We had two evening classroom sessions - facilities graciously provided by Merrill Design - where we did our book learning. Then on the weekend of January 28-29, we headed for the hills of Snoqualmie Pass to put our knowledge to work.

On Day 1 it was up the Source Lake basin, which gave us a great chance to evaluate avalanche terrain in a popular backcountry destination. We skiied and snowshoed up to the Snow Lake divide at 4500', where we used our transceivers to rescue many a buried backpack. We did well, excavating all within the requisite 15 minutes that enables a high survival rate.

Day 2 took us to Hyak, as it turns out in the torrential rain, where we made snow pits to analyze the complex snowfall over the last few weeks. We took away the message that, while you can look at many details, it is the big picture you want to develop. It includes the NWAC forecast, the weather, the terrain, the snowpack, and the folks you are traveling with.

I think we all agreed we found the lessons valuable in making winter backcountry travel fun and safer. And we had some nice bonuses on our outings - beautiful scenery in the Source Lake basin and a great gear check while weathering the downpour at Hyak!

The course grads are:
Tomas M.
Robert M.
Philip S.
Lynne M.
Peter D.
Brandon H.
Dan S.
Celese S.
Patrick S.

Thanks to all for participating - it's great to have outing buds that are not only enjoyable but well-trained!

The clinic will be Saturday Feb 25Th and Sunday Feb 26Th.

To sign up, email us at bwcc_information "at" bushwhackerclimbingclub.org.

Chris K

Just in time for making some turns, Mother Nature slammed us with a couple feet of new snow on the hill. We braved the elements and were duly rewarded with piles and piles of fresh pow! We cranked tele-turns through the mildly heavy, but heavenly snow until our legs gave out, then caught up over beers back at Whiskey Pete's.

Thanks to those who made it, and almost made it!

Keep an eye on your email for the BWCC February Ski Night. - We're gonna go for it one more time!

Cheers,
-Philip

Everyone on the trip will need a transceiver, probes, a shovel, skis and skins.

If you are interested let me know.

Chris K

You will need a transceiver, probe and snow shovel. Often these items can be borrowed within the club, if you don't already have them. We're targeting Jan 28-29 for the snow session. 

Though there's a number of avalanche training courses out there, we know this one is well done, and you have the opportunity to have a private class with your outing buddies. Get in touch as soon as possible if you're interested, and we'll pin down the reservation.
 
In hopes of great snow!
Patrick S,
BWCC Board Member 

We are working with a local guide service to get some of our club members into a class in January. More information will be coming out in the next few weeks, but late Jan is looking like the right time.

Leadership course:

We are starting to put together the leadership course for 2012. It is looking like the course will start in March. More information will be coming out in January so stay tuned.

Glacier Class 2012:

With a few of our glacier class instructors and assistants heading to Alaska for an expedition in June there will be only one section of the Glacier class in 2012. We are currently setting up a few committees' to review and update our gear suggestions along with the course handbook.

Outings:

We are just waiting for the snow to show up. There are a lot of ski, snowshoe and overnight winter camping outings in the works.

Chris K

President Bushwhacker Climbing Club

Each year the Bushwhackers have an end-of-summer wrap up party where we get together to socialize, see photos of the summers activities &, yes, drink milkshakes.

The club provides the ice cream so everyone else please bring goodies to add to the shakes. Favorites include cookies, berries, syrup, fruit or even a beet  . Be creative! 

This years Milkshake Madness will be on Friday, October 28th in Wallingford, USA. Club members watch your email for an evite with details.

Thanks all! Looking forward to seeing all of you for Milkshake Madness!
Doug H

Several Bushwhackers and families began the activity Friday night around the campfire. Joining in the outing were Rachel and Mark H with Elizabeth and Clara, Patrick and Celese S with Ian, and Jim P. We fueled ourselves with s’mores for the next day's work ahead.

 

Saturday AM began with a dedication by the Mt Rainier superintendant of the rebuilt Glacier Basin trail, which many club members have used on the approach to Camp Shurman. It was constructed with thousands of volunteer hours, after the original trail was wiped out by the flood of 1996. After the ceremony, Jim Powell headed out for trail maintenance on the Wonderland, the rest of us to Sunrise to reveg an area that had once been a drive in campground (above)

 

The Rainier staff trained us in planting alpine plants - you bust up the soil a bit, then install 7 plants per square foot, of mixed varieties (left). The plants came in flats of 49 - the greenhouse folks germinate thousands of seeds from the same area over the year, then grow them in individual pots. It's a huge effort. The 50 + people on our volunteer crew that day put in 10,000 plants. Occasionally Clara would remind us - "NEVER GIVE UP!" Right on, Clara.

 

It was a beautiful day out, and great fun to join in with the folks for such an accomplishment. The plants have a 90% survival rate - we hope to get back to see the difference we made (right). It's a small step - it will actually take 10 years or more to return the area to its natural state.

 

We saw Jim again when we returned to camp. While we had spent the day digging holes with trowels, Jim had spent the day in a hole with a shovel. Nice effort! Be sure to think of Jim kindly as you walk the Wonderland Trail.

Jared recently went backpacking with his brothers in the Tetons.

Jared said,

Going on this trip with novices gave me the chance to realize how much I had learned from the Bushwhacker Climbing Course and the Leadership course.  Without going into details, there were a few challenges on our trip.  The lessons learned with the Bushwhackers were key to ensuring a good outcome.

The Board of Directors met last week for the first time of this session.  There are a few changes I thought I would pass on.

Chris K
President
Bushwhacker Climbing Club