Winter Longhike
Introduction
Everything is different when you go into the backcountry in the winter; that's why there is Winter Longhike, an introductory trip for winter camping. This is usually a big trip with lots of keen people aboard who want to get out, learn some new skills, and sleep in their very own snow shelter while still managing to have fun too. It's an easy, beginner friendly trip, so if you've never even seen snow before you can still have a good time. Other fun activities that often happen at Winter Longhike are a cooking competition, sing alongs, costume competitions, and the occasional great ski run on Sunday.
Past destinations have included:
- Red Heather Meadows in Garibaldi Park
- Fat Dog Creek in Manning Park
- Falls Lake (Coquihalla)
- Mt. Seymour
For dates see Trip agenda.
Equipment List
Personal
In winter especially, none of your clothing should be made out of cotton. Anything synthetic is safe. Just remember, Cotton Kills.
- sleeping pad
- sleeping bag (rated for winter or 3 season if you sleep warm)
- garbage bags (2-3)
- warm jacket (fleece or down)
- warm pants (fleece or thick long underwear)
- long underwear
- toque, mitts (2 pairs, or a set of waterproof shells)
- goggles and avalanche beacon if skiing Sunday
- warm socks (2 pairs)
- waterproof jacket (goretex or coated nylon)
- waterproof pants (goretex or coated nylon)
- gaiters
- cup, bowl, spoon, knife
- good waterproof boots (wax them before the trip) or ski boots
- skis and skins if skiing, or snowshoes
- poles
- toothbrush etc.
- sunscreen and glasses (we can hope, right?)
- water bottle (1L)
- lunch, snacks, breakfast, dinner contribution (in winter you will need 2500-3500 calories per day, fat-rich stuff keeps you warm)
- headlamp
- gas money for your driver
- camera if you want
If you want to go skiing on Sunday before heading out to the cars, make sure to bring
- avalanche transceiver
- shovel
- probe (optional but recomended)
Small Group
3-4 people per group, organized at trip meeting along with car groups
- shovels (1-2)
- probe
- stove + fuel + lighter (you'd be surprised how often one of these stays home)
- pots
Big Group
Everyone
- first aid kits (2)
- song books (4)
- snow saw
- maps, compass, etc
Winter Longhike 2007
Date: January 13-14
Location: Winter Longhike will be at Manning Park and Fat Dog Creek is the destination
There will also be a mandatory dry school on Wednesday Jan 10th at 6pm to arrange rides, food, driving instructions, and go over some snowcave theory.
Sign-up
- Instructor Sign-up
- Andrew Pare
- Student Sign-up
- Aurore Ponvienne
- Christian Sampaleanu
- Christian Champagne
Rides
Since this is such a big trip, rides are usually coordinated at the dry school on Wednesday January 10th to match drivers with passengers who live close to them. However, please indicate here if you have a car, where you are leaving from and how many people you can transport.
- Drivers Name [email, location leaving from, # of passengers]
Past Events
Winter Longhike 2006
Winter Longhike 2006 was held at Red Heather Meadows, January 28-29
Winter Longhike 2005
Maps to the Falls Lake area are available here for general driving and here for specific location. While going north on the Coquihalla highway, take the Falls Lake exit (last one before the toll booth) and go under the highway to the west side. You should be able to see VOC people there, and it is a short two to three kilometer hike to the campsite by the lake.
