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Q:
How are alumni trips announced? Is there a mailing list for
announcements that I can subscribe to?
A:
New alumni trips are announced on the snowcamping web
page, and occasional updates and announcements are also
sent via email to the snowcamping news email list. If you
are interested in subscribing to the snowcamping news email list, you can
request to be added to the list by filling out and
submitting the request form on the "Contact Us" web page.
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Q:
Can anyone post announcements to the snowcamping news email list? Do I need
to worry about receiving spam from the list?
A:
The snowcamping news email list is set up so that only a small
set of people (e.g., alumni trip coordinator Mark Johnson) are able to
post and authorize messages to the list. Since the snowcamping news email
list is moderated, you will not receive spam as a
consequence of subscribing to the list.
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Q:
I have a question about an alumni trip -
how do I get in touch with the alumni leaders?
A:
Please submit your question and contact information in the
feedback form at the
bottom of this page, and the alumni leaders will get in
touch with you.
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Q:
I'd like to propose and lead an alumni trip! What is
required to become the leader of an alumni trip?
A:
We are always looking for qualified leaders to propose one
or more trips that they can commit to leading during the
upcoming season. Leading an alumni trip is a great
opportunity for those who do not have sufficient time to
lead a Training Series group; for those interested in
moving into a leadership role, this is a chance to develop
your wilderness trip leadership skills.
All proposed trips require two trip leaders, and should have
enough assistant leaders to provide roughly a 1:4 ratio of
leaders to trip participants. All leaders should have a
minimum of experience that includes:
- Successful completion of the Sierra Club Snowcamping
Training Series course
- Active snowcamping within the last 5 years
- Previous experience as an assistant leader
- Comfort with map and compass navigation skills in winter conditions
Furthermore, leaders must have current 20 hour Wilderness First
Aid certificate. New leaders are welcome and encouraged,
but must partner with an experienced trip leader. Alumni
Trip Coordinators will help with recruiting of co-leaders or
assistant leaders as needed.
You might want to check out the next question to get an idea of the
kind of information we're interested in for potential trips.
Please submit your name and a brief description of the trip
in the feedback form at
the bottom of this page, and the alumni leaders will get in
touch with you.
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Q:
What information should I submit for my alumni trip
proposal?
A:
The more information you can provide, the better, but the
alumni trip coordinators are happy to help you put together
your trip if you need a hand. An initial proposal might
include only a trip name, brief description, and leader
contact information. A final trip proposal will
typically include:
- A trip name (required)
- A brief trip description (required)
- The name and contact number of the leader(s) (required)
- A trip location, trailhead, and destination
- An estimate of round-trip distance and elevation gain/loss
- A proposed start and end date, and the number of days/nights on the trail
- A rating, e.g.:
- Easy: Anyone of moderate
fitness can participate. Hike is fairly short with
moderate gradient change, or longer with little gradient
and a slower pace. Requires only the basic skills from
the Training Series.
- Intermediate:Most of
moderate and better fitness could participate, though
one should expect a higher magnitude of intensity with
potentially steeper gradient change and/or longer
duration hikes with fewer breaks. Participants should be
fully proficient in basic snow camping skills. Special
gear maybe required.
- Advanced:Indicates that a
high level of fitness is required. Participants will be
reviewed in a discretionary approval process that may
include a prerequisite. Strong snow camping skills
expected and required. Special skills and/or gear may be
required. Hikes may be longer, steeper and at a faster
pace.
- Leadership:Limited to
leaders and assistant leaders from all groups (guest
professionals excepted.)
- A list of prerequisites and special equipment required, if any
- A maximum group size
- Names of potential assistant leaders
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Q:
I'm qualified and would really like to propose a trip, but I
don't have any good trip ideas. Do you have any
suggestions?
A:
Trips possibilities can include fun themes and specialized
training components, as well as trips that offer greater physical
challenges and require a higher level of fitness and possibly
prerequisites to make the roster. Basic trips where the art
of relaxation is key are also encouraged.
We have put together a list of ideas that might whet your
appetite - feel free to use these ideas outright or use them
to help kick-start your own creativity:
- New Years Eve trip - A party
trip to kick off the season. A chance to discuss the coming
snowcamping season, and ring in the New Year in snowcamping
style.
- Lassen Summit trip - The goal
of this trip would be an attempt to summit Mount Lassen.
Participants might be required to participate in a
prerequisite trip, as this trip would require a faster pace
over a greater distance and steeper terrain.
- Gourmet trip - Although some
food groups might brag about their gourmet skills, this trip
would be geared toward really showing off those culinary
talents and allowing everyone to reap the rewards. Teams
could provide different parts of each meal to create a
multi-course gourmet dinner. This trip would of course also
require a superior snow kitchen. Freeze-dried food would be
strictly forbidden!
- Trek - Longer trips of 3, 4,
5, or more days offer expanded opportunities by moving camp
for each day. Trips could range in difficulty from short
daily hikes to longer, more-strenuous affairs with
geographic goals in mind such as circumnavigating Mount
Shasta, or even traversing the Sierra.
- Igloo 101 - This trip would
focus on skills related to snow construction, using blocks
of snow to build a number of different shelter types more
elaborate than the basic trench or snow cave. A snow saw
might be required.
- Shelter Madness - Now that you
have some skill in snow construction, use that skill to
compete for the title of most elaborate, wackiest, or most
beautiful shelter. Lights, candles, and all other means of
enhancement encouraged.
- Pioneers - Trips specifically
designed to venture into a new area, to explore new
hard-to-get to destinations, or to scout out new places for
use as Training group destinations. Such trips might
involve the use (or even construction) of a snow sled to
facilitate gear transport.
- Avalanche Training - A special
guest professional could provide training in avalanche
awareness and rescue while the group is out in the actual
environment in which such skills might need to be used.
- Winter Photography - Winter
provides a wonderful set of opportunities (and challenges!)
to photographers. Such a trip could be an opportunity for
photo-enthusiasts to discuss and compare techniques, as well
as gather pictures for future slideshows.
- Late Season Trips - The normal
training series snowcamping season ends long before the
snowcamping possibilities have ended. Why not offer a
spring trip to extend the snowcamping season for another
month or two? There's nothing like snow camping in
shorts!
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Q:
I'm not qualified to lead an alumni trip, but I'd really
like to go on a trip to XXX (insert cool destination) - is
there any hope?
A:
Even if you aren't yet qualified to lead an alumni trip, there
is always a chance that one of the group leaders or assistant
leaders would be interested in getting a group together to the
cool destination you're thinking of.
You can submit a
proposed destination using the feedback form at the bottom of this page,
and the alumni leaders will get in touch with you. Please
give as much information and detail as you can!
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Q:
I'm interested in becoming an assistant leader for the Snowcamping
Training Series! What is the process for this?
A:
We are always looking for qualified assistant leaders to help
with the Snowcamping Training Series! Assistant leaders are
often training series alumni who became interested in sharing
their knowledge and helping out. A first step in becoming an
assistant leader is talking with your training series group
leaders.
Note that assistant leaders should have a minimum of experience that includes:
- Successful completion of the Sierra Club Snowcamping
Training Series course
- Active snowcamping within the last 5 years
- Comfort with map and compass navigation skills in winter conditions
- Current (within the past two years) 20 hr. Wilderness
First Aid and CPR certification. Note that the snowcamping group typically
offers such training annually prior to the Snowcamping Training Series
(e.g., in December)
- Sierra Club Outdoor Leadership Training (OLT)
certification (more
information here - note the login information in the top
left of the target page). Note that the snowcamping group
typically offers such training annually.
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