Archive:29Aug2009 neve crossing

Note - I'm still organizing at this time. Everything, especially the dates, subject to change, that's why it's not in the trip agenda yet!

The Plan

Continuing in the tradition of the "moderate-friendly annual summer traverse" series I seem to have started, this year will be a crossing of the Garibaldi Neve.

Everyone knows the Garibaldi Neve as the classic ski traverse. But is it possible in the summer? Of course - but is it possible by us? With this winter's record low snowfall it should be mostly bare ice - which means no dealing with ropes, just strap on the crampons and go! We'll still bring some ropes, just in case.

The plan will be to go from Brohm Ridge, around Garibaldi and out to the Diamond Head parking lot.

If you've been on a few trips, nothing too serious, but are reasonably fit (or at least very tough) and own (or can borrow - maybe from the club) the gear you need, this is the trip for you. If you're wondering whether or not this is the trip for you, go ahead and email Veenstra or post on the message board. The idea is for the trip to be pretty cool without requiring any special skills (maybe you'll even get a chance to learn, or at least find out about, some of these special skills).

Trip Meeting

The trip meeting will be on Wednesday the 12th - 7:00pm, at (presumably) Frisbee (Jericho beach at Tolmie). If you know what you're doing and can't come that's OK - just make sure you have a ride. If you don't know what you're doing, then you should really try and come.

Kit

We'll be sleeping somewhere... possibly on a glacier, but hopefully we find a scrap of rock. We'll need tents. A sleeping bag and pad are needed, and they should be reasonably warm.

There's always some snow in the mountains, but it should be settled out enough that avalanches are not a concern and skis/snowshoes would be more pain than they are worth. Besides, we'll try to stick to the glacial ice. What you will want for sure is a good pair of boots (with a reasonably stiff sole so you can walk easily on snow), ski poles (or trekking poles) and maybe a pair of gaiters.

Likely it will also be hot, and quite sunny - so suncreen, sunglasses, a hat and a bandanna are a really good idea. On snowy terrain it is possible to go painfully close to snow-blind in a weekend without sunglasses.

We're also bringing some glacier kit.

Other stuff includes (list reserves the right to be amended):

Clothes

• 1 set of non-cotton clothes (just the one on your back)
• 1 additional warm thing (fleece / down jacket)
• rainjacket / pants (if it is supposed to rain. Otherwise a nice light breathable softshell would be better)
• toque (best warmth/weight ratio going for clothing)
• gloves
• boots
• sun hat
• gaiters

Shelter

• Tent (not everybody...)
• sleeping bag (a summer bag is probably good, depending how warm you think you sleep)
• sleeping pad

Miscellaneous

• Sunscreen
• Headlamp
• lip balm
• sunglasses
• camera
• bug net (works way better than bug juice, plus it doesn't wreck the environment or your stuff)
• Toilet Paper
• Toothbrush
• Lighter
• Bearspray (optional - with such a large, probably noisy, group I'd be highly surprised if any self-respecting bear would go anywhere near us)
• Emergency supplies (Veenstra will have all this stuff with him, but if you want to bring some of your own, particularly moleskin, that's OK. Not bringing any is also OK - there will be enough to go around)
  • First Aid
    • moleskin
    • Vitamin I (Ibuprofen)
    • climbing tape (for an overnight trip these three things are probably all you really need)
    • bandages
    • gauss
    • prep pads
    • tensor bandage
    • extra ziplock for bloody gross prep pads / guass
  • Repair Kit (you can fix almost anything with these things for a short trip)
    • Duct tape
    • Stainless steel wire
    • Length of 2mm chord
    • Miniature pliers/cutters/knife with file

Gear

• ski/trekking poles (poles are highly awesome for hiking. I can't recommend bringing poles enough)
• ice ax (the lightest you can find)
• crampons (which fit boots! Test beforehand!)
• climbing harness
• locking 'biner
• rope (or be one of 6 friends with someone who has one)
• helmet

Food

• stove + pot + fuel + lighter (or be friendly)
• Plastic thing to eat out of (old yogurt container? Or something fancier)
• spoon
• Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch - remember you'll be on the move all day, so bring extra lunch for Sunday. Eat extra breakfast (which you then don't have to carry on your back) before heading out Saturday morning.
  • Most people can eat somewhat under 1kg of food per day (we're talking dehydrated food - no heavy water). Veenstra eats way more than most people and usually brings 250grams/breakfast, 400-500grams/lunch+snacks, 250-350grams/dinner+dessert.
• Water (ability to carry ~2L, depending on your size).
• Water purifier drops (optional)

Luxury

(some things might be worth their extra weight, including):

• songbook
• 1 pair extra socks
• down slippers for camp
• tin whistle / recorder / Ukulele
• Alcohol
• ?

Pack

And a pack to put it all in. Remember - stuff is heavy, so don't bring too much stuff! If you show up with a pack larger than 50L, Christian will tear it apart in the parking lot looking for extra weight.

Participants

1. Veenstra, Christian (have rope, tent)
2. Veenstra, Line (have rope)
3. 
   

Car Groups

Maybe people will post their cars and allow signup in advance! Remember that this is purely for organization and just because you add your name, this doesn't mean you will be picked up. Make sure and get confirmation directly from your driver by phone or email.

Food Groups

Looking for someone to share dinner/stove/pots with? Post your desires here! If you've already sorted yourself out you don't need to tell the world, unless you really want to.

Rope Groups

I want to put lots of people on the same rope, like 7 or so. This means that if someone does manage to fall into a crevasse the rest of the people won't need any special skills other than friction and body mass to keep the whole team from disappearing forever.

Rope 1

Experienced:

1. 
   

Quasi Experienced:

1. 
   

Not Experienced:

1.