2) Beacon Practice, Feb 3 (Thu)
Beacon practice at Wreck Beach! There is no such thing as too much practice with avalanche beacons, so EVERYONE could use a little more. We'll be heading down to Wreck Beach after dark where we'll bury avalanche beacons and practice finding them. If you have no idea how to use a beacon, we'll teach you. If you know what you're doing, you can either help instruct people or work on complex scenarios. The beacon practice session will take place at Wreck Beach on February 3rd from 6pm onwards. Once we're done playing in the sand we'll walk over to The Gallery (or Koerner's) and have some victory beers.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=17334&t=17334
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Beacon_Practice_Feb_2011
3) Intro to Ice Climbing, Feb 5-6 (Sat-Sun)
This is the VOC's annual trip which aims to introduce ice virgins into the realms of ice climbing. We will drive up to Marble Canyon near Cache Creek, which is one of the most reliable spots for ice climbing accessible in a weekend from Vancouver. Since it's a long drive Friday evening departures are encouraged. We will camp at the campsite by Crown Lake and spend both days climbing ice - top roping, for the most part. The actual ice is just a short walk away from the campsite. Saturday night will hopefully involve a bonfire (probably good to bring a bit of firewood with us). Depending on cars,instructors and conditions people can drive to a different spot on Sunday and then drive down via Pemberton if desired - this will be finalised at the pretrip meeting. In previous years we usually hung out in Marble Canyon for both days and there was enough to do there.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=17311&t=17311
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Intro_to_Ice_Climbing_2011
4) Richard's Ski Adventure: Ipsoot Mtn., Feb 5-6 (Sat-Sun)
Richard is organizing an intermediate-advanced friendly skiing trip to Ipsoot Mountain. People interested in participating should have winter camping skills, have carried an overnight pack and have been on backcountry skis before and can handle all kinds of Coastal snow (elephant snot, crust, ice, etc). This trip will only take place if the avalanche conditions are moderate or low, as we will be travelling across avalanche paths and complex terrain. Ipsoot Mountain is a classic winter ski trip, and a relatively strenuous weekend trip. If the weather is ideal, this may turn into a 3 day trip allowing ascents of Rhododendron, Miller, or Sugarloaf also. Early mornings, dark nights, cold fingers, numb toes, and breakable crust guaranteed. We will organize tents (4 season only), stoves, rides, dinners at the trip meeting. You should have your own skis and boots that are compatible with your feet. If the weather changes and it's going to be miserable and cold and wet, we may change this to a daytrip to somewhere else.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/IpsootSki
5) Gili's Beginner Friendly Day Trip, Feb 6 (Sun)
Tired of carrying a large overnight pack? Don't feel like cooking? Prefer to sleep in your cozy and warm bed? This is a beginner friendly winter ski day trip. The beginner part means that we will help beginners and wait for them, but you must be fit, prepared for the weather, have backcountry skied before and importantly: must have probe, shovel and transceiver and know how to use them. The final destination will be decided closer to the trip, based on the forecast and avalanche hazard. Some options: Telemagique Ridge (near Callaghan), Mount Sproatt (near Whistler), Zoa Peak, Zupjok or Great Bear (all on the Coquihalla, so a bit far), and others. We will probably leave quite early, since the days are short. Since this is a last minute day trip, we will organize it on the wiki and message board - no pre-trip meeting.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=17496&t=17496
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Gili%27s_Beginner_Friendly_Day_Trip%2C_6/2/2011
6) Semi-Weekly Kayak Polo, Feb 8 (Tue)
For a while now, VOCers have been holding semi-weekly kayak-polo sessions at the UBC pool or the beach. Typically, half the time is spent practicing rolls, as there's always people that want to learn, and the rest of the time we play kayak-polo. Please check the message board thread for updated information (which will be available
soon).
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Kayak_Polo_%40_the_Aquatic_Centre
Previous session: http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=17219&t=17219
7) Slideshow: Ski Mountaineering in Sphinx Bay, Feb 9 (Wed)
Ski Mountaineering in Sphinx Bay, presented by Christian Veenstra. Clubroom, 7pm.
8) Sphinx Ski Camp, Feb 14-20 (Reading Break)
Back in the day, the VOC used to swarm up to Sphinx Bay for their annual Spring Ski Camp - this generally happened during exams, but it was a large event, often involving food drops by aeroplane to extend the party. We even built the Burton Hut up there. More recently it seems that we haven't quite been sure whether or not Garibaldi Lake is frozen during exams - so let's do it during Reading Break. The VOC is often hanging out around Sphinx Bay anyway, this should just help people get together. A fair amount of the organization, and a slideshow about ski mountaineering in Sphinx Bay (see above), will be done by Christian Veenstra.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=17229&t=17229
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Sphinx_Ski_Camp_2011
9) Bike Trip: Vancouver-Seattle (Reading Break)
Do you suck at skiing but still want to do something adventurous over the reading break? If so, this is for you. Sahriar is going to be cycling down to Seattle over the reading break. The current plan is to bike down to Mt. Vernon and then head west to bike down Whidbey Island. We’ll then take the ferry over to Seattle before taking the bus/train back to Vancouver. There may be a way to get back for 6 dollars. It’ll be around 70 km a day, and we’ll be going at a comfortable pace. This is a beginner friendly trip, so no previous touring experience is required, although some experience commuting by bike would make it easier for you. Take a look at the wiki, and sign up if you’re interested!
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=17470&t=17470
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/2011_Reading_Break_Bike_Trip
10) Skyler's Himalayan Experience, Mt. Rainier, Feb 12-15 (approximate dates)
Mt Rainier, towering above the Seattle skyline, is the tallest of the Cascade Volcanoes. In the summer it is swarming with all sorts of mountaineers. Hundreds of people will summit the mountain on some summer weekends, waiting in lines to follow a clear crampon-trail up the mountain. But in the winter, this all changes. At 4392m elevation, Mt Rainier is a serious mountain. Harsh weather, deep snow, complex avalanche terrain, challenging route finding, and short days are added to the relatively high elevation. In winter, Mt Rainier begins to resemble a remote Alaskan or Himalayan peak more than a crowded Cascade peak. Safely climbing Mt Rainier will depend largely on clear weather and reasonable avalanche conditions, so dates will likely change. Clear weather in the winter, however, is often accompanied by cold temperatures, so climbers should expect extreme cold.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Rainier_Again
III. Miscellaneous
1) 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
2) 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
3) VOC T-Shirts on sale!
The VOC t-shirts have arrived and are now on sale! The t-shirts are 100% cotton and were printed by American Apparel, so they are high quality. This is a great present for your friends and family, or a way of showing your pride in being a member of the coolest club at UBC. The price is $17 for a shirt (exact change only) or $20 for a shirt + Voile strap (see below). The t-shirts are on sale by exec members - lunch time is a good time to drop by.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=51097&t=51097
4) 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!
IV. 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 have a secret. On trips where poop bags are mandatory, I never poop in the bag. I hold out as much as possible, and if necessary, just go in the woods. Am I a terrible person?
Thank you,
Pooper
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Dear Pooper,
Last year, I dragged my old ass up to Motel 66, a beautiful campsite above Anniversary Glacier. That evening, after a wonderful sunset, I pulled out my poo bag and went looking for a private spot to do my business. My arthritic knees were bothering me that night, so I spent some extra time looking for a comfortable spot. Several times I almost stepped on a human toad, the equivalent of a land mine. These things stink and are definitely an eye sore. Stop being so spoiled, and get that shit done.
Yours,
Ms. Manners
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