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We invite you to take a trip with Oregon Peak
Adventures. You may sign-up by
email, call us at (877) 965-5100,
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Greetings from Oregon!
This is the May 2006 Oregon Peak Adventures
Newsletter. It's been a busy month.
 Guides
Chris LeDoux, Rich Waugh, and I took a group up Mt.
Hood on a Mazama climb. (Photo on the left is Mt.
Hood's shadow and on the right is the "Hog's Back
and Pearly Gates" a few hundred feet below the
summit.)
Guide Matt Bedrin (left) and I spent a Alpine
Weekend on Mt. Hood with clients Knox Robinson
(right) and Tim Townsend (center).
Phyllis and I just returned from a 7,800 mile road
trip. After reaching the highpoints of Oklahoma,
Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota; we returned
to Portland via Canada.
Here are the trips and training scheduled for June:
Land Navigation: Classroom - 31 May/Field Session -
3 June
Rock Climbing Intro: Classroom - 7 June/Field
Session - 9 & 10 June
Wilderness Survival: Classroom - 13 June/Field
Session - 24 & 25 June
Alpine Mountaineering: Classroom - 14 June/Field
Session - 17 June
Smith Rock Youth Camp: 16-19 June
Mt. Adams South Spur Climb: Classroom Orientation -
26 June for 28-30 June, 5-7 July, & 12-14 July
climbs
We hope you can join us for your next adventure.
As
always, our intent is to send this newsletter only
to people who wish to receive it. If you don't want
it, please click the Unsubscribe link at the bottom
of this email. There you will also find a link which
allows you to send this eNews to a friend or
colleague. We invite you to take a trip with Oregon
Peak Adventures. You may sign-up by e-mailing us at
info@oregonpeakadventures.com, calling us at
(877) 965-5100, or using our
secure form.
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MT. ST.
HELENS STATUS
The low level volcanic activity continues at
Mt. St. Helens with very little change. The
new dome/fin is still growing and occasional
steam clouds are observed when the hot lava
comes in contact with the glacier in the
crater. Daily updates are available at
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/CurrentActivity/.
The latest information from the Forest
Service is that they still have some
logistical issues to resolve and are looking
at sometime in July as a possible opening
date for climbing. We have reservations for
several dates and they are posted on the
website.
If you want to do this, I would suggest
making your reservations now.
 We
have a 12 person limit per climb and I
expect they will fill up fast, so don't miss
out. If it doesn't happen, we will, of
course, return your deposit.
You can observe the crater at the
VolcanoCam.
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WILDERNESS SURVIVAL & FIRST AID
Classroom: June 13 at PCC Central/
Field Session - June 24 - 25.
Wilderness Survival & First Aid provides
the knowledge and skills required to make it
through a short term emergency situation in
good style. Emphasis is on understanding
physical and mental needs and how to meet
them in an emergency situation. Topics
include anticipation and preparation,
survival judgment factors, environmental
risk assessment, wilderness first aid
procedures, and survival kits.
The course consists of one evening class and
an overnight field session. Sign-up through
PCC. Price is $200 plus $19 PCC tuition.
Includes textbook, instructors,
transportation to Mt. Hood, and two meals.
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MT. ADAMS CLIMBING
While we're waiting to climb St.
Helens again, Mt. Adams is ready for us. At
12,276 feet, it's the second highest
mountain in the Pacific Northwest and a very
fun place to climb and hike.
We climb three routes: the
South Spur, the
Mazama Glacier, and the
North Ridge.
South Spur
We have four climbs
 scheduled
for the South Spur: June 28-16 (two climb
parties, both with two spots available),
July 5-7 (six spots available), and July
12-14 (six spots available). This is a
non-technical three-day climb with two
nights at the Lunch Counter (9,000'). This
is suitable for the novice climber. The
2,500' glissade back to the Lunch Counter is
outrageous!
An orientation session for all of the South
spur climbs is offered through
PCC 6:30 - 9:00 PM June 26.
Mazama Glacier
We have a Mazama Glacier climb scheduled for
July 28-30. Since Mazama Glacier is on Tract
D of the Yakima Indian Reservation, we can
do this three-day climb over the weekend.
This is a steeper, exceptionally scenic,
roped climb suitable for the intermediate
climber who has had the equivalent of our
Alpine Mountaineering Training Class.
North Ridge
The North route is a rocky scramble followed
by a traverse over the summit snow cap. It
is an exceptionally scenic and interesting,
if strenuous, climb suitable for the
intermediate climber. We don't have a climb
of this route scheduled, but can make
arrangements if you would like to do it.
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Land Navigation
Like many things in our rapidly changing
world, the capability to know exactly where
we are has greatly improved, but the
complexity of the land navigation tools has
correspondingly greatly increased. The focus
of our Land Navigation course is to
integrate navigation concepts with the tools
available so that you will be able to
accurately find your way in the backcountry
(and neighborhood).
Our Spring Land Navigation class will be
offered through PCC with the classroom
session on Wednesday, May 31, at 6:30 at PCC
Central. The field practice session will be
held at Washington Park on Saturday, June 3.
We'll establish a basic understanding of map
and compass theory and use and then extend
to trip planning, backcountry navigation
techniques, and how to stay "unlost".
Finally we cover available web- and
computer-based tools. Our field session will
focus on "hands-on" map, compass, and GPS
use in a realistic navigation exercise.
You may register through
PCC. The price is $80 to OPA and $19.00
tuition to PCC which includes classroom and
field session instruction and course
materials.
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Introduction to Traditional Rock Climbing
The Introduction to Traditional
Rock Climbing course is an overview of how
to climb rock outside. Contrary to the
photos of people hanging by a single digit
over a yawning chasm (usually in some
totally non-related ad) rock climbing, when
done properly, is reasonably structured,
fun, and has fewer risk elements than alpine
climbing. Of course, the key phrase here is
the "when done properly" part.
Our course includes a classroom session at
PCC Central on Wednesday June 7 at 6:30,
followed by a field session at Rocky Butte
in NE Portland on June 10, and a full day at
Horsethief Butte on the Washington side of
the Columbia River Gorge just northest of
The Dalles on June 11.
 We
cover the basics of rock climbing gear,
knots, moving on rock, belaying, rappelling,
and rock climbing technique.
Sign-up with
PCC. Price is $200 (plus $19PCC tuition)
per person which includes instructors,
transportation to Horse Thief Butte, ropes,
helmets, harnesses, and rock climbing
equipment. Two climbers are enrolled as of
now. |
Smith Rock Youth Climbing Camp
SMITH ROCK ROCK CLIMBING – June 16-19.
During this four-day course, students learn
a broad range of climbing skills in the
spectacular setting of Smith Rock State
Park. Smith Rock is a mecca for climbers
from all over the world. Students will climb
the warm quality rock for which Smith is
famous during the day, and camp by night in
the nearby Climbers' Bivouac. Participants
will work as a team and meet both individual
and group challenges. The course will focus
on: Climbing skills, Correct practices,
Communication, Teamwork, and Having fun.
Expert instructors experienced in working
with teenagers in wilderness settings will
provide individual instruction in the
following areas: Movement on rock,
Multi-pitch rock climbs, Leadership,
Wilderness ethics and travel, Proper use of
equipment, and Rappelling and rock climbing.
The course will prepare students for future
rock climbing challenges. In addition,
emphasis will be placed on building a
teamwork ethic among the participants that
will benefit students well beyond their
climbing activities.
COST: $600 for the four-day course which
includes transportation from the Portland
area. Students are signing-up now, so please
make your reservations. |
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TRIP SCHEDULE
Most of our
scheduled trips are posted on our
website. You can view the schedule by date or by
trip. The
2006 Schedule of climbs, backpacking trips, and
training activities is updated on the Website.
Please contact us if you are interested in a private
trip or would like for us to post a trip for another
date that works better for you. |
INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
Galapagos/Manchu Picchu - May 2007
We are moving forward with the planning for the trip
to the Galapagos and Manchu Picchu in May 2007. We
are working with the
Overseas Adventure Travel Company who will make
the local arrangements. This is a 19 day/17 night
night trip with stays in Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu,
the Galápagos and Quito. Estimated price is $3,800
which includes round-trip airfare from Miami. This
is an extraordinarily reasonable price for an
interesting and inclusive trip. We should have
specifics on the price and trip dates next month.
Please let me know if you are interested and I will
send you more details on the trip and itinerary.
Nepal Trek - September/October 2006
We are also in the process of planning a trek to
Nepal for this fall to the seldom visited area of
Manang, located north of the Annapurna Sanctuary,
with a possibility of also visiting the ancient
kingdom of Mustang. Our trip leader will be my
friend,
Don Messerschmidt. Don has a PhD in
Anthropology, has lived in Nepal for many years, and
is considered to be a leading American expert on
Nepal.
We are aware of the current unrest in Nepal and will
monitor conditions. Events over the past few weeks
are very encouraging and the current climb season on
Everest is well underway with no political problems.
Don lives in Kathmandu and is continuously able to
evaluate what is happening. We will not go if we
determine that there is an unreasonable level of
risk. The trekking area is remote and stable.
Since I was out of town, I haven't finalized the
specific information on pricing and itinerary but
will have it next month. If this gets your juices
going, please let me know. This is a unique
opportunity to see one of the most exotic places on
the planet.
If you have a group of folks who would like to go on
a trip, we would be pleased to work with you to put
it together. Most trips end up consisting of a core
of friends and family with some additional
compatible people.
Often we consider going some where cool, but, when
confronted with planning and making the
arrangements, the idea dies and we end-up not ever
going anywhere. So where do you want to go? Send us
an
e-mail or give us a call at 877 965-5100 and we
can discuss it. |
TIPS
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE ROAD
Phyllis and I just returned from a long road trip to
visit relatives and walk to five more State
Highpoints: Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, and
Minnesota. I have done 44 19/20 (Denali) and have
Montana, Virgina, Kentucky, New York, and Maine left
to do. Here are some observations from the trip.
> GAS - Expensive. Most expensive in the US was in
Dunnigan, CA at $3.449/Gallon. Cheapest in the US
was $2.629 at Shepard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX. Gas
in Canada is more expensive at a max of US$3.94/Gal,
but there isn't as much difference as there was last
year. While there was always gas available, many gas
stations appear to have recently closed and had old,
much lower prices still posted on their price
displays. Many of the stations still open have taken
their price displays down completely.
> THINGS THAT WORKED WELL
- Our 2006 Subaru Outback. Comfortable, roomy and
fun to drive. Did equally well on freeways and muddy
backroads. (In case you are interested, speeding is
frowned upon in New Mexico.)
-Audiobooks from the library
-Apple Ipod Nano. Music anytime. Used a small Altec
Lansing inMotion speaker unit with good sound. When
we ran out of audiobooks, we hooked-up a FM
transmitter unit and listened to the Ipod through
the car radio.
-Our own supply of water, snacks, and perferred
beverages.
-AAA. The maps, travel information books, and
TripKit were invaluable. Additionally the
AAA website id very useful for checking out
accommodations and making reservations. We didn't
make advance reservations for this trip, so it was
great to have information on hand about places to
stay.
-Laptop Computer. Most motels/hotels have either
wireless or ethernet high speed Internet available
for no additional charge. It would be good to have
an ethernet cable as not all of the places had them
in the room. The connectivity and speed was
universally good. (For international destinations,
especially in less developed areas, you will more
likely find internet cafes where you can rent
terminals at hourly rates.)
> MILITARY INSTALLATIONS- If you are eligible to use
military facilities, they are a good deal for
lodging, meals, gas and shopping while you're out on
a trip. We took advantage of them whenever we went
by one. Information on locations and available
services can be obtained through the
Military Living publications.
> CANADA- It's very flat from Thunder Bay, ON to
Calgary, AB. Banff and Lake Louise were very scenic,
but had lots of people. Assume it would be much more
crowded in midsummer. Looks like some great climbing
there. I believe that Canada could save a lot of
money if they just stopped putting up speed signs,
since no one pays any attention to them at all. We
only saw three cars with US plates during four days
in Canada. Didn't seem to be a lot of traffic out,
except when we drove through Winnipeg.
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INTERESTED IN SETTING UP AN OUTING?
Please give us a call if you are interested in
setting up an outing for your work group or family.
We handle all the arrangements including
transportation and food at a reasonable price. If
you are coming to Portland for a conference or
convention, we would be delighted to set-up outings
for your attendees. Just let us know when.
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