The Cloudsplitter Is Published Quarterly by the Albany Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club and Is Distributed to the Membership
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The Cloudsplitter Vol. 74 No. 1 January-March 2011 published by the ALBANY CHAPTER of the ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB The Cloudsplitter is published quarterly by the Albany Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club and is distributed to the membership. All issues (January, April, July, and October) feature activities schedules, trip reports, and other articles of interest to the outdoor enthusiast. The Albany Chapter may be Please send your address and Send all trip reports for the Send outings submissions for the reached or by mail at: phone number changes to: Echoes to the Asst. Editor at: next issue to Barb Northrup at Adirondack Mountain Club [email protected] Albany Chapter ADK 814 Goggins Road The Cloudsplitter and to the Editor at: Empire State Plaza Lake George, NY 12845-4117 C/O Katherine Dollinger The Cloudsplitter P.O. Box 2116 phone: (518) 668-4447 1587 Thousand Acre Rd. c/o Karen Ross Albany, NY 12220 fax: (518) 668-3746 Delanson, NY 12067 7 Bird Road home page: orders & membership: e-mail: Lebanon Spgs., NY 12125 www.adk-albany.org (800) 395-8080 KatherineDollinger@ e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] hotmail.com home page: www.adk.org Submission deadline for the next issue of The Cloudsplitter is February 15, 2011 and will be for the months of April, May, and June, 2011. Many thanks to Samantha Ormsby, Kathy Eldridge’s art student at Tupper Lake High School, for the cover sketch ―Winter‖. January 5, February 2, and March 2 (1st Wednesdays) Business Meeting of Chapter Officers and Committees 6:00 p.m. at Little’s Lake in Menands Chapter members are encouraged to attend - please call Phil Seward at 527-1851 Chapter Meetings are held at the West Albany Fire House (Station #1), 113 Sand Creek Road, Albany. Education Sessions start at 6:30 prior to the membership meeting. Programs begin following the Chapter business meeting. Refreshments are served after the meetings. January 11 (2nd Tuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 7:30 P.M. Education Session: Used Gear Sale. Bring your used gear to sell, and look for some bargains at our annual sale. No Education Session will be held this month to make time (and room) for the sale.. Program: The Copper Canyon of Mexico is actually a network of canyons which, taken together, rival the Grand Canyon in size and spectacular beauty. Linda Ford, author of "A Field Guide to the Wildflowers of Mexico's Copper Canyon" will delight us with pictures and stories of the scenery, indigenous people and, of course, the gorgeous wildflowers. February 8 (2nd Tuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 7:30 P.M. Education Session: Predicting Weather - Your hikes, paddles and other outings will be safer and more enjoyable if you know what to expect for weather. Sometimes general weather forecasts may not cover very well the conditions in the mountains or on the rivers and lakes. We will look at some simple tools and rules to answer the question ―what will it be like when I hike or paddle today?‖ Program: Hiking and Climbing Colorado's High Peaks. Just as the Adirondacks have their ―46ers‖ - -those who have summitted all the peaks over 4,000 feet in elevation, the Rockies have their ―Colorado 14ers.‖ A few of those intrepid souls who have hiked or climbed the 54 peaks in Colorado over 14,000 feet in elevation are not from Colorado.... Nola Royce is one of them and she’ll talk about how she did it and what the view is like from up there. March 8 (2nd Tuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 7:30 P.M. Education Session: Get Your Bike Ready for the Season – A bicycle mechanic will give us tips on getting the old 21-speed ready for spring riding. Program: South Africa: Capetown to Kruger. Judith Maguire will share her experiences on her trip in September 2007, including the Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island, Jo'burg, whales, ostriches, penquins, seals, baboons, and her amazing up close encounters with the Big Five Plus during two safaris in Kruger Park. Complete with titles and African music. One of her Top Three trips ever!! 2 ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES FITNESS: Know your level of fitness and limitations. The trip leader will ask questions about your experience, fitness, equipment, medical condition, expectations, etc. Be Honest! TRIP RATINGS: Understand that the level of effort is not the same as the level of difficulty. Trip ratings are for level of effort. Realize that ―moderate‖ for a physically fit person may mean outrageously strenuous for a novice and/or unconditioned person. HIKERS EFFORT ELEVATION MILES TIME RATING LEVEL GAIN (FEET) (HOURS) A+ Very Strenuous 4,000+ 10+ 10+ A Strenuous 3,000+ 5 – 10 8 – 10 B+ Moderately Strenuous 2,000+ 5 – 10 6 – 8 B Moderate 1,000+ 8 – 10 5 – 7 C+ Fairly Easy 1,000+ 5 – 8 4 – 6 C Easy Under 1,000 Under 5 Under 5 Not all trips fit cleanly into one of these categories. Some leaders may use A- or B- designations. Whenever you are unclear about a rating for a trip, leaders will be happy to explain what their designated rating means. PADDLERS MILES PORTAGES WATER CLASS A 12+ Long (½ mile+) II – Whitewater B 6 – 12 Short I – Moving C Under 6 None Flat BIKERS MILES TERRAIN A 30+ Moderate to steep B 15-30 Moderate C Less than 15 Flat to Moderate Please Note: Unless otherwise stated, please sign up with the leader for all Chapter activities. Do not simply show up at the designated meeting place. Arrive at the carpooling site before the stated departure time. Please pay the driver to offset the costs of driving. Do not bring a pet unless the trip leader agrees that it is okay, and bring a leash. Please stay with the group or ask to proceed and stop at the first intersection and wait for the entire group to re-assemble. You are expected to carry adequate equipment, water and food. If in doubt about what to bring, ask the trip leader! Suggestions for all seasons: Water: 2 - 3 Quarts Layered Clothing (NO cotton) Extra Socks Hat Shell (wind & rain) Extra Sweater or Jacket Headlamp Gloves Sturdy Boots Sun Glasses/Screen (SPF 15) First Aid Kit Food Map & Compass Waterproof Matches Emergency Blanket Winter Add-ons: Skis or Snowshoes Crampons Ski Pole or Ice Axe Extra Food Warm liquids Extra layers 3 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Greetings Winter 2011 I hope everyone enjoyed the Holidays, which are always busy, but now hopefully you will have time to enjoy the winter season outdoors. If you haven't already, it's time to add some winter items to your pack so you are well prepared for the elements. Extra clothing, gloves and hats are a necessity as well as Micro Spikes, crampons or Stabilizers. Snowshoes and hiking poles are standard equipment for winter hikes, and for me are kept in the car to ensure I have them with me. If you're looking for a real winter hiking and camping experience, please check out the ADK Winter Mountaineering School listed in this months edition of the Cloudsplitter. If you’re an experienced winter hiker, don't forget the Adirondak Loj at Heart Lake is open year round. You can also check on the availability of the Grace and O'Brien Camps in the Johns Brook Valley to enjoy with a group for a winter wonder weekend. If you take it easy in the winter, please join us at our monthly membership meetings on the second Tuesday of the month at the West Albany Fire Department on Sand Creek Rd. The educational sessions and programs are always interesting and entertaining. This quarter they'll be presentations that will take you to Copper Canyon in Mexico, Colorado's High Peaks and a trip to South Africa. Join us and bring a friend who might be interested and who might be a possible new member for the Albany Chapter. There are always opportunities for volunteers who would like to get involved in the best outdoor club in New York State. We are looking for a Banquet Chairperson to head up our committee of experienced banquet staff. The Chapter banquet has been a great success the past three years and will continue with such a great group of people who put it all together. This year's feature will be the Adirondack folksinger Chris Shaw who will present a musical program that will delight and entertain us all. The usual great food of Malozzi's at the Western Turnpike Golf Course and desserts from Villa Italia are reason enough to attend. Mark your calendar for May 10th, 2011 for the banquet and bring all your friends. Once again our good friend Carl Heilman II has donated a print titled ―Deer Pond‖ for the Albany Chapter to raffle off. Check out the announcement in the Cloudsplitter and on our website and don't forget to get your tickets to have a chance to win. I hope you all enjoy the winter and the many opportunities listed in the Cloudsplitter to get out in nature or join us at the meetings. Enjoy and be safe! Phil Seward, Chairman Reminders: All outings are listed online at www.adk-albany.org If you sign up for a hike and then decide to cancel, please do the leader the courtesy of calling to let him or her know. Remember, leaders prefer calls before 9:00 p.m. Many of our members who can no longer get out on the A or B hikes and others who cannot hike much anymore enjoy reading the Echoes.