Snow 2 - Organizers Guide
WEEKEND OVERVIEW & GOALS
PLANNING THE WEEKEND
Survey for soliciting volunteers
Big Creek Campground info:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=31200&actid=29
STUDENT GEAR LIST
ESSENTIALS
☐ USGS map (USGS Rainier East & Rainier West OR Green Trails Mt Rainier Climbing Map, 1 per group)
☐ Compass
☐ LED headlamp
☐ Pocket knife
☐ Waterproof matches
☐ First Aid kit
☐ Water (3 L capacity)
☐ Extra food and snacks
☐ Sunscreen
☐ Lip balm w/ SPF
☐ Trekking poles
☐ Emergency bivy
☐ Duct tape
☐ Hand and toe (optional) warmers
☐ Optional: Blue bag (optional, but very good idea though!)
☐ Daypack
CLOTHING (NO COTTON!)
☐ Optional: bandana (only acceptable cotton)
☐ Cold-weather hat
☐ Sun hat
☐ Light & heavy winter gloves
☐ Overmitts (weatherproof)
☐ Long-sleeve baselayer top
☐ Mid-layer top
☐ Puffy jacket
☐ Rain jacket w/ hood
☐ Buff or balaclava
☐ Underwear
☐ Baselayer bottoms
☐ Softshell pants
☐ Rain pants
BOOTS AND FOOTWEAR
☐ Mountaineering boots
☐ (2) pairs of heavy socks
☐ Gaiters
☐ Optional: liner socks (& extra pair)
CLIMBING
☐ Helmet
☐ Harness
☐ Ice axe w/ leash
☐ (3) locking carabiners
☐ (4) non-locking carabiners
☐ Belay/rappel device
☐ Rescue pulley
☐ Personal prusik
☐ Personal anchor
☐ (2) single runners, (1) double-length runner
☐ Autoblock
☐ Texas prusik (both waist and foot loops)
☐ Chest harness
☐ Crampons
☐ Picket
☐ Wands (8-9)
CAMP GEAR (for car camping)
☐ Tent
☐ Sleeping bag
☐ Sleeping pad
KITCHEN (for car camping)
☐ Stove
☐ Fuel
☐ Cooking pot
☐ Bowl, spoon, cup
☐ Overnight food and drinks
GOOD IDEAS - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
☐ Plastic bags (3mm garbage compactor ideal)
☐ Thermos
☐ Plastic boots (rent them)
OPTIONAL
☐ Toiletries (toilet paper, toothbrush, etc.)
☐ Pack towel (used to dry inside of tent, feet, wet gear)
☐ Tarp (for gear checks)
CLASS/GROUP GEAR
Vertical Ice Station gear details
We set up 4 anchors last year. We also had a couple of extra screws to use for demos.
Instructors should lend 2-3 sets of ice tools.
Each anchor had:
3-4 screws
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
STATION CURRICULUM
INSTRUCTOR ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
For instructors:
If you are planning on camping Friday and Saturday night, you will need to reserve a campsite. The students will be staying at Big Creek. We have reserved campsites 14,15,16,19, 20 for the students. There are lot of campsites still open so please make sure to reserve a spot. Each campsite can host 6 people, 2 cars.
Creek Campground is around 45 to 60 minutes to Paradise.
Forest Service Big Creek page:
Main Big Creek site at recreation.gov:
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/big-creek/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74098
Here is the site map that shows the maximum number of people allowed per site:
CONTACT INFORMATION / RESOURCES
LESSONS LEARNED
Improve process for booking campsite reservations for instructors. Perhaps include them in the accommodations survey when determining how many sites to reserve.
For Prusik Cafe, try to have an instructor go down each station the day before to ensure that students can prusik out without too much difficulty.
Vertical ice should be on Sunday to ensure that students already know how to put crampons on.
Leave sled at trailhead and bring in only if there's an emergency. Handy if there's a skier who can convert their skis to rescue sled.
At Prusik Cafe, we had 2 bollards with 2 ropes on them each. This worked out well.
At Prusik Cafe, ensure that all instructors know how to do crevasse rescue (i.e. direct haul, pulley rescue). Update Prusik Cafe doc.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Nearest hospitals
ERP Plan:
Click <insert link> for last year's ERP. Make sure all content and contacts are up to date prior to the weekend