Document type : vocene
Date : 2014-12-23
Description : VOCene #25 2014
Content :
VOCene #25: Tuesday, December 23, 2015
Special Edition: I know I said that I would not send a VOCene this week, but I changed my mind! There are so many important deadlines coming up that need to be advertised!
In this Issue:
Special Features:
1. Submit an Article to the VOC Journal-Deadline January 15th
2. Climbing Wall Logo Competition- Deadline January 15th
3. Photo Competition- Deadline January 27th
The Usual Suspects:
4. Recent Trip Reports
5. Upcoming Trips
6. Message Board Highlights
7. Ms. Manners
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1. Submit Your Trip Report to the Annual VOC Journal!
Calling all adventurers - from first-time to old-time VOCers:
Have you been on a memorable or epic trip lately? We want to publish your TRIP REPORT in our annual journal! Simply submit the report to vocjournal@gmail.com.
Pictures can be submitted in JPEG format (resolution should be at least 300 dpi). Be sure to include a caption for each photo and who took it.
Don't hesitate - submit your report today! The deadline for all articles is January 15th!
Sincerely,
Your Friendly VOC Journal Editor
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2. Climbing Wall Logo Competition!- Deadline January 15th
We've decided on a name for the new climbing wall: The Aviary! I'd like to get a head start on a few things like having signs/banners made, getting staff shirts, and maybe even something as snazzy as membership cards. I'd love a cool logo for the gym!
The following might provide inspiration:
The name: The Aviary. This is following the UBC Thunderbird theme, and the fact that the gym space is tall and narrow.
The colour scheme. The wall is mostly a grey colour ("Stone" - RGB 201,207,204) with accent areas in a light blue ("Azure" - RGB 51,128,184)
The final version will need to be in a vector format (SVG, etc).
There is now a deadline set of January 15th at midnight! There is nothing like saying Happy New Year like a good old logo submission!
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3. Photo Competition- Deadline January 27th
It's time to pick your best pics and submit them to the VOC's annual photo competition!
The pictures can be submitted in the following categories:
A) Landscapes – Waterfalls, mountains, sunsets, etc. People are not the focus of the shot.
B) Action Shots – Photos of people outdoors and in action, usually climbing, skiing, or mountaineering.
C) Flora and fauna – Plants and animals only. A good place for macro's.
D) Club Activities – Parties, longhike, winter longhike, glacier school, and all other club activities.
E) Portraits – Portrait of a person. Preferably in an outdoor setting, and of someone in the club.
F) Misc – Anything that doesn't fit in the other categories.
In addition, there will be a photo chosen as the best overall entry.
Please send in your photos before January 27th. Winners are announced at the VOC Banquet. Contest winners and runners up will be printed in the VOC's 2014-2015 journal.
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4. Recent Trip Reports
Team Bad Idea Visits the Land Before Time
The Land is Torotoro National park in Bolivia – an incredible place well worth a visit that is somehow still off the gringo-trail. There is lots of excellent sightseeing and hiking, all complete with dinosaur footprints, strange rock formations, waterfalls, caves, and vast semi-arid landscapes. There is the massive cave system of Umajalanta of which a mere 7 km has been explored. I ventured down only the first few hundred meters and it was spectacular!
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5. Upcoming Trips
CHRISTMAS BREAK
Joshua Tree Christmas Rock! · Wed. Dec. 17th - Sun. Jan. 4th
Don't know how to lead ice? Screaming barfies sound unpleasant? How about camping at -30C or insane amounts of morning faff? Come to the mecca of winter trad climbing instead and enjoy belaying in the warm desert sun with climbing literally within your campsite. Depending on drivers and available free time, people can come and go as they please. No pre-trip meeting. Organizing rides and partners should be done here or by email.
Nephew of Icicles · Fri. Dec. 26th - Sun. Jan. 4th
Last year's peculiar winter triggered a severe outbreak of icestokinitis, the mad iceman disease, during which hordes of vocers wandered off to the wilderness to franticaly swing sharp metal bits into seemingly frozen parts of their environment (including but not limited to, refrigerators). This trip is not instructional and depending on where we go, people should be comfortable camping for several days in the backcountry in fairly cold conditions (think -20 degrees). People should also know how to put on a harnes and belay. However, it is not a problem if you have never ice-climbed before since ice climbing for beginners only involves top-roping. This trip will likely be going to the Rockies and therefore requires cars suitable for that journey (snow tires are mandatory unless you have a dying wish). Depending on how many people sign-up, I may organize a pre-trip later on. Space is very limited by the number of car spots.
New Years Powder Slaying at Waddington Hut · Fri. Dec. 26th - Sun. Jan. 4th
Continuing the tradition of past years, a VOC group will be heading to Brian Waddington Hut over New Years. The days are short and cold, but the skiing is excellent and the hut is warm and friendly (note: warm if you have lots of your friends with you)! This trip is a loosely organized, with small groups do their own objectives for the day and choosing the length of their stay. Each group needs to be self-sufficient (both while at the hut and getting to the hut) and comfortable making their own decisions. AST-1 or equivalent is highly recommended. The terrain at the hut and this trip itself isn't beginner friendly, although beginners are welcome if they make arrangements to have someone help lead them. No pre-trip meeting is scheduled, please sign up on the Wiki here.
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COMING UP IN JANUARY
Winter Longhike 2015: Mount Seymour · Sat. Jan. 10th - Sun. Jan. 11th
Winter Longhike is coming up! This is an introductory trip for winter camping. We'll be a large group of keen people that want to experience a totally new face of the white backcountry. We'll be having great fun and learning new skills such as building our very own snow shelter (or if you're ambitious enough, a snow castle). There will be a prize for the most elaborate snow-cave :D Other activities likely to happen include (but are not limited to): Backcountry food cook-off, sing-alongs, and great skiing on Sunday. Pre-trip meeting will be Wednesday, January 7th at 6:00 PM in Buchanan A202.
The Aviary Logistics Meeting · Tuesday, January 13th
With the opening of The Aviary fast approaching, I’d like to have a public info/discussion session where we can go over some of the details of how the wall will be run. I’ll go over the results of the survey I’ve conducted, and present my thoughts on some of the following points: Membership pricing structure, open hours, staffing, route-setting and programs. We’ll also go over more general concerns, get feedback and suggestions from everybody, and start up the stoke for what is going to be an EPIC facility! This event will be at 6:30 PM, location TBD.
Stepson of crampon (Beginner friendly ice climbing) · Fri. Jan. 16th - Sun. Jan. 18th
This will be beginner friendly but you should know how to belay someone on a top rope. No previous ice climbing experience is necessary but winter camping experience will help. I'll take people according to the committed sign-up order. Committed sign-up will open on January 7th. I will probably limit the group size to 12 people, but don't worry, more ice climbing trips will follow. I have a Modo van with snow tires booked so unless the winter doesn't come, this trips is a go! Pre-trip meeting will be Wednesday, January 14th at 6:00 PM.
Avalanche Skills Training Block C (AST-1) · Sat. Jan. 17th - Sun. Jan. 18th
Every year the VOC works with Canada West Mountain School in order to provide its members with discounted rates on avalanche safety courses, with the intent to help students mitigate the risks of backcountry skiing. The courses available to VOC members run from November thru February and in total include four sessions of Avalanche Skills Training I (AST I), and one session of AST II. This trip requires sign up in advance in the clubroom, along with payment. Cost is $230 (course and avy kit) + $110 (Whistler Pass). There will be an in-class session on the evening of Tuesday the week before. Note: registration closes early, so contact Ted Angus ASAP if you wish to participate!
TeleSchool at Mt. Seymour · Saturday, January 17th
Wish that you had a chance to learn how to tele ski in a controlled environment, with a teacher and without a giant pack on your back? Do you know the basics but want to hone those mad skills with the help of someone who can *actually* ski? Do you want a chance to show off your beautiful style while imparting knowledge to others? If you answered yes to any of the above questions than the VOC Tele-School is the trip for you! This will be a one day instructional even held at the Seymour Mountain resort on the North Shore. Groups will be organized with a teacher based on skill levels. These groups will include, 1) 'I have never skied before', 2) 'I can downhill ski, but dont understand how to bend my knees', 3) 'I know the basics but would like to be better', and 4) 'I am an awesome skier and shouldn't be at school'. Pre-trip meeting will be Tuesday, January 13th at 6:00 PM in Buchanan A202.
Exposure Volume II: SAR Fundraiser Movie Night · Tuesday, January 20th
Details forthcoming! Check out the trailer here.
Intro to Backcountry Skiing · Sat. Jan. 24th - Sun. Jan. 25th
Intro to Backcountry Skiing is a trip aimed at people who can ski already who want to get into backcountry skiing and tent camping. The objective of the trip is to camp and do some skiing above camp, or climb a peak and ski down (not just skiing to camp and back). Participants should ski well enough that they will be able to descend through forest with a pack on without hitting trees, but they do not have to look remotely good while doing it (this is called Survival Skiing). The trip is a one night excursion to an area with simple terrain and no hut. Participants stay in tents and cook in a snow kitchen, while getting some advice on travelling in the backcountry and winter camping from the more experienced trip leaders. Pre-trip meeting will be Wednesday, January 21st at 6:00 PM in the VOC Clubroom.
Slipstream Wilderness First Aid Training · Saturday, January 31st
Ever wondered what you would do if you or a friend was inured in the backcountry? Slipstream First Aid is once again offering the VOCa roughly 40% discount on their 50-hour and 90-hour Wilderness First Aid courses. These courses have been taken by members of theVOC in the past and have recieved very positive feedback. To keep things flexible, Slipstream is allowing us to purchase course vouchers that are good for one year from purchase. With your voucher you can select any course date and location that works for you. Please signup using the signup tool by early February. Please see Slipstream's website for course dates and info.
Discounted prices are as follows: 50-hour course: $285 + tax = $320; 90-hour course: $475 + tax = $535.
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6. Message Board Highlights
a. Check out the message board for numerous for sale items, including outdoor gear, tire chains and more!
b. You can still get your Climbing Stoke going despite the rains! Alternatively, you can also start getting stoked about skiing or stoked about ice climbing! Or, get your Mountain Bike Stoke on year-round. Check out these threads for awesome videos, photos and more!
c. Can't get enough climbing and eager for more? Check out the The indoor climbing faff thread!
d. What are your goals for 2015? What are your outdoor (or otherwise) goals for 2015? Put 'em up, get advice/beta from the community and start implementing a plan to make the dream a reality!
e. Want some female backcountry advise? Follow this thread!
f. Calgary Ski Partners? Ian will be in Calgary until Christmas and is looking for some ski partners.
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7. Ms. Manners
Do you have a question for Ms. Manners? If so, email it to to your friendly neighbourhood VOCene Editor and it'll get forwarded Ms. Manners for review. Remember, there's no such thing as a stupid question, so ask away.
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Ms. Manners is on holidays herself. Have a happy holidays and play safe!
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