Mountaineering Camp 2013

 The Annual Mountaineering Camp was held this year out of the Bill Putnam Hut at Fairy Meadows, a significant step up in difficulty and logistics, but it offered the opportunity to spend a week on or near the Gothics and Granite Glaciers in the Northern Selkirks.

Access was a 64 km drive up the West Columbia Forest Service Road along the west side of Kinbasket Lake (aka: Columbia River).  A helicopter met us there and in under an hour we had all our gear and 19 people up at the cabin.  Four flights of about 5 minutes each was a pleasant alternative to a rough 5-hour hike through the bush.

The week was spent exploring the Granite and Gothics Glaciers and some of the surrounding peaks.  Some training sessions were held to discuss matters like roped glacier travel, crevasse rescue, self-arrest and such.

Our weather was stellar.  Almost too stellar.  It was hot and sunny the whole time we were there until the last morning as we were waiting for the helicopter to come get us.  That's when the fog, cloud, rain and hail descended.  It was short-lived, however, and we were flown back to our vehicles by mid-afternoon.

Thrashers Weekend 2013 - Scrambles

Part of the activities for Thrashers Weekend was the opportunity to do some scrambles.  On Saturday, two of us made the quick ascent of Baldy, the peak just above Barrier Bluffs.  The weather was fine and the views were nice.  We even made it down in time to take in a quick climb of two at Wasootch where the rest of the group was hanging out.  

MJ working his way up on Mt Baldy  (photo- DMcC)

On Sunday, with showers and fog banks happening, a much larger group headed up to Mt John Laurie (aka: Yamnuska).  There is an interesting circuit of the whole peak and the pictures below give a taste of what the day was like.

The chain route on Mt Yamnuska (photo by MJ Afshin)

Scramblers on the skyline (photo by MJ Afshin)

Scramblers looking over into the abyss (photo by MJ Afshin)

Thrashers Weekend 2013 - Training

This year's Trashers Weekend was filled with activity even though the weather wasn't the best.

Friday was used as a training course for belaying and setting up top-rope anchors.  Many of our Section's rope leaders attended, working mostly on "D" slab at Wasootch.  It was great to see so many rope leaders out for this session.  It's taken quite a few years, but we finally have a keen nucleus of experienced, trained leaders that are able to help run weekends like this.

Paying close attention

On the Ledge, working on top rope anchors

The redesigned accsask.ca

The website for the Saskatchewan Section has been updated and redesigned. The website and blog are now integrated, The Prairie Pitch Express is now found at accsask.ca and all previous blog posts are still there and have been included in the website. The website is also designed to look great on tablets and smartphones so make sure to check out the site on your mobile device.

Our activities our now found on the Events Calendar page as a list but can also be viewed in a calendar view.

If you are user of iCal or Google calendar you can now add events/trips to your calendar with a single click.

Along with the website change the Saskatchewan Section is now on Twitter and Google+.

 Twitter (@accsask)

Google+

So be sure to follow us if you are on Twitter or Google+ and we remain very active on Facebook so don’t forget to like us there too!

Facebook.com/accsask

We are not done yet either, there will be small ongoing improvements over time so make sure to check back regularly.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome whether here, via email, Facebook, Twitter or Google+.