montage 62.1.pub

Transcription

montage 62.1.pub

MONTAGE
The Alpine Club of Canada—Le Club Alpin du Canada
Montréal Section Newsletter
Vol. 62 No. 1 ● February 2004
Asulkan Glacier Sunrise, Rogers Pass, B.C. Montreal Section photo contest “Skiing and Snow Adventure”
Mount Edith
winner,
Cavell.
Chris
Photo
Meyrick
Chris Meyrick
w w w. a c c m o n t re a l . c a
Keene Cabin Custodians
Chic-Choc Mountains
Keene Farm runs on volunteer power
Page 18-23
April and May are peak ski season
Pages 10-11
Courses and Outings
ACC Adirondack Trail Day
Let’s be good stewards of the wild lands
Back Cover
Winning pics &Get set for 2004 edition
Pages 8-9
Doctor Popsicle
Mountain Environment
Rockies Section Camp
Falls through the ice so you don’t have to
Hypothermia plus David Letterman?
Back Cover
Leave No Trace
Simple tips to protect the outdoors
Page 23-26
ACC Montreal Section Camp
Wheeler Hut in Glacier National Park
Pages 6 & 7
Volunteers keep Keene open
Lots’o’fun
Page 12-17
Montage Travel Feature
Avalanches
Montage safety feature
Hidden danger or safe slope?
Pages 27-29
2003 Photo Contest
ACC—FQME
Climbing access
Agreement
New climbing
areas in
Lanaudière
FIFA 2004
The Alpine Club is concluding an agreement with the FQME to permit ACC
members to climb at FQME–insured cliffs
in Quebec.
Two new climbing areas are being developed in Lanaudière at SAINTEÉMÉLIE-DE L’ÉNERGIE and SAINTCÔME.
Noted with Pleasure:
The Sierra Club’s 2002 production “Ansel
Adams: A Documentary Film.”
Final details are not yet available but
should be known soon. To get the latest
club news, please visit the ACC Montreal
website at www.accmontreal.ca and sign
up for the email announcement list (see
website for details on this).
Volunteers and interested persons are
are needed to help begin the route
development activity and other activites
at the two sites.
Please contact Jean-Claude Néolet for
more information via email at:
jc.neolet@sympatico.ca
Ansel Adams:
A Documentary
Film
A biography of visionary American outdoor photographer Ansel Adams. His
timeless images of Yosemite Valley
helped convince the American government that the environment’s natural
beauty is a national treasure.
There is still time to catch the screening
on March 20th at the Montreal Museum of
Fine Arts. This film is shown as part of
Montreal’s 22nd annual Festival International du Film sur l’Art (FIFA).
M. Berger
Page 2
www.accmontreal.ca
Montage 62.1 - February 2004
Editorial
newsletter@accmontreal.ca
Save the Kootenays!
Do we need another pristine mountain area
ruined by a tasteless and tacky resort development? Most of us would say no.
Montreal Section
Alpine Club of Canada
For 13 years, an entity known as Glacier
Resorts Ltd. has been trying to do just that.
And for just as long, the people of the
Kootenays have been fighting to stop it
from happening.
Got something to say?
E-mail the exec at
executive@accmontreal.ca
Glacier Resorts Ltd. has proposed spending
$450-million over 25 years to build a small
town with enough hotels, condos, chalets
and townhouses to hold 6,000 residents. It
would have two gondolas, an aerial tram
and 25 lifts to handle an anticipated
700,000 visitors a year.
There's just one problem with this dream.
The local people don't seem to want it.
Over the past decade, more than 6,000 of
them have signed petitions opposing
Jumbo Glacier Resort. (A significant number, given that just 9,000 live in Nelson.)
You can help preserve the wildness of the
Canadian Rockies. Please see Page 26 for
ways you can help fight this project.
Doug Williams, Montage Editor
Alpine Club of Canada
Safety Web Site
Highly Recommended!
http://alpineclub-edm.org/accidents/index.asp
The Montage encourages you
to support the ACC
Planned Giving campaign
ACC National Club
For information on hut or Canmore
clubhouse reservations or anything else
call the ACC at (403) 678-3200, ext. 1
Fax (403) 678-3224
E-mail info@AlpineClubofCanada.ca
Lots of information at our website:
www.alpineclubofcanada.ca
Montreal Section Video Library
Call David Percival for more info
514-481-2435
Executive Committee
Specific E-mail addresses at:
www.accmontreal.ca
Chair: Susanna Oreskovic
514-708-8221
Past Chair: Mike Rogers
514-630-5690
Secretary: Marjorie Jack
514-880-7039
Treasurer: Ed Potworowski
514-340-1978
National Rep: S.Oreskovic
514-708-8221
Membership: Suzanne Bolam 450-458-1657
Webmaster: Andrew Parker
514-489-4923
Ski House Coordinator:
Murray Levine
514-633-1533
Socials: Volunteer needed—Position open
Outings: Brian Kinsie
514-733-0635
Courses: Andrew Manning arboral@yahoo.com
Environment:
Volunteer needed—Position open
Public Relations: Norbert Cyr 450-358-7703
Newsletter: Doug Williams
Dave Gillespie acckeenefarm@yahoo.com
Members at Large:
Marie Michelle Johnson
450-465-1919
Tom Haslam-Jones
450-672-3415
Keene Farm Committee
(MAC Inc.)
Dave Gillespie
acckeenefarm@yahoo.com
Tom Haslam-Jones
450-672-3415
Ed Potworowski
514-340-1978
E-mail macinc@accmontreal.ca
Ski House Committee
Ski House e-mail contact: Paul Chapman
skihousereservations@accmontreal.ca
Murray Levine
514-633-1533
Martin Suiches
514-747-2828
Martin Goldstein
514-489-4615
Gigi or Don Wighton
514-739-7228
Eric Lepage
450-978-8817
Leslie Roberston
514-633-1533
Dave Percival
514-481-2435
Danuta Potworoswki
514-340-1209
Herb Ladd
514-481-6026
For other Alpine Club Contact info:
- www.accmontreal.ca
- ACC Member’s Handbook
- 2004 ACC Montreal Section
Member Directory (included in
February Montage)
www.accmontreal.ca
Email announcement of Club news
Please visit our website and sign up to
receive email announcements of club
news. This is a moderated, spam-free
list. Your email address is never sold
to telemarketers!
Address changes / Membership Info
Please give all address, e-mail &
phone information to the club’s
membership coordinator Suzanne
Bolam. (450) 458-1657 sbolam@mbr.
centra.ca
Membership Renewal
Check your member card (or Montage
address label) for expiry date. Has it
expired? Oh No! Don’t let this happen
to you. Send in your membership
renewal as soon as you receive it.
Can’t find the form? Pick one up on
the website, at Keene or call our
membership coordinator (above).
Montage
Volume 62.1 - February 2004
The newsletter of
the Montreal Section
of the Alpine Club of Canada
Published 3 times per year
In February, June, and October
Montage Editor: Doug Williams
Soundtrack: EL RAYO-X - Very Greasy
NEXT ISSSUE JUNE 2004
Deadline: 1 June
Send news, reports, art, photos, etc to:
Or: Doug Williams
3755 rue Saint Hubert
Montreal Quebec H2L 3Z9
Current & back issues are
available at our web site
www.accmontreal.ca/newsletter.html
Page 3
Rapport du Président
L
a saison du ski bat son plein, la neige ayant tout
recouvert de son manteau blanc. J’espère que vous
profitez pleinement de la saison et qu’on lira bientôt
quelques récits d’excursions dans notre prochaine édition.
On a la chance dans notre club d’avoir deux villégiatures, le
chalet de ski à Sainte-Adèle et le refuge de Keene dans les
Adirondacks, qui servent de point de départ pour vos
activités de plein air. Offrez-vous une visite le week-end
prochain.
On a encore besoin de volontaires. La volonté de mettre la
main à la pâte et de fonctionner en équipe importent
davantage que l’expérience. Les postes de responsable du
comité « Access and Environment » et de coordinateur des
activités sociales sont toujours ouverts. On a toujours
besoin à Keene Farm de volontaires qui se joignent au
comité qui supervise les activités quotidiennes et la
planification des projets à long terme. Si vous voulez que le
lieu reste ouvert, vous devez vous impliquer. Manifestez
votre intérêt, même si vous ne voyez pas encore quelle
forme il pourrait prendre.
Dans d’autres clubs, les frais d’adhésion au niveau national
ont augmenté à partir de janvier 2004. En ce qui a trait au
chapitre de Montréal, la cotisation de base sera portée à 40$
pour les personnes seules et à 65$ pour les familles. Le club
a tout fait pour maintenir sa cotisation aussi basse que
possible. L’année dernière, le club a dû faire face à un
grand nombre d’événements inusités qui ont grevé
sérieusement son budget : les avalanches des derniers
hivers dans l’Ouest, les feux de forêt de l’été, une guerre,
des questions touchant la santé et une hausse incroyable des
primes d’assurance responsabilité civile ont eu des effets
non négligeables sur les clubs partout au pays. Malgré tout,
notre cotisation est encore très basse lorsqu’on tient compte
des services, des excursions, des camps ou les amis dont on
peut profiter au sein du Club alpin du Canada.
Susanna Oreskovic
Chairperson@accmontreal.ca
Traducteur : Jean-Pierre Langlois
Say hi to Susanna
chairperson@accmontreal.ca
Report from the Chair
S
ki season is in full swing with lots of snow everywhere. I hope you are enjoying the season and that
we will read some trip reports in the next newsletter.
Our club is fortunate to have two facilities, the Ski house in
Ste-Adele and the Keene Farm in the Adirondacks, that provide a great base for your adventures. Come for a visit next
weekend.
We still need volunteers! A willingness to participate and
work as a team are more important than experience. Still
open is the Access and Environment Chair, and the Socials
Coordinator. Keene Farm still needs people to join the committee that oversees the day-to-day activities and long-term
project planning. Your involvement is key in keeping the
place open. Express your interest even if you’re not sure
how you could get involved.
In other Club news, starting January 2004 the National portion of the club fees has increased. For a Montreal section
member the basic fee will now cost $40 for single and $65
for a family membership. The club has struggled to keep its
Page 4
fees so low. In the
past year the club
has dealt with a
number of extraordinary events
that have impacted greatly on
revenues. 2003’s
winter avalanches out west, the summer fires, a war, SARS
and an incredible increase in liability insurance rates have
impacted the club nationwide. However, these rates are still
very low when you consider the services, the trips, camps
and friends we all enjoy within the Alpine Club of Canada.
Get outside and be safe.
Susanna Oreskovic
Montreal Section Chairperson
Chairperson@accmontreal.ca
www.accmontreal.ca
2006 ACC Centennial
Don’t forget, the Alpine Club of Canada celebrates it’s
100th birthday in 2006. Plan to do something special. For
more information on this or anything else related to the
club and our alpine obsession visit http://www.
alpineclubofcanada.ca/ Did you know the ACC offers a
variety of expedition grants?
Montreal Section Exec Positions still open
There are two important positions still open on the Montreal Section Executive Committee: Socials Coordinator
and Environment and Access Committee Chairperson.
Please contact Susanna Oreskovic for more information
at chairperson@accmontreal.ca
New Keene Farm Committee
Concerned about the future of the Montreal Section’s
Kene Farm? Interested Members can join the new Keene
Farm Committee. Please see page 19
KEENE NEWS
2nd Annual Montreal Section
Photo Contest
See page 8 for the winners
3rd annual contest: Deadline October 2004
Leave No Trace
Principles of Leave No Trace
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
There are a series of small booklets describing Leave No Trace (LNT) for a variety of
outdoor activities and regions. Books in the
series include LNT for North America,
LNT for the North East Mountains, LNT
for Rock Climbing, and many more. The
excellent LNT for North America is available for free download from the LNT
website. (PDF format). Get it today.
The website has plenty of practical information on minimizing your “footprint” on
the backcountry. There are pamphlets,
books and videos, and teaching aids for
group leaders, educators, and anyone who
wants to learn more about the Leave No
Trace concepts and why they are important.
There is a page devoted to Plan Ahead and
Prepare, we can’t guarantee good weather,
but we guarantee that good planning will
make your next trip even better.
www.LNT.org
See Page 23-24
New Keene Farm Committee
Keene news starts on Page 18
Adirondack Fire Towers
Ski House News
Quotable Quotes: In answer to “Why
Save The Adirondack Towers? Isn't the
summit view and climb enough of an
attraction?”
After another slow start as far as snow is
concerned January and February’s conditions have been ideal.
No… The fire tower summits have historical significance. The towers provide
a tangible link to the history of the Park
and to the dedicated foresters that helped
to preserve thousands of acres of the forest preserve. I would compare them architecturally to the covered bridges of
Vermont or many of the coastal lighthouses, also obsolete by modern standards.
The Adirondack fire towers are destinations that are sought out by thousands of
visitors, as are the few remaining locales
with covered bridges and lighthouses.
The towers also provided a vital public
service to hikers, educating them on
good conservation practices including
forest fire prevention. Every parent who
brings a child up there tells their history.
All you need to do is sit on the summit
and listen.
Town of Webb Historian - Peg Masters, Sec. of the Friends of Bald Mt.
www.accmontreal.ca
Meal attendance has been in the area of 20
per meal and quite less for sleeping over so
those who do not like big crowds have been
pleased.
Volunteering to keep the house clean and
helping to get the meals out and cleanup has
been remarkable and the new custodian system has been working like a charm. All of
the work is getting spread out and everyone
is doing their fair share.
In order to cut down on pollution/oil expenses we ask that everyone keep their bedroom doors and air vents closed when they
are not in the room as this will minimize the
number of cubic feet that has to be heated in
the house.
A tous nos nouveau members, le ski house a
Ste-Adele n’est pas comme la cabine a
Keene. La maison est chauffee, il y a deux
sale de bains, deux frigidaires, des lumieres
electriques, un foyer.
Nous n’avons pas un David Gillespie main
on a un piste de ski de fond, The Gillespie
qui n’est pas trop loins. Murray Levine.
Page 5
The Alpine Club of Canada
Montreal Section Camp 2004
Wheeler Hut, Rogers Pass, Glacier National Park
Section Camp Application
There is still room to sign up for the 2004 Section
Camp this summer to be held at the Wheeler Hut in
Rogers Pass, Glacier National Park.
Participant name:_______________________________
Here are the details:
Location: Wheeler Hut, Rogers Pass, Glacier National Park
Dates: August 22-29 (in on Sunday the 22nd, out on
Sunday the 29th)
Cost: $550 per participant
Cost includes all inclusive meals, park and hut fees,
transportation to and from the Calgary airport. No
equipment or guiding will be provided by the organizers.
Number of participants: 25 (tentative)
Objectives: Steep hiking, Mountaineering galore,
hut sitting, nature watching, photography etc.
How to sign up: Fill out and mail the attached application form to the organizer. Do it today.
I hope to see you out west next summer!
Address:_________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Phone number:___________
E-mail:__________________
Please indicate if you are with a group and are you still
willing to go if the entire group cannot.
_____________________________________________
Please indicate if you have any food restrictions or
health problems that the organizers should be aware of.
_____________________________________________
Please indicate your THREE preferences for volunteering:
1 Assist camp cook
2 Build route and hiking list
3 Procure and distribute maps and guidebooks for the participants
4 Prepare a camp game (relevant trivia questions)
5 Coordinate first-aid and rescue plans
6 Coordinate hut housekeeping (delegate tasks)
7 Coordinate Calgary to Rogers Pass transportation
8 Coordinate photography contest
9 Provide musical entertainment (nightly)
10 Suggestions for other tasks accepted
1:______________________
2:______________________
3:______________________
Mike Rogers
It is difficult to convey to the first time visitor
the number and quality of the summer and winter day trips possible from the hut.
The potential is outstanding from this single hut
including summer hikes to Asulkan Pass or up the
Great Glacier Trail to the Illicilewaet Glacier, summer climbs to Sapphire Col, Mt. Sir Donald, and
Avalanche Peak.
Asulkan
Hut
Print this page out and mail today with your cheque to:
Mike Rogers
421 Greenwood Dr.
Beaconsfield QC
H9W 4Z7
(514)-630-5690
Please make your cheque payable to:
Montreal Section - The Alpine Club of Canada
Page 6
www.accmontreal.ca
Some of the views possible on this summers Rockies Section Camp
The Wheeler Hut
and winter day trips possible from the
hut. The potential is outstanding from
this single hut including summer hikes to
Asulkan Pass or up the Great Glacier
Trail to the Illicilewaet Glacier, summer
climbs to Sapphire Col, Mt. Sir Donald,
and Avalanche Peak; winter ski tours to
Young's Peak, the Seven Steps of Paradise, the Dome Glacier - the list goes on
and on. Go and explore for yourself, you
will not be disappointed!
The Wheeler Hut is quite luxurious! A
propane system provides the cooking
and lighting, with two wood stoves for
heating. The hut sleeps 30 in summer
and 24 in winter.
This is the birthplace of alpinism in North
America. Many of the routes are steeped
in tradition and history, an interesting fact
to remember as you reach for that next
impeccable quartzite handhold or take that
next footstep along one of the many trails
which wind through the lush cedar forests
that dominate the region.
This is the one and only ACC hut which
can be reached by vehicle in summer.
Winter access is a mere 2 km along a wellbroken and level trail.
It is difficult to convey to the first time visitor the number and quality of the summer
www.accmontreal.ca
Page 7
Grand Prize
Winners
Rock on the Road
Brian Kinzie
Aconcagua 1994
William Marler
2nd Annual
ACC Montreal Section
Photo Contest
People and
Culture
Winner
Man and donkey, India
Brian Kinzie
Mountain
Landscape
Winner
After the Storm,
Cambell Icefield B.C.
Chris Meyrick
Special thanks
Vertical
Adventure
to Marjorie Jack for
organizing the
2003 Photo Contest.
Special Mention
10th Pitch Ha-Ling
Canmore AB
Martin Suiches
Special Mention
Martin on 2nd pitch of
Layback
Mchelle Chin
Page 8
www.accmontreal.ca
View the pictures in colour at
the Montreal Section website
www.accmontreal.ca
Get ready for the 3rd Annual
ACC Montreal Section
Photo Contest
Deadline Fall 2004
Load the camera with slide film and take some pictures:
the Photo Contest is back again.
Look for more details in the June 2004 Montage and on
the Montreal Section website, or contact Marjorie Jack for
more information at secretary@accmontreal.ca
173E Cartier, Pointe-Claire, QC Aut 20, sortie 49 (514) 630-6717
Contributed by Camp de Base
Please support our photo contest sponsors.
• Day Pack
• Thank-you Peter and Janet!!
173 Cartier Avenue
(Aut 20, sortie 49)
Pointe-Claire QC
Contributed by CamTec Photo
Contributed by Mountain Equipment Co-op
• $100 gift certificate
• 6 8x11 photo enlargements
• Merci Jean Bardaji!!
26 Notre-Dame Est
514-875-5110
495 McGill (Coin Notre Dame)
514-842-4818
info@camtecphoto.com
Contributed
Simon's Cameras
•
MEC 'camelback' water pack with insulation
tubing
• MEC thermos
• Merci Marie-Eve Allaire!!
Marché Central
8989, boulevard de l'Acadie
Montreal QC
514.788.5878
by
• Vivitar binoculars
• Thank-you Vince Thompson!!
11 St-Antoine Ouest
514-861-5401
1-800-3-SIMONS
Contributed by Random House
•
American Music (hardcover coffee table size
book)
• Thank-you John Neale!!
www.randomhouse.com
www.accmontreal.ca
Page 9
Parc National de la Gaspésie
Quebec’s Chic-Choc Mountains
A
recent Montreal Gazette travel feature visited Quebec's Chic-Choc
Mountains in Parc de la Gaspésie
for some winter fun. The Chic-Chocs are
Quebec's best mountains, well known for
their big-mountain skiable bowls, back
country ski hut-to-hut trips, telemark terrain,
and 25 peaks over 1,000 metres high. The
only drawback is their distance from Montreal. The Gazette reviewed some new travel
packages to help you beat the nine hour
drive to the park. No matter how you get
there, it’s worth the trip!
The travel packages combine travel by plane
or overnight train plus accommodation in
the luxurious Gite de Mont Albert hotel. The
package even includes snowshoes. There are
many other packages available, including inpark packages without transportation. For
the frugal or rugged among us, there’s also
the camping option. There are motels in
nearby Ste-Anne des Monts. If you are
looking for someone to go there with, how
about send an email to the ACC Montreal
email list?
The Parc de la Gaspésie also offers backcountry hut-to-hut ski touring packages.
These rate as some of the best wintertime
outdoor adventure activities in all of Quebec. With local front-country cross country
ski areas being swallowed by weekend
condo and McMansion real estate developments, it’s worth it to take the time for some
real outdoor mountain adventure in the
home province.
The Gazette: “March and April are high season in the park, because of the abundant
snow, warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours. Skiing here on Easter weekend
is a popular local tradition “when Montrealers are thinking of bringing out their lawn
mowers.”
“Park visitor services also got a new building near the inn. Completed this winter, it
houses a park interpretation centre, snack
Area: 802.2 km²
bistro and equipment rental counter for
Tourist region: Gaspésie
Parc national de la Gaspésie is a veritable snowshoes ($13 a day) or cross-country skis
($22 a day, plus $5 for seal skins to give
sea of mountains located in the heart of
traction on slopes).”
the Gaspé Peninsula. Its varied climates
and unusual geomorphology attract a di“To appeal to snowshoers, the park last year
versity of plant and animal species that is opened a dedicated snowshoe trail (no
unique in Québec. The park has 25 peaks
stressful encounters with swishing crossover 1,000 meters high. Monts Chic-Chocs country skiers) leading to a panoramic view
are well known to outdoor enthusiasts.
of the Mont Albert plateau. This Mont OliThe panorama is simply breathtaking! The vine trail climbs 400 metres, taking you
setting and the renowned service of Auabove the tree line.”
berge le Gîte du Mont-Albert have rightFor the complete article, use “Google News”
fully earned the praise and admiration of
visitors. This vacation destination guaran- and search for Gazette Chic-Chocs, this is
the easiest way to link to the article.
tees you an unforgettable experience,
whether it's summer or winter.
I'm sure that our club's more-rugged adventurers will “do-it-yourself” by driving and/or
Superficie : 802,2 km²
taking less decadent accommodations. EiRégion touristique : Gaspésie
ther way, if you like big mountains and
Le parc national de la Gaspésie est une
snow sports, a trip to the Chic-Chocs is well
véritable mer de montagnes, située en
worth the trip. And the season lasts for two
plein coeur de la péninsule gaspésienne.
more months!
Ses différents climats et sa géomorpholo-
Parc de la Gaspésie Factoids
gie par lesquels il se distingue attirent une
diversité d'espèces vivantes unique au
Québec. Le parc compte 25 sommets de
plus de 1000 mètres. Les monts ChicChocs sont bien connus des amateurs de
plein air. Le panorama est à couper le
souffle! Le site ne mérite que des éloges
tout comme le service haut de gamme de
l'auberge le Gîte du Mont-Albert. Cette
destination vacances vous garantit une
expérience inoubliable été comme hiver.
Association, the air package uses the new
regional carrier Québecair Express to fly
from Montreal or Quebec City to Mont Joli,
where you pick up a rental car for a twohour drive to Gîte du Mont Albert, a fourstar inn with gastronomic dining set incon“A tough enough slog in summer, driving to gruously amid snowy wilderness.”
the Gaspé in winter conditions seems almost
“The train package uses Via Rail's overnight
reckless. But now you can forget the car
Chaleur train to New Richmond, about 100
drivethanks to new air or train packages to
kilometres from the inn by rental car or taxi.
this mountain park where March and April
Both packages include either three or five
are the high season for cross-country skiing
nights at the 48-room inn, with breakfast,
and snowshoeing.”
five-course suppers and free snowshoe
rental.” (Note: it also includes car rental)
“Developed by the Canadian Automobile
Page 10
www.accmontreal.ca
The Gazette: “However, there is still scope
for hardy types. Cross-country skiers can
follow four-day itineraries in the backcountry, sleeping in huts. Snowboarders and telemark skiers have two snowfields in the park,
with the extra rush of climbing the hills
since there are no ski lifts here.”
These hut to hut back country itineraries
(packages or "forfaits" in french) are some
of the best adventures in Quebec or even in
all of eastern North America. And that’s in
both summer or winter.
Forfait Montagnes et merveilles
En collaboration avec plusieurs partenaires
dont Via Rail, Québecair Express, Hertz et
Voyages CAA, la Sépaq vous invite à découvrir les joyaux de la Gaspésie dont le
renommé Gîte du Mont-Albert. Si vous optez pour la formule « avion de Montréal/
location de voiture/coucher au Gîte pour 3
nuits », il vous en coûtera 855 $/pers. en occupation double. Sont également inclus 3
petits déjeuners, 3 soupers, une consommation, des raquettes, les pourboires et les
taxes. Autres formules disponibles.
If You Go (Travel Packages)
Mountains and Marvels packages are sold
through the CAA at 1-(877)-861-8222.
Basic "starting at" prices can be found on
SEPAQ's Web site (www.sepaq.com).
Click Gaspésie under list of parks.
If you do want to drive (CAA also sells
the Gîte du Mont-Albert component alone,
without the air or train), it's 770 kilometres
from Montreal. Take Highway 20 then
Highway 132 downriver to Ste. Anne des
Monts and turn south for 40 kilometres on
Highway 299, which cuts across the
Gaspé Peninsula. The Gite can be reached
at 1-(866)-727-2427. For Gaspésie National Park 1-866-PARCGAS.
LINKS
Tourism in the Gaspé
Devise: << pince-moi, je rêve! >>
Motto: “Pinch me, I’m dreaming”
http://www.tourisme-Gaspésie.qc.ca/
SEPAQ (operates parc de la Gaspésie)
http://www.sepaq.com/
Montreal Gazette story
Google news search: Gazette Chic-chocs
Via Rail (take the train!)
http://www.viarail.ca/planner/
en_plan_truc_offr.html
There are many websites with information
about the many mountains in Parc de la
Gaspésie, search Google for “ChicChocs,” you might want to include some
of the region’s major mountain names of
Albert, Logan, and Jacques Cartier to narrow it down a bit. I liked these sites:
Lots of photos of Chic-Chocs ski trips
http://www.mtnphil.com/mike/chic-chocs/
chichocs.htm
http://www.alrobinson.com/recreation.htm
A good Gaspé history and tourism site
http://www.great-adventures.com/
destinations/canada/Gaspé.html
Don’t forget that the 1000 mile northern
extension to the Appalachian Trail runs
through the parc de la Gaspésie.
http://www.internationalat.org/
Chic Choc mountains
www.bonjourquebec.com
Chic-Choc Avalanche Safety
www.centreavalanche.qc.ca
The Chic Chocs are “real mountains”, and
like all real mountains. some areas of the
Chic Chocs contain avalanche terrain. For
this reason the “Centre d'avalanche de La
Haute-Gaspésie” has been created and it
issues snow bulletins in english and french.
This is to bring your awareness of conditions up to the level where you have solid
information about snow conditions and the
risk of avalanche. As outdoor adventurers
you have a responsibility to “Plan and Prepare” your trips to the back country. Please
visit this website and get the snow bulletin.
This site also has great links to other adventure tourism information in the Gaspé.
Snow Bulletin Disclaimer: This snow bulletin is prepared with the most recent
weather, snowpack and avalanche activity
data available for the Chic-Chocs. This is
an information and decision making tool
and is not intended to be a replacement for
user’s knowledge about snow safety basics
and backcountry equipment including beacon, shovel and probe.
Avalanche Safety Equipment
Available for rent in the Chic-Chocs
Now there’s no reason why you would be
unequipped. There are rentals of the standard avalanche safety gear (that’s portable
shovel, avalanche probe, and avalanche
beacon/transceiver) at: Intersport in
Sainte-Annedes-Monts (418-763-2141) and
at the Interpretation and Services Centre at
the Gaspésie National Park (1-866PARCGAS).
D.W.
www.accmontreal.ca
Environment Committee’s free
Environment video library
environment@accmontreal.ca
PLANET EARTH: CARING FOR OUR
ENVIRONMENT
For teaching kids about caring for the
environment.
LAND ABOVE THE TREES
A film of beautiful scenery from the
Canadian Rockies, shows the fragile
fauna and flora of the area.
ALL ABOUT BEARS
A short film on bear activity and how
to handle bears.
MOUNTAIN SPLENDOUR
A documentary on the Canadian Rockies shows the fragile fauna and flora of
the area.
THE PINNACLE AND THE POET
A short poetic film on citizens fighting
to save a mountain from tourism and
development.
Page 11
Leadership and Outings Committee
I
t has been a busy few months for us
here at the LOC, as we have been hard
at work trying to create various outdoor
activities for the enjoyment of everyone.
In September the LOC co-organized the Annual Keene BBQ. There we ran un moitiémoitié (a 50/50) raffle where we earned $72
for the club to go towards the purchase of
new ropes. That money and funds left over
from our budget went to buying 3 new harnesses, 3 pairs of shoes and 2 new ropes.
This will help our leaders by giving them
access to this equipment so people without
any equipment can participate in our climbing outings. Thanks to everyone who donated to the raffle for making this possible.
In November we held our annual Sirius Wilderness First Aid course. We had Dominique Ballet back to instruct us, and we find
that the course would not be the same without him. The course was a bit different this
year as I tried to make the registration price
“all inclusive.” It worked. I acted as chief
cook and bottle washer and so the participants could concentrate on the course instead of where their next meal would come
from. We had a big meal the Saturday night
complete with birthday presents for me.
(Thanks everyone, it made it a special day.)
On the Sunday we had disaster scenarios. I
volunteered to be a victim, disguised as an
ice climber with an axe embedded in my leg
after a fall. The best comment of the day
came from Ray Robitaille who said, when
he discovering my mangled body and axe,
“This is scary! This could so happen–and
with my ice axe too!” Ray, to date I have
yet to fall on your Magna ice axe, so no
worries!
Mid way up Gamesmanship (5.8) at Poke-o-Moonshine
With a state campground at the base of two excellent cliffs, a short hike to a great view
and a fire tower, and only two hours straight south from Montreal, “Poko” is a popular
destination for Montreal climbers. Just be aware that there is no beginner terrain here.
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/do/camping/campgrounds/pokeomoonshine.html
In January the weather turned bitter cold,
but our enthusiasm did not. We were right at
it with workshops and courses throughout
the month. Montreal Section chairperson
Susanna Oreskovic and Walter Tom led “Ice
climbing with the Chair” in early January.
Thanks Susanna and Walter for taking the
time to lead a beginners outing.
This was followed two weeks later with a
cross-country ski clinic with Niels Hollum
of Norway Nordic. Niels gave a great class
on proper waxing technique and then we
Things got busy in December with the
headed out on the trails of Chanteclaire to
AGM and another moitié-moitié which
earned us $72 in funds for the LOC’s equip- learn how not to crash and burn when going
ment purchase wish list. Thanks again to all down hills on cross country skis. Once again
much thanks to Niels for his continued and
who donated to help us attain our goals.
Mike Rogers announced that he had only a unwavering support of the Alpine Club. A
few spots left open on this summer’s Rock- couple of the participants from the crossies Section Camp. Now Mike and Rebecca country clinic went out on Chris Meyrick
Smith are getting busy “rallying the troops” and Jackie Ross’s final cross-country outing. A wonderful time was had by all as he
to ensure another successful Section camp
in one of the most beautiful (and mountain- skied the Loken trail and then cut across
some frozen lakes. Chris and Jackie are in
ous!) parts of the Rockies.
Page 12
www.accmontreal.ca
Chile now, but when the return they will be
moving to Kelowna B.C. W will miss them
terribly, and I wish them well in their new
home. I would also like to thank Chris for
all the hard work he has done organizing the
Outings schedule for the Montreal Section.
His efforts have allowed us to offer a wide
variety of activities that make us a very active section in the Alpine Club of Canada.
January was wrapped up with a double
header on the 24th. A few fearless (read:
crazy) folks braved the cold and headed out
to either Morin Heights for Telemark lessons, or to Shawbridge for intermediate ice
climbing lessons with Gaetan Castilloux.
Gaetan is a fantastic ice climber and his
great knowledge and experience helped everyone learn to be a better ice climber. Merci
encore Gaetan pour votre support et vos
enseignments.
Andrew Manning
Courses@accmontreal.ca
Summits galore!
Franconia Ridge Trail,
Franconia Notch,
New Hampshire
Upcoming
Events
Courses@accmontreal.ca
Outings@accmontreal.ca
T
he LOC is looking forward to organizing a series of events that will be
available to all the members and especially to those members attending the
Section Camp at Rogers Pass. So without
further ado, I would like to unveil Exposurefest 2004. Exposurefest is designed to
be a series of events that will challenge the
average hiker or climber. As our Section
Camp members train for the Rockies we
invite all members to participate in the following courses and outings:
April 3-4
Crevasse Rescue and Self-Arrest
This is a key course to take for anyone who
is planning to traveling on glaciers. Very
useful for sharpening those skills that may
be required to save your life or that of a
member on your team. The price is dependent on the number of participants.
April 17-18
Apprentissage de Base Commun
This is a climbing theory course which
highlights safe climbing practices and standardized techniques approved by the UIAA.
We offer this course to those members who
actively climb on a regular basis as well as
our leaders. Price $60 for food and lodging
(ski house) the LOC pays for the course.
May 7-9
Leadership course
Soft Skills Management and Navigation.
This course is designed to keep old man
Murphy (law) at bay. It gives you skills to
manage a group, especially when confronted
with a difficult situation. Scenarios reinforce
the skills that are taught. This course is especially useful at all times, whether you are
leading an outing or just hiking with your
friends. I am still working on the navigation
component but it will have map and compass as well as a GPS component to it.
Price: As low as reasonably possible. I have
budgeted some money towards the course
but it may not cover all the costs involved.
Look to stay at Keene Farm from Friday
night to Sunday evening.
ENEQ. They will teach you proper leading
technique, gear placement, anchoring, and
belaying. It is split up into two different
weekends to give you the chance to practice
what you learned on the first weekend when
you go to Bon Echo with the Montreal Section for a little exposed climbing. Cost is
approximately $150.
May 22-25 (Long weekend)
Franconia Ridge Trail
Mike Rogers is planning a trip to the White
Mountains to hike the Franconia Ridge.
This knee-busting hike is one of the classics
of the East and not to be missed. Great
views in every direction and 1000 foot high
Cannon cliff across the valley.
July 3-4
Montreal Section’s Annual
Bon Echo climbing trip.
This trip is a Montreal Section classic! Bon
Echo is a fabulous park with a towering cliff
that rises right from Mazinaw Lake. This
trip is ideal for our Section Camp participants who want to get used to a little exposure, as well as the lead course participants
June 5-6
who want to practice their leading skills in
New Members Weekend at Keene
For the third year in a row we are pleased to the company of other experienced leaders.
offer our New Members Weekend program. The Toronto Section has a cabin with campA full slate of hiking and climbing is offered ing and a boat shuttle to the climbs. It’s a
very unique setting for climbing.
on both days so new members can get a
good taste of the Adirondacks and the
We are also planning some other fun activiMontreal Section’s facilities there.
ties. Sign up for the Montreal Section’s Yahoo Groups email-announcement service for
June 12 (rain date June 19)
upcoming activities. I am trying to reserve a
Beginners climbing course
few spots for a trip to Katahdin in Maine to
In association with ENEQ we are once
again offering a beginners climbing course, do the famous Knife Edge Traverse. Baxter
to introduce climbers to the aspects of safe State Park has a quota system so I will see
what we can organize.
and responsible climbing. You will be
taught how to belay in an outdoors situation That’s it for now. The next article will be in
and also how to climb effectively and build the June Montage, and hopefully I will get
confidence while climbing. Price: Approxi- the new LOC members Brian Kinzie
mately $70.
(Outings organizer) and Willie Ladick
(Climbing organizer) to write a few words
June 26-27 & July 10-11
so that I can take the summer to get out
Advanced climbing course
there and climb.
For those who want to learn how to lead,
please take this 4-day course offered by
A.M.
www.accmontreal.ca
Page 13
Outings Schedule
Winter/Spring 2004
I
f you are interested in taking part in an outing be sure
to call the contact/leader well ahead of time (by
Wednesday or Thursday night at the latest, please).
Please note that these outings are planned up to 8
months in advance and sometimes changes are necessary
due to weather, conditions, access, or leader availability.
Check the Montreal Section web site (www.accmontreal.ca)
for more up to date information. Some notes of caution: not
every outing is for everyone, please take note of the difficulty level of the outing and talk to the leader if you are unsure. These outings are potentially dangerous; liability waivers must be signed by all participants (see the website for
the waiver text).
For outings with an overnight in a hut, places have to be reserved well in advance by the leader. Please contact the
leader at least four weeks before the outing as places on the
outing are offered on a first come first served basis. As the
reserved places have to be paid for the leader will normally
ask for a deposit. In the event of cancellation the deposit is
non refundable unless someone else is available to take your
place.
If there’s nothing listed on the outings schedule it doesn’t always mean
that nothing’s happening. On winter weekends there are nearly always
people setting out cross country skiing from the Ski House or ice climbing
from Keene Farm so you can usually hook up with others there. Otherwise
if you have any comments or suggestions for outings, please contact the
outings coordinator (Brian Kinzie (514) 577 2188) or e-mail him at outings@accmontreal.ca.
Finally, if you are going out on the trails or climbing and think that others
from the club might like to join you, why not send an e-mail to the ACC
Montreal section’s e-mail announcement system
(accmontreal@yahoogroups.ca) to invite others along (See website for
instructions).
Happy Trails!
Chris Meyrick – Out-going Outings Coordinator
outings@accmontreal.ca
Illustration courtesy Tami Knight
Waivers
You MUST sign the Outings Waiver
on all ACC outings
This ensures that the club is protected by accident insurance. In the event of an accident on an ACC outing,
you must report the circumstances to the outings coordinator or the section chair as soon as possible. Furthermore, If you are travelling to the United States (i.e.
Keene Farm) you are strongly advised to carry some
sort of travellers medical insurance. Remember that
YOU may be financially responsible for any expenses
(possibly huge) that result from having to seek rescue
or medical attention.
Advice on trail/climbing conditions
The National Office of the ACC advises us that legally
we are not qualified to provide advice relating to conditions or hazards that may be encountered by our members or anyone else involved in outdoor pursuits. Furthermore we can be held legally responsible if we give out bum info that leads to an accident. Therefore, if you are
looking for advice on trail conditions or want that latest forest fire report, you will be referred to an authority on the
subject or provided with a copy of such information direct from the horse's mouth.
M.R.
Useful government web-site links at www.accmontreal.ca
Visit the ACC Montreal web site Photo Gallery
Page 14
www.accmontreal.ca
Date
Type
Event
Location
Intermediate
Contact(s)
www.accmontreal.ca
May
22/23/24
(Victoria
Day)
May 1/2
May 7-9
May 8/9
May 15
Apr 16-18
Apr 17/18
Apr 24
Mar 27/28
Apr 3
Apr 3/4
Apr 10/11
(Easter)
White mountains, New
Hampshire
Various
Marie Josée Villeneuve
(514) 257-9786
marie.
josee@capvoyages.com
Mike Rogers
(514) 630-5690
Work Trail Clearance - contact Marie-Josée or consult the ACC Mont- Adirondacks,
week- real website for details.
NY
end
Outing Camping at Franconia Notch in the White Mountains. A great
place to be based for climbing or hiking.
See courses section
Course Leadership course
All
(514) 257-9786
marie.
josee@capvoyages.com
All
Work Trail Clearance - contact Marie-Josée or consult the ACC Mont- Adirondacks,
week- real website for details.
NY
end
See courses section
Willy Ladik (450) 226
5304 wladik@ca.ibm.
com
See courses section
TBD
Course Apprentissage de Base Commun
Course Self arrest / crevasse rescue
Outing Ice Climbing , Venue to be decided on conditions.
Intermediate
Celestine Segers
(514) 489-2842
www.telemarknato.com
Rebecca Smith
(514) 341-7948
Mar 20/21
Intermediate
MRG, Vermont All
Laurentians
Level
Strong Intermediate Mike Eamer
(450) 433-5658
Strong Intermediate Eric Lepage
(450) 978-8817
Outing Cross country skiing in Tremblant Park
Lift served telemark skiing at the NATO telemark festival at
Mad River Glen in Vermont. A great opportunity to out-number
the alpine skiers and experience a unique ski resort. Telemark
clinics included and the world famous group telemark turn.
Outing So you think you've skied all there is to ski in the Laurentians ? Val David,
How about Champs Elysees, La Voie Lactée, Cyrano de BerLaurentians
gerac or the slide at Dame de Coeur ? Expect a great day of
telemark skiing on these lesser known, but superb runs.
Outing Cross-country skiing on the groomed trails at l'Esterel. Bring your l'Esterel,
ice skates too to make the most of this winter paradise !
Laurentians
Mar 13 or 14 Outing Cross-country skiing on the Shawbridge trails. These historic Laurentians
trails go through the woods behind Prévost and up on top of the
cliff giving superb vistas over the local area. Ungroomed trails.
Mar 13
Mar 13 and
14
Mar 6 or 7
Mar 6
Alpine Club Montreal Section
Winter/Spring 2004 Activities Calendar
Page 15
Type
Event
Location
Page 16
See courses section
Brian Kinzie
outings@accmontreal.ca
(514) 577-2188
Susanna Oreskovic
(514) 341-0141
chairperson@accmontreal.ca
Contact(s)
www.accmontreal.ca
Tom Haslam-Jones
(450) 672-3415
haslto@sympatico.ca
All levels welcome Willy Ladik (450) 226
5304 wladik@ca.ibm.
com
Advanced
Outing Rock climbing at Bon Echo. Multipitch lead climbing in a spec- Bon Echo, ON Intermediate up to TBD
tacular setting.
Advanced multipitch
lead climbing
Course Lead Rock Course (Contd)
See courses section
Jun 26/27
(Jean Baptiste)
Jul 3/4
(Canada
day)
Jul 9-11
Jul 10 or 11 Outing Hiking a very obscure 46er with Tom and Margaret. Expect a Adirondacks,
long day, many miles and vertical feet, and any difficulties a trail- NY
less 46er in the Adirondacks can present !
Jul 17/18
Outing Rock climbing A chance to practice new found skills as well as TBD
tune up old ones.
Course Lead Rock Course
Paul Chapman
(514) 693-1655
Beginner & Interme- Stephane Chamberland
diate
& Agustina Filgueira
(514-574-3996)
agustinagf@yahoo.com
See courses section
Intermediate
Beginner
Beginner
Level
Jun 25-27
Jun 19/20
Adirondacks,
NY
Outing Rock climbing A chance to practice new found skills as well as Laurentians
tune up old ones.
Jun 12 or 13 Outing An intermediate hike in the Adirondacks - Leader's choice
Jun 5 and 6 Outing New Member's Weekend A fun weekend at Keene for new
Keene Farm,
members to get to know the club. There will be climbing and hik- Adirondacks,
ing outings both days with some evening entertainment, so
NY
make sure that guitar is in tune !!
Jun 12 or 13 Course Beginners Climbing course
Jun 5/6
May 22/23
(Victoria day)
May 29 or 30 Outing Rock climbing with the Chair at Val David. A popular cliff in the Val David,
Laurentians with opportunities for trad, sport and top rope climb- Laurentians
ing.
Date
Alpine Club Montreal Section
Winter/Spring 2004 Activities Calendar
CLIMBING IN
MONTREAL?
Stuck in Montreal
with a big need to
touch actual rock?
Just visiting and looking for a quick climbing fix? Montreal has
the answer, and it just
happens to be in the
middle of the beautiful island parks of
the Parc Drapeau
(was Parc des Iles).
The rock is located
just west of the
Jacques Cartier
bridge (PJC) and is
easily reached from
downtown by bike
across the PJC or by
Metro.
This is a fun 15-30
foot high cliff with
excellent rock. There
are bolt anchors on
top, long traverse opportunities, a great
easy-but-steep corner,
a hard crack, and
great views of Mont
Royal and Montreal.
When you tire of
climbing you can explore the park starting
with a visit to the
Stewart Museum
right next door in
Montreal’s only fort.
The huge geodesic
dome was the United
States Expo 67 pavilion, and now houses
the Biosphère
Ecowatch Centre. To
cool off choose either
the just-renovated
swimming pool
(beside Metro station)
or go to the beach
near the casino for
swimming or canoeing the lakes and canals of the island. The
island is well connected to Montreal
bike paths and the
south shore.
Outings—Levels of difficulty
As a guide to help outing leaders and members of the ACC Montreal section
with the difficulty levels for outings, the following scale provides a basis for
leaders to describe the outing difficulty level, and helps participants to choose
outings within their capabilities.
Please note that the scale is for guidance only. Unique features of an outing
may change the level of difficulty of an outing.
C.M.
Hiking
Hiking & Snow Shoeing
Beginner
8 km or less, under 4 hours
Good trails with small elevation gain
Intermediate
8 to 16 km, 4 to 8 hours
Mostly on trails with significant elevation gain and some steep
sections
Strong
Intermediate
Over 16 km, over 8 hours
Trails with some bush-whacking or Slides Significant elevation
gain with steep ascents and/or descents
Easy overnights
Trails/Bush-whacking/Slides with significant elevation gain and
steep ascents and/or descents
Long overnights
Advanced
Beginner
Rock Climbing
Intermediate
Strong
Intermediate
Advanced
Ice Climbing
Beginner
Top roping up to 5.6
Single pitch leading up to 5.4
Intermediate
Top roping up to 5.9
Sport climbing up to 5.9
Multipitch leading up to 5.4
Strong
Intermediate
Multipitch leading up to 5.8
Advanced
Single pitch 5.10 and above
Multipitch 5.8 and above
Note that remote access or multi-pitch climbs tend to increase the seriousness
of the outing.
Cross Country Skiing
Beginner
Single pitch & top roped
Up to grade III ice
Intermediate
Single pitch up to grade IV ice
Multipitch up to grade III ice
Advanced
Single pitch climbs above grade IV ice
Intermediate and above multipitch climbs
Telemark Skiing
Beginner
Less than 10 km
Groomed trails
Typically green and blue trails at X-C ski areas.
Beginner
Intermediate
10 to 20 km
Groomed with some ungroomed trails
Typically blue or easy black trails at X-C ski areas
Intermediate
Strong
Intermediate
20 km or more
Mostly ungroomed trails with some steep ascents and descents
Moderate overnights
Advanced
30 km or more
Ungroomed trails with steep ascents and descents and challenging sections
Long overnights
8 km or less, under 4 hours
Good trails with small elevation gain
8 to 16 km, 4 to 8 hours
Mostly on trails with significant elevation gain and some
steep sections
Trails with some bush-whacking or Slides (hiking)
Significant elevation gain with steep ascents and/or descents
Easy overnights
Trails/Bush-whacking/Slides (Hiking) with significant elevation gain and steep ascents and/or descents
Long overnights
www.accmontreal.ca
Strong
Intermediate
Advanced
Less than 8 km
Wide trails allowing turns on the descents.
Generally shallow descents
Green and Blue runs at ski areas
8 to 16 km
Narrow sections of trail limiting the freedom for turns on
the descents.
Some steep descents
Blue and Black runs at ski areas
16 km or more
Double black diamond runs at ski areas
Narrow trails with some steep descents
Moderate overnights
20 km or more
Narrow trails providing challenging terrain on descents.
Steep descents
Long Overnights
Page 17
Tarifs & Reglementations - Keene Farm - Rates & Rules
www.accmontreal.ca/keenefarm.html
Welcome
Bienvenue
email: acckeenefarm@yahoo.com
Overnights / Nuits
House / Refuge
Overnights / Nuits
Camping
Annual Pass
Passe Annuelle
House / Refuge
Annual Pass
Passe Annuelle
Camping
ACC Montreal section member
Membre du Club Alpin section
Montréal
$10 cdn / $8 us
$5 cdn / $4 us
$60 cdn / $48 us
$35 cdn / $28 us
Other ACC or other UIAAaffiliated Member
Membre du Club Alpin ou d’un
club affilié
$10 cdn / $8 us
$5 cdn / $4 us
$70 cdn / $56 us
$45 cdn / $36 us
Guest of a member
Invité d’un Membre
$18 cdn / $13 us
$8 cdn / $6 us
N/A
N/A
Student Members with valid ID
Membre étudiant à plein temps
avec identité
Half rates
Half rates
Half rates
Half rates
F
Règlements
Keene Farm
Regulations
F • Pour passer la nuit à la Ferme de Keene,
vous devez être un membre du Club
Alpin du Canada, d’un club affilié à l’UIAA
ou l’invité d’un membre.
• Vous devez présenter une carte de membre en règle et signer le registre.
• Les enfants de 16 ans et moins sont admis gratuitement si accompagné d’un
membre adulte.
• Les étudiants à temps plein avec carte
d’identité ont droit à 50% de rabais.
• Les membres qui désirent inviter un
groupe de 5 personnes ou plus,
DOIVENT contacter l’éxécutif de la
Ferme de Keene.
• Les responsables de groupes doivent de
signer le registre, collecter les frais et ils
sont responsables des actions des membres de leur groupe.
• To stay at Keene Farm, you must
be a member of the Alpine Club of
Canada, a UIAA-affiliated club, or a
guest of a member.
• You must present your valid
membership card and sign the
logbook.
• There is no charge for children 16
and under, but an adult ACC
member must accompany them.
• Full-time students with valid ID can
stay for half the price.
• Members wishing to bring a group
of 5 or more people MUST contact
an executive of the Keene Farm to
make sure space is available.
• Group leaders are responsible for
registering, collecting the fees and
the actions of his/her group.
• En l’absence d’un gardien, les frais de
nuité doivent être envoyer par la poste à
l’adresse suivante: Case Postale 543,
Station Victoria, Westmount, H3Z 2V5.
• In the absence of a custodian, the
fees should be sent to our mailing
address: Box 543, Victoria Station,
Westmount, QC, H3Z 2V5
• Les membres autres que la section de
Montréal (i.e. la section d’Ottawa ou Toronto, les clubs affiliés à l’UIAA) peuvent
maintenant acheter des passes de camping ou de refuge. Cependant, une surcharge de $10.00 sera appliquée, qui
représente la part de l’abonnement
verser par le Club Alpin du Canada à
notre section.
• Non-ACC Montreal Section
members (e.g.: Ottawa section,
unaffiliated ACC members or
FQME) are now able to purchase
house and camping passes.
However, the cost of each is subject
to a $10 surcharge which
represents the fraction of the ACC
membership fee which goes to the
Section.
• Les campeurs ne sont pas autorisés a
utiliser le refuge à moins de payer le tarif
du refuge.
Page 18
Keene Farm
Volunteer Custodian
Schedule
14-15 Feb
21-22 Feb
28-29 Feb
6-7 Mar
13-14 Mar
20-21 Mar
27-28 Mar
Easter
10-11 Apr
17-18 Apr
24-25 Apr
1-2 May
8-9 May
15-16 May
Victoria Day
29-30 May
5-6 Jun
12-13 Jun
Marc Dostaler
Marie-France Thibault
Andrew Manning
Gary Elkin
Paul Chapman
Leigh Freeman
Nicolas Petetin
Camilla Mathiesen
John Simpson
Emil Koller
Bill McDonald
Tom Brady
• Overnight campers are not allowed
to use the house unless they pay
the house rate.
www.accmontreal.ca
CUSTODIANS FOUND:
KEENE FARM KEPT OPEN!
There was a MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE to calls for custodians since
the last edition of Montage.
For the first time since the volunteer Keene Farm custodian system was set
up several years ago, we have had custodians in December and January. In
January every weekend was covered. Thank you to all those who have responded to the appeals for support.
PLEASE NOTE: Most of the recent volunteers are not from the Montreal
Section.
Many of the recent custodians have been doing it for the first time; many
also have had to under take considerable inconvenience to fulfill their commitments.
A MONTHLY UPDATE on the custodian situation is circulated on the
Montreal Section e-mail circuit. The current roster of custodians for the
next two or three months is listed, so that recipients can see when opportunities to volunteer are available If you are not on the e-mail circuit and are
interested in keeping in touch with this volunteering process, please subscribe to the e-mail circuit on the Montreal Section website at www.
accmontreal.ca.
In any case, please contact Tom Haslam-Jones at haslto@sympatico.ca or
at (450) 672-3415 if you are interested in keeping Keen Farm open.
Tom Haslam-Jones
Keene Farm Custodian Coordinator
Keene Farm Custodians - February 2004
This is the regular monthly update to let you know how well we are getting
on with providing custodians each weekend for Keene Farm. Thank you to
all those who have volunteered since the last update in January.
We have custodians for most weekends in March - we still need someone
for the last weekend in March.
April looks a bit quiet at the moment, especially considering the Easter
weekend, when a couple of volunteers would be useful.
Please take a look at the list of weekends given below and see if you can
help out by being a custodian. Lots of useful advice is available to help in
the task of being a custodian.
New
Keene Farm Committee
Call for Members
At the last Montreal Section Executive meeting, the new Keene Farm Committee was
voted into existence. The committee has
Terms of Reference composed by the Keene
Task Force before last Christmas. The purpose of the committee is to be a structured
governing body for the organisation and running of Keene Farm, open to all ACC Montreal Section members.
The following committee positions were
identified in the Terms of Reference:
Chair and Communications: To look after
the committee and public relations.
Custodian Co-ordinator: to ensure a steady
flow of custodians.
Maintenance Co-ordinator: To look after
things needed to keep Keene Farm going.
Projects Co-ordinator: To look after the
things to make Keene Farm better.
Secretary: To keep committee records so
that everyone knows what was decided
Treasurer: To look after the money and liase
with the Montreal Section treasurer
All holders of these positions are encouraged
to solicit the support of other section members to help with the workload.
An initial meeting of the Keene Farm Committee is planned for Wednesday 17 March.
Are you interested in being a Keene Farm
Committee member? Please contact Susanna
Oreskovic at chairperson@accmontreal.ca or
Tom Haslam-Jones at haslto@sympatico.ca
preferably before 15 March.
Interested in being a custodian and helping look after Keene Farm? Please
make contact at least a week before you plan to go to Keene Farm.
Contact Tom Haslam-Jones at (450) 672-3415 or haslto@sympatico.ca or
Fax (450) 672-8145
P.S. Please avoid using the keenecommittee@accmontreal.ca address, because this is not a direct link to Tom.
THJ
www.accmontreal.ca
Page 19
K
E
E
N
E
N
E
W
S
Keene info on the website
www.accmontreal.ca
The Montreal Section website has current
and up-to-date information about visiting
Keene Farm. Please visit the website before you send Dave Gillespie an e-mail
about Keene conditions. Dave is retiring
from active custodianship of Keene Farm
and can no longer answer everyone’s questions. He’d like to, but he hasn’t got the
time anymore. Lucky for us Dave has written all the information he knows for the
website. Consider our website your new
electronic “RoboDave” and give it a visit
before you leave for Keene.
Keene Farm fire pits removed
The many fire pits dotting the meadow
camping area at Keene Farm have been
removed. There is now one fire-pit for
campfires at the Meadow Shelter. The
fire pits were removed because 2003’s extremely dry summer created severe firerisk conditions last summer and for reasons of general safety.
The Montage has been running a longterm campaign to “Just say no to campfires” which do so much damage in the
back country. In the spirit of this campaign, and of the Leave No Trace principle
of centralizing heavy usage in popular areas, we will maintain our single frontcountry fire pit to permit our members to
be able to enjoy the pleasures of sitting
around the campfire discussing the day’s
adventures.
U.S. Border
The United States remains extremely vigilant regarding visitors to their country. US
Customs will enforce all regulations concerning food import restrictions (fruits and
vegetables, meat products) and your identity papers like passports, and nation of
origin, and basically anything else. This is
their right as a nation, and it is the border
guards duty to enforce these laws.
What can we do? Will we have
problems getting to Keene?
The ACC Montreal Section
Website at www.accmontreal.
ca contains detailed information on this subject. Please visit
it for a lot of specific information on the border situation.
Bear Canisters in High Peaks
I was invited to a special DEC meeting
recently where I learned that the DEC is
making bear canisters mandatory when
backpacking in the High Peaks area beginning this summer and enforced in the year
2005.
Dave Gillespie
Hut Slippers in the Cabin
The Keene Cabin has been noticeably
cleaner since the Club started requiring the
use of “Hut Slippers” when inside the
cabin. There are plenty of slippers beside
the front door. Please use them! Lots of
alpine huts use this system to keep the hut
cleaner. It’s easy, and the benefits are obvious!
Keene Farm History
Read the history of Keene Farm at the
ACC Montreal Section website. Just
Google History of Keene Farm, or visit the
ACC Montreal Section web site at
www.accmontreal.ca
Adirondack Rescue?
Make sure that someone “back home” knows where
you have gone, who is the leader (i.e. who would have
signed the trail register), and what time you expect to
return home.
This information should be written down! Write
If you “plan and prepare”
down your trip details including itinerary, car model
you should have no problem and license plate number. Leave this information with
crossing the border. Be
someone responsible and somewhere the dog won’t eat
aware what food products are
it!
restricted and DON’T BRING
If you think someone is lost you can report a missing
ANY. (Shop in the U.S–
hiker, (climber etc) in the Adirondacks, call the DEC
there’s a big Price Chopper
Forest Ranger Emergency number at 518-891-0235.
supermarket in Plattsburgh).
Make sure you, and everyone
you are traveling with, has
proper identity papers. This means bring
your passport. Make sure there are no
suspected terrorists in your vehicle.
Never, ever lie to Customs officials.
With these simple precautions, you
should have no problem crossing the
border into the United States.
D.W.
Page 20
www.accmontreal.ca
New Keene Cabin
Reservation system at
ACC Montreal Section website
Staying at the Keene Cabin? - Don’t send an email to Dave. Dave is retiring from active custodianship of the Keene Farm.
To simplify Dave’s life, we ask that all members planning to stay at the Keene Cabin to please reserve their place by using
the new Keene reservation page on the ACC Montreal website. This page will send a confirmation message to the cabin
coordinator so we can still coordinate the cabin usage, but Dave will no longer have to respond to 50-+ individual emails a
week. Note: there is no reservation required for camping.
Write a trip report
www.accmontreal.ca
www.accmontreal.ca
Page 21
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.mountaineer.com
email: mountaineer@mountaineer.com
Page 22
www.accmontreal.ca
WE EXCHANGE CANADIAN CASH TOWARD NON SALE ITEMS AT 25% !!
Mountain Environment
ATTENTION
ARTISTS
One of the objectives of the Alpine
Club of Canada is “the promotion of
art and literature as applied to
mountain regions.” So if you paint or
draw mountain landscapes, I would
like to hear from you, and we could
organise field trips, exhibitions etc.
Ed Potworowski (514)340-1978
or potwor@sympatico.ca.
Environment & Access Committee
Who are we?
Chairperson position Open!
Contact chairperson@accmontreal.ca
Winter
Leave No Trace
Simon Bérubé
Tammy Le Riche
Howard Kay
Susanna Oreskovic
Marie-Josée Villeneuve
Craig Stein
Efrat Laksman
Juliette Juillerat (MOC)
Eric Shultz
For all questions or comments,
please send an email to:
environment@accmontreal.ca
Someone had to build these trails to
prevent erosion, You can help on the
ACC trails day, please see the back
cover for more information
How to s**t in the woods
In winter pack out solid human waste. In
lieu of packing out, cover and disguise
human waste in deep snow and
well away from travel routes, and
at least 200 feet (that’s 70 steps)
from water sources.
www.accmontreal.ca
Page 23
Leave No Trace
LNT Pre-Trip Planning
A
dequate trip planning and preparapurpose and Leave No Trace criteria?)
tion helps backcountry travelers
• all Leave No Trace principles
accomplish trip goals safely and
enjoyably, while simultaneously minimiz- Meal Planning
Meals are another element to trip planning
ing damage to the land.
that can have a profound effect on the imPoor planning often results in miserable
pact a group has on a backcountry area.
campers and damage to natural and cultural
resources. Rangers often tell stories of
Benefits of Good Meal Planning:
campers they have encountered who, because of poor planning and unexpected con- • Reduced trash.
ditions, degrade backcountry resources and • Reduced pack weight, resulting in faster
hiking times and less fatigue.
put themselves at risk.
• Reduced dependence upon campfires for
Why is Trip Planning Important?
cooking.
You may want to create additional answers
One-Pot Meals and Food Refor this list:
packaging:
• It helps ensure the safety of groups and
Planning for one-pot meals and light weight
individuals.
snacks requires a minimum of packing and
• It prepares you to Leave No Trace and
preparation time, lightens loads and deminimizes resource damage.
• It contributes to accomplishing trip goals creases garbage. One-pot meals require
minimal cooking utensils and eliminate the
safely and enjoyably.
• It increases self-confidence and opportu- need for a campfire. Two backpack stoves
nities for learning more about nature.
Canadians have not been a
Seven Elements to Consider
When Planning a Trip
• Identify and record the goals and expectations of your trip.
• Identify the skill and ability of trip participants.
• Select destinations that match your goals,
skills, and abilities
• Gain knowledge of the area you plan to
visit from land managers, maps, and literature.
• Choose equipment and clothing for comfort, safety, and Leave No Trace qualities.
• Plan trip activities to match your goals,
skills, and abilities.
• Evaluate your trip upon return and note
changes you will make next time.
Other Elements to Consider:
• weather
• terrain
• regulations/restrictions
• private land boundaries
• average hiking speed of group
• anticipated food consumption (leftovers
create waste which leaves a trace!)
• group size (does it meet regulations, trip
Page 24
problem in terms of avalanche situations in the
Dacks but have caused
problems with poor planning in terms of winter preparedness and not turning
back when the weather deteriorates.
What are Some Examples of the
Results of Poor Trip Planning?
A group that is inexperienced or unfamiliar
with the geography of an area may put people at risk by travelling through areas susceptible to flash floods or along ridge tops
vulnerable to lightning activity. Groups
travelling arid lands often fail to carry adequate water or a way of purifying water
from natural sources. Checking with local
land managers and studying maps and
weather conditions can contribute to a lowrisk existence.
A poorly prepared group may plan to cook
meals over a campfire only to discover
upon arrival at their destination that a fire
ban is in effect or that firewood is in scarce
supply. Such groups often build a fire anyway breaking the law or impacting the land
can be used to cook all meals for large
simply because they have not planned for
groups if you have two large pots (one large alternatives. Fire bans and scarce wood suppot can be balanced on two stoves when
plies are signs that an area is experiencing
quick heating is desired). Remember, a
the cumulative effects of heavy recreation
stove Leaves No Trace.
use.
Most food should be removed from its com- A group that has failed to develop good
mercial packing and placed in sealable bags travel plans may be unable to travel as fast
before packing your backpacks. Sealable
as ex ed. The terrain may be too steep or the
bags secure food and reduce bulk and gar- trails too rugged. These groups often resort
bage. Empty bags can be placed inside each to setting up camp late at night, sometimes
other and packed out for reuse at home.
in an unsafe location. Poor campsite selecThis method can reduce the amount of gar- tion usually leads to unnecessary resource
bage your group must pack out at the end of damage. In addition, the group may never
the trip and eliminate the undesirable need even reach their planned destination.
of stashing or burying unwanted trash.
Source: Leave No Trace website
WWW.LNT.ORG
www.accmontreal.ca
Leave No Trace - Winter Use Principles
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Be respectful of other users. Share the trail
and be courteous.
Yield to downhill and faster traffic. Prepare for blind corners.
When stopped, move off the trail.
Separate ski and snowshoe tracks. Avoid
hiking or snow shoeing on ski tracks.
Learn and follow local regulations regarding pets. Control dogs. Pack out or bury all
dog feces.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Know the area and what to expect; ALWAYS check avalanche and weather reports prior to departure. Consult maps and
local authorities about high danger areas,
safety information, and regulations for the
area you plan to visit.
Prepare for extreme weather, hazards and
emergencies.
Monitor snow conditions frequently. Carry
and use an avalanche beacon, probe and
shovel. Educate yourself by taking a winter
backcountry travel course.
Visit the backcountry in small groups, but
never alone. Leave your itinerary with
family or friends.
Repackage food
into reusable containers.
Use a map and
compass to elimiWhen walking in snow, please
walk to the side of ski trails.
When stopped, move off the trail
nate the need for tree markings, rock cairns
or flagging.
Travel and Camp on Safe, Durable
Surfaces
On the Trail:
Stay on deep snow cover whenever possible; in muddy spring conditions, stay on
snow or walk in the middle of the trail to
avoid creating new trails and damaging
trailside plants.
Travel and camp away from avalanche
paths, cornices, steep slopes and unstable
snow.
At Camp:
Choose a site on durable surfaces – snow,
rock or mineral soil – not tundra or other
fragile vegetation.
Camp at a safe, stable site out of view of
heavily-traveled routes and trails.
Keep pollutants out of water sources by
camping at least 200 feet (70 adult steps)
from recognizable lakes and streams – consult your map.
Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out. Pack out all trash,
yours and others. Burying trash and litter
in the snow or ground is unacceptable.
Pick up all food scraps, wax shavings, and
pieces of litter.
Pack out solid human waste. In lieu of
packing out, cover and disguise human
waste in deep snow away from travel
routes and at least 200 feet (that’s 70 adult
steps) from water sources.
Use toilet paper
sparingly. Pack it out.
If necessary, use small amounts of biodegradable soap for dishes. Strain dishwater
into a sump hole.
Leave What you Find
Inspect your campsite for trash and evidence of your stay. Dismantle all snow
shelters, igloos or wind breaks. Naturalize
the area before you leave.
Leave all plants, rocks, animals, historical
and cultural artifacts as you find them.
Let nature’s sounds prevail. Keep loud
voices and noises to a minimum.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Campfires cause lasting impacts in the
backcountry. Always carry a lightweight
camp stove for cooking.
Use downed wood if you can find it. Put
out all fires completely. Consider using a
fire pan or blanket to collect ash and debris. Widely scatter cool ashes.
Do not cut or break limbs off live, dead or
downed trees.
Respect Wildlife
Winter is an especially vulnerable time for
animals. Observe wildlife from a distance.
Do not follow or approach them.
Never feed wildlife or leave food behind
to be eaten.
Protect wildlife and your food by storing
rations and trash securely.
Protect Mount Royal
Mount Royal Park celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2001. The Centre de la
montagne at la maison Smith and Les Amis de la montagne work together to
facilitate the conservation and enhancement of Mount Royal.
Protegez Mont Royal
L'année 2001 a marqué le 125e anniversaire du parc du Mont-Royal. Le Centre
de la montagne (Maison Smith) et Les Amis de la montagne unissent leurs
efforts pour favoriser la conservation et la mise en valeur du mont Royal.
www.lemontroyal.qc.ca
www.accmontreal.ca
Page 25
ICE CLIMBING IN
DOWNTOWN MONTREAL
Are you living in Montreal with a need to
stick a pick in to some vertical ice? Maybe
you’re just visiting and are looking for a
quick fix? Need some midweek training?
Montreal has the answer, and it just happens to be high up on the beautiful little
mountain right in the heart of the city.
There are spectacular views of the downtown core. When you tire of climbing you
can explore Mount Royal Park. Just go uphill.
The ice cliff is in the park formally known
as Rutherford Park. Enter the park via
MacTavish street, above McGill University
(car access from Docteur Penfield) . Use
Avenue des Pins for access from the Plateau and points eastward. It is located behind the very impressive castle-looking
water reservoir building.
B.C. Wilderness Threatened
I
n a remote valley in the heart of the Purcell Mountains among many of the Columbia
Ranges 11,000 foot peaks and glaciers, a four-season ski resort, Jumbo Glacier Resort, is being pushed through despite enormous local and national opposition. When
fully complete, Jumbo Glacier Resort will have 6,500 tourist beds and a network of gondolas, chairlifts and T-bars on the neighbouring glaciers. Currently the only access into
the valley is up a single lane forestry service road. Building the resort will saddle local
and provincial taxpayers with exorbitant costs to develop and maintain the road, manage
avalanche terrain, and provide infrastructure for the Resort. Grizzly bears will be displaced and many will be killed on the newly upgraded highway. A prime mountaineering destination will be have its wildness destroyed.
Your help is urgently needed to stop this project.
Go to http://www.wildcanada.net/jumbowild/faxengine.asp to see how you can help.
Alternatively, send your letter of opposition to:
Honourable George Abbott, Minister of Sustainable Resource Management
george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca
Mr. Martyn Glassman, Senior Planner, Environmental Assessment Office
eaoinfo@gems5.gov.bc.ca
Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia
gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca
Wendy McMahon, Member of the Legislative Assembly
wendy.mcmahon.mla@leg.bc.ca
Sandra McGuinness, Nelson B.C.
dog_house@shaw.ca
Leave No Trace Plan and Prepare
Trip Planning on the Web
Indoor Climbing
Interested in gym climbing? A casual
group meets weekly (almost) to climb at
either Allez-Up or Horizon Roc. Top-roping
and lead climbing are possible at both gyms,
and a belay test is required to climb.
Interested? Send an email to:
Brian.Kinzie@dessausoprin.com
Escalade à l’intérieur
F
L'escalade à l'intérieur vous tente?
Chaque semaine (ou presque!) un groupe se
rencontre soit à Allez-Up, soit à Horizon
Roc. Il est possible de faire de la moulinette
ou du premier de cordé, aux deux endroits.
Mais vous devez réussir l'examen d'accréditation avant de grimper. Afin d'être avisé
des soirées d'escalade, veuillez transmettre
un «e-mail» à :
Brian.Kinzie@dessausoprin.com
News: Horizon Roc has recently expanded!
Page 26
A safe trip in the mountains requires planning, the web’s the place to start
In many areas Group Leaders are asked to call ahead, it’s a good idea!
Parks Canada http://parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/np/np_e.htm
Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), New York www.adk.org
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
www.dec.state.ny.us
Green Mountain Club, Vermont www.greenmountainclub.org/
Appalachian Trail Conference—the managing body of the AT www.atconf.org
New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/white/recreation/land_above/backcountry_rules.html
Maine Appalachian Trail Conference www.matc.org
Leave No Trace http://www.lnt.org/
Alpine Club of Canada - National Club www.alpineclubofcanada.ca
Alpine Club of Canada - Montreal Section www.accmontreal.ca
Bears & Safety / Food Hanging http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/custer/beaware.html
U.S. National Park Service www.nps.gov
Mount Washington Info and Summit Cam http://www.mountwashington.org/cam/
Weather for Keene http://www.wunderground.com/US/NY/Keene.html
Hypothermia Information http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/ and www.hypothermia.org
Sepaq—manages entry to all Québec provincial parks www.sepaq.com 1-800-663-6527
FQME—the federation for climbing in Quebec http://www.fqme.qc.ca/
Please report any dead links to accmontage@yahoo.com
www.accmontreal.ca
Avalanche
Safety
Montage Feature
I
t’s very simple really, If you don’t go
out in avalanche terrain, you won’t
get caught in an avalanche. But that
would interfere with our love of the
mountains. We love to climb up and down
them, hiking, climbing, skiing. This means
we have to learn and understand how to
evaluate conditions and avoid places where
avalanche danger is high. This article is
for information purposes only, it is not a
substitute for taking a course in avalanche safety from a qualified instructor.
There is plenty of good information on the
internet. Besides training and educational
information, you can get current avalanche
conditions for many places, in the east and
west and around the world. This is essential for anyone heading to the mountains.
The first of the seven Leave No Trace principles is Plan and Prepare. Let’s get
started!
www.centreavalanche.qc.ca
Quebec’s own avalanche centre, the Centre
d’avalanche de La Haute Gaspésie, offers
up-to-date avalanche reports and snow bulletins for the Chic-Choc mountains of Parc
de la Gaspésie in eastern Quebec. They
also note that avalanche gear (beacon,
probe, and portable shovel) can be rented
at Intersport in Ste-Anne des Monts. (418763-2141) and at the Interpretation and
Services Centre of Parc de la Gaspésie (1877-PARCGAS).
www.avalanche.ca
The Canadian Avalanche Association
monitors avalanche conditions in western
Canada. The federal government has very
recently announced that they will be helping to fund the Canadian Avalanche Association. With the increasing popularity of
back country winter adventure tourism,
this is money well spent. Go here for bulletins on avalanche conditions for the Canadian west.
www.tuckerman.org
Not many people know that Mount Washington is run by the United States Forest
Service (USFS). They have made a great
website in association with The Mount
Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol to tell
you everything you need to know before
you strap on the skis. There is a lot of specific Mt Washington information (and I
can tell you this – they want this information to get to Canadians and Quebecois) as
well as general avalanche information.
Mount Washington has very serious
weather and snow conditions, so give this
site more than just a casual browse.
http://alpineclub-edm.org/accidents/
index.asp (ACC Safety Web Site)
The Alpine Club of Canada Edmonton
Section’s Alpine accidents in Canada Database is the place to go and learn from the
accidents of others. “Good judgment
comes from experience - usually experience which was the result of poor judgment.” Before making your own mistakes
spend some time reading about some mistakes other people have made. There are
also extensive safety links. Highly recommended.
www.accmontreal.ca
The three parts of an avalanche path:
Starting zone, track, and runout zone.
(Photograph courtesy of NSIDC.)
www.nsidc.org
The National Snow and Ice Data Center’s
excellent Avalanche Awareness web page
offers “10 Avalanche quick checks” which
we are reprinting in a handy wallet-sized
format. Cut it out and take it with you. The
NSIDC is all about the frozen world, their
motto is “The Cryosphere, where the world
is frozen.” Sounds like fun! We have excerpted information from this site for this
Montage avalanche feature. Please go to
the NSIDC website for the full story and
lots more interesting stuff on snow and ice,
and everything frozen.
www.csac.org
The Cyber Space Avalanche Center is another one-stop shop for avalanche information and conditions.
www.telemarktips.com
This webzine has lots of current information on back country skiing. They examine
some avalanche tragedies, and in general
it’s a good site to see what’s going on in
the backcountry ski world.
www.chauvinguides.com
This New Hampshire climbing guide company offers an introduction to snow and
avalanche safety and links to winter trip
planning information. They also offer avalanche safety courses.
D.W.
Page 27
Alpine Accidents in Canada database
http://alpineclub-edm.org/accidents/index.asp
AVALANCHE SAFETY
10 quick checks you can make
throughout the day:
1. What have the weather conditions
been over the past few days? Recent heavy snows?
2. Can you observe any wind loading
on the slopes?
3. Do you have a good sense of the
snowpack? Have you performed any
snowpit or shear tests?
4. Have you noticed many fracture
lines, heard "whumping" or cracking
sounds, or hollow noises in the
snowpack?
5. Are you keeping an eye on the orientation and steepness of the slopes
as you cross them?
6. Are you lingering in gullies, bowls, or
valleys?
7. Noticed any recent avalanche activity
on other slopes similar to the one
you are on?
8. If a slope looks suspect, are there
alternative routes?
Extra precautions to take
1. If there is no alternative to crossing
a suspect slope, do so one person
at a time to minimize risk.
2. When descending or ascending a
slope, try to stay as far to the sides
of a potential avalanche chute as
possible to decrease your chances
of being caught if an avalanche
runs.
3. Be aware of the condition of those in
your party. If someone is tired, hungry, or cold they may not be using
their best judgement.
4. Remain constantly aware of changing weather or temperature conditions, particularly if your outing will
last more than a few hours.
Consider avalanche rescue equipment, such as beacons, ski-pole
probes, and collapsible shovels, as a
necessary part of your backcountry
gear.
Source: www.nsidc.org
Page 28
Avalanche
Danger Scale
American and European avalanche danger scales rate avalanche hazard similarly with the exception of using slightly
different colours. The differences are noted below.
LOW
Green in both American and European scales:
•Snowpack is generally stable.
•Only isolated areas of instability.
•Backcountry travel is fairly safe.
•Natural or human-triggered avalanches unlikely.
MODERATE
Yellow in both American and European scales:
•Some areas of instability.
•Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.
•Backcountry travel possible with caution.
CONSIDERABLE
Orange in American scale, Ochre in European scale:
•Unstable areas probable.
•Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered
avalanches probable.
•Backcountry travel possible with extreme caution.
HIGH
Red in American scale, Orange in European scale:
•Unstable areas highly likely on various slopes and
aspects.
•Natural and human-triggered avalanches highly
likely.
•Backcountry travellers should avoid steep slopes
and wind-loaded slopes.
EXTREME
Black in American scale, Red in European scale:
•Extremely unstable layers in snowpack.
•Natural and human-triggered avalanches are certain.
•Large destructive avalanches probable.
•Backcountry travellers should avoid any steeply
angled terrain or known avalanche areas.
Source: National Snow and Ice Data Centre
www.nsidc.org
www.accmontreal.ca
Tips for avalanche survival
Before crossing a slope
Rescuing a victim
Before crossing a slope where there is any
possibility of an avalanche, fasten all your
clothing securely to keep out snow. Loosen
your pack so that you can slip out of it with
ease and remove your ski pole straps. Make
sure that your avalanche beacon is on and
switched to “transmit” rather than “receive.”
Cross the slope one at a time to minimize
danger.
Try to watch the victim as they are carried
down the slope, paying particular attention
to the point you last saw them. After the
avalanche appears to have finished and settled, wait a minute or two and observe the
slope carefully to make sure there is no further avalanche danger. If some danger does
still exist, post one member of your party in
a safe location away from the avalanche
path to alert you if another avalanche falls.
If you are caught in an
avalanche
Yell and let go of ski poles and get out of
your pack to make yourself lighter. Use
“swimming” motions, thrusting upward to
try to stay near the surface of the snow.
When avalanches come to a stop and debris
begins to pile up, the snow can set as hard as
cement. Unless you are on the surface and
your hands are free, it is almost impossible
to dig yourself out. If you are fortunate
enough to end up near the surface (or at
least know which direction it is), try to stick
out an arm or a leg so that rescuers can find
you quickly.
If you are in over your head (not near the
surface), try to maintain an air pocket in
front of your face using your hands and
arms, punching into the snow. When an avalanche finally stops, you will have from one
to three seconds before the snow sets. Many
avalanche deaths are caused by suffocation,
so creating an air space is one of the most
critical things you can do. Also, take a deep
breath to expand your chest and hold it; otherwise, you may not be able to breathe after
the snow sets. To preserve air space, yell or
make noise only when rescuers are near
you. Snow is such a good insulator they
probably will not hear you until they are
practically on top of you.
Above all, do not panic. Keeping your
breathing steady will help preserve your air
space and extend your survival chances. If
you remain calm, your body will be better
able to conserve energy.
If you lost sight of the victim early during
the avalanche, or if there are no visible clues
on the surface, mark where the victim was
last seen. Look at the path of the snow and
try to imagine where they might have ended
up. For those wearing avalanche transceivers, switch them to “receive” and try to locate a signal.
For those using probes, begin at the point
the victim was last seen at. Or if you have a
When travelling with a large party, you may good idea of where they were buried, begin
want to send someone for help immediately in that area. Stand in a straight line across
while the rest of you search. If you are the
the slope, standing shoulder to shoulder.
only survivor, do a quick visual search. If
Repeatedly insert the probes as you move
you don't see any visual clues, and you don't down slope in a line. Pay particular attention
have transceivers, then go for help.
to shallow depressions in the slope and the
uphill sides of rocks and trees, since these
are terrain traps where they may have been
nyone going to the backcounburied.
try should accept that you can take
It may be necessary to probe certain areas
all the preparations in the world
more than once if you don't locate the victim
and things can still happen. You
the first time around, but this takes more
want to be prepared for it when it
time and decreases the victim's chances for
happens and know exactly what
survival. Similar to using transceivers, this
you need to do to get out.
method of rescue is much more effective if
Andrew Bednarz
those involved have experience or have
practiced finding buried victims using
Begin looking for clues on the surface (a
probes.
hand or foot, piece of clothing, ski pole,
After searching for clues, or using transceivetc.), beginning with the point where they
ers and/or probes, still does not reveal the
were last seen. As you move down the
location of the victim, it may be time to rely
slope, kick over any large chunks of snow
that may reveal clues. Since equipment and on outside help. Nearby ski resorts will be
items of clothing may be pulled away from staffed with personnel experienced to handle
a victim during an avalanche, they may not these situations. They will have equipment
to locate the victims and dig them out (if
indicate their exact location, but can help
your party did not bring shovels or probes),
determine the direction the avalanche carand they may also have avalanche dogs that
ried them. Mark these spots as you come
across them. Be sure that all rescuers leave can help find victims. Ski area patrollers
their packs, extra clothing, etc., away from will also have first aid equipment, but unfortunately, by the time they can usually reach
the search area so as not to clutter or conout-of-bounds avalanche accidents, too
fuse search efforts.
Once the victim is found, it is critical to un- much time has elapsed to save the victim.
bury them as quickly as possible. Survival
Source: Nat’l Snow and Ice Data Centre
chances decrease rapidly depending on how
www.nsidc.org
long a victim remains buried. Treat them for
any injuries, shock, or hypothermia if necessary.
A
www.accmontreal.ca
Page 29
Montreal Section Laurentian Ski House 2004
E
very winter the Montreal Section of the ACC rents a
house in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal to
serve as a base for telemark, cross-country, and lift
served skiing. The area maintains a formidable reputation for
consistently having great snow conditions every winter. Even
last year was great.
This year we have kept the house we rented in 2001-2003,
which was just about perfect for our needs. The ski house is
spacious and bright with hardwood floors, six bedrooms, and
more sleeping space than you can shake a ski at. There is plenty
of room for cooking and the two floors allow some solitude for
those who desire it. The basement/laundry (the third floor) is
ideal for waxing skis etc. The house is literally a five-minute
walk to the grocery store, movie theatre, and the SAQ, and yet
still retains a country-like atmosphere. If you haven’t seen it,
check it out this winter. The house is available from Nov 15
until April 24. This year we will arrange to have some wood
available for the fireplace. It will be stored under the kitchen
porch. Any chopping required should be done in the basement/
laundry room
As far as the skiing goes, the Municipality of Ste Adele offers a
network of well-maintained and groomed cross country ski
trails. And best of all, they are free (the only free groomed trails
in the lower Laurentians)! The trailhead is a 5 min drive from
the house. Or alternatively, a trail leading to Le petit train du
nord is 200 m away at the end of the road by the small downhill
ski area. For those who like ice skating, an oval is kept open on
Lac Rond, just a short walk from the house. Many winter outings start from the ski house. The entire Laurentians await your
skis, snowshoes, or axe and crampons.
There are a few changes from last year. The basic fee schedule
remains the same, except that the student rate has been eliminated and children of 12-18 years pay $7/night. The mid-week
reduction is still in effect. For members the Sunday night –
Thursday night rate is $10 and for guests is $15. The blackout
periods on the mid-week rate include Ontario and Quebec spring
break weeks and the entire Xmas-New Year period (Xmas eveMonday following New Year). The day use rate is still $2/
person. So if you go in to the ski house to warm up, have lunch,
have a pre-dinner beer, we ask you to throw $2 in the pot before
you leave. Thanks.
Custodians: We are continuing to have a host/custodian each
high season weekend. This person, we’re looking for volunteers
here, will generally spend Friday and Saturday nights at the
house. They will welcome people, collect the fees, act as a general resource person and organise a final clean-up on Sunday
afternoon. The person is not expected to remain at the house
during the day, just to be there early mornings and evenings.
This won’t be an arduous task, but you will be rewarded by free
accommodation (or if you have a pass, a free meal). Volunteers
can call Martin Goldstein at 514-489-4615.
Page 30
“Reservations”: Last year there were some times when the
house felt rather full. On those mid-winter Saturday nights it is
in everyone’s interest that the sleeping spaces be as optimized as
possible. The custodian will be overseeing this to make sure
everyone gets a good night’s rest. Visitors are encouraged to email their intentions to Paul Chapman (address below) so that in
the event of a large crowd they should bring additional sleeping
pads. If anyone is bringing a large group (say 5 or more persons)
they must contact the ski house reservations member at skihousereservations@accmontreal.ca
The address is a misnomer as there are no reservations, but it
allows the Custodian some forewarning of what to expect that
particular weekend.
Ski House Committee
Ski House e-mail contact: Paul Chapman
skihousereservations@accmontreal.ca
Murray Levine
Paul Chapman
Herb Ladd
Martin Suiches
Martin Goldstein
Gigi or Don Wighton
Eric LePage
Leslie Robertson
Dave Percival
Danuta Potworoswki
514-633-1533
514-693-1655
514-481-6026
514-747-2828
514-489-4615
514-739-7228
450-978-8817
514-633-1533
514-481-2435
514-340-1209
Ski House Meals
The tradition of providing a group meal on Saturday nights will
continue this year. We do this for several reasons: to avoid the
chaos of several meals being prepared at once, to raise a small
amount of money for the house, and because the meals are outstanding! The price is in the $12 range. In order to make sure
there is enough food, please let the organizer of the meal know
you are coming by the Thursday before the meal. Visitors are not
obliged to participate in the meal, but please cook before or after
the group meal.
D.P.
Date
Meal
06-Mar
Chili con Jan.
13-Mar
Cheese Fondue
20-Mar
Maharaja’s table
27-Mar
Lasagna treat
3- Apr
10-Apr
End of Season BBQ?
TBA
www.accmontreal.ca
Contact
Jan Johnson
935-4721
Gigi Wighton
739-7228
Silvia Hummel and Phil
West 738-6349
Celestine Segers
489-2842
Mike Rogers 630-5690
Ski House
Frequently Asked Questions
A complete FAQ is available online at the ACC Montreal Section’s
web site www.accmontreal.ca/skihouse.html.
How do I get in if it is locked?
The ski house will normally be locked, especially if you arrive early
on Friday or arrive during the week. Before your first trip to the ski
house this year be sure to call any member of the ski house committee for information on the key system.
What do I need to bring?
Sleeping bag. Pillow. Food (see food faq)
Do I need to bring food?
Group meals are usually provided on Saturday
nights. See Saturday night meals for more info.
Basic breakfast supplies (bread, oatmeal, milk,
jam, tea, coffee) and beer are available for a
small fee (honour system). You're on your own
for lunches.
Can I make a reservation?
In general the answer is no. The ski house operates on a first come first served basis on the
weekend and during holidays. However if you
would like to bring a group to the ski house
during the week we can make special arrangements (for example reserving beds).
Ski House Rates
2003-04
Season Pass
$160
Directions
The address is 1261 Emile Cauchand, Ste-Adele. From
Montreal take the Laurentian Autoroute (hwy 15) north to
exit 67 (Ste-Adele) and continue north on hwy 117. Immediately after the Banque Nationale turn left on Morin St.
Follow Morin St. for 300 meters and turn right on rue
Emile Cauchand and continue for 200 meters. The house is
on your right, set back from the street.
Overnights
ACC Member
$15
Guest of Member
$20
Student Member
$10
11-18 year old
$7
L'adresse est 1261 Emile Cochand, Ste-Adele. De
Mid-week reductions
(See text for holiday/school Montréal prenez l’Autoroute dès Laurentides (15 Nord)
juste qu’a la sortie 67 (Ste-Adele) . Continuez sur la 117
break exceptions)
direction nord. Après La Banque Nationale virez a la
Day Use
$2
gauche et suivez la rue Morin 300 mètres. Virez a la droite
sur la rue Emile Cauchand et continuer 200 mètres. La
Meals
maison est a votre droite, au fond d’un grand terrain.
Breakfast
$3
Dinners
$8-12
Will there be enough space?
Yes. We never turn anyone away. There are
enough beds for 22 people. There are foamies The Ski House is open
Nov 15 to April 24
and plenty of floor space for overflow. On very Autumn—Winter—Spring
busy weekends it would be wise to bring a
sleeping pad just in case all foamies are used.
Will I have my own room?
Maybe. The ski house is an informal and communal facility. There are
no private rooms. It is possible that you could have your own room but
there is no guarantee.
How do I pay the house fees?
Please sign the register. The fees are indicated on the front of the register and are posted on the front door. Usually there will be a member of
the ski house committee present - please pay that person. Otherwise
leave your fees in the coffee can in the living room.
Is the ski house a cabin like at Keene?
The ski house is a ‘real’ house like a cottage, not like Keene. There are
washroom facilities, electric heating, a fridge, running water, etc.
What about those famous Laurentian mosquitoes?
The ski house is open only those months of the year when it is not mosquito season.
By Bus
Take the bus at the Terminus Voyageur (Berri-UQAM) to
Ste Adele. At the stop in Ste Adele walk north toward the
IGA for 20 m and turn left at Henri-Dumond and go up the
hill for about 150m until reaching the second intersection
at Emile-Cauchand. Turn right and go about 30 m to the
house at 1261.
Par autobus
F
Pour aller a la maison de ski du Club Alpin-Section Montreal, proceder au Terminus Voyageur (station metro BerriUQAM) et prendre l'autobus pour Ste. Adele. A l'arret de
Ste. Adele marcher 20 metres au nord (vers le magasin
IGA) et trouver la rue Henri-Dunand. Tourner a gauche
sur cette rue et continuer a la deuxieme intersection qui est
la rue Emile-Cauchand. Tourner a droite sur EmileCauchand et marcher pour environs 30 metres. Il ya une
barriere de bois vert sur votre droit devant une maison
tourqoise. Le numero est 1261 et vous etes la. Pour
l'horaire des autobus telephoner a 842-2281.
h t t p : / / w w w. a c c m o n t re a l . c a / s k i h o u s e. h t m l
www.accmontreal.ca
Page 31
Entretien des sentiers à Keene Trail Clearing in Keene in the
Au coeur des Adirondacks
heart of the Adirondacks
Venez nous aider au nettoyage des sentiers, vous aurez par la même
occasion beaucoup de plaisir, et la chance de rencontrer des membres du ACC tout en supportant la cause de l'environnement.
Ou: Hurricane Trail or Beer Wall (tout dépendant du nombre de
personnes).
Rendez-vous: au stationnement de Ferme de Keene à 8h45
Quand 24 avril 2004 / 24 mai 2004
Quoi: apporter Tous les outils sont fournis Vous devrez apportez
une paire de gant, de l'eau, votre dîner, des vêtements de travail, de
bottes de travail ou de randonnée, un chandail chaud, un coupe
vent, des vêtements de pluie et votre sourire.
Plus d'information: Vous pouvez rester le temps voulu, il n'y a
aucune obligation de votre part de rester toute la journée.
N.B. Pour ceux qui auront aidé au nettoyage des sentiers le samedi,
vous pouvez restez à la Ferme de Keene dans la nuit de samedi à
dimanche GRATUITEMENT. Dimanche, vous pouvez faire de la
randonnée, de l'escalade ou du vélo des activitées de tout genre.
Comité d'accès en environnement
514.257.9786
Come on out for a fun work day of trailwork and trail clearance.
You get some exercise, meet other ACC members, and socialize
while supporting the environment by helping maintain and establish trails.
Location: Hurricane Trail or Beer Walls (to be confirmed - depends on group size).
Date: April 24 2004 / May 24 2004, 8h45AM to 4h30PM
Where: Meet at the Keene Farm lower parking lot at 8:45
What to bring: All tools are provided. You should bring a pair
of gloves, food, water, insect repellant, workclothes, work boots
or hiking booots, sweater, wind breaker, rainwear and smiles.
Information: Stay as long as you are able - no one is required to
stay until the end of the workday. Any help is really appreciated!
If you stay overnight at Keene farm you can hike, climb, bike,
etc. The overnight stay at Keene farm is FREE for those that volunteer for a day.
Environment and Access Committee
h: 514.257.9786
marie.josee@capvoyages.com
Leave No Trace en français
As seen on David Letterman
Meet Professor Popsicle
Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, the world's leading authority on freezing to
death, believes the best way to study the effects of cold on the human body is to get intimate with the elements. Along the way to
claiming numerous research firsts, the 45-year-old physiologist and
director of the University of Manitoba's Laboratory for Exercise
and Environmental Medicine has lowered his body below 95 degrees, the threshold for hypothermia, a mind- and body-numbing
33 times.
“I'm the scientist who does things for real,” he says, “to make sure
I really know what I'm talking about.”
Findings from Giesbrecht's studies have reached rescuers and
trauma doctors and already helped save lives. His latest goal is to
teach Joe Snowshoe about what to do, and what not to do, when
the blizzard hits. As part of his education effort, Giesbrecht colloPage 32
S.-v.-p., suivez ces règles lorsque vous pratiquez vos activités de plein air favorites :
• Planifiez et préparez à l’avance vos sorties
• Attention à l’érosion : voyagez et campez
sur des surfaces non friables.
• Débarassez-vous des déchets de manière
appropriée.
• Ne déplacez aucune ressources naturelles.
Laissez tout sur place.
• Réduisez l’impact des feux de camp au
minimum. (Ils sont interdits dans la région
Est des High Peaks.)
• Respectez la faune.
• Soyez respectueux des autres visiteurs.
borated with Discovery Channel Canada this past March to produce a three-part series of short segments that aim to do just that.
In accordance with his reputation, the charismatic King of Chill
balances information with entertainment, going so far as to leap
with gusto repeatedly into a frigid lake and drive a snowmobile at
night off the edge of the ice and into the icy drink. Hey, it's all in
the name of science.
Videos at www.outsideonline.com/popsicle
All clips courtesy Discovery Channel Canada.
CLIP 1: Cold Comfort
Strategies for survival if you fall through ice.
CLIP 2: Getting That Sinking Feeling
The importance of proper outerwear to keep you afloat and alive
CLIP 3: Icy IQ
www.accmontreal.ca

montage 62.1.pub

Transcription

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