Edmonton Section Summer Camp 2019

Aug. 25 – Sept. 02

Little Yoho Valley

This year’s camp will be held in Yoho National Park near Field B.C. the camp will be twenty-one persons at the Stanley Mitchell Hut belonging to the ACC http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/stanley.html.  The main activity in this area is hiking and beginner to intermediate scrambling.  There are two mountaineering objectives the Presidents and Isolated Peak both are glacier ice approaches.  We will be bringing club ropes for those who wish to cross the glaciers and have experience.  The hut is well equipped with a propane stove and lights.  The main floor is dinning area and kitchen.  A large loft is a common sleeping bunk room above.                       

Based on a break even budget cost of the camp will be $600 for the week.  This will include accommodation at the hut, all food, breakfast, packed lunch, tea time, and dinner and camp cook.

The back country pass will not be included and is available from me, I will order them as a group from the National office of the ACC.  If you try to order them from ACC National directly you may not be able to, it contravenes their policy.  They want it done as a group.  The same with Parks Canada.  I separated the camp money from the passes because some may wish to go without a pass, take the risk.  I have not used one in the past and have not been asked.  To avoid the stress and the fine add $9.80 per night, $68.60 to the camp fee and I will send to the club and they will send me a verifying email.

The National Park web page, follow the leads from this page and remember the highway cuts this park in two and we will be in the Little Yoho Valley to the north and not Lake O’Hara to the south. https://www.field.ca/yohonationalpark/

Bivowac.com has some pictures of the area http://bivouac.com/ArxPg.asp?ArxId=2024

The following books are of interest: The Wonder of Yoho, Don Beers very good for trails.  Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, Alan Kane.  Selected Alpine Climbs

For further information and to secure a place;

John Booth

Ph. H.780-462-8014 or C.780-913-7620

Johnbooth26@gmail.com

To make your reservation email me and after getting confirmation I will keep your reservation for 10 days until your cheque arrives.  Please make cheque payable to “Edmonton Section of the ACC “and mail to me. Also you can do an e transfer. I will keep your cheque on file till June 1 when I will deposit them all. 

The camp is being organized and run by volunteers.  There will be no professional guides.  There will be a camp manager who will co-ordinate activities at the camp but will not act as an instructor or guide.  Participants will form their own groups and appoint a leader for each day's activities.  Participants will be expected to sigh up on the duty roster to share in camp chores such as helping cooking, cleaning, water hauling, garbage disposal, and other duties.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made before June 1, your fee less $75 will be refunded.

Cancellations made after June1, your fee will be forfeited unless a paid replacement is found. If a cancellation is made for compassionate reasons a refund may be made at the discretion of the manager.

It is a requirement of our liability insurance that all participants must sign our waiver. Also members of the ACC Edmonton Section.   Membership may be obtained from http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/  or ph.403-678-3200 ACC  office

First button on top of screen for memberships.  The Edmonton section web site is the easy way to find the waiver form, second button at top    https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/web/ACCMember/Community/Leadership_Development/Forms/ACCMember/Community/Forms.aspx?hkey=32fb39d3-3bdd-4ef7-b7b5-b3ea805aef02. If you have not signed a club waiver before you are required to down load the form and mail it to the camp manager a least a week before the camp, sighed and witnessed.

The weather at this time of year is usually stable but it is possible to have rain and cold, so come prepared.  The mornings can be quite cold.  Climbing ropes will be supplied but you must bring your own climbing gear.  Maps and guide books can be obtained from ACC office in Canmore.

If you have any dietary or health problems that we should know about, please contact the camp manager. There will be forms at camp asking for medical info information and next of kin. 

2ND Annual YEG ACC Ice Climbing Camp! March 23rd – 31st 2019

Overview

Join us for the second annual YEG ACC Ice Camp! No more envy for all the ski camps – finally one for Ice Climbers! This camp will be low key, with participants responsible for their own food / transportation. Accommodations are included (see below for details).

We have “Ice Leaders” for this camp, these are ACC members who are skilled, safe and confident with leading ice, they are graciously volunteering their time to make this camp a reality.

Participants are required to have all their own gear (club ropes will be provided). Please note that Avalanche Gear is potentially required for some climbs.

We will leave YEG at 6am Saturday March 23rd and will spend the day climbing BEFORE checking into the hostel that night. Checkout and drive home on the 31st.

Pre-requisites

Some prior ice climbing is required, Ice Leaders are here primarily to take participants out climbing, not to teach them the basics of ice climbing. You must be able to belay / lead belay is required for many venues.

Ice Leaders: Rory Skyes – March 27th – 31st; Jackie Pearce – March 23rd – 31st; Tony Wizniuk – March 23rd – 31st; Paul Husak – March 23rd – 31st. All Ice Leaders have been approved by the YEG Safety Committee.

Accommodation

Rampart Creek Wilderness Hostel

Camp Fee

$332.71. This includes accommodations at Rampart Creek Wilderness Hostel. PLEASE NOTE Wilderness Season Passes are not valid for this trip! All participants are responsible for their transportation, food and gear as well as cooking dinners for the Ice Leaders. An email will be sent once the camp is full to organize dinner cooking nights as well as carpooling.

Payment and Refund Policy

Payment in full is required to secure your spot for this camp. Should you be unable to attend the camp, it is your responsibility to fill your spot / work out payments between you and whomever takes your spot. The individual taking your spot MUST BE PRE-APPROVED by Jackie Pearce (camp organizer).

Registration Process

To be considered for this camp, please fill in the forms FOUND HERE, email to jackie.yegacc@gmail.com, and await further instructions.

All participants will be required to fill out an ACC Waiver AT THE COURSE, a copy of the waiver will be provided for you at that time. A copy of the waiver can be found with the link below for you to read over / understand prior to the camp.

Trip Waiver Link

January Monthly Meeting

January 15
7:00pm

NEW LOCATION
Strathcona Community League Hall
10139 - 87 Ave.

Plenty of on-site parking.

Section members Duncan and Donna McColl will present a program about their 2017 China trip, with a climbing focus.

We will be testing out a new format, which will be an amalgamation of regular monthly meeting and Pub night - with a twist: BYOB. Please come to enjoy the presentation, and take time afterwards to mingle, chat, share beta and trip plans with members and guests. 

REVISED Volunteer Subsidy Program for 2019

Based on feedback from Edmonton members, the course subsidy program has been revised for 2019 in order to increase funding for leadership development and to lower the barrier for new/aspiring volunteers accessing the program. The new program is outlined in the the revised policy document here: https://accedmonton.ca/course-subsidy-policy/

As for previous years, the program offers subsidies for courses taken by members, with the total subsidy amount based on volunteer contributions to the Section.

A significant change is the introduction of essential “core” courses for trip coordinators. For these, the subsidy value has effectively been doubled, and the initial qualification requirement have been reduced to appeal to new/aspiring leaders. “Core” courses include the following:

• Wilderness First Aid (Min 16 hr), Wilderness First Responder (or other 40+ hr equivalent), WFA re-certification.

• Avalanche Skills Training (AST) 2 or higher

• AST 1 (for active Ice Climbing Leaders only)

• Rock/Ice Rescue Systems, Improvised High-Angle Rescue (any level), or similar course

• Crevasse Rescue (Advanced)

Other highlights of the new policy are as follows:.

• Introduces a modest Gear Subsidy in the form of a gift card for volunteers that are not taking courses.

• Increases the cap on in-town volunteer contributions to promote volunteerism at Urban and Social events.

As usual, members can take a course at ANY TIME of the year, before or after their volunteer contributions. In other words, members do not have to wait to take a course and can fulfill their volunteer requirements later in the year.

If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact volunteering@accedmonton.ca.

Course: Skiing Committing Terrain

Dates: April 27-28, 2019
Cost: Approx. $500

This is a course led by an ACMG guide. Participants will learn travel and terrain management techniques for committing glaciated ski mountaineering terrain. Participants should have AST 2, crevasse rescue, superior fitness (up to 2000m days) and the headspace/ski skill to both ascend and descend steep (45°+), committing ski terrain. The cost for 2 days of this program will be roughly $500, including accommodation.

Contact Jeremy Cherlet at jeremy.cherlet@gmail.com for further information.

NEW Expertvoice Discount Program for All Members

New this year, all current members of the ACC are eligible to receive exclusive discount pricing of up to 70% off a wide range of brands including Mammut, Marmot, Vibram, Icebreaker, Outdoor Research, Zeal, and many more, through the online discount service ExpertVoice. This program was previously limited to active volunteers, and has recently been expanded to include all ACC members.

Signing up is easy: just visit https://www.expertvoice.com/ and follow the steps in this PDF document (link). You will require your electronic membership card which is available at alpineclubofcanada.ca. Existing members can also update their affiliation with the new National group by following the same instructions.

Approval usually takes less than a day! If you have any questions, contact info is available in the above PDF document.

Enjoy!

NEW Ice Climbing Courses

The following courses have been organized for members by Jackie Pearce and are listed on the trip schedule. Full curriculum details are linked in the descriptions below. To register please contact Jackie at jackie.yegacc@gmail.com

INTERMEDIATE ICE CLIMBING MOVEMENT AND TECHNIQUE COURSE

Want to be a better and more confident ice climber? Work smarter, not harder by gaining proper movement and techniques! This course is designed for those who have previous ice climbing experience (around 20 pitches is suggested) who are looking to gain efficiencies and confidence through technique. Limited to 4 participants this course consists of 2 full days with Brent Peters (ACMG). Dec 15 - 16, 2018 Course fee is $395.00 and includes accommodations at the ACC Canmore Clubhouse. For full details please check out the PDF, here.

LEARN TO LEAD ICE CLIMBING COURSE

Over two days we will cover equipment, hazards, movement skills, resting, anchors, ice protection and leading strategy. Prior ice climbing is required for this course as well as a real desire to learn and put the time in to become an excellent ice climber. Ideal candidates will have climbed around 20-30 pitches of ice. Participants are responsible for their own personal climbing equipment and a 60m rope. Limited to 4 participants this course consists of 2 full days with Sean Isaac (ACMG). January 19 - 20, 2018 Course fee is $427.50 and includes accommodations at the ACC Canmore Clubhouse. For full details please check out the PDF, here.

2018 Section Election

Election Season!

It's the time of year when we look to elect some of our board, for a multi-year term (each year different positions are elected). Each candidate in the 2018 election has prepared a short statement, so you can get to know them a bit better. All will also be presenting at the September Monthly Meeting, so come out and hear them in person!

How do I vote for a candidate?
Voting is not currently open. Once voting is open you will receive an email with instructions on how to vote (electronically only).

When do I get to know the results?
The results will be sent out after voting has concluded. The new board members will be introduced at our late October AGM.

Candidate Statements

Section Chair

Barry Anderson

First off I’d like to thank my fellow section member for the nomination.  I joined the ACC Edmonton Section after moving here only 6 years ago, with no network and the Alpine Club has been an invaluable piece of social infrastructure.  I have acted as a board member, mentor on club courses and trip organizer as part of an effort to invest back into the club that has had such a positive impact on my life.  Through the course of my day job and other volunteer activities I have completed structured leadership training, developed and continuously exercised my collaborative communication muscles to facilitate decision making through group consensus.    Using these skills to execute the role of Section Chair would be an honor and a privilege as I am aware of the integrity and passion current board and numerous club members bring to this organization.

Steven Rockarts

I’ve been a member of the Edmonton section since 2012 and my climbing career has “grown up” with the club so to speak. I started out with the club learning through SIM and then as a participant on trips over the first few years. After getting a lot out of the club, I decided to give back and have volunteered in many capacities, including running Winter on Ice, various styles of trips and teaching clinics in town. I’ve also volunteered on the board in the past as communications director. Over the years, I have seen the club grow a lot and I’m excited about the direction it is heading in. I’d like to see the section become one of inclusivity and be the first place people think of when looking for a place to help grow their confidence and leadership in the mountains.

Secretary

Michele Eickholt

I enjoy climbing, hiking, bicycling, and ski-touring in the beautiful Canadian Rockies. I gained an introduction to the mountains when I first came to Alberta through the ACC Edmonton Winter In the Mountains course and have kept having fun in the club. I co-lead climbing and ski touring trips. I’ve organized the Marmot Meadows group camp this summer and help with belay checks at RJF. The Secretary position is another opportunity to be involved and give back.

My career has been in public institutions. I’ve been in Edmonton for six years now and work in finance for the City, including providing planning and strategy in my team. Addressing the specific requirements of the Secretary position: I’m organized, fast and accurate at documenting meetings and have experience with reviews of policies and procedures. 

Thanks for your consideration!

Brian Fenske

Hello! My name is Bryan and I would like to be your next section secretary! While I only joined the Edmonton Section in October 2017, I cannot remember a time when the outdoors and mountains have not been a part of my life - I evidently was camping in a tent as an infant. Gradually, my sights turned to summiting mountains in addition to hiking below them. After over a decade of scrambling and a few close calls, I decided joining the section and taking some courses was a safer path forward. In addition, as my interests became more challenging, flying solo was no longer as appealing and I needed a medium to make a few wilderness friends. The club has not disappointed and I am eager to utilize my life-long passion for the mountains and give back to a local community that has already given me so much!

 

Safety Chair

Rick Checkland

I am running for re-election as the safety chair.

The safety chair has one basic responsibility. The safety chair and their committee perform the due diligence required to protect the section, its members and the trip leader. This means ensuring that the trip objectives, planning, and the leader’s level of training and experience are consistent with the legal responsibilities of the Edmonton section. This due diligence can involve discussing and providing suggestions to the trip leader to ensure the trip is safe and conducted for the benefit of the participants.

I have served in a number of board positions, including section chair, Breeze (newsletter) editor, climbing chair, ski chair, and courses chair. As well I have been involved with leading trips and instructing the section’s basic schools for over 4 decades.

I am active in climbing, skiing and hiking on section trips and lead several every year.

Foster Karcha

As Safety Chair, I would bring years of board experience, leadership experience, and a deep interest in safety cultures, risk management and mountain safety to the service of the club. I have experience mountaineering in winter and summer, backcountry skiing, rock, and ice climbing. I have previously served the club as Leadership Director (2013-2016), and I have been leading ski, mountaineering, rock and ice climbing trips for the club since 2014. In addition, I have over 8 years of experience in Search and Rescue, where I have served as a Team Leader (over 5 years), Training Director (2014-2017), and am the current Tasking Agency Liaison for Parkland Search and Rescue. I would bring a risk-based approach to the Safety Chair, encouraging volunteerism in the section: I would work with my fellow board members, volunteers, and course organizers to create opportunities for members while maintaining our strong safety culture.