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Randy B

June 06, 2006

-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Barnett [mailto:rkbarnett@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 11:25 AM
To: Doxey Kemp
Subject: Re: [BUSHWHACKERS] Initiatives for 2007

Hey Dox,
All IMO:
1) A Leadership Course seems to be the next new course the Club should offer. Its the "next step" in many other organizations after completing a basic glacier climbing class, but more importantly, it's what the Club needs in regards to continued interest and participation by recent beginning glacier climbing students.
2) A Basic Cragging Course seems to be the right direction to go, especially if this club wants to go beyond just Alpine climbing, but also into other areas.
3) I would really like for BWCC to have an Intermediate Climbing Course. This would benefit most of the club members old and new, and for folks not interested in rock climbing nor backcountry skiing, it is really the only "course" of sorts existing members (whom have completed some sort of beginner/basic alpine class) can take as continuing education (specifically in regards to alpine climbing). Unless of course there are thoughts on hosting an ice climbing class, but I would think this is further down the road. This course no doubt would include a higher degree of education regarding crevasse rescue, which is typically only necessary when alpine climbing anyway. I don't necessarily think a separate crevasse rescue class is necessary, but instead host "lets practice crevasse rescue scenarios outings" would be better.
4) I don't think an Avalanche "Avoidance" Class is necessary. Instead, I think avalanche avoidance should be part of the Beginning Glacier Climbing Course, and further explored in the Leadership Course, as well as possibly in other classes. This is a skill we should teach now, and to not get into it is a mistake in my opinion. If we were thinking about a full-blown Avy Class, this is different (of course, it would detail the "rescue" part for sure). I think these type of how to rescue someone caught in an avalanche type courses are already available elsewhere, and our time and resources can be better spent elsewhere.
5) A Conservation Course can get a bit tricky, and also political. I'm not sure if our little club is ready for this. I think it would get us into a bit of activism, lobbying, and the like once we delve in this direction. Instead, I think the club should take on a specific cause, or support a group, or something like that. Like the "adopt a highway" program, but not cleaning up a patch of road, but a specific trail we all like to go to, or area, or support an existing group in their endeavors.
6) Scrambling: I don't think we need a full-blown course for this. We can't be something for everyone (not yet anyway), and our focus is on climbing. The Beginning Glacier Climbing course covers most scrambling topics. Instead, I would have a few Beginner Scramble Outings, for new folks that want to join the club but don't want to glacier climb, or want to get "warmed up" to climbing. Just a weekend outing like BCC used to do up to Mt. St. Helens, with packs, crampons, and ice axes.
-Randy