Potomac Mountain Club Current Events & Notices

2012 Annual Meeting Minutes

2012-01-12T00:59:00.000-05:00

Annual Meeting Minutes for the Mountaineering Section

January 11, 2012

Court Zabel Presiding with 35 attendees.

Executive Committee for 2012

Chair: Court Zabel (3^rd term)

Vice Chair: Dave Giacom

Treasurer: Mark Fletcher

Secretary: Vincent Penoso ( 3^rd term )

2 Proposals to be voted on at this meeting:

$500. allocation towards ice climbing gear proposal: PASSED

$1000 allocation towards the avalanche training proposal: PASSED

Financial Report: not available in its entirety to the LIST.

real rock movie fund raiser was a success and was sold out.
MS needs to settle up with the AAC for the holiday party
The club is in the black.
3274 Great Falls Guide books
1786 Carderock Guide books

Merchandise: 100 high tech t-shirts were purchased and we have sold 60 with about 35 remaining mostly mens XL. ( they make great night time shirts for sleepwear) please buy one.

Membership Update: as of this month we have a record 275 paid members which is the most in the history of the club.

2012 marks the 75^th year the Mountaineering Section has been a club.

The UPROPE newsletter has been around for as long as there has been a Mountaineering Section. In 2008 a project began to digitize every issue of the UPROPE newsletter as a searchable PDF resource detailing climbing and mountaineering in this area since 1937. Read the full story in the upcoming newsletter soon.

The Court Zabel, chair, gave the state of the section report which are the highlights and accomplishments of the Mountaineering Section for 2011.

The full state of the Section report will come out shortly in the 2012 Newsletter.

The UPROPE newsletter will be coming out shortly this month with Vincent Penoso returning as it’s editor.

Up coming trips for the Mountaineering Section:

Ice climbing in Ouray Colorado

Mount Washington Alpine Skills

Adirondacks Haus Ice Climbing

More information can be found on the website.

The Mountaineering Section’s very first club trip was to Bull Run Mountain in 1937 on Halloween which will mark 75 years we have been in existence as a club.

WINNERS OF THE ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

ICE: Bill Dudley
JOURNEYS: Bill Dudley
COLORS: John Watson Jones
ROCK: Kan-Kan
ALPINE: Matt Powell

Images will be posted on the website and the Newsletter soon.

New Business:

2012 Executive Committee
Jenny O’Brien brought to the club’s attention of the re-establishment of a climbing area that has been closed for 15 years: SAFE HARBOUR. This was once a popular sport climbing area with 130 routes. It is about 2.5 hours from our locale on the Susquehanna. More information can be found here: http://safeharborclimbing.com/

Disclaimer: There is no way for 275 club members to attend a monthly meeting; I don’t think having 65 people in that room is even allowed by the fire marshal. With that said, for those of you camping out by their computers waiting for the monthly meeting minutes to come out, I try to have the MMM out the same night as the meeting. This is because I am OC. I know if you could attend the meeting(s), you would. If the minutes aren't completely accurate then this will stimulate some discussion on the list. My aim in this task as Secretary is to post the most current information to the membership in the MMM as well as in the NEWSLETTER as the Editor.

We’re gonna have a great year!

May Monthly Meeting Minutes

2011-05-15T09:53:00.000-04:00

Welcome
Previous Minutes
No major PATC mtg

Financial Report 9900
10 New Members

Outreach:
Still looking for help hosting reel rock festval
Artisphere - Jason
Arlington Brewhouse - Joe Martinet
E Street Cinema

Seneca Rocks
Training on how to use the static rescue ropes.

Access:
             Edwin:
                 Two great cleanups completed
                  Rockfest (42 people showed, despite rain and tornadoes)
                    Old Stony Man

Smaller cleanup Patakskill park
                  25 people gathered a lot of trash, a car door and a matress

Crag Stewards
            Crag stewards program is still looking for volunteers
               It is also looking for priorities in terms of abused areas.

Looking at building relationships
            With a planned Sugarloaf cleanup (end of June, early July)
             And a great falls cleanup

Next week is the Great Falls Commerical Use Authorization Mtg (May 25th @ 10am)
            There is little new information about the C&O Canal
            Access to Bull Run may be a noise issue. Further followup is going to be done.
            Nielson Rocks has been bought, and reopened to climbers, with some limitations
            There are some requirements and some regulations
             More infomation will be coming on the listserve

History:
             Attempting to scan the old upropes, to produce a Searchable, indexed PDF.
               We have found a company to scan them, ~$1200

Still need help with Uprope:
           Really need a coordinator, stories are all posted, just need to coallate them. If you      want to hear about all the cool trips, this is a good way. Would there be interest in a Best of Yearly Review?
We would like to try for a quarterly, distribution

Training:
      New Leader Day (May 14th):
      Will take place at Boy scout park @ Sugarloaf
      Will do Mock Leading
      There will be 4 people to one leader
       We can help with cleanup, collect trash as we go?
       So much interest, mayhap Sunday as well near 11ish
       Beta available on website
       The event is on calendar

Ben Koser:
        New Follower Day in June

How has the training gone?
           Marty did a great job with leader skills day
           Wilderness First Aid Class was suggested
                       PATC itself puts one one
                      Chris volunteered to look into it

Womens Events:

           Seneca Summit:
               It Rained, not entirely bad, got people mixing together
               THere were three clinics:
                          Training, anchors, Physics of Falling.
           25 women or so.
                 Plans are being put forward for next year, mayhap later in the year

Upcoming activities:

        New River Rondevu
May 20th to 22nd

Renier Mtg
             Brian Haulgi?
              Saturday through Next Sunday (14th -22nd)
             southern Route

            Dave, John, Watson
            Fair Weather
            Chill cout Trail

     Joe:
              4 people trip to the cascades end of june.
              permit for 6

      John Colini: Bolivia

       Brian Haulgi:
              Back to the Teatons
              September Time frame

     The club
            Slide Show May Wednesday 25th @ 7pm-8:30pm adjourn to pub afterwards
            West End branch library @ Penn and 24th near foggy bottom
             Natille snorkin
              Trad and free climbing yosemite, Proboscus in logan mountains, she is up and coming aid and free
climbing female.

       Could use help with publicity.
       Motions:
       Jeanette Helftich:
             I move that the club authorize expenditure of up to $1,500 for scanning and             indexing the upropes

1944 to present.

Brian Haulgi:
It is the club best interest to purchase a power drill for the placing of an safety anchors

Reminder: April Meeting and Voting on March Motions

2011-04-12T08:23:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that our April meeting will be held this Wednesday, April 13th at the PATC Headquarters located at 118 Park St, Vienna, VA) at 7:30pm. Sarah Goldman and Naz Ahmed will present their slide show on their adventures to Horseshoe Canyon, Red Rocks, and Joshua Tree.

During the meeting, we will vote on the one motion presented at the March Meeting. If you cannot attend and still want your voice to be heard about the motion - please reply to this email with 'Yes' that you're in favor of the motion or 'No' you are not in favor of the motion. Votes must be received by Wednesday, April 13th at 3:00pm EST. The motion is:

Colleen requested a monetary contribution to the first of the women-focused events that we have planned for 2011. PATC is collaborating with the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh and the Gendarme to do a season opening weekend at Seneca focused on dusting off winter mothballs for female trad climbers. This will be the weekend of April 16 – 17 (all details are on the PATC calendar)

The primary outlay in terms of costs are:
-A group campsite at Seneca shadows for 2 nights ($120)
-Potentially having Jessa Goebel out with us, a female climber who, as Diane from the Gendarme says, puts together wicked training regimens. Her cost for the weekend is likely to be $250

We are avoiding anything at this event that could inflate cost including paid clinics although these will be available to individuals at their own cost because we’ll have people available to offer them. All participants will be requested to pay $25 for the weekend, which will go some way to covering costs, the EPC will be contributing to this effort as a club as well. The request to PATC is for a $100 contribution.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Cheers!
Lora P.
Vice-Chair, PATC-Mountaineering Section

March Meeting Minutes

2011-03-18T21:24:00.005-04:00

35 people were in attendance. Court Zabel was presiding.
Introduction

Recap of the Previous Minutes

PATC Parent Club:
   Members, we can Nominate individuals for PATC parent club awards, so be sure to consider it if anyone has impressed you.
   The parent club is also in discussions about selling their guidebooks online (We should begin considering this as well). If you have any input or interest in this topic let the EXCOM know.


Be-Fit McLean went well, we had lots of volunteers. Thanks to Christina for notifying the club of the opportunity.

We have several outreach opportunities in the works.
   1: Climbing happy hour (We looking for volunteers to help coordinate)
   2: Hosting the Reel Rock festival
       Reel Rock requests it be held in October
       At the moment, we're looking for venues and other participants. If you have suggestions, let the excom know.
   The Seneca Rescue ropes we contributed to have arrived
       The excom is looking into opportunities to organize a rescue class with them.

We also have several access updates:
   We're starting the Crag stewardship program, our primary focus is
       a) Getting people to to keep an eye on specific crags.
       b) Maintaining relationships with owner/facilitators
       To help out, please reaide you hand, contact the excom, and volunteer to keep an eye on a specific area, or ask where we need people to look.
   Looking into smaller adopt-a-crags for less used areas.
   Lost crags:
       Looking for people to begin looking into access for area's that have fallen out of use.
   The Climbing Management plan is imminent.
       Ranger: Joseph Burns
       Covers: Great falls, Carderock, the Parkway
       For Carderock there are changes happening to commercial use permits. Shouldn't affect us, but watch for updates on this subject.
           During this time, try to be extra courteous to our fellow climbers. Please don't hang ropes unused ropes, and be especially careful on the weekends
   Rockfest:
       Midalantic climbers is organizing
       The event is half cleanup, half festivities.
       It is taking place on 4/15-4/17
       We will be cleaning Shenandoah, Overlooks, Old Rag, and Old Stony Man
       There will be Leave no trace workshops, yoga, food
       Fun times!

History of the club:
   The historical team keeps plugging away. They have been Scanning old upropes and doing some audio interviews. Joe is working on updating the "Chain of Chairs" section.
   Contact Jeannette for information or to help
   There is a new history section on the webpage in the works. It will contain a History of great falls, Carderock, the upropes, and the Audio interviews.

Publications:
   Annette and Vincent are coordinating the Uprope publication. They're looking for people to summarize and format trip reports. The traditional Uprope Format contains a One page description of large trips, the Chairman's corner, and a list of all different trip reports.

Training Events:
   A couple upcoming training events (Workshops):
       Top rope Anchor workshop 3/12
           Response has been very popular
           Put on by Marty and Bob
       Leader skills day - 4/3
           Thanks to Marty and Jeanette
       Looking for volunteers for new climbers day. 4/2
           Spread the word, bring your friends
       New Leader day - 5/7
       New Follower day - Later in the summer
       Sport climbing workshop.
           Give people practice on sport anchors.
   If you have any ideas or needs, let Ben Koser know.
       One idea suggested was Clean Aid climbing.

Womens Events:
   Spring trad event in Seneca - 4/15-4/17?
       In coordination with the Pittsburg explorers club
   Summer events in planning
   The fall event will be Chicks with picks

Upcoming Climbing Events:
   Long Mountain trip on April 9-10
       Located at the WV/VA border, there are lots of first ascent opportunities around there.
   North Carolina Trip
       Going to "Table Rock"
       There is free camping if you bring your own water
       Event suggested as a possible a Memorial Day opportunity?
   Rockfest
   Mt. Hood
       Looking at the Week before or week after Memorial Day
       At the moment we need more leaders to volunteer; we have several followers who would like to attend.
       We are looking to take the south side route, further details to follow

Catskill guide books have been donated to the club.

Motions to be posted to listserve:
   Requesting a monetary contribution to the first of the women-focused events that we have planned for 2011. PATC is collaborating with the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh and the Gendarme to do a season opening weekend at Seneca focused on dusting off winter mothballs for female trad climbers. This will be the weekend of April 16 – 17 (all details are on the PATC calendar)

   The primary outlay in terms of costs are:
   -       A group campsite at Seneca shadows for 2 nights ($120)
   -       Potentially having Jessa Goebel out with us, a female climber who, as Diane from the Gendarme says, puts together wicked training regimens. Her cost for the weekend is likely to be $250

   We are avoiding anything at this event that could inflate cost including paid clinics although these will be available to individuals at their own cost because we’ll have people available to offer them. All participants will be requested to pay $25 for the weekend, which will go some way to covering costs, the EPC will be contributing to this effort as a club as well. The request to PATC is for a $100 contribution.

Save the DATE

2011-03-02T08:10:00.000-05:00

We've got an exciting 2011 rock season beginning to shape up!

March 7: PATC-MS at Sportrock Sterling. Rock the Gym Red! (day passes available for non-SR members)

March 9: Club Meeting

March 12: Top-Rope Anchors Review

March 16: Carderock Wednesdays start after Daylight Savings

April 2: New Climber Day

April 3: Leader Skills Day

April 5: Climbing Community Happy Hour (location to be determined)

April 9-10: Camping and Exploratory Climbing at Long Mountain

April 16-17: Women's Seneca Summit

April 16-17: Shenandoah Rockfest

June 4: Family and Friends Day

If you have something planned, share it with us on the club calendar and facebook page! If you can help out with any of the above events, let us know! We'd love to see you all out there.

Keep an eye out on the club calender for further details as plans firm up. Some of these dates may be tentative and will change (we'll keep you updated!) There will also be more events that will be posted soon!

Club Calendar

If you would like to post an event, article, trip report, or beta to our website, it's easy! Directions on how to do so can be found here:

Posting an event or beta

And since you have member climbing days on your mind right now, don't forget to renew your 2011 membership if you haven't done so already. It's fast and easy to do on our website:

Join or Renew

See you on the rocks!

Christina Cox

Treasurer, PATC-MS

February Meeting at Liberty Tavern in Clarendon

2011-02-16T13:26:00.002-05:00

Hello PATC-MS Climbers,

I hope to see many of you tonight at the Liberty Tavern in Clarendon for our informal meeting. Part of the reason we chose this destination for the first real meeting of 2011 was to shake things up a bit, but also to take an opportunity to chat about how we can make the club serve the membership better this year (and have more fun doing it). As is always true: This is your club. You can get out of it what you put in. The excom just here to help you make this club what you want it to be.

Goals/Priorities for the Year

In our first meeting the Excom agreed upon the following three priorities/goals for this year. We hope they're in line with what you, the membership, want from the club. We've noted a few things under each goal that we're hoping to make happen this year. Hopefully these will provide a spark of inspiration for you to participate and to create your own events.

Create more opportunities for open and social "group enjoyment of mountaineering and related activities"

Put more scheduled climbing events on the calendar
Pre-arrange post-climbing drinking/dinner destinations
Rally near metros before driving to distant crags

Include more members in the running of this club

Provide more support to volunteer coordinators

Take unifying role in the local climbing community

Joint happy hour with the AAC, Mid-Atlantic Climbers, and other local climbing groups
Greater work with the Access Fund
Work to Co-Host the Reel Rock Film Festival

A Request for Help

By far the best way to shape the future of this club is by volunteering to be one of the clubs coordinators or to assist with one aspect of coordination. As I'm sure past coordinators will attest, this not only a great way to "give back", but it's a great way to meet other climbers and to expand your knowledge of some area of our sport. If you're interested in helping or just curious about any of the positions below, please don't hesitate to talk to any member of your excom.

Outreach Coordinator

Seeks partnerships, endorsements, and sponsorships (or other funding) with and from the local community and businesses. Proposes all opportunities to the EXCOM for approval.

Crag Stewards

Act as the point person to watch over a particular Crag, and inform the access coordinator of any issues.

Expedition Coordinator

Solicits, evaluates, and make recommendation to the EXCOM to about which proposals should be sponsored bi-annually. Provides assistance, beta, and recommendations to club members planning climbing expeditions.

Training Coordinator & Team

Solicits, coordinates, and organizes training events for the membership throughout the year and posts the details to the club calendar.

Membership Coordinator & Team

Solicits new membership at local climbing events, particularly Carderock and Great Falls climbing. Assists with and collects new membership paperwork (applications & waivers) and forwards those to the Secretary.

Communications Editor & Team

Coordinates, organizes, publishes, and distributes the club newsletter. Ensures that events and trip reports are published to the club web site. Works to keep members engaged on the club Facebook page.

My thanks to those of you who actually made it this far down in this (overlong) e-mail; and my special thanks to those of you who consider volunteering. Again, if you have any questions or comments about anything please don't hesitate to contact myself or any member of the excom.

Thanks,

- Court

Chair, PATC-MS

2011January YEARLY Meeting Minutes

2011-01-29T17:07:00.002-05:00

2011January YEARLY Meeting Minutes

Welcome/Opening:

The chairman opened the meeting with a reminder about shirts; $25 for one, or $20 each for two. The club has sold approximately 25% of the way through.

John Podraza and Joe Martinet picked up PMC flags to take to Ouray and Mt. Washington, respectively. Joe will have his for alpine skills weekend.

State of the Section:

The chairman opened by saying this has been a good year for the club, with lots of participation and hard work from the membership. He thanked the Excom for a good year.

He went on to highlight the club's many training activities it puts on, including Alpine Skills weekend, New Climbers Day, New Seconds Day, and New Lead Day. In addition, the club began having workshops after meetings in place of slide shows, offering a further chance to improve skills.

The club put on several Trips this past year, including the many ad hoc trips on the mailing list, Daks Big house, the first ever Ladies' Day, Family day, and the 4^th of July Seneca weekend, which was such a hit, we got fined for having to many people at the group campsite.

The chairman went on to speak about the various service events the club contributed to. As a club the PATC-MS donated $500 to the Seneca Rescue Cache. Many members showed up to the Great Falls Adopt-a-Crag clean-up as well as the Northwest Branch Adopt-a-Crag.

The chairman highlighted the many location that club members traveled to this past year; destinations like Ranier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Olympus, Yosemite, the Matterhorn, Mt. Blanc, and Aconcagua.

Old business

PATC-MS Website: Mike Dannhardt and the website team have done a great job getting the the club's facebook page integrated with our website. Talk to him if you would like to help with the IT section of our club. With the parent club moving to a new hosting company, we are moving as well.
Club Facebook Page: The club facebook page is up and running, trip reports from it and the website cross post to each other
PATC-MS shirts are in: As stated, the shirts cost $25 for one, $20 each for 2. Stickers are available as well.
Bull run: The club is looking for someone to step up and reach out to the parent club about getting access to the climbs at Bull run. Since PATC took over maintaining the trails there, it may be possible for PATC-MS to take over maintaining the vertical trails. Brain Haugli looked into this last year, anyone interested should get in touch with him.
Alpine Skills: At the time of the meeting 4 leaders, and 12 participants are signed up.
DAKS Big House: The Daks Big house trip is coming up February 10-13^th. Members only pay $72.50 to spend the three nights lodging in the house. Activities offered at the house include Lead, Top Rope, and guided ice climbing, Skiing both downhill and cross-country, and alpine like crampon slogging. Mt. Marcy is close by.
Annual Photo Contest Winners: Rock: Shane Shin, Ice: Ian Francis, Alpine: Dave Giacomin, Club Color: John Oster, Journeys: Dave Green

Ongoing Projects:

McLean Community Center Expo: McLean Community Center is putting on a fitness and adventure expo Saturday February 26^th 10-4. They've asked for all sections of PATC to be represented. If you would like to volunteer, contact Christina.
Uprope: Annette Otis mentioned that he' willing to help with the Uprope publication, but needs someone to compile the articles for her. This can be as simple as pulling a topic of the list serve. Some discussion was raised with regards to whether a change in mediums or format is appropriate given the speed at which events are announced.
Membership Survey: Fill out the Membership survey so the next Excom knows what interests you.

New Business:

Forgotten climbing areas: a member involved in the Uprope archiving project highlighted the references and beta they've been finding with regards to areas we aren't using anymore. This may become something that needs to be added to the club beta page. Access issues would need to be considered before posting this information publicly.
Mt. Ranier via the Wilson Headwall Expedition Proposal: Brian Haugli presented his teams expedition proposal to the meeting attendees. Look for details of his Expedition proposal to appear on the listserve.

Motions:

Trip leader reimbursement (Ver. 2): Motion Carries

Trip leaders have the ability to go free, reimbursed by the trip members, money through the club to make it an official club trip.

Trip Leader Directory: Motion Carries

Folks who wanted to list themselves as an option for leading trips, Listed on the website, their criteria, and what types of trips.

Non profit benefits program: Motion Carries

Signing up Excom to assist in taking advantage of non-profit benefits. Trips must be open to anyone in the club.

Elections:

The only position on the Executive Committee to be contested this year was Chairperson. Colleen Louw and Court Zabel accepted nominations. Both candidates were given an opportunity to address the meeting attendees.

Your 2011 Executive Committee will be:

Chairman: Court Zabel

Vice Chair: Lora Poluwzuk

Treasurer: Christina Cox

Secretary: Matt Lauber

Slide show and Trip Report

Thanks to Brian Haugli for presented his slides from his trip to the Tetons. Anybody interested in this classic range should definitely email Brian with questions. Lots of insight into weather and conditions in late season attempts.

February Monthly Meeting Minutes 2010

2010-03-21T12:51:00.001-04:00

PATC – Mountaineering Section Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2010
Approximately 14 in attendance
Court Zabel, Chairman
Current Members: 69
New Members: 4
Members Missing Liability Waivers: 16

The Chair opened the meeting by outlining his goals for the club in
the upcoming year. He presented the following goals to the membership
for 2010:
Expanding upon the Objectives outlined in the club’s constitution, the
2010 Excom has the following goals for this year:
1. To foster camaraderie among members & encourage climbers to expand
their circle of partners throughout PATC-MS
2. To reach out to the local climbing community & improve the
recognition of PATC-MS
3. To serve the climbing community through community service
4. To encourage the sharing of knowledge and techniques

Coordinators
Family Events: Solicits, coordinates, and organizes events geared
towards helping families enjoy climbing together.
Community Service: Solicits, coordinates, and organizes events geared
towards giving back to the climbing community. Maintains contact with
other volunteer organizations and encourages member participation in
volunteer activities.
Oral History: Works to document the history of the PATC-MS.

Old Business
• LSM anchor project—no news status is ongoing.
• Chris Warner has agreed to a presentation for the Section at the
National Cathedral School for March 18th. The show will be on climbing
8000m peaks. There is no direct cost for the Section other than
advertising. The club is looking for assistance in getting flyers
distributed. Check the website for PDF versions of the flyers that
members can print up and post. The club is also looking for help
posting a limited number of color and black and white posters in
climbing gyms and outdoor stores.
• Glen Denny show is March 24th at Georgetown University. Membership
is asked to continue to spread the word.
• Luciano Lima reported that the DAKS Big House Trip was a success. He
shared that there was fun and camaraderie to spare. He went on to say
how grateful he was for the membership’s generosity and patience.
Before the trip Luciano put out a request to borrow ice tools and
promptly received four offers. Members were also very patient as they
demonstrated rappelling from a V-Thread for Luciano since it was his
first time to rappel and only his second time climbing outdoors.
• Update on Great Falls and the NPS Workshop on Cliff Research:
Several club members attended the presentation given by scientists
about the existence of rare plant species and the impact of visitors
on them in the Gorge. Lora Polowczuk and Jeanette Helfrich gave an
overview of the results that were presented. Jeanette has posted a
link on the list serve for members interested in reading more about
the results of the research being done by Jeff Marion and his group.
Key points that were presented were: Most of the damage being done to
the plants is because of informal trails created by visitors not
staying on the formal trails. How often do we as climbers leave the
trails to set-up top ropes or to find the walk-downs to some of the
climbs? In general the scientists found little evidence that the top
rope set-ups themselves are damaging trees and other plants.
Membership felt good about the scientists and their outlook on
climbers using the park but felt that the NPS may not be so
understanding of our park use. Some members felt that while the report
states that climbers are not doing the majority of the damage
nonetheless because we are the least understood by the NPS we may
eventually end up being scapegoated. We as climbers will need to make
sure we are represented when it comes time to develop the Climbing
Management Plan.
• Mike Dannhardt reported that the New Trad Climbing Guidebook is
progressing. The section on Buzzard is finished and a Long Mountain
PDF file may be coming out on the website in the next couple months. A
link to an excellent blog guide to Old Rag was also recently added to
the website.
• Two pairs of BD stainless steel Saber tooth crampons were bought
last month.
• Jeanette Helfrich updated the club on the Oral History Project. She
shared that she and John Christian have collected 90% of the UpRopes
and are now having them scanned. Jenny O’Brien is working on the
details of scanning these volumes. Eventually the volumes would be
indexed and made publicly available. The next step is to begin
interviewing people and collecting stories.

Motions Voted On (Yes – No – Abstain)
• There were no motions to be voted on.

New Business
• There are a lot of trees down in Great Falls Park. It was proposed
that the club look into working with PATC to put together some work
crews to help clean the park up.
• A member suggested that the club look into adding information or a
sign to the climber’s sign-ins in Great Falls about staying on the
established trails to help address the informal trail networks.
• John Christian is trying to get Carderock declared a historical
site.

Motions
• Christina Cox proposed a motion to renew the SPI reimbursement
program for the first six climbers that complete the course annually
to help pay for the assessment fee. The motion was seconded and moved.
• Jenny O’Brien proposed a motion that the club purchase some ice
tools. The motion was seconded and moved.

Slide show and Trip Report
In place of the slide show or trip report there was a brief “show and
tell” by some of the ice climbers that were present at the meeting
about their equipment. Thanks to all the ice climbers that were
willing to take the chance and show us whether or not they were going
leashed or leashless.

Monthly Meeting Minutes January 2010

2010-03-21T12:49:00.001-04:00

PATC – Mountaineering Section Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2010
Approximately 26 in attendance
Bob Graver, Chairman 2009 followed by Court Zabel, Chairman 2010.
Current Members: 214
New Members: 2
Members Missing Liability Waivers: 16

Welcome and farewell remarks were read by the out going Chairman.

Old Business
• Dave R reported telephonically that the LSM Anchor project continued
to be on hold pending the NSP final approval of the ROMP. The Chair
followed up and confirmed that status w Steve Bair at Shenandoah NP
the following day.
• Jim Pasterczyk reported that Chris Warner has agreed to a
presentation for the Section at the National Cathedral School for
March 18th. The show will be on climbing 8000m peaks. There is no
direct cost for the Section other than advertising. Jim is looking for
assistance in getting fliers designed, printed and distributed.
• Glen Denny show is firm for March 24th at Georgetown University.
Membership asked to continue to spread the word. Mike Dannhardt hopes
to have simple flyers available for the distribution by the next
general meeting and would appreciate help from the membership with its
creation.
• Christmas holiday party was a success despite the snow storm. About
30 members traveled through the weather to Bob Gravers home for drinks
and barbeque.
• At the holiday party the Photo Contest entries were review and final
votes were tallied The winners are:
o Overall: Bill Dudley: $250 Travel Voucher on Southwest
o Alpine/ Mountaineering: Bill Dudley: BD (Raven??) Mountaineering
Axe
o Ice: Bryan Garmin: BD Turbo Ice Screw
o Rock: Christina Cox: Complete Set, BD Nuts
o Journeys : Matt Zeigler: BD Travel Duffle

• DAKs Big House update given by Vo. We have eight folks paid up. Two
more committed but not yet paid. Dates are Feb 18 through Feb 21. Cost
is Skyward Lodging for 3 nights; Cost: $72.25/person. See Section
calendar for complete details.

Motions Voted On (Yes – No – Abstain)
• Annette R. and Vince P. nominated to be honorary members for their
contributions to the Carderock Guidebook [PASSED unanimously]
• Donate $500 for spools of rope for the Seneca Rescue Cache [PASSED
unanimously]

Elections

A motion was made and seconded to vote for uncontested EXCOM positions
by acclamation. Motion was passed. The positions of Chair, Vice Chair
and Secretary were uncontested.

The contested position for Treasurer was voted upon after rousing
stump speeches by both candidates.

The following are the new officers for the Mountaineering Section of
PATC for 2010:
• CHAIR: Court Zabel - zabelc@gmail.com
• VICE CHAIR: Lora Polowczuk - lola8732@gmail.com
• SECRETARY: Benjamin Koser - ben_koser@yahoo.com
• TREASURER: Brian Haugli - brian.haugli@gmail.com

The new EXCOM immediately took over the meeting.

New Business
• There was no PATC meeting this past month to be updated about.
• Brian Haugli to talk to Mark Mangrich about getting more business
cards printed up. These cards can be used to hand out to potential new
members while we are out climbing or at events.
• Members are reminded that they must be members of the parent club
PATC in order to participate in the Alpine Skills Seminar at Mt.
Washington or to stay in the DAKs Big House.

Motions
• No new motions.

Slide show and Trip Report

Daniel Langdon gave a slide show and trip report from his recent
climbing in Mexico at Potrero Chico located outside the town of
Hildalgo and at Reimer’s Ranch near Austin, Texas. Thank you Daniel!

2008-12-18T04:33:00.002-05:00

28 attendees

Bob Graver, chair

12/10/2008

November Meeting Highlights

2008-11-13T21:34:00.001-05:00

Hello all; Had a great business meeting last night and a wonderful slideshow. Thanks to everyone that toughed it out thru the business portion. Lots of stuff going on as we begin to close out this years' administation and try and make sure the house is in order for the next group of leaders. We'll get the full minutes posted to the homepage in a week or two as the pace of thins allow but just wanted to share the high points with everyone: The following two motions from the OCT meeting were voted on and passed: VA Trad Climbing Guide: The group approved the start of a project to develop and publish a guidebook on the (unpublished) Trad climbing areas of VA that the group has developed and/or frequents. Dave Raboy has lead on the project and will inform the membership of the scope and schedule for the project when defined. AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Certification: The group approved funding the assessment costs for an AMGA, SPI course in MAR 09 at Looking Glass Mtn in NC. We need six volunteers (first come first served). The course details can be found at http://www.foxmountainguides.com/AMGA_Single_Pitch_Instructor_Course.htm. The cost to participants will be $435 and the Mountaineering Section will pay the $230 assessment fee per applicant. Specific dates will be set once we have six volunteers. Contact me directly if interested. Elections: Colleen briefed the membership on the details for this years' election. The nomination period is open now until 10 DEC. GET YOUR NOMINATIONS TO COLLEEN ASAP - and don't be afraid to nominate yourself (I can think of no stronger endorsement than to simply say "I'd like to serve") - we need new faces and the new ideas that come with them to keep the club growing and thriving. Colleen will propose the slate for approval at the DEC meeting and then voting will be done at the JAN meeting. Everyone please join me in thanking Colleen for taking on this hugely important task and, most importantly, SUPPORT HER WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION! Christmas Party: Court and Lora P have graciously agreed to host and coordinate the event this year - THANKS you two. The date will be SAT, 13 DEC at Court's place in Rosslyn - MARK YOUR CALENDARS for what is always a highlight of the year. Proposed Bylaws Changes: There were two bylaws changes proposed and appropriately seconded. The first will establish term limits for the elected officers of the section and the second removes the specific coordinators currently reflected in the Bylaws thus more correctly aligning the Bylaws and Constitution on the matter. YOu can find the detailed proposals in the minutes when published. Change to Honorary Members: We inappropriately designated Annette and Vince as honorary members earlier in the year (our Constitution and Bylaws only permit this at the JAN Annual Meeting) and thus those designations are recinded until JAN when they will, hopefully, be resubmitted. This oversight is completely my fault and I have made personal apologies to the two members and ask the rest of the membership's forgiveness as well. Polar Express: The section leadership offered to rent a large capacity van for travels to the Nort Country for winter climbing adventures. The ideas is that if a group of members are interested, the Section will front the van rental and then the traveling members would split the cost of the van (to be reinbursed to the Section), all gas, and driving. Initial investigation shows that we can get a 12 pax van for ~$300 per weekend. That probably works out to less than $100 per person round trip per person. Sounds like a good deal to me but it's up to you all. Who's gonna test the water!?! Slideshow: And finally, we closed the evening with an outstanding slide show on the Cordillera HUAYHUASH in Peru given by the Section's newest international member Richardo Malca. Great jos and thanks! Like I said, a busy meeting, thanks to everyone that participated. Graver

Mountaineering Section 2009 Club Officer Elections

2008-11-01T22:14:00.001-04:00

It's that time of year again (already) - where'd this year go?!? Please join me in thanking Colleen for accepting the election coordinator position for our pending elections! She'll post details sometime in the ensuing weeks but please start thinking about your nominations. Graver

Alpine Skills Weekend (23-25 JAN)

2008-11-01T22:10:00.000-04:00

Just a quick update of things I've thought of in talking with those who've expressed interest thus far: First, there is another prerequisite that I neglected to mention - all partcipants must be members of BOTH the mountaineering section and the PATC since this is an excursion beyond the PATC local area (the 4 states)

Also, I believe we'll need to have an off mountain day to let newer folks have a show & tell day for winter gear. I thought maybe early DEC so that if folks want or need to buy stuff they can get it on their list for Santa. Thoughts? **BTW, I'll bring all thre stuff I have but will also need some of you veterans to volunteer some of your gear and advice on this day. Thoughts? Graver

From: rgraver9106@hotmail.comTo: patc-ms@googlegroups.comSubject: [PATC-MS] Alpine Skills Weekend (23-25 JAN)Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:56:08 -0400
Hello all; Decided on dates for this. Here's the plan: THURS, 22 JAN: Fly to Manchester, drive to Pinkham Notch, and hike into the Harvard Cabin after work FRI, 23 JAN: Share & practice alpine skills in Huntington Ravine SAT, 24 JAN: Summit attempt via appropriate route(s) in either Huntington Ravine and/or Lion's Head SUN, 25 JAn: Review, rest, pack, head home Plan would be to , spend FRI & SAT tooling around Huntington Ravine and/or the Lion's Head Trail A list of things I thought we could practice are as follows (also open to other suggestions as well): 1- Winter gear (less is better but too little can be deadly) 2- Efficient Movement w crampons and ice axe (slow & steady wins the race BUT this is a lesson I never learned) - Fitting Crampons & Axe - French Technique - Front Point - Hybrid Technique - Self Arrest & Self Belay 3- Alpine Anchors & Belays 4- Moving as a Team 5- Avalanche Awareness WHAT I NEED: - Participants (must be members of BOTH the Mountaineering Section and the PATC to participate). - Some more experienced members to come along to also share their experience and techniques (same membership requirements as above) - Club ropes WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING: - A reasonable fitness level (we will be oprating in a very demanding environment - the approach alone has been known to crush mere mortals)- All your personal winter climbing gear, comfort gear, food, and money (cash) to pay the caretaker for your stay at the Harvard Cabin (first come-first served and $15 per night inside or $10 per night to camp outside)- And most importantly a sense of humor and flexible agenda. Ultimately, the condition of the mountain will dictate what we do. I'm probably fogetting stuff but we can iron out those details as we go along between now and then. Lemme know who's in when when you can. Graver

October Agenda

2008-11-01T22:09:00.001-04:00

The following motions were made and appropriately seconded and will be voted on at the OCT meeting:

Lora P made the motion for the MS to buy a trad rack for aspiring leaders to check and use (ie. a set of nuts/hexes, cams, alon with some biners and slings.

Kip made the motion to shut down the listserve to force the club’s discussions to the MS discussion board at: http://www.localendar.com/forums/pmccalendar.
We can also start a New forum on the club's website.

Dave R made the motion and agreed to lead the production of the Mountaineering Section‘s next climbing guide project. The project will document unpublished traditional climbing areas in the DC-Metro area (ie. the newly re-discovered climbing areas: Long Mountain, Little Stonyman Cliffs, Buzzard Rocks, and the lower slabs area of Old Rag)
Katahdin - The folks at BSP will be opening up the reservation requests the first business day in Nov. which is only 5 weeks away. To get your first choice you definitely want your request to be there at that time. It would be ideal if a Katahdin veteran (John O.???) would step up to take on this task. http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/camping/wintercamping.htmlDaks Big House - Last year was fun to have 15 of us together but the house wasn't ideal. A bigger common area would be great, a week would have been not much more money, lots of things to think about. Last year just signed the lease after I got committments ($ in fist) from most of the folks. For someone to be comfortable doing this you have to haveearly committments from folks who want to go. If anyone wants to tackle this one that would be great as once again the earlier you get going the more likely you can get a time frame that works.
Please provide your thoughts on the motions via the listserve and then definitely come out and have your say at the OCT meeting where we'll decide.

Membership drive challenge

2008-10-06T14:39:00.000-04:00

Hi all;

I've been remiss in not emphasizing another topic I threw out at the last meeting.

If you're at all like me you climb w a variety of folks, both club members and not. I challenge each of us to recruit one of our non-member friends to join the club by the end of the year.

Why you ask?

First of all - because it's our charter.
Article II.
OBJECT
1. To provide the opportunity for group enjoyment of mountaineering and related activities;
2. To train interested people in mountaineering techniques;
3. To provide public service through specialized mountaineering techniques;
4. To foster the conduct of these activities in a safe manner.

2- because you're a great group - I've never seen such a level of incedibly positive energy - definitely worth sharing.

3- this is a great time to join. Anyone joining after 30 SEP won't need to renew until JAN 2010 so essentially gets an extra three months in the deal

4- there's power in numbers - we may be able to negotiate discounts for the group from vrious vendors of stuff (insert your ideas here if you care to)

So, lets hit the bricks and see what we can do. Here's the URL:  http://www.potomacmountainclub.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=28

Thanks everyone, you've made this a great year!

Graver

P.S. it wouldn't kill all you list-lurkers (you know who you are) to sign up - and, it would really help the cause

2009 Katahdin

2008-10-06T14:38:00.001-04:00

Hi all;

It's that time of year (to get our winter reservations in to Baxter State Park). *Thanks Bill for the heads up.

The trip (or at least our first choice) will be 14-22 FEB to take advantage of the 16 FEB holiday for those of you that get that one)

If anyone's interested, here's what we need at the OCT club meeting:

1- your completed resume (copy the format from the attached and e-mail it to me)

2- $225 per person. This will fund 1 night at Roaring Brook and 5 nights at Chimney Pond bunkhouses w/ $16 per person extra for whatevers if needed (if my math is correct). If not used, the extra money will, of course, be refunded. Make checks payable to the Mountaineering Section, PATC.

3- A qualified volunteer to be Asst Trip Leader

First 9 qualified (this will be determined by some combination of me and ultimately Baxter State Park) participants that turn in their resume and money. You'll note we'll also accept 5 additional resumes as alternates.

Graver

October Monthly Meeting Agenda

2008-10-06T14:36:00.002-04:00

Hi all;

Hope everyone had a great SEP!

Come on out WEDS to share the stories, food, and drink.

We've got a few proposals to finalize and/ or vote on so please come out and have your say.

VOTES:
- Proposal to buy a club rack
- Proposal to shut down the listserve in favor of the clubs discussion board
- Proposal to begin development of a VA trad climbing guidebook

OTHER DISCUSSIONS/ BUSINESS:

- The EXCOM will distribute the recently updated and agreed upon Publications agreement between the Mountaineering Section and the PATC. The New Carderock guidebooks should be available NOW.

- I will be taking names, resumes, and deposits for a 14-22 FEB trip to Katahdin (reservations open the first work day in NOV)

VOLUTEERS NEEDED:
* Time to step up - we've got a couple of key events hanging in the balance here for lack of volunteers

- Christmas Party host/ coordinator(s)

- Election Coordinator

- Outreach Coordinator

*BIG THANKS to whomever added the agenda to the calendar for this month's meeting - I'm on my pockets as usual but I'll try and be better organized for this important meeting WEDS.

Lastly - remember Carder climbing is TUES this week

See you all WEDS.

Graver

ROBERT GRAVER
CHAIRMAN,
MOUNTAINEERING SECTION, PATC

New Hampshire Mt. Washington Ice Festival Feb 7-10: IMCS/MS-PATC DISCOUNT Details

2008-01-23T18:16:00.000-05:00

Our friends at the International Mountain Climbing School have decided to renew their offer to the Mountaineering Section as follows:

IMCS / Mountaineering Section-Potomac Appalachian Trail Club group Discounts for Ice Fest 2008 as follows.Less than 5 people that sign up we will give a 5% discount per course, if we get 5+ people I will give 10% per person. You do not have to book the same course but if you could sort of sign up together around the same time that would help. We will need to have concrete numbers that are paid in advance (standard Ice Fest payment). No discounts on same day signups or last minute changes, only on advanced bookings that are on the list that the club will send. This prevents refunding money with people claiming to be club members at the last minute with no way for us to check. No refunds for cancellations within seven days of the event. $50 administration fee per person applies to any type of monetary refund before that. (Again this is standard IMCS procedure) We have room still on most courses but can work with all of you on what you would like to do. We look forward to climbing with you in February. The ice is looking good right now. Talk to you soon. Brad White

2008 Welcomes a EXCOM

2008-01-19T22:16:00.000-05:00

With a new election, spearheaded by Bob Graver, a new vitalitiy has surged into our once again vibrant climbing & mountaineering club. The election an exciting display of politics, drama, mudslinging and club comraderiere, ushered new blood to the ranks of the Executive committee as follows:

Chairman

NAME: Robert Graver
BIRTH DATE: 3 Oct 1960
CLIMBING SINCE: Sometime in the 70's when some of the older dudes from the neighborhood took me camping somewhere in upstate, NY, tied a bowline on a bight around my waist, and dragged me shakily up what, I now believe, was Boston at the Gunks.
MOUNTAINEERING SECTION MEMBER SINCE: 1998
TURN-ONS: I consider all climbing, skiiing, and other wanderings in the woods as preparation for adventures in the mountains. I primarily climb trad rock and ice but also participate in all the other climbing styles while awaiting the next opportunity to get into the hills where I can best apply my mediocre technical skills and high tolerence for suffering.
TURN-OFFS: Hot weather (anything above 32f), off-widths, and negativity.
FAVORITE CLIMBING BOOK: The Ascent of Rum Doodle
WHAT'S PLAYING IN THE I-POD TODAY: Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, The Shins, The Cranberries, The Killers, Counting Crows

vice chair

NAME: John Oster
BIRTHDATE: June 2, 1967
CLIMBING SINCE: Trees since I was about 6, rock from1996 on, ice for 1 year.
PMC MEMEBER SINCE: Katahdin 06, but I was gettingarticles published in the Uprope before then ; )
TURN-ONS: Physically demanding crack climbs, That 'Inthe Present' feeling while pushing yourself, Tearingdown the Ego, Forging strong relationships throughclimbing
FAV CLIMB BOOK: The Rock Warrior's Way
FAV TUNES: Everything from Enigma to Hard Metal toBluegrass

Secretary

Name: Vincent john Penoso
Birthday Rocktober 6th, 1976
Climbing since 1992 Learned to climb at Homestake Pass near Butte, Montana;leading rock since 1992;Enjoy crack climbing, multipitch rock; Ice climbing in 2006; led first few ice pitches 2007; can follow WI3-4; lead WI 2+-3. Favorite climbing areas lumpy ridge, front range, Lake koocanusa, Spire rock, North table Mountain, Eldo canyon and Nelson rocks Preserve.
Mountaineering Section Member since 1999 Served as UPROPE editor for 8.5 years; Webmaster since 2002 to present, continue to develope current website using JOOMLA CMS;served as vice-chair 2005, 2006; Listserve and EXCOM list manager, current membership and database coordinator, website developer, all round busy body.
Other diversions: My 4.5 year old daughter and my wife, the coolest missus anyone could ever hope to have!, Whitewater kayaking, fly-fishing, canoeing, TENNIS, road biking, ice skating, studio photography, web development.
Turn offs: insufferable know-it-alls, religious whackos, whachos who are religious, religion, poison ivy, mosquitoes, hot weather, long approaches.
Turn Ons:Grateful Dead, Classical music, wood chimes. Cuban food. Ebay. martinis.

Treasurer

NAME: Mike Dannhardt
BIRTH DATE: Nov 29, 1961
CLIMBING SINCE: High School but w/out a clue as to what I was doing! Caught the clue and the full time bug in 2002 in JT.
MOUNTAINEERING SECTION MEMBER SINCE: 2005 I think
TURN-ONS: hiking, canyoneering, climbing rock and alpine, cold weather camping. The harder and more sketchy the better I say. Give me the near epics where you need to dig deep, keep your Sh!t together and get it done.
TURN-OFFS: grumpy people
FAVORITE CLIMBING BOOK: On the Ridge Between Life and Death
WHAT'S PLAYING IN THE I-POD TODAY: what's an ipod? B.O.C. on the turn table right now.

July 2007 Monthly meeting minutes

2007-07-12T22:56:00.000-04:00

1-t-shirt and 1- Great Falls Guide were sold.
MONEY COLLECTED FOR PIZZA AND REFRESHMENTS BROKE EVEN FOR THE 3RD TIME IN RECENT HISTORY.
18 Club Members were in attendance.

Dave Raboy, chair presided. 7.11.2007
PATC Mandatory membership for club sections a non-issue. Thanks to Vincent Penoso for representing the Mountaineering Section and presenting the case against such a move to make all members of each section, members of the parent organization. However, the PATC council meeting produced a recommendation, that in lieu of full membership of the sections, status quo be maintained for required PATC memberships as follows: section chairs, expedition members and trip leaders, with specific language addressed in respective section by-laws and or constitutions.
· GEAR PURCHASES: In following the Mountaineering Section's Mission Statement to promote rock , ice and mountaineering, it is important to buy essential gear to eliminate barriers to newbys from climbing ice, rock or mountaineering.
o New gear will not include leader racks, lead ropes or lead gear.
o We have loads of rock climbing gear that includes TR setups, harnesses, shoes, chalk, helmets and are pretty much equipped to handle TR at Carderock and Newby days.
o With the explosion of interest in the ICE climbing, we hope to have requisite ice climbing inventory at a future time and room to cram all this stuff. The barriers to ICE climbing are high. The price of tools, crampons, winter apparel and suitable ice climbing boots is considerable. The downside locally is that there are no places to rent ice climbing boots for greenhorns.
o The Club will ask for a POOL of ICE CLIMBING BOOTS, TOOLS and CRAMPONS, (but especially BOOTS) for people to lend during the ice climbing season, which cannot start soon enough.
o When this potential inventory has been realized , we will then Spend $500 on buying used ice boots from the climbing school in North Conway. (we had better move on this during the off season); motion to spend $500 on 4 prs of used boots will be voted and passed in September.
· ICE CLIMBING: There are many ice climbing areas where we can climb and there are many unexplored ice trips available to us. White Oak Canyon, Blue ridge, The Narrows, Pennsylvania, Daks, NH, Greenland.
· EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: What does it do? When does it meet? Why does it meet? Why doesn't it meet? Who is on the EXCOM? Many answers can be found by reading the by-laws. The EXCOM is the small governing body that makes administrative decisions that serve to maintain the operation and forward momentum of the Mountaineering Section to realize the club's mission statement.
o the business issues and concerns of activities that we don't have time to talk about at the seemingly brief monthly meetings, can be addressed and resolved at these mythical EXCOM meetings; which include but not limited to changes to the bylaws, club business, administrative issues, most of which do not involve the consensus of the membership but are reportable to the membership.
o If there are any EXCOM matters you feel you'd like to address, please write info@potomacmountainclub.org or discuss them on the LIST.
· EXPEDITION POLICY: The club has had teams that have gone to PERU,Alaska, The Sierras, Katahdin and The Alps. We want to introduce an ad hoc approach to expeditions without deadlines for submission and such a formal process for doing so.
· FUNDING: the club sponsors a few trips a year.
o Annual trips are Little Stoneyman, Seneca Rocks 4th of July, ADK, Gunks. We are proposing to increase the number of trips like this and then justify an increase in dues only if we cannot meet a budget expectation. The dues have been $15 a year ($1.25/month).
o Proposing a week long trip for ice climbing in the DAKS this WINTER.
· DUES: we would not raise the yearly dues without justification. this is a typical topic one would see at an EXCOM meeting.
· LITTLE STONEYMAN online guide
o online guide book in PDF format
o team has been climbing there for the last 8 weeks and have lead, named and rated many climbs
· Jeff Karrels will be joining the Information Technology Division of the Mountaineering Section to help maintain the club's website.
· GREAT FALLS CLEANUP: Access Fund not sponsoring this event this year. Friends of Great Falls and Mountaineering Section, American Alpine Club and other climbing groups will coordinate interest in this annual event.
· SLIDE SHOW: Kerin Arkin and James Hilger gave separate and mostly successful slide show presentations despite minor technical difficulties. i should probably have the instruction manual for the projector posted on the site for review prior to the meetings, to lessen the chance of a SNAFU. We have to pride ourselves with the smuggy realization that we have a great club and remarkable individuals that travel to, climb, paddle, pick, drink and live for the mountains of this planet. We have a great bunch of peoples.
· Oh and a warm return welcome to hard woman rough-neck, our wonder woman of the year: Kathleen Steinle, who just returned from back to back adventures to ALASKA and PERU.... Welcome Baaaaaack!!!!!!!

June 2007 Monthly meeting Minutes

2007-06-13T23:48:00.000-04:00

June 2007 Monthly Meeting Minutes

18 attendees
Visitors: Shyka, John and John : welcome

The meeting opened to a thunderclap.

The first order of business was a unanimous vote to not fund the Sierra trip due to not meeting the required number of participants. Bob Graver, expedition coordinator, was on hand.
Trip proposals are submitted to the coordinator by December and the new executive committee’s first order of business decides in January.

PATC DUES Update:
Vincent Penoso represented the mountaineering section at the June 6th PATC council meeting, along with the chairman of the ski touring section, Peggy so-n-so. After his presentation to the council, the response was that the council had addressed this issue in depth last September. The council will change the language in the PATC constitution to clarify the position on this matter. There will be NO MANDATORY obligation for section members to also be members of the PATC, except under the following circumstances or status quo:
Section Chairs are required to be PATC members
Expedition members are required to be PATC members
Trip Leaders are required to be PATC members
The council recommended that each section make amendments to their by-laws to reflect the above requirements.

The Mountaineering Section has about 46% of the membership PATC members.
MS encourages membership.

4th of July Seneca Rocks Trip
Arrive Friday June 29th-Leave Sunday June1

group site-D at Seneca Shadows campground
If there is interest in adding Sunday night we could add it no problem.

Trip Details:
1. Trad climbing at Seneca Rocks- bring your own leader (BYOL). pair up with someone who leads, bribe them with beer, rolaids or Pizza. This aspect of the trip is beyond the control of the trippin leader: so chat it up, pair off, have fun!
2. Sport Climbing: Franklin 30 minutes away!- bring a stick clip.
3. Camping: Great Campground with warm showers and crappers nestled smack dab in the middle of West By-god Viginny! Our warm friendly host, Billy Pistein!
4. Mountain Biking
5. Hiking: all over the place.
6. Swimming: with or without, water wings.
7. Temperatures: can be chilly to blazing saddles to monsoons...dress accordingly.
8. Vittles: PMC springs for burgers and pups Saturday night; local pizza joint is awesome; local grocery stores; elkins 30 minutes away or so.
9. Gendarme: Climbing Shop has competitive prices for all climbing gear 2 minutes from the campground, with a climbing school, guides and rentals.
DOGS WELCOME:
Little Stoneyman: nothing new to report except members have been climbing more and more at this crag and we are becoming more and more familiar with the ratings of the routes.
ROMP: Nothing new to report

Gear proposal:
· Briefly discussed the idea of purchasing used ice climbing boots for newbies to use this ice climbing season .
· James Pasterchek suggested buying general purpose crampons, like the Black Diamond Sabretooth clip that can be used for alpine travel as well as vertical ice.
· Ask the membership in order to POOL used ice climbing gear to lend for newbies .
· Another point brought up was the issue of storage space for more and more gear…I just had a major donation of gear and I already see I need to build shelves or do something to manage this gear.
Slide Show By Mike Danhardt on multiple trips through the Grand Canyon.

May Monthly Meeting Minutes

2007-05-17T04:05:00.000-04:00

May Monthly Meeting Minutes 2007

24 attendees

Judy Wu presiding in the absence of Dave Raboy

3 Mountaineering Section members. John Oster, Kathleen Steinle and Jason Sandridge are in Alaska for a summit attempt on Denali (Mt. McKinley). Their progress report was that they were at 10,000 feet acclimatizing. During the slide show, Josh Baker received word that Kathleen Steinle had fallen into a crevasse, but was able to “jug” her way up to safety. Reports will be relayed on their progress as they come in. They do have direct line of sight cell service at the top of peaks from time to time.

LITTLE STONEYMAN Annual climbing trip May 19 and 20th. Vincent Penoso is leading this trip again this year with an added twist that for those who are interested, backcountry camping will be arranged. SNP back country permit has been approved and is in the mail for us. The on going LSM project to map routes and make recommendations for fixed pro, will continue the work which began on that freezing ass cold fall day last year. LSM trip details can be found on the club’s calendar of events. Joe Martinet will bring GPS and a laptop for on the scene data collection for this project.

A light and Lively notice from the PATC about the KATRINA-LIKE condition of the meeting room after the historic April monthly meeting that saw 41 attendees for the Katahdin Slide show. Hey, We have fun when we get together!!!!! We left the room last night SPOTLESS…WHAT A GREAT TIME WE ALWAYS HAVE. Ted.
We Have Club T-shirts-long and short sleeves and Great Falls climbing guides for sale at every meeting for $10. We also have a limited amount of Club Climbing gear available for check out. And requires signing the new gear liability waiver and checkout slip. We have an ever growing video library that is also available to the membership for monthly check out.

Ross Hess is leading the annual trip to the Palisades in the Eastern Sierras. So far he has 4 slots filled on a great opportunity to visit this area of the country. The trip is slated for late July early August.

Climbing trip to the Cumberland Narrows, Maryland with guide author “INDY”. 60 meters ropes, Trad and TR…Bring a helmet. Take 270, out 70 past Fredrick through to 68 and good luck contact trip leader. This strip is slated for June 3rd.

Writing is on the wall concerning the controversial issue for the PATC to require all club section members to also be members of the well known hiking organization. More as this heated topic settles out.

Celebrity Slide shows and presentations: Planning for climbing related presentations can be done at anytime during the year but most of the touring climbers plan their schedules early in the year-for the year. We saw January come and go. We have an opportunity to have 3 notables visit our fair city.

James crump ( texasclimbers.com) was a famous first ascent climber in Jueco Tanks in the day and is slated for a slide show sometime this calendar year.
Mark Wilford: A famous rock, Ice and mountain legend has been climbing and giving clinics for over 25 years. He is a regular at yearly ice festivals and I took his steeps clinic in New Hampshire last year… His latest presentation includes climbing in Tibet and another presentation on the Himalaya . We would be lucky to have him give his acclaimed presentations. More as this develops .
Eric Hoerst: Lives in nearby Pennsylvania and is the author of numerous climbing publications and podcasts. His presentations will no doubt be of great interest to this climbing community.
THE GRIZ: Rob Giniecski is the author of ICE CLIMBING PENNSYLVANNIA and other publications who can be convinced to make the drive and bless our group with images and dissertation on the promise of Pennsylvania Ice.

Dave Green (sherpa Dave) will be trekking in Nepal during the whole month of November and has opened slots for anyone interested in seeing this enchanted mountaineering Mecca first hand. Contact Dave, he is the club treasurer.

Norman Watts has volunteered to give slide shows to our club on Nepal and Denali. This is another must see presentation from our diverse group of member climbers.

Jeff Karrels rounded the evening with a spectacular look at travel into Russia and its highest peak, Mt. Elbrus Slide Show. His humorous and candid look at life in the former USSR revealed stark images of breath taking scenery and tough living. Jeff’s guide on this trip is missing climber Chris Boskoff, who is one of 2 climbers lost in Tibet . Images show this vibrant mountaineer leading Jeff’s group to the summits. Very nice look at Jeff’s quest to do all 7 summits, Mt. Elbrus being the first. Great work Jeff!!!!

15 Proposed Motions and By-law amendments for 2007

2007-04-23T23:30:00.000-04:00

Pursuant to Article VII: Amendment of the BY-Laws and in preparation for Article V: Meetings, Section 7, I am posting the following points to the membership to examine at your leisure.

I propose that, at some time during the remaining 2007 calendar year, we re-examine the following points and those related to the Club's By-laws, with plenty of notice to the membership.

Potomac Mountain Club BYLAWS
1. Officially recognize JANUARY, as the renewal month for current members, instead of 4.5 month period described in the current by-laws; this coincides with the calendar year for the officers which also begins in January; 2007 is proof that this can be done effectively.
2. Clarify reinstatement period for non-payment which is now 60 days. I think we should have a current member renewal period (EVERY JANUARY) and a penalty for MISSING the renewal period. The amount of work to keep track of every form of payment or who paid when is daunting. If members maintain their records that helps. (article 1 section 2 TERMINATION) I propose we re-examine this section entirely.
3. Write into the By-laws, if a new member joins during the last quarter of the year, (ROCKTOBER), this membership is current through to the following year.
4. Eliminate the out of area membership fee, which is archaic, and reword the section on DUES (Article 1 section 3)
5. By-laws talk about the LISTSERVER as for members only. Re-visit this point.(article 6 section 5) Change eliminate or modify. (Article 1 section 4)
6. Officially add the newsletter editor, LISTSERVE coordinator and/or webmaster, to the EXCOM .
7. Establish a minimum number of EXCOM members necessary to CONVENE an EXCOM MEETING, with the minutes provided to members who can not attend.
8. Amendments Article IV: 1b: consider revising this to include respondents to LISTSERVE and/or DATABASE EMAIL (includes every club member) notices instead of by U.S.P.S. mail.
9. Officially recognize the PMC database. Describe it's function to include security, membership data management, newsletter management, club directory management, club gear management, club video management.
10. CREATE an EXCOM YEARLY Calendar with a schedule of duties that the EXCOM (executive committee) must perform on a regularly scheduled basis. Items on this calendar could include such things as ordering the PIZZA for the monthly meeting, or bringing 1 bag of ice, scheduling EXCOM meetings, planning for the new election of club officers, membership renewal, budget meetings, preparing for the annual meeting, etc.... (Article 3 section 3).
11. Add to the description to the Club Secretary description that assigns a proxy secretary (attending officers) to take the minutes to record and maintain the reports of business conducted at EVERY regular, special, annual and EXCOM meetings. The minutes of these meetings are important for the membership to keep informed as to what business occurs at these meetings, most importantly the annual meeting . These minutes will be sent to the Membership via LISTSERVE, posted to the "meeting page" on the PMC website and finally, to reside on the Current events and Notices section for the benefit of the membership and visitors surfing the website.
12. Add to the description of the Treasurer: major club purchases should be made by the Treasurer, in order to disburse monies in which treasury, grant or gifts are utilized and accounted. This will ensure that Dividends and Credit purchases will always be returned to the club, over a pre-determined amount, to cover gas and expenses to make local purchases. The treasurer can assign a "buyer", to makes purchases with the above provisions understood beforehand.
13. Reinstate the August Monthly meeting, if only on a tentative basis. I see no real reason to NOT have this meeting. If the principals won't be there, then we don't have a meeting. It is still a good time and everyone was here LAST year.
14. Create a percentage yearly budget based on the January membership drive so we can plan for growth and activities.
15. During the 2005 administration, we enacted a policy that EXCOM members be exempt from club dues because of the service they provide by stepping forward to serve the Club. This exemption is a very modest incentive. Further, it was determined that besides the chairman, who is required to be a PATC member, the EXCOM would be granted a PATC membership, if they chose , that could not be transferred or converted , and must be used on a "use it or loose it" basis when offered, early in the calendar year. I would like to re-examine this and make it official, or not.

April Monthly Meeting

2007-04-12T23:37:00.000-04:00

April Monthly Meeting Minutes
4.11.2007
41 Attendees

The April Meeting was punctuated by an unprecedented crowd who braved the inclement weather to see the much touted slide show presentation of the annual club expedition to Baxter State Park’s Mount Katahdin. The Seven new club members seemed to relax and immerse themselves in a familiar atmosphere of rock, ice and mountain alpinists. The human blur was the club’s Vincent Penoso who was busy selling T-shirts, checking out ROCKBUSTER videos, checking in new members, setting up the refreshments, taking in money for this and that ( in the absence of the treasurer DAVE GREEN) and the PIZZA delivery; but does he ever climb???

• The night began with an update from Duncan T. , the access coordinator, with news from the Friends of Great Falls (F.O.G.F.), who has met once this year. At this meeting, officers were named for this local climbing coalition. The meeting’s main concern was the upcoming release of the General Management Plan for the Great Falls National Park due out in this month, which the NPS has failed to make any comment on the content of this release. The F.O.G. F. contacted a number of users of the GFNP resource in order to attend a scheduled meeting with the NPS on the upcoming GMP and the impacts to Rock Climbing and other activities.
• Nelson Rocks Preserve (NRP): This crag has not been sold to our knowledge. Duncan has been hard at work and has contacted climbing sources in North Carolina who recently purchased crags and preserved climbing access. The suggestion from down yonder was this: to form or get a climbers coalition to convince the State of West Virginia to buy this seemingly worthless piece of property (NRP), approaching local businesses, conservancy groups, land trusts. The owner, Stu Hammett, initially contacted the State and they were not interested in S.W.P.O.P., they aren’t climber’s I’d imagine. Diane Kearns, the proprietors of the Gendarme are interested in becoming involved in grassroots movement to purchase N.R.P..
• Little Stonyman Cliffs: Rock Outcrop Management Plan (R.O.M.P.) The initial concern, by the N.P.S., were the ropes running across the Appalachian trail to create belay anchors on existing trees and bollards and the steps needed to relieve this problem. The Potomac Mountain Club (PMC) began a project last fall to study this issue. To date, a third of the crag has been mapped and photographed for the purposes of submitting a report with recommendations for fixed anchors in areas of concern.
• The annual Little Stoneyman Climbing trip will be scheduled as soon as we have a clear weekend window of better weather. I proposed to have this a weekend camping trip , with an overnight stay Saturday, so we can climb the chalk out of this place and at the same time continue to map and document this crag for the ongoing project with SNP as well as another proposed project. (ahemmmm!) Vincent Penoso will be das trip leader for this trip.
• The Annual NEWBY DAY for climbers will be spearheaded by Joe Martinet and Annette. There has been a tremendous response flooding the chair with newby day inquiries.
• We welcome Norman Watts who seeks climbing partners for different projects. The club welcomes new members to our climbing gang and hope they come out regularly. We encourage our new members to monitor the club’s calendar and listserve for updates on what to do with all their free time! CLIMB ON!!!!!!!
• Dave Raboy reaffirms his commitment to limit the business meeting to 30 minutes. BLAH-BLAH-BLAH. Dave had 2 points he wanted to address
o Dues structure
 Dues increase by $10 or $15 , with a portion going to the parent organization. Dave invites LISTSERVE dialogue on this proposal for pros and cons.
 Reasons for fee increase: needed revenue; expedition budget is $1000, which currently at $15 is way more than half of our budget (WHAT BUDGET?).
 We need to publish more publications and push the revision and the stop gap reprint of the Carderock Guide.
 We want to mover towards a Alpinist directed Climbing Club.
• Bob Graver made the point, referring to I believe was Article V, where members propose ideas and motions to recognize or address ideas in the future , first begin by being recognized at meetings.

2007 March Meeting Minutes

2007-03-15T10:53:00.000-04:00

March Meeting Minutes

List Serve overhaul. Looking for a cheaper alternative to the current list server. There are concerned that a switch over will cause an interruption of the LISTSERVE. I can say that typically, you run both, for a few test messages and then pull the plug entirely on the old.
Mack Muir and Vincent Penoso will work on finding an alternative to the current service.

The Chair wants the membership to make better use of the Executive committee so that the membership can be comfortable to make recommendations to the EXCOM. There may be available, soon, an email address for the EXCOM only.

EXCOM: considers the different initiatives concerning Little stony man, Nelson Rocks Preserve and the SNP initiative.

DUNCAN THOMPSON will be the access coordinator; we need volunteers to work on reporting back to the Duncan and work on the initiatives.

PMC on-line Directory is now LIVE. Login to see the directory.

MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES ARE IMPORTANT: Vincent brought up the issue that it is important to report back to the club what occurs at the monthly meetings. If the Secretary cannot attend the meetings, then minutes do not get recorded. Then Vincent is an unhappy camper. He pointed out that the Chairman has the vice-chair, and the treasurer has provision for other people to be able to SIGN checks if he is not there. It was decided that the EXCOM will record the minutes of the meetings for this purpose.

Club Sticker was passed around for members to examine. It has the words ROCK and ICE on it…It is just another design feature intended to SELL the club. Can’t really tell what that sticker is about by looking at it so that’s what the ROCK and ICE is about.

The Club Brochure was passed around in color, but the publication will be in black and white. This brochure will be distributed at the CLUB EVENTS, REI, HTO and the PATC HQ.

The Vol.62 Issue #1 of the UPROPE newsletter is about to be mailed out.

Duncan’s Access Update :
· Southern Pillar has been sold to USPS.
· Nelson rocks is up for sale by owner
· Owner not interested in conservation easement for tax purposes
· Looking for a state entity to buy property
· N.C. recently purchased Chimney Rock; will contact N.C.

· Shenandoah National Park (SNP): a conference call is scheduled to discuss and update the status of the New Management concerns for the park and climbing access. Duncan needs a volunteer to represent the PMC at these meetings and conference calls to report back to the club. Please contact Duncan Thompson.

Simon Carr: Great Falls National Park (GFNP): Climbing Ranger liaison is no longer at this facility. Prior agreements with the friends of Great Falls are uncertain at this point.

CARDEROCK WEDNESDAYS: Recent traffic on the LISTSERVER posed a question to move the classic weekday climbing event to either a Tuesday or a Wednesday. More discussion is needed on the List, so chat it up. The initial discussion is no change will occur but that could change base upon what the membership wants.

New List Serve Alternatives: Vincent proposed a few months back to seek a LISTSERVER that is FREE. The current List costs the club a good chunk of the yearly budget (what budget?). I proposed using Google Groups for our new LISTSERVER type medium. My experience with Google Products is stellar. Our college group from the University of Montana uses Googlegroups and switched from a similar PAY LIST last summer with a SEAMLESS TRANSITION. Essentially cut and paste the addresses into the BOX. LIST Server managers must have a GMAIL address in order to add, subtract and edit features and PEOPLE. Currently, there is only one Mack Muir, to maintain issues with our current list. I am proposing a FREE and secure list with multiple managers to ease the pain. Feedback welcome. The team of Mack Muir and Vincent Penoso will spearhead this project.

PMC WEBSITE:
The current webmaster is not an IT professional and he is self taught in Dreamweaver, Flash and Photoshop7 and fireworks. I am no design guru as I volunteered to assume the duties a few years ago.

ADS that appear on the PMC site belong to 2 groups.

The first group of ads come from a list of about 3000 merchants who advertise on the internet through the Joint Commission, a company who arranges advertising for websites. I initially chose a handful of ads that maybe of interest to the PMC like travel, gear, skis, snowboards etc, since we have to travel, we ski mountaineer and have gear envy. I empowered the current Executive Committee with the ability to enter the Joint Commission’s website and CHOOSE BETTER ADS that would serve our Club and have not had input so everything has remained as you see it. What makes this group of ads different is when ANYONE makes a purchase through the ads on OUR site, the Joint Commission PAYS THE PMC a percentage of the sale.
The Second group of ads are from entities that have served the PMC is some manner. Some companies give discounts or we have received reliable service that we recommend to our members, thus, REI, HTO, IMCS, White Trellis Hotel, Cascade Inn and so on.
Ads appear throughout the website as they do similarly on many websites.
The website is constantly evolving and a call for a clearer design with an emphasis on information is duly noted. I hated the look of the previous design and I am working to come up with new ideas.
Suggestions and Content are always welcome.

BY-LAWS: What is the Executive committee? Plans have been on the table to re-examine and update the by-laws of our club. Pleze take a moment to read the by-laws and send comments to the EXCOM. Goto the site map .

Mack Muir donated (1) loaner tool to the GEAR ROOM .

We have another donation from Mr. Benoit, of some rock climbing hardware, which the club appreciates.

December Monthly Meeting Minutes

2006-12-14T15:41:00.000-05:00

PMC Monthly Meeting Minutes: December 13:2006
Mini Ice Festival Show and Tell

27 attendees: 2 visitors and 3 new members

2007 Club Officers

Dave Raboy-chair
Judith Wu- vice chair
Dave Green-treasurer
Vincent Penoso- secretary
Expedition Proposals
Katahdin 2007:Dates: Feb/Mar 2007Trip Leader: Wayne StoneSynopsis: 1 Week of backcountry, alpine, and water ice routesParticipants: 8 members committed, 2 additional spots availableSupport Requested: $1000 grant to fund miscellaneous team expensesWhat's in it for the club: Post trip Uprope Article and Slideshow2. Zion Aid:Dates: SEP/OCT 2007Trip Leader: Duncan ThomsonSynopsis: 1 Week of aid climbing in Zion Natl ParkParticipants: 2 members committed, any number of additional spot availableSupport Requested: An unspecified grant to fund miscellaneous team expensesWhat's in it for the club: Post trip Uprope Article and Slideshow3. Sierra Adventures:Dates: JUL/AUG 2007Trip Leader: Ross HessSynopsis: 1 Week of backcountry, alpine climbing in the Sierras: Palisades Glacier,Temple CragParticipants: 1 member committed, 4 additional spots availableSupport Requested: An unspecified grant to fund miscellaneous team expensesWhat's in it for the club: Post trip Uprope Article and Slideshow

Financial report
$11,500 in account
*the club is typically $1000 ahead every year, but this year we have had some big ticket expenses, and we are in a $1000 deficit. Royalties are down from the guide sales.

1. $1000 on the new club projector.
2. $1,200 on a raft of Club T-shirts

Mack Muir Proposed: that the club donate $495.00 to Friends of Seneca.As you might know, Friends of Seneca (FOS) placed a rescue box on the East Face. The plan was to move reuse equipment from the box that sits on the Gendarme shop front porch but two problems were encountered. First, even though the box was well thought out, it turned out just slightly too small for the existing stokes litter. Second, it was discovered that that litter doesn't meet current "standards" so local rescue squads might have to carry their own up anyway. It was then decided that FOS should acquire one that does fit and meets the standard. This has been done and paid for (the cost was $495.00).Reimbursing the FOS operating account would enable acquisition of further items and to pay for other projects as needed (and there are some really large conservation/erosion projects on the horizon). I believe this is something that benefits us and is something we as a club should do.Officially, the source of the funds is the FOS operating account that derived from donations (like the can in the Gendarme shop, and from sale of stickers), but in actuality, I'd be willing to bet that the major contributor was Diane and Arthur Kearns, the Gendarme owners. They already give an inordinate amount to the local climbing there.

The chair agreed to consider this proposal as new business in 2007.

Ross Hess: Proposed creating a new page for the website that tells the visitors what we as a club do GOOD for the community in general. Adopt a crag, friends of Seneca, Friends of great Falls, Fred Hutchinson Breast Cancer sponsorship etc…..The club’s webmaster will begin this project as it is an excellent idea.
The Club’s minister of media called for the club members to once again bring their climbing and ski related DVD’s to add to the club’s depleted ROCKBUSTER LIBRARY for members to check out at the monthly meetings. The Club has 3 VHS titles and 5 DVD titles available for checkout down from nearly 25 titles WE HAD IN OUR CLUB’S COLLECTION.

PMC Website Feedback

2006-10-25T16:16:00.000-04:00

****Great! I can see its going to take a while to work thru all the different
pages to undate them to use the stylesheet.****
It actually goes pretty smooth and it doesn't work that way...i start with one of 2 pages of the new design, cut and past old content, then select this content and apply the CS and it is done; easy as ****!

*****Now the much harder part
organizing the content in an easy to understand way. Examples: Meeting
notes under the current events link and not under the meetings link*******

That isn't how I intended this "Current events and Notices" -BLOG to work....I actually wanted the blog to appear in a frame on the front page so I wouldn't have to constantly have to update the content notices and crap going on , it would automatically re-cycle and disappear with out my input, because between the newsletter, website, membership and FOGF, oh and my family life, I am one busy little weasle working on spit and wishes....People can go and read about the club from day one of the blog as you see..

The idea of having the meeting minutes on the meeting page is brilliant. too bad I can't have anchors in the blog to direct people to specific meeting minutes from past meetings...i wonder if that can be done?...i am sure it can.....get on it mister. I did just put a link to the current minutes on the page.

*****Also, can the current events and calendar be consolidated into one thing. The distinction
between what goes where seems kinda subtle and you know me I don't get
subtle ;-)********

I am glad I get some kind of feed back on the site ....if you check the links between the 2 you'll see they are on different sites altogether. the blog is free and put out by Blogger and the calendar is put out by Localendar and thus are different and non combinable. If you remember I used to have a Climbing trips Blog that was going to function as a calendar but the word BLOG does something to the less savy...The idea of putting the climbing calendar in the Newsletter has slowly been dying off, thank god...that was one aspect of the newsletter that required effort and people aren't doing the trips like they used to..they put their own trips on the calendar as they want to! It seems to work pretty well. The old timers want to see the Climber's Calendar and I do put one out in the springtime.....as needed however.

thanks for your input Sonny!

>V<

PMC Website Overhaul

2006-10-24T00:03:00.000-04:00

Over the next few days , weeks months I will be changing the look and feel of our website. I couldn't stand seeing that website again.

The following pages ave been redone: homepage
the sitemap and the ice climbing page.

thanks to everyone who has contributed to this effort.

Vincent

PATC-MS mtg minutes 11 oct 06

2006-10-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

[PATC-MS] PATC-MS mtg minutes 11 oct 06 Inbox patc

Judy Wu
to PATC-MS
More options 12:50 am (7 hours ago)
Since so much was discussed tonight & the secretary was out I thought
I'd summarize.

-First things first... Carlos Carro-Duplas, who was injured in a fall
this past weekend at the Gunks, is doing well enough to be transported
back to his home in Columbia, MD soon! We are relieved, delighted, &
rooting for your recovery Carlos!!!!!! Perhaps someone on this
listserv will let us know how we can lend a helping hand??

-Great Falls trail closures last week?? ... Access fund didn't know
their manpower was to be used in ways outside of the NPS GF mgt
plan... or something like that. Consult &, more importantly, support
FOGF www.friendsofgreatfalls.com and help keep GF open to climbers.

-Little stoney man & anchors... LSM is great for lead climbing but
bolted anchors are needed for top ropers... otherwise anchors will run
directly over a relatively high traffic portion of the AT. The mgt
plan that oversees this is also the same one that covers Old Rag.
Shenendoah NP mgt plan is as important as the GFNP mgt plan.

-Seneca Work day was rained out. Keep your calendars open for the end
of May 2007 for the next Seneca Work day. Ask not what Seneca can do
for you but what you can do for Seneca. Bill Wright is the coordinator
and can be reached at wwrightsr@comcast.net (703) 860-3752

-John Smith received a long letter from the Conn's recounting their
prewar climbing days at Caderrock & Seneca. Back then they had to park
at Glen Echo & walk 2 miles on the C&O towpath to get to where PATC-MS
wednesdays are! And despite wartime gas rations, the Conn's were still
able to make it out to Seneca.... the letter recounts a time when Jan
was held in w/ a piton at the top of Seneca, asleep in the top of her
sleeping bag, while the lower half of her bag dangled over the rock.
Not mentioned in the mtg was that this was recently replicated by
another PATC-member whose name shall remain anonymous. She did tell me
that there are alot of active bats at night up there... just FYI.
Anyway, a link to a copy of this letter will soon be posted on PATC_MS
homepage http://www.patc.net/chapters/mtn_sect/meet.html. And perhaps
Jeanette Helfrich might elaborate on her visit w/ the Conn's sometime
in the near future!

-Nominations for PATC-MS officers for next year are being accepted.
Contact Ozana Halik mrkayak1@verizon.net for more info. Just because
I'm posting this doesn't mean anyone should try nominate me for
secretary again..... sorry : (

-Expedition grant money.... Katahdin, (fawk yeah!) will take place
during the last week of Feb '07. I'm sure Wayne will discuss this
further... Katahdin deposit money is due THIS FRIDAY. $203 is the amt
& Sherpa Dave Green is the man................... Aid climbing in
Zion Sept '07 remains on the table as a proposal. See the powerpoint
proposal at http://duncanhome.bounceme.net:8081/tao.ppt . Simon Carr declares that
the ability to trad lead 5.9 is requisite. Whether I'll be leading 9's
by then remains yet to be seen but I guess I better get some aid
experience under my harness. The ability to take long dayS of intense
exposure will be a must. Personally, I'm guessing that knowledge &
practice of self/leader rescue w/ *aid* & trad gear on SOFT sandstone
should prolly also be part of the repertoire.

-REI Bailey's http://www.rei.com/stores/store_events.jsp?store=34 will
be hosting PATC-MS slideshows OCT 18 will be John Watson-Jones
presenting his trip w/ Bob Graver to Assinoboine. Sherpa Dave Green
will talk about bagging the highest points in all 50 states, as well
as other international high points
http://www.rei.com/stores/store_event_detail.jsp?pid=F2FD5FE54FD6BBDF0915DA6A59118555&template_id=14&template_family=webDetail&ignore_cache=1
.
October 20th: at REI SNP ROMP outreach
November 27th Dave Green presents.

-Last but not least, JOSH BAKER presented a ** stunning ** slideshow
on his expedition in the Indian Himalayas. Awesome work Josh!!!!!!

Climb safe & fasten your helmet,

jpw

shameless plug: c4's are 20% at REI til the 15th.

On-Line Advertising

2006-10-08T18:56:00.001-04:00

Through the Commision junction, I have placed ads on our website that will earn the club commissions from sales through online "purchases".

I added two companies as a pilot to see how they would do for us.

The first we are all familiar with: REI.

REI has been very cative with the community and in 2005 provided a $3000. gear grant to the Club.

The PEAPOD ad that you see is a service provided by GIANT SUPERMARKETS in our area.

How does this pertain to the Climbing Club. Well, indirectly it doesn't at all.

But, as a service, when we go on extended climbing/mountaineering trips, it is nice to know that upon our return, groceries can be pre-ordered to arrive on your kitchen counter hours , minutes, after you return to an empty refrigerator from your adventure epic in Who-knows-where.

We have used this service and I endorse PEAPOD wholeheartedly and encourage everyone to give it a try. You'll get much lazier for it!!!!!

I will hope to generate revenue for the CLUB with this latest effort.

Vincent Penoso

September Monthly Meeting Minutes

2006-09-18T23:08:00.000-04:00

After the August hiatus the Club takes every year (??), this monthly meeting was another beehive of activity with 36 club members in attendance. This social time began with Vincent , John WJ, Kathleen and Marty taking shirt inventory. There is a good number of shirts in all sizes, long and short sleeves for $10 usd each available at every meeting time; if you want one let me know and pay S/H. The room soon filled up with people, pizza and refreshments. Please remember that in the GEAR ROOM there is more adult refreshments and pop. I was busy with the gear inventory and getting more refreshments with Dave Green, to break that out as well, so we ran out of stuff needlessly. We may have to increase our PIZZA order with this kind of club turnout; It was really nice of EVERYONE to only take one slice until everyone had one before getting seconds and thirds!!! And also thanks to everyone for contributing their share of $5 for the pizza and Refreshments!!!!.. SO NEXT time, someone please remember that the cooler and refreshments are locked in OUR Gear room-ALL WE NEED IS ICE.

Dave Raboy began the meeting with an announcement that the CLUB will purchase a projector like the one Mack Muir lugs to the meeting every month. Thanks again Mack Muir.
Expedition discussions/proposals
Dave Raboy: Adirondack Slide area: Mountaineering ski trips into an obscure area that is relatively new to skiing. Done over a long weekend to the Adirondacks.
Duncan: Hardnailing on Soft Rock. ZION. Fall 2007 Tau of Light, Space shot, prodigal son. good camping in a nice area. AIDE climbing clinics in 2007
Wayne Stone: Katahdin Update: 6 people in a 10 person slot. process of getting team members.they will do the bunk house. Baxter State Park fee permit for this trip is $2030 and the deposit based on 10 people is $203. due by some date. Baxter State park doesn't refund fees. Jason Sandridge will make the formal presentation in October. recommended book: Wild Snow by Lou Dawson.
Old Rag Club trip: Sunday @ Oakton rally Point (see directory) at 0630. climbing summit crag, or PATC crag contact Wayne Stone for more details and see club calendar.
Little Stoney Man climbing area in the SNP. 15 minute approach, 100ft routes. most are leadable. The current issue with the NPS: the Appalachian Trail traverses the top of the crag and the webbing and top anchors for top roping cross the AT. The SNP proposes to put in fixed anchors to deal with this issue. The park, and most parks in the country, are undergoing an assessment of the resource with new management plans which sometimes include a climbing management plan. The general light handed management style of SNP is no closures and no restrictions, which is a far cry from the debacle at GFNP. PMC will work closely with SNP and form a LSM committee/club project to map out LSM, provide possible locations for anchors, and in cooperation with the local climbing school and SNP examine the anchor sites for proposed anchor installation. The Park's attention will proceed from LSM to Old Rag.
Herb and Jan Conn; The founders of The mountaineering Section of the PATC and the Newsletter, The UPROPE, live in South Dakota, were invited to DC to be hosted by the PMC. The Conns, now well into their 80's, declined the gracious offer because they don't really enjoy traveling much anymore. They truly appreciated the attention however. Jan Conn does, however, give a regular presentation at Devils Tower to the general public. Jeanette Helfrich and John Raynor are climbing in the area and we will wait to hear reports from them and word from the Conns.
Civility on the !%@^# LIST SERVER: The list server offers many organizations the perfect medium for mass communicating ideas, opinions and information to the subscribers, a valuable tool. Many a colorful discussion fester into chaos, but all in the spirit of "CLUB". We (I), as adults, have to be mindful of the little eyes, who may read all the !$@^& f-Bombs and #1&#@ discussions about $^%# and the &%@#(*& because of the ^^$$# and must remember to communicate the more passionate ideas privately so NOT to ^%@#$!* offend anyone. I apologize for my #@!&^%$^*&^ indiscretions earlier this month and lack of $%#@%&*&^ self control. LOL >V<
Seneca Work Day: Bill Wright The annual work party at Seneca Rocks West Virginia is scheduled for the weekend of October 7th. We have 4 and need 8 volunteers. PMC will volunteer their time under the supervision of the forrest service to make improvements to the trail on the east side to the gunsite. Bill Wright read a communication from the Access Fund headquarters in Colorado, soliciting the adopt-a-crag program for Seneca Rocks, WV. Having heard the proposal, Mack Muir and Dave Raboy shared their thoughts on the idea of handing over this work event to the auspices of the Access Fund and decided that we WILL NOT approve this move at this time.
The UpRope Newsletter's vol 61 #3 is nearly finished.

SLIDE show of the Potomac Mountain Club Trip to PERU by John Oster was world class.
We really have a great time together every month. We have to KICK PEOPLE out and still people stayed in the parking lot talking until 11..Ozana and I stayed till nearly ^%#@^ midnite talking about ice climbing and cow tipping.

Tau of Light: Zion Trip Proposal

2006-09-14T11:52:00.000-04:00

http://duncanhome.bounceme.net:8081/tao.ppt

Katahdin 2007 document

2006-09-12T20:55:00.000-04:00

trip%20prop%209112006.doc

Katahdin 2007 lessons learned PPS

2006-09-12T20:52:00.000-04:00

trip%20prop%209112006.doc KatahdinLessonsLearnedfrom06.pps

Annual Adopt a Crag Event

2006-07-18T22:39:00.000-04:00

Media Release www.accessfund.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington DC Rock Climbers Clean up Cliffs
Dates and Locations: Saturday, September 9, 2006 at Carderock Recreation Area, MD
Saturday, September 30, 2006 at Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm, check-in at 8:30am
Contact: Thomson Ling
Phone: (301)-460-4327

DC Area Access Fund’s Adopt-a-Crag
On Saturday, September 9th and 30th, Washington DC rock climbers will join volunteers around the nation to clean up rock climbing areas at Carderock Recreation Area, MD and Great Falls Park, VA as part of the Access Fund’s 7th Annual Adopt-a-Crag, presented by Title Sponsor Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), Presenting Sponsor W.L. Gore, and Contributing Sponsor CLIF BAR.

Adopt-a-Crag (www.accessfund.org/adopt), the Access Fund’s signature event, brings climbing community members together to preserve and maintain national parks. The volunteers work with the park service on cliff cleanup, erosion control, trail maintenance, and other projects to ensure the resources at these national parks remain accessible to all visitors. This year, Adopt-a-Crag will produce trail restoration projects and crag clean-ups at over 100 climbing areas around the country.

This is the fourth year that DC area rock climbers are hosting an Adopt-A-Crag event. Last year, 100 volunteers participated in the DC area Adopt-A-Crag events. Over two days, climbers helped lay down over four tons of gravel, 2 tons of wood chips, and cleaned several thousand pounds of trash. In total, climbers helped to maintain several miles of trails and wilderness.

The Access Fund is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment. The organization works in cooperation with climbers, other recreational users, public land managers, and private landowners to promote the responsible use and sound management of climbing resources throughout the United States.

####

The New PMC CLUB T-Shirts Are here

2006-07-16T12:02:00.000-04:00

The Club T-shirts are now available for $10 USD. The are available in one color, different sizes, with your choice of long or short sleeves.

T-shirts can be purchased at the club meetings!

July Monthly Meeting Minutes

2006-07-14T23:53:00.000-04:00

31 attendees for another wonderful time despite the crappy summer thunderstorm. (not responsible for inaccurate content-i did have one beer; secretary may correct any errors)

Dave Raboy presided.

* Peru trip although a change of scenery in itself, was marred by illness that affected Jason and Dave. Jason and Kathleen didn't summit but Eric Pihl made the grade, I think. There will most certainly be a repeat attempt or at least a return to Peru in the future.
* NO AUGUST MEETING
* Bobby Graver's trip to Switzerland sounds like a place I'd love to go on. The weather was a factor. A rope team of 3 made for slow progress. They took trains to the eismere station which was literally inside the Eiger. They had to find their way down tunnels depending on the level of snow and crossed a glacier which led to 5th class traverse to the hut. They did this trip in July.The Eiger was constantly raining down rocks and debris.Pack lite and go fast to the south ridge. They did the route(s) on-site;climbed on bolted limestone. Great time
* Fourth of July trip was awesome. 25 peeple, climbing, biking, swimming, cook out etc...too much fun
* The Sierra trip headed by Ross Hess is in 2 weeks. This team was having a gear check this evening instead of watching the slide show.
* RETURN TO KATAHDIN: people have to decide when to go on this trip again, but this time we should push it back for a better weather window. Apply early for the permits. This party will omit the camping because the cabins are so toasty.
* EXPEDITION FINDING PROPOSAL passed; must submit a project by September and decide by October?
* Slide show schedule: September PERU TEAM: John OSter; Rocktober: JOshua Baker does the Himalaya; November: Ross Hess recounts the upcoming Sierra Trip.
* EXPEDITION MEMBERS and LEADERS must be PATC members to be covered by Liability Insurance.
* Volunteers at This week's Great falls Bio Survey Mike and Judy, report the progress on the job at hand.
* Shenandoah National Park's walk around and informational hike for the outreach and new management program is August 19th; the educational community outreach is in Mid-Rocktober.
* GEAR MEISTER; Ozana HAlik: "gear is available for check out but with ample notice". Check on line to see what is available and then arrange with the gear meister-gear can be handed off at carderock or at the monthly meetings
* Newsletter: For the last year and a half a certain magic has taken over the club with insane participation and a freakin flood of Trippin trip reports that swamp the beleaguered Vince the Octopus's editor duties. He may have to invoke the 3rd rule of the 7th paraphrased addendum and actually edit some of the articles to keep them way under 22 pages?
* Roctober 7th is the Seneca Work Day. Don't let the word "WORK" ruffle your skirts guys-it is all fun and you'll like it. Contact BIlly Wright.
* REI will host a SLIDE show of Shows for the fall. If you have an awesome trip and slides and aren't afraid to blather on about your trip, write a description of your trip/presentation/length/subject matter and submit to Bobby Graver
* Member and non-members OPT out of the list server for reasons unknown-BUTT...they continue to monitor the CLUB CALENDAR. and this is one of the ways they keep up with the pulse of our mighty club. If you look at the individual page counters you see these really large numbers. I get a weekly report of each page that is monitored and some pages get 20-30 hits a day. Our club's website is getting exposure out there....and some of the pages that get these hits are surprising. THe chair gets daily emails all the time for information. SOBOTTOM LINE...USE THE CALENDAR-IF IT JUST A SMALL TRIP OR EVEN A NON-TRIP put it on the calendar for everyone to see....

BE WELL EVERYONE. We are on the Downhill side of this season....Lead some trips...putit on the calendar...get people HOT to Trot.

JUNE 2006 Meeting Minutes

2006-07-07T19:43:00.000-04:00

Potomac Mountain Club Monthly Meeting Minutes– June 14, 2006

I. Expedition Grant Amendment
A. Discussion by Robert Graver
B. Grants will range from $200-$500
C. Proposals will be accepted in Sept and voted on in Jan
D. Grants will be awarded to those pushing their personal limits during expedition caliber events

II. 3 Upcoming Expeditions
A. Please wear club T-shirts during these expeditions
B. Peru trip – 5 club members
C. Eastern Sierras trip - headed by Ross; 6 club members
D. Eiger trip led by Bob Graver

III. Liability waiver has been changed to address previous concerns

IV. PMC now has a secure areas at PATC headquarters to store gear

V. Discussed concerns this month with a ranger at Old Rag regarding general management plan

VI. Field trip planned for Aug 19 at Little Stoneyman for rangers and climbers to hike together to discuss general management plan/proposal to make climbers aware of vegetation and environment concerns

VII. Aid climbing clinic – led by Duncan; to be held this Saturday at Great Falls, meet at climber’s lot at 6:45am; all are welcome; please bring personal climbing gear and any aid gear one may have; for safety, aid climbing will be backed up by a top rope

VIII. 4th of July Seneca Rocks trip
There will be a group camp site at Seneca Shadows and a BBQ; this year’s trip will not include Nelson Rocks, but individuals may do the Via Ferrata on one’s own

IX. Bob Graver spoke with Mark Nelson at REI regarding PMC presentations/slide shows; club to form list of potential slide shows with a brief synopsis to be presented at REI; opportunity for REI customers to have a look at “real people” climbs

X. Jason Sandridge – safety clinics
A. Earth Treks self rescue seminar a success; request that attendees write a trip report to be published in the next issue of Uprope
B. Earth Treks is willing to put together other courses for PMC

XI. Congratulations to Dave Green for his outstanding accomplishment of summitting the highest peak in each of the 50 states!!! Award presented to Dave with reception to follow.

Exit 11: Gaithersburg STARBUCKS

2006-05-11T23:26:00.000-04:00

Take 270 passing Rockville and then just passing 370 (Sam Eig highway)2.13 miles to EXIT 11. Take Montgomery Villiage Ave. North to North Fredrick Avenue (355) and turn right for .35 miles to 488 North Frederick Avenue Starbucks! fotos compliments of Earth Google.

PROPOSED ANNUAL EXPEDITION PROGRAM

2006-05-11T13:00:00.000-04:00

10 MAY 2006

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), Mountaineering Section

PROPOSED ANNUAL EXPEDITION PROGRAM

SYNOPSIS: The #1 object of the Mountaineering Section is “to provide the opportunity for group enjoyment of mountaineering and related activities” (Constitution of the Mountaineering Section, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club). I propose that the MS conduct an annual call for proposals for expeditions and then review, select, fully endorse, and resource (within the organization’s available means as decided by it’s leadership and members) those proposals that best advance that objective.

GOALS: Promote individual climbing level, team cooperation, and enhance the status of the club within the greater climbing community.

TRIP ELIGIBILITY: A trip/expedition outside of our normal area, and the objectives must be defined to expand the participants mountaineering/climbing experience" "Leading 5.8 at Seneca where I only led 5.7 before" will not cut it. Nor will an ice climbing trip to Smugs where you stay in motels. Examples of the types of trips that might qualify are Katahdin, Eastern Sierras, Alpine excursions into the greater ranges of this continent and abroad, big wall, etc. ***This proposal IN NO WAY LIMITS PATC-MS endorsement of other (non-funded) trips/ expeditions throughout the year. Those trips/ expeditions will continue to be announced and promoted via the list serve and endorsed when posted to the club calendar.

MEMBER ELIGIBILITY: All participants must be members in good standing of BOTH the PATC-MS and our parent organization, the PATC. Participants should be suitably fit and technically able to support the expedition group. This may include attending training activities at the discretion of the trip coordinator. The expedition leader will have the final say in all membership matters once a trip is approved.

IN-TRIP REQUIREMENTS: All trips must be physically, through banners or some other fashion, identified as PMC trips to maximize the marketing and visibility of the PMC.

AFTER-TRIP REQUIREMENTS:

- Trip slide show for presentation at a PMC monthly meeting and/or other local climbing venues.
- A trip report for publication in Up-Rope.

FUNDING: This is not intended to fully fund trips; rather it is intended as seed money to be provided as an organizational incentive. Annual individual trip grants will be in the $200 to $500 range per trip with an initial total budget not to exceed $1,000. Any hardware purchased with grant funding become PMC equipment upon purchase and will be returned for future use at the completion of the trip.

WHO MAY SUBMIT? Any PATC, MS member in good standing.

TO WHOM ARE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED? To the general membership and officers via the ListServ AND in person at a monthly meeting.

WHEN ARE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED? Initial proposals should be made on the ListServ between 1 - 30 SEPTEMBER each year for expeditions proposed for the following FEB thru JAN. Expedition leaders will then present their proposed trips in person at either the OCT, NOV, or DEC monthly meeting (the MS Expedition Coordinator will schedule and deconflict presentations as required). Selection and announcement of the endorsed expeditions for the following year will be announced at the ANNUAL MEETING in JAN.

WHAT IS THE FORMAT FOR PROPOSALS? Creativity is encouraged and while there is no required format for presentations (pictures, charts, slides, music, dancing monkeys and bears are all OK), at a minimum each proposal should contain the following information:

- Expedition Name
- Expedition Dates
- Expedition Objective(s)
- Member names and qualifications for the proposed expedition
- A description of how the expedition advances MS objectives (ie. What’s in it for us?)

* All approved expeditions will also need to comply with PATC Excursion Guidelines prior to departing (WE WILL NEED TO PUT THESE ON OUR HOMEPAGE IF THIS PROPOSAL IS APPROVED)

HOW ARE PROPOSALS SELECTED? In two phases.

FIRST, the GENERAL MEMBERSHIP (all us folks) will send provide their priorities (1st thru however many proposals are presented) to the MS Expedition Coordinator (via private e-mail, phone call, letter, carrier pigeon, etc) by 31 DEC. The Expedition Coordinator will consolidate an overall prioritization for the proposals and present those to the EXCOM NLT the 2d TUES of JAN.

FINALLY, the EXCOM will decide which of the prioritized proposals best meet the organizations objectives and submit those to the vote of the GENERAL MEMBERSHIP at the ANNUAL MEETING. In the (unlikely?) event that the process proves particularly inept or ineffective the Executive Committee may grant or deny any proposal at its sole discretion.

A suggested evaluation criteria is as follows:

Best advances PATC, MS objectives
Best potential for success
Affordability

RESPONSIBILITIES:

TRIP LEADERS:

- Be members in good standing (dues paid and waiver signed) of the PATC-MS and PATC.
- Propose an expedition on the list serve (1-30 SEP) and in person at a monthly meeting (OCT-DEC).

IF SELECTED:

- Responsible for the overall leadership and coordination of the expedition.
- Assign/ coordinate team member responsibilities as required.
- Manage the expedition budget.
- Maintain accountability of all PMC equipment.
- Be suitably fit and technically able to support the expedition group.
- Be honest about your individual capabilities and limitations and SHARE those with the other trip participants.
- Be flexible and cooperative about your personal goals for the trip. Weather, other objective factors, and/or various group dynamics may prohibit any specific objective you start with. No trip should ever be a complete waste if you can do this. At a minimum you are guaranteed to learn your way around a new area and meet some new people.
- Climb and enjoy the trip.
- Coordinate and ensure a trip report and slide show following the trip.
- Post the trip details on the club calendar

TRIP PARTICIPANTS:

- Be members in good standing (dues paid and waiver signed) of the PATC-MS and PATC.
- Be suitably fit and technically able to support the expedition group.
- Execute duties as assigned by the trip leader.
- Be honest about your individual capabilities and limitations and SHARE those with the other trip participants.
- Be flexible and cooperative about your personal goals for the trip. Weather, other objective factors, and/or various group dynamics may prohibit any specific objective you start with. No trip should ever be a complete waste if you can do this. At a minimum you are guaranteed to learn your way around a new area and meet some new people.
- Climb and enjoy the trip.
- Contribute to the post-trip slide show and trip report.

EXPEDITIONS COORDINATOR:

- Coordinate proposals presentations with the EXCOM and webmaster
- Receive general membership prioritizations and make overall prioritization
recommendation to the EXCOM NLT the 2d TUES of JAN.
- Assist trip leader as necessary and requested.

WEBMASTER:

- Post approved Annual Expedition Grant Guidelines to the club website.
- Post all proposals to the club website for membership review 1-30 SEP).
- Include monthly presentations (OCT-DEC) to meeting agendas .
- Assist trip leaders to post approved trips to the club calendar.
- Coordinate and schedule post expedition slide shows.

UPROPE EDITOR/ STAFF:

- Receive, edit, and publish the expedition trip report in Up Rope.
- Coordinate copyright release, appropriate bylines and credits, and submit
expedition trip reports to other publications as appropriate.

Humbly submitted.

//SIGNED//
Robert Graver
PATC-MS

CARDEROCK WEDNESDAYS Satelite map

2006-05-01T06:53:00.000-04:00

Exit the beltway at carderock.

Oakton Rally Point

2006-05-01T06:43:00.000-04:00

The STAR BUCKS is on 123, next to the Famous Dave's Bar-B-Q, near the intersection of 674 and 123.

On 66 take the exit after Nutley, which is 123 north (right), go 4 lights and turn LEFT into strip mall!

Nutley north (right) (more traffic) and allthe way to Maple, then turn left for 2 miles to Famous Dave's. There is a GIANT grocery tucked way in the back.

2006 Club Directory READY

2006-05-01T06:41:00.000-04:00

Club Directories are in the mail!

April Monthly Meeting Minutes

2006-04-13T00:48:00.000-04:00

4/12/2006
Potomac Mountain Club Monthly Meeting Minutes
33 Attendees-WOWS!

Dave Raboy- Chair opened the meeting with the question: What epic event occurred to you while climbing during the last month-more or less.

• Next year we’d like to see 2-3 Ski mountaineering trips
• Saturday April 15th is Newby Climber Day at Carderock; Judy Wu is coordinating this event. 0845 The club will have some shoes a couple of harnesses and helmets available as well as set up the climbing ropes. Everyone welcome; Non-members sign liability waivers and encouraged to join.
• Contact SHECLIMBS to post this event on their mail list.; Ozana Halik will cut loose some Club Gear for this event
• Post this event on the PMC website and Current events& Notices: WEATHER PERMITTING.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TRIPS:
• Trip TO Western Sierra: Ross Hess has received money from 4 climbers
-July 23-24 for 6 days; details posted on the CURRENT EVENTS & NOTICES
• Expedition to Peru: John Oster, Kathleen Steinle, Jason Sandridge, Dave Raboy.
• Little Stoney Man: SNP April 29th
• Aide Clinic: Duncan Thompson: TBA
• Lead self Belay techniques: Dave Raboy
• Seneca Trip April 22: Wayne Stone trip coordinator see calendar

Proposals

John Smith: proposes Herb and Jan Conn to come to D.C. and give a presentation about their climbing careers. The Conns are featured in a current issue of Alpinist Quarterly.
- seek sponsorship from REI, Patagonia, HTO, Sportrock, ACC, DC Grotto
- There is a ROCKBUSTER DVD which features Herb and Jan available for checkout.
- The Conns climbing experience covers Spelunking in the Wind caves and Jewel caves.
Bob Graver: idea born on Mt. Washington this winter: every year people submit applications for seed money for expeditions and trips:
-trips must be out of area
-the trip must challenge ability or limit
-trips enhance the club’s appeal
-must do a trip report or slideshow
-the amount of money based on the expedition
-voted by the Excom: LISTSERVE / WEBSITE

Judy and JOE Baker: Southern California Mountain assoc.
-see more trips into Sierras and Canadian Rockies
-program once a year where the trip would push members limit; small money big incentive.
-required to present a TR; grow as a climber on these trips
-great marketing ploy for the club to go on a n expedition.
-limited budget, x-amount of dollars
- possible creations of an expedition subcommittee
-encourage this discussion on the LIST

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BUDGETING
The club has X amount of dollars in the fund.
- The EXCOM will create a yearly operating budget
1. grant trips
2. education
3. publication gear

- we get royalties from selling our publications
- last year we received a $3000 grant from REI.

MARKETING
Dave proposed having the Club’s newsletter in different stores in the DC Metro. The newsletter is a great advertisement and medium for our sport.
+ maybe we could have a watered down edition or a best of edition: A MARKETING EDITION OF THE UPROPE for the stores!
+ another idea to have members volunteer to be dropped from the UPROPE circulation and print the Newsletter at home or simply view it ONLINE. Save $$$$$$$

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
PATC Council Meeting 4/13/2006
- PATC has political clout in the region
- We would like to see the PMC become more integrated with the parent company
- Determine how many people are PATC members

PATC will have an open house
-PMC will have a table and the PMC Display on hand to promote the Potomac Mountain Club
-PMC will provide a link to pictures
-Marty Comisky wanted to know what the PATC / PMC relationship consists of: they sell our guide books and keep a percentage.

Remember: Club gear is available for check out by members in good standing
You loose any Club Gear , You replace Club Gear-this will be understood.

- Laura : Top Roping Clinic

2006 Club Directory COVER PREVIEW

2006-03-31T10:36:00.000-05:00

This is the cover for the new directory due to be mailed out during the last week of April 2006 to the current members of the Club; we know what we are all about! . BTW the colors are a little funky but it will be in color in anyway: black and white.

CARDEROCK WEDNESDAYS Begins April 5th

2006-03-23T01:07:00.000-05:00

The wednesday after the time change is the day we can exhale..it is time to climb again.

NEW 2007 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL NOTICE

2006-03-23T00:55:00.000-05:00

NOTICE

2007 Membership Renewals due by February 15th, 2007

Renewals received after this deadline with be charged a $5 administration fee. THIS WILL APPLY TO CURRENT RENEWING MEMBERS ONLY.We don't know how else to get the LEAD OUT :)

We currently allow a ridiculous 4 1/2 month renewal window which is grossly counterproductive; 4 1/2 MONTHS for $15.

This holds up our projected budget based on the membership, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, delays the Newsletter and Club Directory Printing because we have no idea who is still a member.

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN A TIMELY FASHION!

Self Rescue Seminar

2006-03-17T16:18:00.000-05:00

Hello Mountaineers (and Happy St. Patty’s Day)!

Ok…so I’ve heard a lot of talk about self rescue, belay escapes, leader
rescue, etc. So, for those of you who are dedicated to having the skills,
knowledge and experience to be able to get yourself down from EVERY
situation you can climb yourself into, I have set up a Self Rescue Seminar
with Earth Treks Climbing Centers. Since ETC did not have a seminar
scheduled at any of their locations this spring, they have agreed to hold a
private Self Rescue Seminar. The seminar will be held at the Rockville
climbing gym, is exclusively for members of the PATC – Mountaineering
Section only, and will be available for the price normally reserved for ETC
members. I have taken this seminar as well as other classes with ETC highly
recommend that you take advantage of this opportunity. I can’t think of a
better way for anyone to start off the season.

Details

Location: ETC Rockville
Dates: April 3, 10, 17, and 24 (Mondays in April)
Time: 6:30 – 10:00 pm
Cost: $180
Class Size: 4 min/12 max

To sign up for the class, contact Dave Hudson, Group Programming Director,
ETC at (410) 872-0060. The first 12 members to give Dave Hudson their
tuition are in the class. Participants are expected to be Potomac Mountain
Club members with up to memberships and signed PMC waivers. Here’s one for
Vince: be sure to renew your club memberships ASAP, since you must be a
member to attend the seminar and your memberships will be expiring in the
middle of the seminar. Participants are also expected to attend all four
classes since each class builds on the previous classes. No prior rescue
skill are required. Please have your tuition in to ETC by March 24th.

More Details

April 3: Belay Escapes
April 10: Rappel Rescues
April 17: Hauling Systems
April 24: Leader Rescue

Required Gear:
1 Cordalette (22’)
3 Pieces of 5-7mm cord (3’, 6’, and 9’ sections)
4-8 Locking Biners
1 Double Length Runner
Helmet
Harness
Climbing Shoes
Belay Device
Specialty Gear (Reverso, Gri-Gri, etc. that you want to incorporate into
your rescues)

Even More Details
For information on the class, check out the ETC website at
earthtreksclimbing.com, contact Dave Hudson, or email me at
jksandridge@hotmail.com.

Again, ETC has been teaching this seminar for years and does an awesome job.
Technical climbing ability is only one skill set in climbing. Your rescue
skills need to be at least as good as your technical skills in order to get
you, and your partner, back home safe (to give the slideshow)!

Since I’m stuck picking up drunks in Arlington County tonight, drink a green
beer for me!

Have fun and climb safe!

J

Eastern Sierra Trip Proposal Update

2006-03-15T22:39:00.000-05:00

Proposed PATC Trip to Eastern Sierra for Summer 2006

Leader: Ross Hess

Destination

Our destination is the East Face of Mount Whitney, and time permitting, the South Face of Mount Russell. Both of these mountains are located in the eastern portion of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Our approach to them will be via the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek, which is located in the Inyo National Forest. Most of our travel will be in a designated wilderness area, albeit a heavily visited one. This area is also part of the Mount Whitney Zone, which entails other regulations. Adjacent federal lands include Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Objective

The primary objective of this trip is to reach the summit of Mount Whitney via routes that require technical rock climbing (fifth class routes). While there are many routes to the summit that do not require technical climbing skills, such as the very heavily trod Mount Whitney Trail, those routes will not be the focus of this trip. With this objective in mind, climbers will hold their own safety, as well as the safety of other party members, in the highest regards. It is also hoped that participants will enjoy this beautiful area and one another during the trip.

A secondary objective is to reach the summit of Mount Russell, which is proximate to Mount Whitney. There are also many technical climbing routes to the two summits of Mount Russell.

As time permits, we may travel to other outdoor destinations in the Eastern Sierra. This will be a tertiary objective, and would only be possible upon our departure from the Mount Whitney Zone. Some possible locations are Mono Lake, Devil’s Postpile, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and Death Valley.

Style

We will travel and climb in an environmentally sensitive style, following Leave No Trace guidelines.

While in the Mount Whitney Zone, we will obey USFS regulations. Examples of compliance include using approved bear canisters for storing our food, not starting campfires, and packing out all of our waste. Using supplies provided by the USFS, we will also pack out our feces. While this is not required by the USFS, it is strongly recommended, and will help to minimize our impact on a sensitive area.

When climbing, we will climb cleanly. We will not place any permanent pieces of protection. We will also avoid leaving any gear on the rock, attempting to balance our safety with LNT ethics.

Logistics

We plan to depart Washington, DC, on the morning of July 22, and arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) later that morning. All participants will take the same flight, though the exact flight has yet to be determined. A time will be set for purchasing these tickets, and each participant will purchase his or her own ticket.

At LAX, we will rent one or two vehicles, depending upon the needs of the group. These should be reserved in advance of our arrival. The participants will evenly split the cost of this transportation.

The group will then drive to an outdoor retailer in Los Angeles, such as REI or Adventure16, to purchase any needed supplies. At a minimum, we will need to purchase fuel for our stoves.

We will then drive to the town of Lone Pine. From Los Angeles, we will take the 405 to the 5. From the 5, we will take CA-14 to US-395. We will stop at the ranger’s station in Lone Pine. Driving time from Los Angeles to Lone Pine will be approximately four to five hours on a Saturday.

At the ranger’s station, we will exchange our reservations for permits. We should do this before the station closes for the day. We may be able to secure these permits after-hours, but this assumes that the administrative process will continue to flow smoothly. It would also preclude us from speaking with the rangers who may have advice about current conditions. In the event of a problem, our entry would be delayed the next day. For these reasons, we should attempt to secure our permits before the station closes for the day on Saturday.

We will then drive up to Whitney Portal (8,365’), and spend the night in one or two campground areas. We will reserve these campgrounds in advance. Their cost should be minimal, and will be shared evenly by all participants. Alternate sleeping arrangements will not be possible. Sleeping at this altitude will aid our acclimatization.

The next day, Sunday, July 23, we will enter the Mount Whitney Zone. We will hike to Iceberg Lake (12,600’), and set our basecamp. Along the way, we will pass Lower Boy Scout Lake and Upper Boy Scout Lake. Our basecamp will be directly below the East Face of Mount Whitney, and provide quick access to climbing routes. There will likely be other parties at the basecamp.

On Monday, July 24, we will begin climbing towards the summit of Mount Whitney (14,491’). Other adjacent sub-peaks of the massif include Keelers Needle, Crooks Peak (Day Needle), Third Needle, and Aiguille Extra. Routes and climbing teams will be determined by members of the group. With six members, we will likely climb in two groups of three, or in three groups of two. Other parties may have the same routes in mind. Climbing from the Iceberg Lake basecamp will likely continue through Tuesday, July 25, or Wednesday, July 26.

On or around Thursday, July 27, we will break our basecamp at Iceberg Lake. We will descend to Upper Boy Scout Lake (11,300’), and set a new basecamp. This may be a day of rest, or may involve climbing.

On or around Friday, July 28, we will begin climbing towards the summit of Mount Russell (14,088’). The summit of Mount Russell will afford great views of our previous location. Again, routes and climbing teams will be determined by members of the group.

As time permits, we may venture to other outdoor areas in the Eastern Sierra.

No later than the morning of Saturday, July 29, we will descend to our vehicles at Whitney Portal. We will then drive down to Lone Pine, and use the local amenities. We will then drive down to LAX, and return to Washington, DC.

Certain participants may wish to depart later than this time. Any exceptions should be discussed prior to the beginning of the trip. At least one rental vehicle will return to LAX no later than Saturday, July 29. Activities beyond that period of time will not be considered to be part of the trip.

Expenses

Individual expenses include, but are not limited to: the flight from Washington, DC, to LAX; food; gear; amenities

Divided expenses include, but are not limited to: permits; rental car fees; car fuel; campsite fees; lodging fees (if incurred)

Requirements

All participants must agree, in principle, to this trip proposal. It is important that we share the same expectations for this trip in order for it to be a safe and enjoyable one.

Each participant must be a member of the Potomac Mountain Club, and have signed the PMC release form.

Each participant must be in generally good physical shape. Each member must also possess a degree of technical climbing, mountaineering, and first-aid competency that will ensure their safety, as well as the safety of their climbing partners. Each participant must also possess gear required for a safe trip.

A few days before the trip, all members will meet for a gear check.

During the weeks preceding the trip, there will be a number of training sessions. This will afford the trip members ample time to become familiar with each other before the trip. These will be open to any PMC members.

Gear

The following is a list of gear recommended for the trip, but is not meant to be exhaustive:

Clothing

Synthetic underwear, tops and bottoms
Insulation, such as fleece, tops and bottoms
Rain gear, such as GoreTex, tops and bottoms
Hat and gloves
Climbing shirt and pants
Mountaineering boots
Climbing shoes and/or approach shoes

Personal gear

Large-volume backpack
Climbing pack
Sleeping bag and pad
Tent
Bear canister
Food
Stove and cookware
Sun glasses
Head lamp
Map and compass
Trekking poles
Water purifier and bottles
Toiletries
Camera

Climbing gear

Ropes; double/half preferred
Rack of protection, slings, carabiners
Belay device
Helmet
Harness

Routes

The following are just a few possible routes for the trip. There are many other established routes, most of which are more difficult than those listed here. Also, the grades listed below vary depending upon the rating source and route variation.

Mount Whitney

East Buttress, III, 5.6-5.7
East Face, III, 5.4-5.8
The Great Book, IV, 5.9
Direct East Face, V, 5.9, A3 or 5.10d
Mountaineers Route, Class 3

Mount Russell

Fishhook Arete, III, 5.8
Southeast Face, Right Arete, III, 5.10
Southeast Face, Left Arete, III, 5.8
Mithral Dihedral, III, 5.10b
East Ridge, Class 3
South Face, Right Side, Class 3

Any participants intending to bivy along a route should discuss this prior to the trip.

Hazards

Every participant should be reasonably prepared for the hazards encountered in mountaineering. This proposal will not attempt to discuss every possible hazard, or means of preparing for them; however, it will list a few that are salient for this trip.

Weather: The weather is often calm and pleasant in the Sierras, but difficult weather is possible. This includes hot days, cold nights, and thunderstorms. Snow and hail are possible, but less likely.
Lightning: In the event of thunderstorms, lightning strikes on open rock are a real possibility.
Sun: We will be much farther south than Washington, DC, as well as much higher above sea level. Sunburn is likely, and sunglasses are necessary.
Altitude: Since we will be at elevations of approximately 8,500’ to 14,500’ above sea level, altitude will have an impact. At a minimum, it will likely cause us to think and move a bit more slowly than usual. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is fairly common. Its onset cannot be predicted or prevented, and the only simple cure is to descend to a lower elevation. At the extreme, high altitude pulmonary or cerebral edema (HAPE and HACE) are also possible, though the onset of these life-threatening conditions is rare at these elevations.
Water: Since Iceberg Lake is a heavily used area, we should treat our water before drinking it. Giardia and other parasites may be present.
Snow and Ice: Depending upon this winter’s snow accumulation, some snowfields may exist late into the season. We will monitor these conditions closely prior to our departure. They may require using ice axes and crampons.
Animals: Bears, birds, marmots, and small animals may attempt to steal our food. To prevent this, and to comply with the law, we will use bear canisters. We will likely see brown bears at Whitney Portal, and should take caution to avoid confrontations. These bears are notoriously clever.
Rockfall: In an alpine environment, every member must wear a helmet while climbing. We should avoid problematic areas, especially in the afternoon.
Falling: While climbing in a remote, alpine environment, falling should be avoided.

Resources

The following texts are useful, but the list is not exhaustive.

The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails, Second Edition, R. J. Secor, The Mountaineers.

Mount Whitney: The Complete Trailhead-to-Summit Hiking Guide, Paul Richins, Jr., The Mountaineers.

High Sierra Climbing, Chris McNamara, Supertopo.

Closing

I sincerely hope that this trip will be successful for every participant. Thank you.

Ross Hess

PATC Monthly Meeting in Vienna

2006-03-15T08:58:00.000-05:00

I privileged to attend our parent organization, the PATC's monthly meeting in Vienna, last night and every 2nd Tuesday of the month.(same building, same room)

-The meeting covered many important access issues 2 of which impact the PMC.
-There were 28 attendees from as far as Annapolis and Fredricksburg.
-These meeting are tape recorded and transcribed to a permanent volume and then condensed for PATC newsletter.
-They give a monthly finance report that wasn't available this month.
-The PATC has 6508 members that does not include the PMC.
-The PATC website will undergo a front side and backside makeover. It was good that our webmaster was on hand to be included in a steering committee and teleconference this month.
-I discussed the possibility of having NEW members and renewals performed on-line on the PATC website. (MAYBE THAT WOULD GET EVERYONE TO SEND IN THEIR RENEWALS IF THEY HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY.)
THE LISTSERVER doesn't like attachments, so this is my 2nd try with the link below.

CRESCENT ROCKS Raven Rocks UPDATE: I me the District Manager of the Northern Virgina AT from Harper's Ferry to Lyndon: Chris Brunton from the Blackburn Center. We poured over the maps for the area we climbed at LAST SUNDAY and went over the history of the area and the current issues that affect access on Raven Rocks Road ( RT.601). There was a fire years ago, set by fun loving teens with beer who ruined access for everyone. The gate used to be further up the gravel road and 20-30 cars could fit there at some point but the trash and the fact that some young punk got himself killed by falling from the tower didn't help access much, so the gate was moved to where it is today. The tower is owned by MCI. The NO PARKING SIGNS were erected by WVDOT so they are the real McCoy. Furthermore, parking is possible there because someone ripped out the NO PARKING signs. He all but discourages parking there even though the approach from there is 1/2 mile. The official published access for the AT is on Route 7 which is a 2.5 hump to the crag; much like from the parking lot at Frankenstein to Arathusa Falls...YUK....whatever. I am going to contact MCI and see if the PMC couldn't rent the use of the KEY to the GATE for club trips. Fairfax high schools and a number of other organizations bus climbing parties to the gate in the summer for climbing classes while the bus driver drives around BFE for a few hours.
BULL RUN MOUNTAIN UPDATE: The dispute between the land owners and the PATC is nearly a done deal. When the smoke finally clears there will be access from the building/parking lot there at 66 (well sorta, you know by the Mill that burned down by more fun loving teens with beer) clear to route 50-a distance of 17 miles. SO, Bull run mountain will be accessible for climbing again. I have climbed there a number of time then there were access issues.
ANNAPOLIS ROCKS UPDATE: there is an issue described in the attached solution document which offers alternatives to smooth out the access trail to Annapolis rocks which goes briefly on private property. read link below http://www.patc.net/chapters/mtn_sect/pdf%20files/Annapolis%20Rocks%20Access.pdf
USBUDGETLANDSALES by the Bush Administration to subsidize rural schools, which were once funded by federal government offering a bonus to these schools for having military children attend, they phased that out and replaced it with timber sales; that industry is in decline so now Uncle Sam wants to sell off land to continue to fund these schools at the expense of recreational land. Very bad.

All in ALL, this meeting made me appreciate the people we have in the PATC and recognize the very important work they do for the climbers, hikers and the public altogether. check out the cabin rental system on the AT for use by PATC members, an even better reason to also have a membership in the PATC. They are aware of Shenandoah issue and the Great Falls issues.

Vincent Penoso

March Club Meeting Minutes

2006-03-13T21:51:00.000-05:00

3/8/06

Introductions

Individual’s climbing updates since last meeting

Black Diamond proposal – Dave Raboy

Club Programs/Coordinators

Jason Sandridge - Safety and training

Duncan - aid climbing clinic
Dave Raboy said open house for clinics as long as they are safe and fun clinics
Equipment and Video Coordinator: Ozana Halik

Got 2 transceivers and all club ropes back
Can borrow a rope for a club trip – contact Ozana
Can borrow gear for climbing including helmet, harness, ATC
Open to ideas about gear for PMC to purchase

Trip Reports

Mt. Washington Ice Festival: Vincent Penoso. Talked about trip, participants Kim M., Mack Muir, John Smith, Emilio, Vincent

Great introduction to the sport of ice climbing with many guides leading a variety of clinics for all skill levels; plenty of gear manufacturers reps attending allowing those interested to demo gear for the weekend!!!

DAKS trip: Mitch Hyman & John Smith – great climbing but very cold weather

Upcoming trips

Peru – Dave Raboy trip leader; guide and in-country support provided by Adrian Ballinger of Alpen Glow (www.alpenglowexpeditions.com

5 climbers have committed to Peru expedition – still room for others interested
option for non-guided or guided (2 have chosen guided option) ?

March Mountain Madness: John Smith – trip leader

Ski mountaineering, climbing mt. Washington; late winter social event; start of ski mountaineering
still room at the Joe Dodge lodge
15 currently going

Climbing camping trips: Big Devil Stairs trip – trip leader Chris Biow
Eastern Sierra Nevada/Mt. Whitney – trip leader Ross Hess

1 week beginning July 22
6 people on same flight from BWI to LAX
8-10 pitch route on east face of Mt. Whitney

Ozana Halik to design and order club T-shirts with PMC logo – finalizing design

Coordinators needed:

Events coordinator

Conservation coordinator
Publications coordinator

New issues

Request for PMC to contribute $500 to Pakistan Relief Effort

General consensus is no because:

Cannot be certain how the money will be spent
There are many worthy charities closer to home

Liability waiver

inference that PATC can sue a club member for something that happened because of their conduct
Kurt to evaluate language of waiver
View of EXCOM – legal protection is sufficient
Trip leaders should bring copies of waiver on each trip and ensure that all participants have signed the waiver

Carderock Wednesdays to start after the time change – during second week in April; first session will be on Tuesday since monthly club meeting is that week
Several trips to be planned to climb at Nelson Rocks this season
April meeting: Dave Oster and Dave Green giving Aconcagua slide show; Ted’s wife, Julie giving frostbite seminar
Send Vince Penoso any faded PMC stickers
Seneca Rocks Work Day postponed until Oct. 7

Training and Safety

2006-02-02T23:35:00.000-05:00

Training and Safety

Hello Mountaineers!

While sitting out a rain day in Maine anxiously waiting to begin our siege on Katahdin, our new Chair approached me about becoming the new “Training and Safety Coordinator” for our club. Despite complete sobriety, I accepted Dave’s request because I would like to help new climbers acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to climb safely and to facilitate experienced climbers who want to take their climbing to the next level.

As a new member of the Club, one condition of my accepting the position as Training and Safety Coordinator was an emphasis on “Coordinator.” Although I have experience in numerous types of climbing including gym, top-rope, sport, trad, ice, alpine, high altitude, and expedition climbing, I need assistance from the membership to provide instruction and guidance to new and developing climbers. Most importantly, I welcome suggestions and feedback from you regarding the types of training and instruction you would like to see available.

To get things rolling, here are some INITIAL ideas for upcoming seminars and clinics:

Topic Date Location Instructor(s)/Leader(s)

Dry-Tooling Practice February 5th Boucher Rocks Jason Sandridge/Dave Raboy?

Intro to Crevasse Rescue April 2006 TBA Jason Sandridge

Intro to Aid Climbing TBA TBA Duncan Thomas

Please send your training requests, safety notices, tips, and general ideas to me at jksandridge@hotmail.com. Also, please contact me if you are willing to help out at upcoming training clinics.

I look forward to climbing with you! Climb safe and have fun!

Membership Policy for New Members

2006-01-26T12:48:00.000-05:00

New Members who join the Club during the last Quarter of any given year will not have to renew their membership until the FOLLOWING CALENDAR YEAR!

Kim Mohres
Club Secretary

2006 renewal Forms

2006-01-26T00:54:00.000-05:00

2006 will be another year of inovation.

Over the years, at the beggining of each calendar club year we plead with the membership to renew their membeships. This would go on for approximately 3 months.

This year the membership will recieve a (NEW for 2006) membership renewal form IN THE MAIL in a few days.

The renewal form will have a members' section, an emergency contact section, an interest section with the liability waiver on the back, and a return envelope! Whoa!

This form will mesh with the newly implemented PMC On-line database to be unveiled-TO THE MEMBERSHIP in about a month. This will streamline the day to day operations dealing with the Club membeship , afterall -it is all about the members anyway!

AT ISSUE: We had some new members join in the last few months of the 2005. Now in January, the time comes to renew for the calendar year....A decision is being made to decide the cutoff date for new membership to count toward 2006.

You know who you may be so please stayed tuned and watch for an email...

Vincent Penoso

PMC January 2006 Annual Meeting

2006-01-23T23:42:00.000-05:00

The gear check in for the Mt. Katahdin expedition which started at 5pm and last 2 hours, was quite impressive. MACK, save those pictures.

The meeting began on time with an update by Vincent Penoso on the current status of the Friends of Great Falls (FOGF) climbing coalition with regard to the general management plan at GFNP. Visit the website at: www.friendsofgreatfalls.com

* FOGF will meet again with the NPS to review the comments sent in during the comment period.
* considered avenues for publicity
* Senator Allen as resource
* Issues of access
* considered sources of funds to maintain website for the FOGF.com
* we have no idea what the time line is for the NPS to respond to the comment period responses.
* panel members of the FOGF will meet with the NPS to copy comments
* at this time FOGF will remain unincorporated, we are however affiliated with the access fund.
* we will prepare a press release for the media as needed.

Items mentioned at the meeting:

* Vincent Penoso continued efforts on the website, PMC database and Newsletter (sleep not required for these jobs).
* PMC membership database on-line and operational. Pete Grant is spearheading the online database development portion of this project, with Bobby Siegel (database architect) and Chris Biow contributing their expertise in their related fields. Oh Yea!
* Treasurer Dave Green is keeping track of the Mt. Katahdin expedition finances.

* The PMC adopted a policy during the 2005 calendar year to OFFER each EXCOM member: Chair, vice-chair, treasurer, secretary and former chair, a PATC membership. The current PMC chair person is required by PATC to be a PATC member.
* The PMC adopted this policy to the EXCOM as an incentive, NOT A PERK, for members to serve the club in a service capacity in the EXCOM; it is a lot of work they do for the membership. PATC membership allows EXCOM members to LEAD trips and be covered by the PATC liability blanket. PATC membership for EXCOM puts members on an equal footing with our parent organization if any member of the EXCOM chooses to represent the CLUB at any formal PATC meeting at the headqtrs -held on tues-etc...

* The $25 allotment is not a cash award, coupon or prize for being on the EXCOM; it is a tool in order to better serve the Potomac Mountain Club, offered at the beginning of the Club's Calendar Year on a STRICTLY "USE IT OR LOOSE IT" BASIS at the time it is offered. It is also not convertible or transferable in any form; It was created as a courtesy not an entitlement.

* Carderock Guide Book re-print Project is underway: Alex Tait and Vincent Penoso
* 2006 Coordinators: Program and Entertainment Coordinator: Charlotte Bonilla
* Climbing and Expedition Coordinator: Bob Graver
* Hospitality Coordinator: Judy Wu: Monitors the LISTSERVE and welcomes non-members to join the PMC. Welcomes new faces at the Meetings as Do all the officers.
* Coordinators needed for: Training and safety: climbing clinics or technique and safety
* Conservation and Access: schedule work trips: FOGF, FOseneca
* Publicity coordinator: man the PMC Tri-fold club display and hand out brochures at climbing events, slide shows, mid slides etc.
* Climbing in Peru: Dave Raboy June 24th-July 9th TBA

Upcoming trips:

Mt. Washington: Vincent Penoso Feb 8-12, 2006 North Conway- see PMC website or contact Vincent Penoso
Presidents Day at the DAKS with Mitch Hyman

2006 PMC Officers
Chair: Dave Raboy
vice-Chair: Vincent Penoso
Treasurer: Dave Green
Secretary: Kim Mohres

slide show: on the upcoming expedition to Mt. Katahdin.

too bad we didn't have the PMC flags, and banners ready for this thing.....Anyway. There ya have it. 26 people attended this annual meeting which is a great turnout. Pizza, Beer and Pop! A great time to yak yak yak with everyone new and old.....come out next month and dance!

Annual Christmas Party to be a Blast!

2005-11-20T22:49:00.000-05:00

MS 2005 Christmas Party

Dear MS members,

You are all cordially invited to the MS Annual Christmas party.

When: Saturday December 10th, 7:00pm.

Where: Charlotte Bonilla’s house

Bring a side dish, Hors’ Dourves or dessert to share.

Also bring a wrapped climbing related present for the white elephant game.

Please RSVP (John Smith johns@jsasid.com) as soon as possible so we can get a head count for the food.

Thank you.

Ozana Halik, PATC/MS Chair.

Chili Cook Off: Seneca Rocks West Virginia

2005-10-13T03:31:00.000-04:00

End Of The Season PARTY!

The Gendarme, Seneca Rocks Climbing School and Seneca Rocks Mountain Guides will host their annual Chili Cook Off and End Of The season Bash Saturday October 22^nd.

This year we will have a slide show by John Christian who was climbing at Seneca in the 1950s! John was part of the first ascents of Marshall’s Madness, a Christian Delight and Up and Coming to name a few. This is a unique opportunity to meet one of Seneca’s pioneering climbers and get in touch with the history of your sport.

Schedule of Events:

Chili Cook Off Judging: 5:30 at the Gendarme

$5 Entry Fee

Two prize categories this year:

Most unusual (while still being edible)$10

Grand Prize $50

Slide Show: with John Christian 7:00 at the Gendarme

Live Music: with From The Hip 8:00 on The Lido Deck at Seneca Rocks Mountain Guides

We will also be having a raffle to help raise funds for a new Backboard and Rescue Litter.

This is always a great party regardless of the weather.

Second action Meeting about the Great Falls Issue

2005-09-23T15:56:00.000-04:00

This is confirmed - Patagonia store, Georgetown -
upstairs room 6:30 - 8pm.

The newly assembled climbing coalition meets to discuss and update developments in the Great Falls National Park Management Plan.

Members from all the represented climbing groups in the DC area will attend and is open to the public.

Saturday, September 24th at Carderock Recreation Area, MD.

2005-09-12T01:34:00.000-04:00

Many local climbing organizations will be participating in these events
and of course volunteers would also have the opportunity to meet other
climbers.

On both days from 9am to 2pm, the Access Fund is sponsoring an
Adopt-A-Crag event to clean up these climbing areas. The Access Fund is
a national non-profit organization dedicated to keeping climbing areas
open and conserving the climbing environment. These events, together
with others around the country make up the largest climbing volunteer
effort in history.

This year, we will be doing a wide variety of activities from cleanup to
trail work and would like to have your group participate. These events
will bring climbers together from all over the region to give back to
these premier climbing areas in the DC metropolitan area.

As you know in previous years, these events brought together climbers
representing many local climbing organizations. These included Potomac
Appalachian Trail Club/Mountaineering Section, American Alpine Club/Blue
Ridge Section, SheClimbs of DC, Virginia Climbers Group, and the DC
Outdoor Rock Climbers Group. The event was covered by the Access Fund
National Newsletter, SheClimbs National Newsletter, The Washington Post,
and numerous local newsletters. The event also received the
Adopt-A-Crag Day Conservation Award from the Access Fund National Office
in 2003. Volunteers and representatives from all these groups will be
at this event.

I have included a press release about this event. Please help me spread
the word by having your members contact me if they who would like to
participate in one or both of these Adopt-A-Crag events. You can email
me at adoptacrag@comcast.net or call me at 301-460-4327.

Best Regards,
Thomson Ling

Friends of Seneca work day Oct. 15

2005-09-12T01:32:00.000-04:00

October 15th has been set as the date for the Autumn workday at Seneca.

Specifics to be determined but the usual routine is as follows:

Meet at the climbers lot (parking lot for the old visitors center) at 8:00am
Bring work gloves and helmet if you have them, and lunch and water for the day.
Dinner that evening will be provided (TBD), and camping (free of charge) will be available at Seneca Shadows Campground, check the Gendarme bulletin board for details or ask the campground manager when arriving.

The plan is to prepare a site for a rescue cache on the East side, carry the materials up, and build a box to contain the gear. We'll be needing a few people handy with a hammer to build the box on site (or however is determined best).

Please, PLEASE, RSVP me if you plan to participate; for the tasks at hand we need to know who we'll have and what we can accomplish.

Thanks in advance,
Mack Muir

Return to Nelson Rocks Preserve

2005-08-23T01:13:00.000-04:00

The brief but painful closure at Nelson Rocks Preserve created quite a stir, but faded as the fog lifted on the first pitch of EZ Wider. Despite all the precautions we took, a good time was had anyway with 11 of our heros making the trip from the DC area. The PMC had the entire climbing area to ourselves under a beautifully painted sky.

See some pictures...plan a trip

PMC Club car decals have arrived!

2005-07-28T23:58:00.000-04:00

The new PMC decal has arrived.

This handsome decal can be displayed on your rear window.

It can help identify PMC members in climber's parking lots, at the beach or on the freeway.

PMC members get one free and then they are one dollar after that.

If ya just gotta have some....email me me and for 1$each and 1$ (S/H), You can also simply send me a SASE !

THERE ARE A BUNDLE OF DECALS AT THE PATC HEADQUARTERS IN VIENNA , VA AND A SIGN UP SHEET.

Brought to you by our Rockin' Chair- Ozana Halik!

PMC awarded REI Grant

2005-07-14T02:19:00.000-04:00

Ozana Halik, the current club chairman, spearheaded the effort, singlehandedly, to land a special grant from REI through a nomination by Mark Nelson of the Bailey's Cross road store. REI awarded the Potomac Mountain Club $3000. The money is used to buy climbing gear to be used by the club, initially at carderock on Wednesdays . A special thank to Ozana Halik for his tireless devotion and vision.

Kids climbing trip

2005-06-10T09:04:00.000-04:00

Ken has rescheduled this much anticipated club event for Father's Day; check out the club's calender for this and other events.

PMC CALENDAR

New Club Vice Chair- John Smith

2005-06-09T17:42:00.000-04:00

John Smith replaces Lee Jenkins as vice chair at the last meeting. John has been an active member since before electricity also held this same position a few years back. John is roughly the same height and weight and stature as Lee as demonstarted in the new club officers picture on the website. Our Lee Jenkins and his wife move to Shangri La in a few weeks to begin a new life in Colorado! Welcome Welcome and Good Luck to our dear members.

Monthly Meeting Tonight

2005-06-08T07:29:00.000-04:00

Agenda: club business
REI gift Certificates awarded to contest winners
slide show: Little StoneyMan and Buzzrd Rocks

New photo albums for carderock and Little stonyman

2005-06-01T01:29:00.000-04:00

I posted some new pictures that you Peeps will enjoy! go to local crags.

I have made more changes to the other blog calling it now last minute trip details...and this may change or get deleted altogether.

I have also added an interactive club calender. if want to post some event...type it in, i get an automatic email then I approve and it gets posted! what could be easier.

Buzzard Rocks, May 21 TR

2005-05-28T16:48:00.000-04:00

Saturday, May 28, 2005

We had a great trip to Buzzard Rocks on Sat. May 21, 2005. There were 14 members in attendence including:

Lee Jenkins, Kate Reid, Reed Bumgarner, Doug Halonen, Andy Yeagle, Nancy Haden, Patrick Morineli, Kurt Ferstl, Matt Haskins, Mary Smeby, Dave Raboy, Chris Biow, Taylor Terry, Eric, Others?

I also had my dogs Kato and Sasha with me since Brenda was in Colorado. They carried their own packs full of food, treats and water. They were amazingly well behaved.

We enjoyed the nice cool weather for the 45 minute approach to East Massanutten Mtn's ridge line above the cliffs. Once there we scambled down to the northern most section that includes a great easy lead (Three Amigo's) and a nice but runnout 5.8 slab. Dave setup "camp" here with those that wanted to get in either their 1st or just an easy lead. Kurt and I headed to the next section with several newbies that had never climbed outside before. I lead the classic Raising Arizona (5.7 ***) and set up a toprope that could be used on this route plus Failure to Communicate (5.7 **) just to the right. It was great fun for me to belay and watch the new folks play around on their first outside route! Kurt and I then both led Failure to Communicate before moving to the next section.

At the third section Kurt and I climbed with the new folks up until around 2 p.m. when he had to leave. We both led several routes and either had the newbies second while we belayed from the top since many of these routes are 110 to 130'. We climbed the following routes in this area (noted from North to South):

Pulp Friction - 5.10*** (5 bolts - take a few small cams for the top and bottom, one move wonder above last bolt, the rest felt 5.8ish).

Kimberly - 5.7R (2 bolts, take a few small cams/nuts but still runout, dirty).

Melungian Brotherhood - 5.8*** (7 bolts plus a few small cams for the top and bottom. Nice route!)

After Kurt left Matt, Kate, Mary, Andy and I took the trail south and then bushwacked to the bottom of Anonymous Flake *** (110' 5.9R, one bolt). This route is the area classic so I had to give it a go...

This is where things got interesting. The bottom 40' or so is runout with no gear at all, fortunately the climbing is about 5.6 and on a laid back slab with good friction. Once above this area there are a number of cracks and flakes to place gear up until you come accross the one and only bolt (well actually two right next to each other but one is a rusty antique). The next few moves are tricky and runout until you reach the huge flake for which the route is named.

Once at the flake I placed a solid #2 Wild Country Technical Friend (Red). I started to traverse to the right and was about 80' up trying to make a blind placement while underclinging and off balance with poor feet. I called to Matt to "Watch Me!" then bent down and tried to look under the flake. Well after 8 years leading Trad routes up to 5.9+ all over N. America I "finally" took my first leader fall! My left foot blew and the next thing I knew I was airborne! It happened so fast it's hard to believe how vivid the subsecond events were (and still are). I yelled something, probably jibberish and watched as I started to turn my back to the cliff, the next thing you know I'm on both feet without a scratch. The landing was very soft and flat footed, like you jumped of two stairs! It was a perfectly clean fall. If you are going to take a Trad leader fall then this is the way to do it...

Iv'e always heard that their are two types of Trad leaders, 1) those that have taken a leader fall and 2) those that are waiting to take one. I'm glad to get it out of the way with lessons learned and no damage!

Matt, my belayer (and first time outside and Trad belaying/seconding!) did everything right.He was anchored and got pulled into the cliff face but did not let go and only received a minor abrasion. Mucho Kudos buddy. I'll climb with you anywhere, anytime...

Fortunately the #2 Friend held! But I really had little doubts about it. It was a "bomber" placement and is now pretty much pasted in the crack and will take some tools and energy to remove it...

Well after all the exitement I rested a minute then finished the route with style...

Lee Jenkins
Vice Chair, Potomac Mouintain Club 2005
Colorado bound...

+++++

Friends of Seneca Work Party Saturday June 11th

2005-05-27T22:33:00.000-04:00

Sat. June 11 2005.

Seneca work trip: June 11, 2005 is the day for the Seneca Work Day. I have 4 workers and need 4 more. Thanks, Bill Wright.

With the same projects etc.

We thank all for their interest and would like you to consider the June 11 2005 date.

Thanks,

Wiliam G Wright
Seneca Work Day Coordinator
PATC MOUNTAINEERING SECTION

New River trip

2005-05-27T22:29:00.000-04:00

● New River trip (Carolyn McHale)

Glad Buzzard's was fun. I look forward to another PATC outing there
so that I can check the place out.

The New River Gorge's Rendezvous was awesome! About 700 people
descended on Burnwoods to camp, climb, dance, dyno, sumo, slackline,
socialize and just have fun.

The DC folks nabbed the primo-screamo tent sites behind the far
pavillion, which proved quiet, private, and with a dry place to
cook... Not that it was much of an issue. Although it dumped rain
Thursday night and was cloudy (with periods of rain) Friday, the rock
dried nicely throughout the gorge for the weekend.

The organizers and sponsors did a fantastic job of providing free
food, music, beer/sodas/coffee/red bull. They arranged bouldering,
trad and sport comps, raffles, massages, demos and workshops for
folks to participate in. There was never a dull moment.

The sumo wrestling was hysterical, the dyno comp impressive, the
workshops educational. I went bouldering with a bunch of women on
Sunday, most of whom did not boulder, and watched them encourage one
another up problem after problem. Well after we had no skin on our
fingertips, we were still working it thanks to the encouragement of
locals Elaina Arenz Smith, Rachel Babkirk, Keri Conte & Heather (last
name unknown).

In other words, you missed an incredible time, so get your butt down
there next year (rain or shine)!
Carolyn.

Climb for life notice

2005-05-27T22:27:00.000-04:00

● Climb for life notice (Tammy Pham)

Just a reminder to those interested in the Climb for
Life event this September (it's an annual fund-raising
event for ovarian cancer), the online registration is
now up. Click on the link below for a direct hit.

I will attending this event for sure, let me know if
you are game and perhaps we can set up some
fund-raising events for the summer.

Ciao!
T

Sept. 15-18
Salt Lake City, Utah

http://ovariancancer.jhmi.edu/climb/heraregform.cfm

VOTE FOR THE WINNING PHOTO ENTRY

2005-05-17T10:44:00.000-04:00

winners recieve an REI gift certificate

4th Annual PMC Photo Contest

VOTE FOR THE WINNING PHOTO ENTRY
You can vote for the next 7 days.....Good Luck!

Little Stony Man May 14th BTR : Dazzling Success

2005-05-15T03:26:00.000-04:00

http://www.patc.net/chapters/mtn_sect/littlestoneyman.htm

The players met at the Oakton Plaza parking lot right at 0730; we departed promptly at 0800.

We were at the crag well before 1000 for a spectacular day of exceptional climbing.

All in all 25 climbers from PMC, AAC and SHECLIMBS attended and we climbed until 4pm with the specter of an approaching maelstrom.

The is an unprecedented attendance and a credit to our club, the list server and website!

Climb-on!

(BTR: brief trip report)

Classified Ads

2005-05-12T14:47:00.000-04:00

http://www.patc.net/chapters/mtn_sect/classifiedads.htm

BUY,SELL,TRADE

ROPE-bay

Begginers day Status: CANCELLED DUE TO CATS AND DOGS

2005-04-29T19:11:00.000-04:00

It's absolutely pouring tomorrow we will cancel.

Call me at home: 703-242-8166, or on my cell: 703-919-1098 if you have any doubts.

Retirement Party for John Markwell 5/7/5 or other events at Seneca

2005-04-22T23:27:00.000-04:00

5/7 Saturday night we're gonna have a retirement party for John Markwell. Kurt Smith (well known climber now operating New River Guides) will be cooking a Mexican grill sponsored in part by Montrail and Mountain Hardwear. There will be free beer (while it lasts) and most of important of all we want folks to share stories about John. We'll also have demo shoes available to try that weekend from Montrail, Sportiva, Mad Rock and Red Chilis.

HUH? Those of you who have climbed Seneca Rocks, WV, know the owner of the premier Rock Climbing Shop, the only rock climbing shop in the shadow of Seneca Rocks- John Markwell. For years Mr. Markwell has been a familiar face at the Gendarme, offering the latests and greatest rock climbing gear at vey competitive prices, so far from home! The service and tradition continues with the new owners. Visit www.climbseneca.com for the best spray.

The tradition lives on as the Kearns man the Gendarme for the next chapter in service to the climbing community.

The following is the schedule of events for this year!

Fourth of July (7/2-7/4) brings the scavenger hunt, fireworks (assuming the weather cooperates) and beer. The scavenger hunt is where we place film cannisters with a prize ticket stuffed inside somewhere up on the rock. Last year's big prize was a rope and all but 2 of the 10 cannisters were found.

The Chili Cook Off will be 10/22-10/23 weekend. The usual competition, live music and beer to commemorate the falling of the Gendarme in 1987.

The only other event I have up my sleeve is a possibly bringing the Telluride film festival to Seneca Rocks around Labor Day. I'm working on that so can't say that's firm yet but I will let you know.

Plan on a good time at Seneca Rocks West Virginia Style!!!!!!!

Maria (Ria) Bosnak

2005-04-18T12:16:00.000-04:00

Maria and Bob Bosnak were carderock residents for many years before they moved to Viera, Florida in 1997 from Stone Trail Drive.

Ria graduated from Connecticut College in 1951 with a degree in Chemistry and from Yale University Scool of Nursing in 1954 with a Masters Degree in Nursing. Ria worked for many years in psychiatry at Sibley Memorial Hospital in D.C. Ria passed away on December 21, 2004 from Alzheimers Disease and associated illneses. Ria will be intered in Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, April 8th 2005.

There will be a memorial service at 11am in the old Fort Meyer Chapel, followed by internment at the Columbarium, Bob and the children, Elizabeth and Robert, will host a reception and luncheon at the Fort Meyers Officer's lub. Carderock residents desiring to attend the memorial service and reception should be at the Arlington Cemetery Main gate no later than 10:45am, where the guard will direct you to the chapel. If you need further information or directions, please cal Brenda Bell at 301-469-6990 Bob Bosnak

I recieved this notice, my condolenses.

Great Falls Sunday Climbing

2005-04-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

It was a fantastic turnout at 8am. there were probably 20 climbers milling about until we all started wandering down the trail. We set up the routes at bird's nest and cornice. It was a beautiful day and the weather couldn't be better.......Ah, Climbing season! Thanks to Mitch Hyman for Leading this trip and many more!!!!!!!!

A heart felt Thanks to ALL!

2005-04-15T12:20:00.000-04:00

Last night we enjoyed a wonderful show by Hans Florine about speed climbing in Yosemite.

It got me all PUMPED UP for climbing this summer season!

I want to thank Simon Carr and Jeannette Helfrich of The American Alpine Club, Carolyn McHale and Wendie White of She Climbs, Lorne Parker of Virginia Climber and Charlotte Bonilla of The PATC/MS, for putting on a great show, and specially, all the volunteers who distributed flyers all over the Washington area.

Also I want to thank Syl Mathis of the National Cathedral School Voyageur Program for providing us with a great venue.

Our Webmaster, Up Rope editor and jack of all trades Vincent Penoso, who finished (under the gun) our wonderful Mountaineering Section display.

I am sure we will use it again on upcoming shows.

Thanks again,

Ozana Halik PATC/MS Chair

Apres Slide Show

2005-04-15T00:37:00.000-04:00

That's Hans on the left.

Meeting a deadline

2005-04-15T00:36:00.000-04:00

Display Sign Language

Hans Florine Show

2005-04-15T00:30:00.000-04:00

The Hans Florine Show was an utter success. The glue was still drying on the Multi-media endeavor we called an climbing display, as the throngs of the eager and the curious filtered into the auditorium. This picture is the result of an orchestrated effort by the entire staff at the UPROPE complex and the PMC's very talented Graphic design firm of Bold Face Designs.

A presentation by Hans Florine tooks us into the mind of a world class speed climber as he battled to set speed climbing records against the very best in this class.

An articulate speaker, Hans, very graciously shared his zest for climbing with the audience, who were captivated by his riveting accounts of his acheivements.

Many speakers on a circuit have a time frame for a presentaion. They come and They roll through the script, but not so listening to Hans with his relaxed format. This show was a must see look into one of the greatest climbers of the Yosemite valley. I found Hans to be the real deal, genuine, grounded and confident as one would be who has climbed big walls and has returned to earth to mingle with mere mortals.

Seriously if you have the opportunity to catch Hans Florine, You will be inspired to start timing yourself running up the stairs at work; it was a real treat. He will be in Boston shortly for the same presentation and a 3 day climbing clinic at a local gym.

This Climbing show marks a milestone for the PMC. Our club chair, Ozana Halik, as was mentioned at the meeting, has revitalized this club. The last meeting we had was an absolute BEEHIVE of activity, plus we ran out of pizza because of the member turn out. His idea of having an information booth increases our visibility as a climbing club at these functions to swell our membership! Good Onya Ozana!

Gear left at the April Meeting

2005-04-14T12:25:00.000-04:00

Climbing Gear Left at The Meeting last night. Email to identify. No questions asked.

This weeks slide show (Weds. 4/13)

2005-04-11T17:12:00.000-04:00

I will give two short slide shows;

1. Successful summit bid of Mt. Stuart's N. Ridge, N. Cascades. One of the NA 50 Classic climbs.

Climbers; Lee Jenkins, Ted Plasse & Kurt Ferstl.

2. Attempt of the 900' water ice route Stairway to Heaven (WI4) near Silverton Colorado, March 2005.

Climbers; Lee Jenkins and Simon Carr.

Hope to see you there!

-Lee

Carderock Wednesday is Tuesday this week

2005-04-09T19:51:00.000-04:00

Hi Yall! The Season opener was a great time!

Many new members were present; all in all, about 20 of us made it and it was nice to see we survived the winter!

The water had dropped and was not a problem.

This wednesday is the monthly meeting so we typically climb on the tuesday!

So, bring your gear, get here early and set ropes up for the PMC; there were other groups there scarfing routes.

Consider marking your climbing gear so it can catch with you if you happen to leave it at the crag and becomes "booty".

Friends of Seneca Work Party April 23,2005

2005-04-07T15:04:00.000-04:00

William Wright <wwrightsr@COMCAST.NET

We need about 5 more good workers for the work day on the 23rd of April.

Free camping at the Seneca Shadows Campground for workers, Fri and Sat. nights.

Free dinner on Sat after work. Mandatory safty meeting on Sat at 8:00 am in the old parking lot.

Call me for details at (703) 860-3752, we will be doing stone work and construction of a sign.

William G. Wright Sr. Seneca Coordinator

2005-04-05T09:58:00.000-04:00

Drying out, as you can see,

2005-04-05T09:57:00.000-04:00

Sterlings and Elsie's

2005-04-05T09:54:00.000-04:00

another view

2005-04-05T09:50:00.000-04:00

Because of the recent high water levels on the Potomac, the bottom of the
climbs at Carderock were under water. I went to check the climbs today, it looks like the water levels is going down and the mud is drying. So we are going climbing as planned on Wednesday

Seeeya there.
Ozana Halik

CARDEROCK WEDNESDAYS BEGINS April 6th

2005-04-05T00:46:00.000-04:00

Remember, That the second wednesday of every month we have a meeting so for that week we climb on that tuesday (the second tuesday before the second wednesday).

Capice?

Photo Contest Entries

2005-04-05T00:41:00.000-04:00

People are getting red hot about this Photo Contest.

"So dust off those dusty strings" and show them one more time!

checkoutthesenewestentries

2005-04-01T22:18:00.000-05:00

The water is right there. There was an entire climbing group there today.

2005-04-01T14:16:00.000-05:00

shot of jan's face

2005-04-01T14:15:00.000-05:00

This is at the top of whatever climb towards triple s I guess but never U mind , look how close the water is!

2005-04-01T14:07:00.000-05:00

Live Carderock Climb CAM: Could be a slog unless you drop in from above. Jans' face was alright but the area just around the corner and towards elsie's udder...as you can see...is a chocolate mess. I didn't go any further. With the added projected rains for this weekend, it could be a typically interesting start to PMC's climbing season gala.

PIck a Trip To Lead This Season

2005-03-25T12:42:00.000-05:00

With the Approach of the 2005 Rock Climbing season which officially begins for the PMC April 6th at Carderock, there remain a number of trips wide open for us to go on.

The same people cannot lead ALL the trips and the word "LEAD" is used very loosely. The leader is primarily the contact guy, the coordinator, the guy we yell at when people are off route along the country side somewhere. This is all very informal as you can see.

Please check out the Proposed trips for 2005 and see if there are any trips you would like to go on and possibly lead. Talk it up. Express any interest on the LIST SERVER and all of a sudden we are climbing! It is going to be another great year !

There are plenty crags around here and people are ready to go! Yippee!

How to sharpen Ice Screws

2005-03-24T12:08:00.000-05:00

I found this a very interesting and useful article. Those of you that sharpen your own screws will certainly enjoy it!

Check it out @ http://www.rockclimbing.com/articles/index.php?id=2063

Excellent website on knots

2005-03-24T12:05:00.000-05:00

The photo's really help out!

Cheers,
Lee

http://www.ozultimate.com/canyoning/knots/

CARDEROCK WEDNESDAYS BEGINS April 6th

2005-03-22T10:48:00.000-05:00

Carderrock Wednesdays is here!
contact Mack Muir