Winter 2010 - The Alpine Club of Canada

More documents

Recommendations

Info

ACC Ottawa Section members gather at Elizabeth Parker Hut. (from left front row sitting) Ivan Petrov, Murray Wagner, Ivan Wood, Susan Kasprzak, Theresa Calow (chef), Debbie Clouthier; (from left middle row) Wendy Swerdfager, Liesha Bruinsma, Mike Cockburn, Elfrieda Bock, Ryszard Tokarczyk, Cecile Schlesiger, Margaret Dixon, JoAnne Janigan, Leona Wall, David Foster; (from left back row) Patrick McCabe, Janet Campbell, Louise Proulx, Richard Hofer, Elizabeth Taite. photo by Ivan Petrov. What we did on our summer vacation by David Foster, Elfrieda Bock and George Bailey With a total of four camps running over three weeks from August 1 thru 28, the 2010 summer set a new benchmark for the Alpine Club of Canada Ottawa Section’s Western Summer Camps. While the Section has been organizing camps in western Canada’s mountains for many years—with great success—this year’s plan was the most ambitious to date. In total, 36 members participated and, by all accounts, had a terrific time. Rogers Pass Mountaineering Camp Twelve people were based out of the A.O. Wheeler Hut for 12 days. Extra days were added in anticipation of the unreliable weather for which Glacier National Park is well-known. The weather gods were obviously amused, blessing us with eight wet days. In spite of the meteorological challenges, the group managed to achieve many of its objectives, including ascents of Avalanche, Eagle, Uto, Abbott, Afton, Tupper and Cheops mountains. One group was turned back from an ascent of Youngs Peak when the skies opened up, and a second group attempting Uto also scratched their climb after waking to rain. Given the lengthy approaches in the area, high camps at the Uto/Sir Donald Col and Hermit Meadows allowed for proper alpine starts. The company was great and the evening regime of single malt and sing-alongs was sublime. Dave Foster and Bill Scott organized things, opting for a self-catered format, and rain days provided plenty of opportunity to re-provision in Revelstoke so there was no shortage of beer. —DF 8 Alpine Club of Canada Gazette Winter 2010 Lake O’Hara Section Camp This camp involved 21 participants plus everyone’s favourite camp cook plus perfect weather—all of which added up to an amazing week. The camp involved a large group of avid hikers and a smaller number of members with their eyes on the peaks. To kick things off, seven participants hiked to the Elizabeth Parker Hut from Moraine Lake, via Wenkchemna and Opabin passes—a truly awesome route. Long an “essential ingredient” at large ACC Ottawa Section camps, über-chef Theresa Calow delivered once again, making the camp an alpine culinary experience. As a bonus, “Tree’s” partner, ACMG mountain guide Andrew Langsford, stopped in for a few days and was quickly engaged to expand the climbing portion of the camp. Over the course of the week, which saw no rain until the last evening during dinner, virtually all of O’Hara’s fabulous trails were hiked and re-hiked. And with Langsford’s assistance, David Foster and Louise Proulx pulled-off a memorable 12-hour trip to Mount Victoria’s south summit, starting from Elizabeth Parker Hut and returning via Mount Huber and the Huber Ledges route. Ryszard Tokarczyk and Langsford then spent a day climbing Wiwaxy Peak and followed up with another during which they bagged Mounts Victoria and Huber in a day. A varied selection, and significant quantity, of wine, beer and fine scotch added to the ambiance of the evenings, as did many stories, songs and some vicious cribbage games. Everyone enjoyed an incredible week, and kudos to Elfrieda Bock for her excellent organization of everything. —DF Canmore Hiking and Scrambling Camp Nine participants plus more perfect weather equalled a second amazing week. Eight intrepid souls decided that one week in the mountains was not enough, and Helena Song joined them to explore hiking in the Rockies. The group set up camp in the Boswell Cabin next to the ACC Clubhouse—with amenities including two well-equipped kitchens, Louise Proulx and Dave Foster celebrate on the south summit of Mount Victoria. photo by Andrew Langsford.
a barbeque, showers and the beautiful ever-changing view of the Three Sisters from the large deck. The weather gods were cooperative for the most part. It rained Sunday afternoon as we hiked the Cougar Creek trail and Friday afternoon’s weather was unsettled. The rest of week was sunny and we chose hikes and scrambles around Canmore, in Kananaskis Country and in Banff National Park—Heart Mountain, Mount Lady MacDonald, Moraine Lake, Stoney Squaw, Ha Ling Peak, Galatea Lake, Middle Sister and Mount Lawrence Grassi. Pat McCabe joined Andrew Langsford and was introduced to a new addiction, mountaineering, when they summitted Mount Temple. Cecile Schlesiger teamed up with Richard Tokarczyk and was introduced to scrambling. Margaret Dixon and Helena Song wanted to try something different, so they decided to explore a hiking trail on horseback. The group opted for a self-catered format, which was very ably managed by Margaret Dixon, assisted by Elfrieda Bock. Our proximity to Canmore gave us lots of options to re-provision with food and beer and wine, so our evenings were spent enjoying great meals and great company. —EF Waterton-Glacier Intl Peace Park Camp A colourful article in a popular backpacking magazine and a potential participant’s enthusiastic response with details about past Waterton experiences helped to shape the objectives for this trip. With a mix of scrambling, hiking and backpacking opportunities, this camp sought to provide a balanced exposure to everything this “peace park” has to offer. Five participants (group size had to be limited in order to secure certain backcountry sites only available via lottery) enjoyed hikes to Crypt Lake and It is with great sadness that the Alpine Club of Canada marked the passing of one of its most cheerful, generous and delightful members this fall. (Nancy) Louise Guy died on September 30 at the age of 92, the day of her husband, Richard’s, 94th birthday. She was a mother, grandmother and a great grandmother, but for her fellow ACC members she was an energetic mountain companion who, although she did not take up climbing until her 50s, made up for it by continuing to climb into her ninth decade. Thanks to Louise’s efforts, the annual General Mountaineering Camp was rescued from a very near demise in the mid-1980s. Her presence there, with Richard, was a high point for many attendees, as was the inspiring sight of them dancing so gracefully at the annual Mountain Guides Ball. Farewell, we’ll miss you, Louise! In memory of Louise, the ACC has established the Louise Guy Memorial Fund. To learn more, or to make a tax-deductible donation, please contact Sheila Churchill in the National Office at 403.678.3200 ext. 108 or officemanager@alpineclubofcanada.ca the Rowe Lakes, as well as Hawkins Horseshoe (a scrambling and ridge route that takes in Mounts Blakiston, Hawkins and Lineham) and a two-day backpacking trip on the Boulder Pass trail in Glacier National Park to Hole in the Wall campground. The Crypt Lake trail lived up to everything posted on the web—a water taxi to the trailhead, switchbacks through alpine forest, waterfalls, a tunnel and a ledge all provided features to keep one amused on the way up and back. Our lunch at Crypt Lake, complete with its setting in an alpine cirque, was capped with a quick swim in its frigid waters. Bear scat on the Hell Roaring Falls loop provided a hint of things to come—two bears up in a tree on the opposite (thankfully) side of the creek. Completing the Hawkins Horseshoe was clearly a highlight of our trip. The ascent to the summit of Mount Blakiston took us over scree slopes and up a couloir to reach our goal. A faint path linked all of the peaks via ridges, save for a tricky bit past Mount Hawkins. It was a long day, taking us 13 hours to cover 23 kilometres. Waterton Lakes is definitely an area worth visiting again for its beautiful vistas, and with more than 1,100 kilometres of trails in the US’s Glacier National Park, we only scratched the surface in terms of the opportunities to be found there. —GB Summary Our four summer camps introduced many of the participants to the Canadian Rockies—the ruggedness and beauty of the vast and ever-changing mountain range; the feeling of insignificance amid the peaks; the challenge and urge to conquer; the sense of accomplishment on reaching one’s destination; the wonder, fascination and awe of a sea of summits as you sit atop a mountain. In short—what the ACC is all about. Alpine Club of Canada Gazette Winter 2010 9
Page 1 and 2: Vol. 25, No. 3 Winter 2010 Ontario
Page 3 and 4: The Alpine Club of Canada Publicati
Page 5 and 6: STONES INTO SCHOOLS and THREE CUPS
Page 7: Mount Burkett ∙ Coastal Range ∙
Page 11 and 12: pioneers and early people; that the
Page 13 and 14: Under 25 camp delights, inspires by
Page 15 and 16: Kode 30 1_3SQ EN ACC Gazette.pdf 1
Page 17 and 18: ke you want to leave your job and g
Page 19 and 20: On belay: Ice is not rock solid by
Page 21 and 22: in a head-to-head elimination forma
Page 23 and 24: Army Cadets partner with ACC for mu
Page 25 and 26: dehydrated but no longer suffering
Page 27 and 28: SMALL INVESTMENT BIG RETURNS IT DOE
Page 29 and 30: Executive Committee slate In accord
Page 31: “I’M NOT ESCAPING FROM REALITY,

Winter 2010 - The Alpine Club of Canada

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?