WS Intro 2008

Slide1: 

Winter School IAP 2008 Presented by the MIT Outing Club January 8, 2008

So, Just What is Winter School?: 

So, Just What is Winter School? Winter School is the MIT Outing Club’s way of helping the MIT community to overcome depressing Boston winters by learning how to have fun and be safe outdoors during New England winters. This is oriented towards people of many abilities levels, and designed to minimize costs to participants. Hiking - Ice Climbing - Cross Country Skiing- Camping -Snowshoeing - Sledding - Backcountry Skiing - Orienteering - Snow Angels And more!

Winter School Goals: 

Winter School Goals Upon completion, students should know: Many ways to have fun during the winter What to bring, and how to use it Wilderness ethics How to be safe and sane Places to go and available resources Other people they can plan their own trips with!

Course Pre-requisites: 

Course Pre-requisites Common Sense! Basic outdoor clothing and some essential gear Mild weather experience desired, but not necessary An open mind A willingness to listen to trip leaders The ability to acknowledge your own limits

Top Ten Reasons For WS: 

Top Ten Reasons For WS It’s a Snow Day for grown-ups. (If you’re from Texas, you get to learn what a Snow Day is!) You look good in fleece, and know that the first level of hell is reserved for wearers of cotton. The ice climbing routes on Stata aren’t in yet. (Anyone have an office and a water hose?) You need to drop those holiday pounds while eating anything you want! (Like butter…) You enjoy meeting really cool people who also like doing these things.

Top Ten Reasons For WS: 

Top Ten Reasons For WS The mountains in the winter are gorgeous. You’re going out there anyway, and you’re too poor to afford to pay search and rescue fines. You have a strange attraction to sharp, pointy objects. Wow your friends and family with your knowledge of cold weather injuries. You want to find out what the loop at the bottom of your backpack is really for.

How does this work?: 

How does this work? Two evening lectures per week TR, 6:30 - 9:00, (35-225) “Recitations” every weekend to various New England locations. Trips are entirely optional, but are the best part! Attendance at lecture is required to go on trips. Trips are announced on Tuesdays, and signups online on Wednesday, with organization and rentals on Thursday. Lectures are free, but you’ll need to pay gas money, White Mountain Nat’l Forest Fees, and gear rental and cabin fees for trips.

Optional Texts: 

Optional Texts “Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, 7th Ed. The Mountaineers. On Reserve in the MITOC Library!

Wait, what’s this going to cost?: 

Wait, what’s this going to cost? We’re trying to make this as cheap as possible! One time: Lectures: Free! MITOC membership: $10 Personal clothing: Varies a lot! At least $100, starting from scratch Per Trip: Trip Fee (WMNF fees, group gear, etc): $5 Gas money: $20 round trip for most NH locations (pay to driver directly, less for closer trips) Cabin Fees: ($5/night, if you stay there) Gear rental: $5-$20, depends on trip and what you need

Who is Teaching this?: 

Who is Teaching this? The lectures are developed and delivered by experienced members of MITOC. Lecturers and Trip Leaders are volunteers who love the outdoors and have demonstrated practical knowledge of skills, outdoor leadership, and safety/good judgment to the MITOC Winter Safety Committee. Every trip has a person certified in Wilderness First Aid or better. They are NOT professional guides or certified instructors.

Lecture Agenda: 

Lecture Agenda Lecture 1 Intro to Winter Mountain Weather Clothing Gear Food and Water Chip places to get gear Weekend trip announcements

Lecture Agenda: 

Lecture Agenda Lecture 2 Driving in the Winter Map and Compass Skills Crampons Snowshoes Packing backpacks Group travel and safety MITOC rules Organize Trips

Lecture Agenda: 

Lecture Agenda Lecture 3 Above Treeline skills: Self arrest, Self belay Ice Climbing Cross Country Skiing Back Country Skiing (Telemark, Randonee/AT) Trip reports Trip anouncements

Lecture Agenda: 

Lecture Agenda Lecture 4 Overnight basics Stoves, cooking and food Sleeping bags Personal Issues Trip sign-ups

Lecture Agenda: 

Lecture Agenda Lecture 5 Special lecture by Bryan Yeaton, Mt. Washington observatory Mountain weather Cold weather injuries, featuring: Hypothermia Frostbite Trenchfoot …and more!

Lecture Agenda: 

Lecture Agenda Lecture 6 Snow Shelters Trip planning Physical Training and Mental Preparedness Safety and risk Emergencies/ Survival

Lecture Agenda: 

Lecture Agenda Lecture 7 Winter Tents Avalanches MITOC History Trip reports and trip anouncements Lecture 8 Expeditions Gear maintenance and repair

FAQs: 

FAQs Do I need previous experience? What will I need to buy? What can I rent? Is this really safe? Do I have to be eXXXtreme? How many trips to I have to go on? What if I don’t have a car? Do I have to join MITOC? Will these lectures be posted somewhere?