VOC trips are organized by members like yourself, not professional guides. The trips go into wilderness areas where assistance is unavailable and unexpected events can occur. You could be seriously injured or die. You are responsible for your own actions. Please use caution.
[WORKHIKE] Waddington Hut Helicopter Replacement 2024 (also known as HMVDITTRAH) · Fri. Oct. 25th, 2024 - Sun. Oct. 27th, 2024
Warning: This is an old trip - it already happened
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Start: Friday, Oct. 25th, 6:00 pm
End: Sunday, Oct. 27th, 6:00 pm
Pre-trip meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 23rd, 6:00 pm
Pre-trip meeting location: VOC Clubroom/Zoom
Description:
Winter is fast approaching, and that means we need to hike firewood in to our huts!
Many people would do this with the assistance of a helicopter—but we’re not many people, we’re VOC’ers!—and we do, in fact, number in the hundreds, so if we get even a small fraction of the club out on this trip, the immensely tough work of moving firewood should actually be relatively fun, if no less epic.
Join co-leader Fiona Landwehr and I in a venerated VOC tradition: the How Many VOC’ers Does It Take To Replace A Helicopter woodhauling workhike (first pioneered by Ross Campbell in 2016). The VOC only works because we do, and this is a great opportunity to make memories with friends new and old while enjoying a beautiful part of BC. (You’re also required to complete a workhike to maintain gear rental privileges 😉)
What are we going to do?
The idea is to spend the weekend of October 26-27 hauling wood to the VOC’s Brian Waddington/Phelix hut so that visitors can be kept nice and warm (and dry!) over the long winter to come. The VOC is having firewood delivered by truck to the summer trailhead, but from there it will be our job to load up our packs as heavy as we can and carry the wood to the hut.
How are we going to do it?
From the summer trailhead, the journey to the Waddington Hut is 4.5km and 500m of elevation gain. We will drive there on Friday night as soon as classes are finished (We’re hoping to be crossing the Lions Gate at 6pm), and then camp next to our cars in order to get an early start on Saturday. Saturday AM we will put on our overnight packs, maybe add a few pieces of firewood if we can fit it, and briskly make our way up to the hut where we will empty our packs and head back down to the cars for our first (of hopefully at least two) loads of firewood. The aim here is to move enough firewood to last the winter; it has been done before, but it will take gumption and courage on the part of every one of us. That said, no contribution is too small, and you certainly don’t have to already think of yourself as hardcore in order to come out for the weekend and find out that you are capable of much more than you think!
Will we have fun?
Work aside, there will definitely be some time to enjoy the splendid alpine environment that the hut is located in. I’m thinking of bringing some pie and maybe we’ll even have some guitarists among us who can liven up the hut atmosphere on Saturday night. Depending on what we’re able to get done on Saturday, Sunday we may have some free time to explore, or we may need to put in another trip before driving back to the city—feeling immensely satisfied that we’ve done a good job for the club and general public who will use the hut this winter.
Am I a good fit for this trip?
Everyone should come with some overnight backpacking experience (as the goal of this trip is to get work done rather than to learn/teach) and everyone should be willing to hike at least two laps to maximize the quantity of wood moved (total distance 18km, 1000m elevation gain/loss). If you’re not so sure of your abilities and still want to come out, please do reach out to myself or Fiona - we may plan group food and need two or three people on cook duty at the hut (TBD!). If you want to help out but are worried you can't carry so very much this trip is still for you! Every little bit helps, just contact myself or Fiona and we can figure out the right course of action.
Details
What To Bring:
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A tent for car camping on Friday, if you have one.
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Everything on the Summer Overnight gear list.
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Lots of food, and extra tasty snacks for motivation and energy. It will be a tough day.
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A large overnight pack that you’re willing to fill with wood.
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You’re encouraged to rent from the club if you have any worries about damaging your own pack.
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Metal frame backpacks from the club will also be available.
Loads of stoke!
Desired Skills:
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Being able to walk.
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Being able to push yourself.
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Having a positive attitude to carry wood with and lift others up with.
Drivers:
As this is a club workhike, your gas will be covered, provided you submit two receipts to the VOC Treasurer. More details will be provided at pre-trip.
Safety
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We are leaving a detailed trip plan with a responsible party in the city.
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We will bring an InReach, and two-way radios will be distributed amongst trip participants to facilitate on-trail communication.
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We will be carrying a first aid kit.
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To be discussed at pre-trip.
Join us! It's gonna be fun!
Posted: 2024-10-14 12:36:33
Last modified: 2024-10-19 11:59:48