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Chris H

August 02, 2006

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Hagedorn [mailto:alpinexplorer@msn.com]
Sent: Wed 8/2/2006 9:02 AM
To: Doxey Kemp
Cc:
Subject: RE: [BUSHWHACKERS] Initiatives for 2007

Hey Dox,

Yes, unquestionably, parenthood is an enormous life changing event. For me, it has been the biggest life changing event that I have experienced in my lifetime. Life changes in ways that you simply would never have imagined,
some amazingly awesome, and some should we say not so much.

Initiatives, initiatives....I'm glad you recent this. Your original message went out 4 days before my wedding, and while I had some great ideas I never got them down. Likely, my thoughts are similar to many others, but here they
are none the less. I have focused on strategic ideas that would serve to strengthen the club from its foundation. Gosh, all of the ideas are great, and some of the more fun ones are really needed as well, but we are a young
club and can only take on so much right?

1) Leadership Course - I believe this is by far the most important course we need to add. Considering our numbers, we have relatively few folks that have a leadership mindset, and no way to train all of the newcomers. I believe
this course is important for all new climbers even if they have no intention of ever leading. Not only is it an important offering for those that wish to lead, it is also important for others so they can appreciate what leading is all about. It would also serve to help team members understand the thought process and reasoning behind difficult leader decisions.

2) Wilderness First Aid - We made a big step in the right direction this year, but much work is still needed. I believe we should require some type of training for our Basic Climbing graduates as this skill is fundamental to everything we do in the outdoors. Its easy to disregard the significance of this skill due to the hope that nothing tragic will ever happen. If this was a requirement for all new members, we would be much stronger overall as an organization. Although difficult and problematic, it would still be a nice goal to teach this ourselves as a class. It would also be helpful to have a first aid team representative to lead this up, and to help with the assembly of medical kits. If we are going to offer club climbs up major objectives like Rainier, I think it is paramount for the club leadership to ensure that
all leaders have the proper medical supplies.

3) Avalanche Clinic - Not much to say here. It's a fundamental safety skill. We don't have it and we need it.

4) Crevasse Rescue Clinic - Again not much to say here. We have an increased knowledge base of climbers with advanced techniques that could be taught to the entire club. Regardless of whether we condone advanced pulley
techniques, we have more and more climbers that are putting themselves in situations were they are needed. We also have climbers that are putting themselves in these situations naively without truly understanding how to perform these advanced concepts in the field. Fundamental...you betcha!

5) Conservation - A truly excellent way to build our community by getting out and volunteering and setting a good example. What better way to spread the word about our organization, and to bring new climbers into our ranks.

Obviously these five potential course s can't be accomplished at once, but I think they are indeed a great priority for our club. As I mentioned we also need some new fun courses to keep us alive and full of vigor. In that regard
I would suggest:

1) Cragging Course - Everyone loves to crag right?

2) Intermediate Glacier Climbing Course - This would expand on our basic offering and could include advanced skills learned by several of our recent Alpine Ice Course graduates. It could potentially wrap up with an Alaska Mountaineering Climb which would likely create a lot of enthusiasm. If we don't get this immediately, we should consider handling it the way we did WAFA this year. Send out a message encouraging folks to take a specific advanced class through AAI or Mountain Madness. Both organizations are presently offering the Bushwhackers a discount due to discussions held with the owners this year and last.

Finally, I would strongly encourage the club to consider utilizing the knowledge and experience of our great mentor David Spring. Without David, there likely would not be a Bushwhacker Climbing Club, and we would not be talking about adding new classes like we are today. Virtually every one of our original members was a graduate of the BCC class, and we owe much of what we know to David's years of hard work and dedication to the sport that
we love. We have built our club on the foundation and example of the climbing philosophy that was David Spring. He graciously allowed us to use and copy his BCC Glacier Course Handbook of which we don't even acknowledge
him for. Does he have some issues which have troubled some of our club members in the past? Sure, as all humans do. I think the greater problem is with people that hold these types of grudges and can't move on in a healthy and productive manner. David could be a great asset to our organization if we offered him the opportunity to teach one of our courses like an avalanche clinic, leadership class or something similar. I have spoken with several
previous students that support this idea fully, and believe it would be a great contribution to our community, and would provide recognition to someone that changed many of our lives in an amazing way and will always be
our steadfast mentor.

Best Regards, ... Christopher Hagedorn