Winter 2010 - The Alpine Club of Canada
Winter 2010 - The Alpine Club of Canada
Winter 2010 - The Alpine Club of Canada
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ACC Ottawa Section members gather at Elizabeth<br />
Parker Hut. (from left front row sitting) Ivan Petrov,<br />
Murray Wagner, Ivan Wood, Susan Kasprzak, <strong>The</strong>resa<br />
Calow (chef), Debbie Clouthier; (from left middle row)<br />
Wendy Swerdfager, Liesha Bruinsma, Mike Cockburn,<br />
Elfrieda Bock, Ryszard Tokarczyk, Cecile Schlesiger,<br />
Margaret Dixon, JoAnne Janigan, Leona Wall, David<br />
Foster; (from left back row) Patrick McCabe, Janet<br />
Campbell, Louise Proulx, Richard H<strong>of</strong>er, Elizabeth<br />
Taite. photo by Ivan Petrov.<br />
What we did on our summer vacation<br />
by David Foster, Elfrieda Bock and George Bailey<br />
With a total <strong>of</strong> four camps running over three weeks from August 1 thru 28, the<br />
<strong>2010</strong> summer set a new benchmark for the <strong>Alpine</strong> <strong>Club</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Canada</strong> Ottawa<br />
Section’s Western Summer Camps. While the Section has been organizing<br />
camps in western <strong>Canada</strong>’s mountains for many years—with great success—this year’s<br />
plan was the most ambitious to date. In total, 36 members participated and, by all<br />
accounts, had a terrific time.<br />
Rogers Pass Mountaineering Camp<br />
Twelve people were based out <strong>of</strong> the<br />
A.O. Wheeler Hut for 12 days. Extra days<br />
were added in anticipation <strong>of</strong> the unreliable<br />
weather for which Glacier National<br />
Park is well-known. <strong>The</strong> weather gods<br />
were obviously amused, blessing us with<br />
eight wet days.<br />
In spite <strong>of</strong> the meteorological challenges,<br />
the group managed to achieve<br />
many <strong>of</strong> its objectives, including ascents<br />
<strong>of</strong> Avalanche, Eagle, Uto, Abbott, Afton,<br />
Tupper and Cheops mountains. One<br />
group was turned back from an ascent <strong>of</strong><br />
Youngs Peak when the skies opened up,<br />
and a second group attempting Uto also<br />
scratched their climb after waking to rain.<br />
Given the lengthy approaches in the<br />
area, high camps at the Uto/Sir Donald<br />
Col and Hermit Meadows allowed for<br />
proper alpine starts. <strong>The</strong> company was<br />
great and the evening regime <strong>of</strong> single<br />
malt and sing-alongs was sublime.<br />
Dave Foster and Bill Scott organized<br />
things, opting for a self-catered format,<br />
and rain days provided plenty <strong>of</strong> opportunity<br />
to re-provision in Revelstoke so<br />
there was no shortage <strong>of</strong> beer.<br />
—DF<br />
8 <strong>Alpine</strong> <strong>Club</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Canada</strong> Gazette <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Lake O’Hara Section Camp<br />
This camp involved 21 participants<br />
plus everyone’s favourite camp cook plus<br />
perfect weather—all <strong>of</strong> which added up<br />
to an amazing week. <strong>The</strong> camp involved<br />
a large group <strong>of</strong> avid hikers and a smaller<br />
number <strong>of</strong> members with their eyes<br />
on the peaks. To kick things <strong>of</strong>f, seven<br />
participants hiked to the Elizabeth<br />
Parker Hut from Moraine Lake, via<br />
Wenkchemna and Opabin passes—a<br />
truly awesome route.<br />
Long an “essential<br />
ingredient” at large ACC<br />
Ottawa Section camps,<br />
über-chef <strong>The</strong>resa Calow<br />
delivered once again, making<br />
the camp an alpine culinary<br />
experience. As a bonus,<br />
“Tree’s” partner, ACMG<br />
mountain guide Andrew<br />
Langsford, stopped in for<br />
a few days and was quickly<br />
engaged to expand the<br />
climbing portion <strong>of</strong> the<br />
camp.<br />
Over the course <strong>of</strong> the<br />
week, which saw no rain<br />
until the last evening during<br />
dinner, virtually all <strong>of</strong> O’Hara’s fabulous<br />
trails were hiked and re-hiked. And with<br />
Langsford’s assistance, David Foster and<br />
Louise Proulx pulled-<strong>of</strong>f a memorable<br />
12-hour trip to Mount Victoria’s south<br />
summit, starting from Elizabeth Parker<br />
Hut and returning via Mount Huber<br />
and the Huber Ledges route. Ryszard<br />
Tokarczyk and Langsford then spent a day<br />
climbing Wiwaxy Peak and followed up<br />
with another during which they bagged<br />
Mounts Victoria and Huber in a day.<br />
A varied selection, and significant<br />
quantity, <strong>of</strong> wine, beer and fine scotch<br />
added to the ambiance <strong>of</strong> the evenings, as<br />
did many stories, songs and some vicious<br />
cribbage games. Everyone enjoyed an<br />
incredible week, and kudos to Elfrieda<br />
Bock for her excellent organization <strong>of</strong><br />
everything.<br />
—DF<br />
Canmore Hiking and Scrambling Camp<br />
Nine participants plus more perfect<br />
weather equalled a second amazing week.<br />
Eight intrepid souls decided that one<br />
week in the mountains was not enough,<br />
and Helena Song joined them to explore<br />
hiking in the Rockies. <strong>The</strong> group set<br />
up camp in the Boswell Cabin next to<br />
the ACC <strong>Club</strong>house—with amenities<br />
including two well-equipped kitchens,<br />
Louise Proulx and Dave Foster celebrate on the south summit <strong>of</strong><br />
Mount Victoria. photo by Andrew Langsford.