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Volume 43, Issue 3
Ya’ai Peak & Rugged Mountain – pictures from Peter Hartmann and Josh Overdijk, Feb 2015
ACC VANCOUVER ISLAND
SECTION
Social Events
The club has a monthly slide-show
presentation at the Swan Lake Nature
House, 3873 Swan Lake Road, Victoria,
BC on the second Thursday of each
month, except in July and August. The
doors open at 7:00pm, and the show
starts at 7:30pm.
Web Information
Web site: www.accvi.ca
Webmaster: [email protected]
Executive Meeting Minutes
Available on our meeting archives.
National ACC Office
For new memberships and renewals,
changes of address or other details, and
booking huts, contact the ACC National
office directly.
www.alpineclubofcanada.ca
[email protected]
403 678 3200, or P.O. Box 8040
Canmore, AB, T1W 2T8
Annual Membership Dues
Single $53
Family $75
Youth (19 and under) $38
The Island Bushwhacker Newsletter
A monthly (except for July and August)
publication of the Vancouver Island
Section.
Newsletter Editor:
Mary Sanseverino, 250 592 4677,
[email protected]
We encourage submissions of items of
interest to our membership, including
news items, announcements, and short
articles, along with photos. Email your
submission by the 25th day of the previous
month.
Advertising shall be accepted at the
discretion of the editor. All advertising
shall be for products or services of direct
interest to our membership.
Our Motto
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
COME BACK ALIVE
COME BACK FRIENDS
RESPECT THE LAND
HAVE FUN
GET TO THE TOP
(IN THAT ORDER!)
EXECUTIVE
Chair: Mike Hubbard,
250 370 1096, [email protected]
Secretary: Caroline Tansley,
[email protected]
Treasurer: Colleen Kasting,
250 920 5278, [email protected]
Members-at-Large:
Russ Moir,
[email protected]
Chris Jensen, 250 516 3932,
[email protected]
Access and Environment
Rob MacDonald, [email protected]
*Barb Baker Central Island
BMFF Coordinator
Krista Zala, [email protected]
Bushwhacker Annual
Cedric Zala, 250 652 5841,
[email protected]
Education
Harry Steiner, 250 652 6647,
[email protected]
Equipment
Mike Hubbard (lower Island), 250
370 1096, [email protected]
*Tim Turay (upper Island), 250 334
5259, [email protected]
Summer Camp
Liz Williams,
[email protected]
FMCBC Rep
Rob Macdonald, 250 727 6734,
[email protected]
Library/Archives/History
Tom Hall (Library/Archives),
250 592 2518, [email protected]
*Lindsay Elms (History), 250 792
3384, [email protected]
Membership
Janelle Curtis,
[email protected]
National Rep
Christine Fordham,
[email protected]
Schedule
Karun Thanjavur,
[email protected]
Slide show coordinator
*Peggy Taylor,
[email protected]
Webmaster
Martin Hofmann,
[email protected]
Memorial Fund
*Geoff Bennett, 250 853 7515,
[email protected]
* Non Executive Coordinators
Mar 2015
COMING EVENTS AT A GLANCE
Slideshow: Thur, Mar 12.
Vancouver Island wildlife images
and their signs in the wild with
Gary Schroyen.
Upcoming: Fri, Mar 20. ACC-VI
Banquet at the Royal Victoria
Yacht Club, Victoria BC. More info
inside!
Inside
2
Upcoming Slideshow
2
Upcoming Trips
3
Upcoming Clinics and Mountain
Education activities
3
ACC-VI Annual Banquet
4
Course Subsidies
5
Trip Leadership Programs
6
Trip Report: Mt. Braden, Feb 15
7
Trip Report: Mt. Moriarty, Feb 21
9
2015 ACC-VI Summer Camp
10 Book Review. Mountain
Solitudes: Solo Journeys in the
Southern Alps.
11 e-trails
Reminder to Members:
Keep your membership up-to-date,
so to as to be covered by the ACC’s
liability insurance.
Keep your contact information
current on ACC National’s site, as
it’s from this master list that we
download our email addresses for
mailouts.
Register on our ACC-VI site to make
your contact information available to
other ACC-VI members.
Join the ACC-VI listserv to keep in
touch and share information with
other ACC-VI members.
Join the ACC-VI’s Facebook group.
1
Upcoming Slideshows
Thur, Mar 12, Vancouver Island wildlife images and their signs by Gary Schroyen. Animals leave signs of
their existence all around us. Learn how to identify their trails, tracks, scat, scratch piles and wildlife trees in
our green spaces. If you have walked the trails in our regional parks or passed through an alder grove in the
forest. Then you have walked where predator and prey have walked before you. Open your eyes to a world
that other animals already see and smell. Your future hikes will never be the same once you can read their
signs. Join Gary Schroyen for this presentation focusing on species found in the CRD such as Deer, Elk,
Bear, Cougar, Wolf, River Otter and Pine Marten. Please note the earlier start time - Doors open at 6:45
PM, slideshow starts at 7:15 PM and continues to 9 PM.
Slideshows are at Swan Lake Nature House.
Upcoming Trips
Mar 06–09. Skiing with Kids & Youth - Mt Cain. Skiing with Kids&Youth - Lions Cabin, Mt Cain. Contact Nadja
Steiner [email protected], 250-652-6647.
Mar 07–14. Meadow Cabin ski week. Trip is full, wait list being taken. Back-country ski touring and
mountaineering based at Golden Alpine Holiday's Meadow cabin in the Esplanades. Heli in and out, selfguided, self-catered. For experienced back-country skiers with AST1. Contact Catrin Brown,
[email protected], 250-477-5806.
Mar 14–15. Mt Washington to Forbidden Plateau traverse, B/2. Backpacking traverse starting at Raven Lodge
to the old Mt Wood ski area at Forbidden Plateau.Overnight camping near McKenzie lake. To take into
account the non-stellar ski conditions I'm going to offer the same trip ski-less: boot-touring is similar to ski
touring, but with boots instead of skis. It's still going to be an overnight trip and we'll spend the night
somewhere between Johnston and McKenzie lakes. Contact Nic Scott [email protected].
Mar 15. Mt. Braden, A1. Hike to Mt. Braden. Meet at 9 am for a half day in the Sooke Hills.
Contact: Lenka Visnovska [email protected].
Mar 20–22. Big Interior/Nine Peaks Ski Tour, C4. Ski tour to Big Interior/Nine Peaks. AST1 and winter camping
skills required. Contact Stefan Gessinger & Shanda Lembcke - [email protected].
Mar 21. Talarico Memorial and Black Bear Mountain, B2. A post Banquet cleanser in the Sooke Hills meeting
at 10 am, Sooke Potholes, Upper Parking Lot. Contact Mike Hubbard at [email protected] or 250 370
1096 or 250 888 8370.
Mar 22. East Sooke Coastal Trail, B1. East Sooke Coastal Trail, meet at Aylard Farm (CRD) Parking Lot at 9:00
am. Hike from Pike Road back to Aylard Farm, bring Lunch and sturdy shoes. 6 to 7 hours. Contact
Thomas Radetzki [email protected].
Apr 03 - 06. Shepherd Ridge - Flower Ridge horseshoe, C4. Ski tour through Strathcona Park. Starting from
Buttle Lake up onto Shepherd Ridge then loop around and back out on Flower Ridge. See Phil Stone's
Island Turns and Tours for more info. Contact Martin Hofmann, [email protected]. Group size
max 6
Apr 09 - 13. Spearhead traverse, Whistler Blackcomb, C4. Trip is full, wait list being taken. Leaving
Thursday night & overnight in Whistler. Traverse via Blackcomb glacier, Fitzsimmons glacier and
Harmony creek on Friday/Sat/Sunday; Monday return. ACC Membership, $100.00 non-refundable fee to
cover group expenses, AST1 or equivalent, crevasse rescue. Ice ax, winter camping gear, experience
winter camping digital beacon, shovel, and probe required. Contact Harry Steiner, [email protected].
Group size max 6.
Be sure to check our on-line web schedule frequently for updates!
2
Upcoming Clinics and Mountain Education activities
Mar 28 - 29, Trip Organizer / Leadership Workshop: “Inside the Guide’s Mind”. Join ACMG guide Mike Blake
for two days of outdoor leadership training. This course will prepare aspiring trip leaders to confidently
organize and lead club day-trips for other ACC-VI members. The course is subsidized by the club.
Time and Location: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Swan Lake Nature House
More information and sign up: http://accvi.ca/index.php/education
Price: 20$ non refundable. Please send e-transfer to Colleen Kasting ([email protected])
Prerequisites: ACC Membership, pre-course computer access.
Seats: 20 Note: Registration Deadline by Monday Mar 09, 2015!
Contact: Harry Steiner, [email protected], 250-652-6647.
Apr 17 - 19, Wilderness First Aid. Slipstream is offering a 24-hour Wilderness First Aid training with CPR Level
A. Instruction is from 5pm-9pm on the Friday evening, plus 7:30am-5:30pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Please contact Erich Schellhammer for more information ([email protected]).
Location: Leonardo Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay Street, Victoria.
Cost: $214.00 Please send the payment via e-transfer to Colleen Kasting ([email protected]). If you prefer
to send a cheque please send it to the ACC VI mailing address of 1524 Pearl Street, Victoria, B.C., V8R
2Y9. We accept payment/registration up to April 1.Once we receive payment we will forward your name and
e-mail address to Slipstream. Subsidies are available for anyone who has led or plans to lead an ACC trip.
We will reimburse 75 % of the course cost. Check the subsidy page of the ACC VI website for details.
Seats: 20 participants. Note: Registration Deadline by Wed April 1, 2015!
Important info on the web site: http://accvi.ca/index.php/events/wilderness-first-aid
Apr 18, Crevasse rescue course - Mt. Washington. This course is intended for the beginner or experienced
(refresher). Get ready for glacier travel with a focused day of crevasse rescue training. This course focuses
on technical systems for crevasse rescue and is a requirement for the ACC-VI Introduction to the General
Mountaineering course in July 2015.
Cost: $60.00 + tax.
More information and sign up: http://accvi.ca/index.php/education
Contact: Harry Steiner, [email protected], 250-652-6647.
Apr 19, Ice axe course - Mt. Washington. This course is intended for the beginner or experienced (refresher).
Get trained in the proper use and handling of an ice axe and learn how to catch a fall. This course is a
requirement for the ACC-VI Introduction to the General Mountaineering course in July 2015.
Cost: $90.00 + tax.
More information and sign up: http://accvi.ca/index.php/education
Contact: Harry Steiner, [email protected], 250-652-6647.
Lots more education / courses / workshops coming up. Point your browser to
http://accvi.ca/index.php/education-courses-workshops.
Friday, March 20, 2015
At the Royal Victoria Yacht Club
The RVYC is at 3475 Ripon Rd Victoria. Drinks at 6pm. Cost $35. RSVP Krista Zala at [email protected]
(Please pay via etransfer, cheque or cash by March 12.)
The banquet guest speaker is our own Liz Williams. She will be speaking about her recent African climbing trip to
Mt. Kilimanjaro. Liz is a wonderful raconteur, so look forward to a great talk lavishly illustrated with stunning
photos.
Mike Hubbard is leading a scheduled trip to the Talarico Memorial and Black Bear Mtn in the Sooke Hills the next
day, Saturday March 21st. He is offering to billet some up-Island attendees. Contact him at [email protected]
Mark your calendars – this is the ACC-VI social event of the season!
3
Information on Course Subsidies
A message from Mike Hubbard, Chair, ACC-VI: “At the executive meeting on February 2nd we
unanimously agreed to change the policy on course subsidies to the attached to clarify and refine the
policy which had been in effect. It will hopefully make the administration of the program easier and more
efficient. Please comply with the new requirements when making applications to the Treasurer.”
Course Subsidies
The section offers a subsidy of 75% of the course cost (to a maximum of $300 per person per year) for
attending the various types of mountaineering related courses that are available. These include those
offered by the section, the National ACC and by mountain schools such as Island Alpine Guides. The
subsidy is for course cost only and does not cover accommodation and travel costs. If the Applicant
receives a discount from the course provider, the subsidy is 75% of the net cost.
The conditions for obtaining a subsidy are as follows:
1.
The Applicant must be a member of the section or of the University of Victoria Student Outdoor
Club provided there is a valid partnership agreement in effect.
2.
The Applicant must have led a section trip or organized a significant event within one year of the
course. This can be either prior to or following the course with regard to each subsidy applied for.
(1 trip/event per subsidy) The trip or event must be completed prior to applying for a subsidy and
the subsidy application must be received within one year of attending the course.
3.
The trip must be posted on the ACCVI website at least one week prior to the trip and must be
attended by at least 3 persons excluding the leader and members of his or her immediate family.
4.
The applicant must apply to the Treasurer and provide the following:
a.
membership number,
b.
a copy of the course receipt,
c.
a copy of the website posting, and
d.
a copy of the signed trip waiver with the name and date of the trip and the applicant’s name
as leader endorsed on it or, in the case of an event, full details of the event organized.
5.
The applicant must in addition have filed an electronic copy of the signed trip waiver with the name
and date of the trip and the applicant’s name as leader endorsed on it with the section
Librarian/Archivist Tom Hall at [email protected]
6.
The total annual rebate per person is capped at $300 except for North Face Leadership courses or
unless otherwise approved by the executive.
7.
The subsidy program is subject to the availability of funds in the education budget on a first come
first served basis and may be reduced or cancelled by the Executive at any time.
Sooke Hills Strollers, Feb 22, 2015 (Photo: Mike Whitney)
From left to right: Martin, Rita, Rachel, Mary, Mike W., Mike H., Liz, Judith, Diane
4
ANNOUNCING ~ TWO NEW "TRIP LEADER" PROGRAMS
The executive announces ~ two exciting new programs to encourage and reward our trip leaders. A
mentorship program for leaders that want to learn more about leading club trips, and a Trip Leader
Recognition program for our club trip leaders. Our club depends upon our valuable trip leaders for our
clubs adventures. Check out our new leadership webpage. http://accvi.ca/index.php/leadership
LEADERSHIP MENTORING PROGRAM
http://accvi.ca/index.php/mentors
Purpose- to encourage potential or relatively new leaders to take on an active role in Section Trips, as
leaders, with "on the spot" support from an experienced leader.
Process- We keep a roster of experienced leaders who are willing to accompany a newer leader on a
trip, and act in a supportive, observer role. This includes reviewing items needing attention before, during
and after a trip, to encourage a new leader over any initial misgivings on their role as a leader and to
spread their experience within the section. Mentors are NOT to be expected to post trips, review
applicants, co-ordinate rides or to complete waivers. Instead they would help new leaders to know and to
complete these steps.
Action- a new leader can contact a mentor of their choice and invite them to join in on their proposed trip
as a "supportive second". Any mentor qualifies for the Section's Trip Coordinator Recognition points.
Contact [email protected] to either become a leader mentor or to set up a mentored trip.
TRIP COORDINATOR RECOGNITION PROGRAM http://accvi.ca/index.php/leader-recognition-program
ACCVI has two streams to recognize trip coordinators on this new pilot program for 2015. It starts
January 1, 2015, and any 2015 trips will be added.
Leader Badges
To recognize on-going contribution to the club as a trip coordinator, we will award leader badges at the
AGM every year. These badges will either have no numbers on them, or include the numbers 10, 25, 50,
or 75, depending on the number of trip points the leaders have accumulated.
Rugged Mtn (left), Merlon south, Merlon center: Photos by Peter Hartmann
5
Trip Report: Mt. Braden and The Hammer
Feb 15, 2015
Photos and story by Dave Suttill, Trip Leader
Ten people came out on Sunday, Feb 15 at 9:30 for an unseasonably warm sunny hike up Mt. Braden, a
prominent peak in the eastern part of the Sooke Hills. The first hour was along the forested old road/trail
up Veitch Creek to the base of Mt Braden. We then took to the trail going up its view-filled south eastern
shoulder on our way to lunch at the summit viewpoint (470 m). After lunch we continued on along its NW
ridge over a subsidiary peak, Castle Pk (453 m) and several more ups and downs to reach the upper
portion of Veitch Cr. There we made a very short side trip to view the remains of the old Cecil Blogg
Cabin. From there we headed west on the Wonder Trail then south on the Secret Trail where we made
another short side trip, this time to a moss covered hill known as The Hammer (385 m). After half an hour
of enjoying more sun, views and some homemade cookies we headed back to the main Veitch Creek
Trail on to the cars, arriving at 4:15.
Crossing Veitch Creek
East Mt. Braden views
Back (L-R) Sandy, Roxanne, Vivian, Tom, Rachel
In front (L-R) Dave, Rita, Mike, Mary, Diane
Group on Braden Summit
NW ridge passage
Remains of the Cecil Blogg cabin
Resting up on The Hammer
*Editor’s Note: A great time was had by all – although keeping journalistic ethics to the forefront, your
faithful editor, who was also on this trip, must admit she may have scarfed more than her fair share of the
cookies (thanks Dave!).
6
Trip Report: Mt. Moriarty
Feb 21, 2015
Photos and story by Peggy Taylor
Trip Leader: Chris George
After the poor snow season last winter, Roger and I were hoping to focus on our AT ski skills over the
winter of 2015. So we signed up for a few ACCVI ski tour offerings, one of which was Chris George’s Feb.
21st Cokely trip. Roger knew Chris from the scuba diving community and as a new member, we also
wanted to support his first scheduled trip and return to an area we had not seen in quite a while! Of
course as the winter, or rather non-winter progressed, it became obvious that the warm weather and lack
of snow were conspiring to thwart this and all the other AT ski trips we signed up for. So, Chris proposed
a hike to either Cokely or Mt. Moriarity instead. The group opted for Moriarty. Chris was pleased as he
had not been up this mountain yet.
It was a rough start to the day. In the lead up emails, Chris requested that we meet at 6 AM at the
Millstream Tim Horton’s. 6:20 AM rolled around and no Lenka – odd, as she is always on time, bright and
chirpy and ready to GO! So Roger, Chris and I started to drive after calling and texting her, thinking that
maybe she slept in. As we were just approaching Mill Bay, Lenka called and told us she accidentally went
to the Peatt Rd. Park N’Ride instead -- opps! (Millstream turned to Goldstream in her brain after a long
week of work) and so she was driving up island. Where to meet us? We said go to Serious Coffee just
before Mill Bay and meet Chris who would wait for her while Roger and I continued on up island to pick
up Thomas at the Nanoose Petrocan. But then another somewhat panicked call, where were we? She
had driven past the Serious Coffee and ended up at MacDonald’s instead. I gave her Chris’ cell number
and they connected and he drove the short way up to MacDonald’s to collect our stray hiking buddy! We
waited at the Petrocan and Chris, Lenka and his dog Tyson arrived about 25 minutes after we did. All was
good again! So off we drove heading to the logging roads leading to Mt. Moriarty.
We arrived around 10 AM (with only one wrong turn) at the parking area for the trailhead. If you are
heading up there turn left off of the Alberni Highway and left to get onto Cameron Main, then bear right at
the junction going to Arrowsmith and head straight on down the valley. As you get close to Labour Day
Lake there is a fork and you need to take the right road through an old red gate instead of to the left on
the slightly newer looking logging road. The trailhead is well signed and easy to follow. It rambles through
a lovely second growth forest with a few waterfalls leading to Labour Day Lake, over some small bridges
and over lots of deadfall from winter storms. From what a friend had told me I was expecting clear cuts
right up to and around the lake, but this was not the case … phew! One cut block was somewhat visible
from the trail, but did not overly affect the ambience.
After a brief pause at the lake we eagerly climbed
straight up the steep trail. No snow here! Only as we
were starting to get close to the top of the ridge did we
start to see some small patches of snow. As we gained
the ridge and were prepared to take the trail off to the
left towards Mt. Moriarty we noticed that there was a trail
to the right along
a south ridge.
Everyone
thought this
might be worth
exploring later if
we had the time
and energy and
tucked the idea away. We carried on along the trail heading north
going up and over the knolls along the ridge with snow patches
increasing to bigger areas of snow. It was hard-packed and a bit
icy in places, but nothing that required any special gear (ice axes,
crampons, or snowshoes) … good thing as we had left those all at
home. The rock formations interspersed with the snow was stunning and the trees were laced with
beautiful frost on the north sides. These, in conjunction with the blue sky, made for an absolutely superb
ridge walk to the summit. Chris and I were snapping photos like crazy!
7
We arrived at the summit at
about 12:45 PM and met a
couple of young fellows with a
large black dog.
Unfortunately, one of them had
inadvertently dropped a phone
into a crack between the snow
and the large summit rock. We
bundled up in our light down
jackets and/or goretex as it
was cold when the wind came
up. As soon as the wind would
abate it was warm and lovely.
We enjoyed a lunch, lots of
laughter and the nice views.
Luckily the other two
summiteers, using some
creativity and the tools
available, managed to get their
phone out of the crevasse by
using a metal cup duct-taped
to a very long branch, climbing
All bundled up – outstanding views to Mt. Arrowsmith in the distance.
into a hole in the snow next to
the crevasse and were able to
extend the branch and using a headlamp to scoop it out. Red Green would be proud, and I am sure the
owner was super happy at his success! After summit photos we headed off back
down the trail.
We arrived at the trail junction we had noticed earlier on the way up and all
decided, since there was lots of time, to head along this ridge. We went to a high
point about 20 minutes along and then Roger found a large rock that was out of
the wind and in the warm sun and did his best Mike Hubbard impression (always
find the lounge chair where ever you go!). We all joined him for a snack and to
soak in some vitamin D. It was heavenly and we all got quite mellow, including
Tyson the dog. A small carrot piece ensured that I had him snuggled into my lap,
happy as a clam and ready to nod off with the rest of us – a friend for life!
At about 4 PM or so we decided to rally and head down the steep trail to the lake and made fast progress
and with a short stop at the lake (Thomas the speedster made it down 15 minutes faster than Chris and I
~!) to regroup, we headed back to the vehicles and were back just before 5 PM. The drive out was a bit
weird in that I did not recognize the roads. At the 11 km marker on Cameron Main I felt like I had missed
the right hand turn for the road going back to the Alberni Highway, but could not remember passing it. So
we turned back for about 5 minutes and then decided we were definitely not finding it and turned back
again. Turns out we were only a few minutes shy of the right hand turnoff at the 11 km marker and we
made it out…..no thanks to my confused navigation at that point! Some of the new logging roads were a
bit confusing and Roger and I had not travelled these roads for about 3 or 4 years. Of note – we saw a
couple of elk in a logged off area in the valley on the way out and hung out for about 4 minutes to watch.
Nice sighting.
As we were going to see Peter Rothermel in Qualicum that evening, we invited the gang to all go out to
dinner at Peter’s favourite haunt, the Shady Restaurant. Roger and I picked up Peter and wended our
way there. Dinner was good, however, unbeknownst to us on Saturday nights there is entertainment.
Although the band played very well the volume was super loud and not much conversation could occur
sadly, except for the few minutes between songs and the short 15 minute break between sets. But
nonetheless we had a great time out.
Thanks to Chris for being the instigator and organizer of this trip. Excellent day out Chris!! We enjoyed
being out with such a great group of hikers.
8
!!!ANNOUNCING THE 2015 SUMMER CAMP!!!
A recent poll of preferred areas resulted in an equal choice between Vancouver Island and the Coast
Mountains. The Summer Camp Committee was eager to choose Vancouver Island because the last two
camps have been on the Mainland. However, we regret that the logistics of flying into a Provincial Park
(the Haihte Range) have proved insurmountable within our planning time-frame. We will work diligently to
ensure a VI camp for 2016.
Meanwhile, the ACC-VI Summer Camp Committee is pleased to announce that registration is now open
for the 2015 CYCLONE PEAK SUMMER CAMP.
About the Area:
The proposed summer camp area will be at approximately 50°14'46.65"N, 122°20'10.86"W, elevation
approx 1900m, between Cyclone Peak (2499m) to the south-east and Snowspider Mountain (2494m) to
the north-west. This spectacular area is just west of Stein Valley Provincial Park and offers some
excellent glacial travel and peak objectives as well as extensive ridge traverses. Staging will be from the
east side of Lillooet Lake approximately 25km from Pemberton.
Information / Guide about the Summer Camp: Please see the “Summer Camp General
InformationGuide 2015”, the “Guidance for Cyclone Peak Participants 2015” and the "Camp Personal
Equipment List", which we hope will answer many of your preliminary questions. Please be sure to read
these documents carefully before filling in your registration form. Your understanding and agreement with
these policies is a pre-requisite of registration. Travel, and all other details will be provided at a later date.
Cost: The cost for the 2015 Summer Camp is $600 per person. Costs are estimated from the heli-fly in
costs.
Dates: We hope to run three consecutive weekly camps, flying in on Sunday mornings (weather
permitting) on July 19th, July 26th, and August 2nd.
Registration:
Please read the ACC-VI Summer Camp Info Guide and print out
the Registration Form and mail with your cheque for $600 to:
Peggy Taylor.
#417-545 Manchester Road,
Victoria, BC
V8T 5H6
A Call for Camp Managers and Assistant Camp Managers:
Each week of the summer camp requires a Camp Manager and possibly an Assistant Camp Manager. If
you have an interest in building your leadership skills and working with the Camp participants to ensure a
successful experience for all, please read the Camp Managers’ Duties document, and contact Liz
Williams at [email protected] if interested.
Early Fawn Lily (Feb 28, East Sooke Park!)
9
Mountain Solitudes: Solo Journeys in the Southern Alps by Aat Vervoorn
(Craig Potton Publishing. Nelson, New Zealand. 2000.)
Reviewed by Lindsay Elms
Having been around the mountains now for many years I can look back over those trips and see a natural
progression that has taken place. It was not planned out but came about due to experience and a
changing fitness. I wanted to see what I was capable of doing and many times that was achieved through
solo journeys. I have attempted to explain what some of these trips have meant to me in the course of my
writing, but more importantly it helps me to understand where I have come from and where I am going
with mountaineering. In Mountain Solitudes: Solo Journeys in the Southern Alps, Aat Vervoorn has been
able to put a collection of his thoughts into print in a well thought-out manner without any frills and
suspense.
Vervoorn is well known in New Zealand mountaineering circles for his first book Beyond the Snowline,
which, despite being written nearly 30 years ago, is widely regarded as one of the best books on New
Zealand mountaineering from the modern era.
Mountain Solitudes covers 15 years of solo climbing and transalpine tramping in the rugged South
Westland section of New Zealand's Southern Alps. Reflective and original, Vervoorn explores a number
of central themes: the experience of interacting with and coming to feel at home in a mountain
environment, coping with change and aging in the mountains, gaining mastery in the environment rather
than over the environment, and a rejection of the notion that a good mountaineering trip has to have close
shaves, death and suffering to be successful. However, this is brought about through a main theme which
is solo journeys.
“… the business of going into the mountains alone. Most tend to regard this as reprehensible rather than
praiseworthy. It is dangerous, they say, it is difficult to protect yourself and you endanger others when
they have to come to rescue you. … who will go for help? Venturing into the mountains without
companions is foolhardy and irresponsible, it ignores the most fundamental rules of safety and
commonsense. Go alone and you get what you deserve.”
Vervoorn doesn’t deny that there are many dangers in the mountains and that there are situations where
skilled and supportive friends would be most welcomed. “Yet it is a serious error to believe, to want to
believe, that all dangers can be overcome with companions. Some kinds of danger are intensified by
making mountain travel a social activity.” Vervoorn believes that working as a guide does not confer much
in the way of material benefit but one lesson it drives home, is that there are worse things than being in
the mountains alone. “Mountain fatalities tend to happen to pairs or even larger numbers. Fastened to a
rope with people whose skills and judgement are uncertain, you realize that unwavering concentration,
eyes in the back of your head and a lot of luck still may not be enough to keep you out of trouble. When
guiding you simply cannot afford to make mistakes, so you learn to climb with extreme care and a healthy
safety margin. Therefore guiding is good training for solo journeys in the mountains.”
“Going into the mountains alone gives great flexibility with regards to weather and conditions; you can
pick your time and go when circumstances are favourable. What is more, traveling alone in the mountains
confers an even greater kind of flexibility: the ability to revise your plans as you go, as well as before
setting out. When you are alone, social pressure and expectations fade, even if they do not disappear
altogether. What does disappear is the need to convince others that plans should be changed because
there may be better options.”
“On climbing expeditions, social pressures are often intense, despite the nonconformity affected by
climbers. The desire to impress companions and establish a reputation; to hold one’s own or at least to
save face; to compete and to outdo each other: such motives frequently push mountaineers to attempt
what they fear and what they know in their hearts is beyond them. …nobody wants to be the first to
suggest turning back.”
“One of the biggest advantages of being alone in the mountains is that being cautious, or even a coward,
becomes an easy and a natural thing to do. Since there is no one with you to witness it, cowardice costs
you little; you may be a timorous weakling with impunity. Of course there will be no one there to observe
and report your heroics either, on those occasions when you feel confident or compelled to push yourself
close to the limit. What matter is the knowledge and mastery you gain, the confidence to act on your own
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decisions without shying away from the possible consequences. If taking responsibility for oneself has
any meaning, solo mountaineering is one situation that brings it into sharp focus.”
Sharing our experiences of trips into the mountains is a huge part of mountaineering. Therefore a book
that puts ideas into perspective in a well thought-out manner is also worth sharing. Mountain Solitudes
was one book that after reading I wanted to go back and read certain sections again. It was a book that I
could relate too and I am sure many others will feel the same way.
e-Trails + : Online articles, stories, reviews, how-tos about mountain activities,
announcements, gear, goodies
(If you have a link that you feel others would enjoy, or an announcement to get out, send it to
Mary Sanseverino, [email protected], for inclusion in the next Island Bushwhacker
Newsletter.)
Update on the 2016 ACC-VI AGM. Mike Hubbard reports the following: “I indicated at the AGM that I would
conduct an email survey of the whole membership with regard to the location of the 2016 AGM . I did
so and the voting which closed February 2nd was 27 in favour of Mt Washington and 6 in favour of
Vctoria. We have accordingly booked the Vancouver Island Mountain Centre for the nights of January
29th and 30th 2016 and the AGM will be held on January 30th at 7.30pm”.
Update from Angela Muellers on proposed LNG/tanker/pipeline developments in Sea to Sky corridor.
Angela suggests looking at the website www.myseatosky.org for information on what is going on in the
area. She is asking people to voice their concerns as soon as possible.
Front Banner Images
This month the images on the front banner of the newsletter came from Peter Hartmann and Josh
Overdijk. These shots are from a trip that Peter and Josh did this past month into the Haihte Range. They
climbed Ya’ai Peak and Rugged Mountain. Peter reports perfect conditions: “The snow was hard and
crusty and the ice was solid as well”. Thank you fellows – looks like an epic adventure!
Ice cave below the glacier under Ya’ai Peak.
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