Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Today is the start of the instructor level course work we will pursue in the spring semester. The class has split, half with Beth learning how to roll kayaks and the half I'm in, working with Austin to learn rescue climbs. We begin with technical handouts on belay devices, comparisons, appropriate situational use, as well as technical info on climbing ropes; materials and how they're constructed, types and appropriate use. We will be tested tomorrow. There is also info on Rockclimbing Leadership levels that OLP students can expect to attain and become certified by PCIA - Professional Climbing Instructor Association.
Austin has us quickly review knots that we learned in the fall particular to climb setups: bowline, munter mule, figure 8s on a bite, etc. I'm amazed to find myself teaching Joe and Erin how to tie the bowline. It was fun to hear others, especially Austin, notice that I was actually teaching the knot. I found the way Austin tied it to be the easiest to remember and mainly practiced his version at home when I created make-shift setups using my kitchen table legs. Then we had to create the top and bottom anchor systems on the classroom rock wall. I had some of it down but had never learned the munter mule.
After we finished the review of anchors needing to be SRENE: Strong/Solid, Redundant, Equalized, we also learned about LEADSTR: Limited Extension, Angle, Direction, Strong/Solid, Timely, Redundant.
This was all to set up for the rescue situations that call for transferring weight or load from base anchor to harness, or Base to Waist and Waist to Base. This ability allows the belayer to safely maneuver to rescue a climber. We're moving fast with the info and I'm trying to keep up but figuring out the process and physics has never been a strong suit. Today, it's like a shell game. But I stay with it as much as I can and it isn't until 4 pm when I'm trying to demo for Austin what I know or don't that my head starts wanting to explode and my guts are twisting in knots. I'm happy that I've managed all day to stay with the content and not freak because I'm not getting it right away. Huge improvement! It's still a shell game. More tomorrow and we'll practice rescues!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Mt. Tom Hike
Sunday, Feb 14, 2010
It's been way too long since I've been out hiking so decided to hike yesterday with Women Outdoors and take myself out hiking today and keep myself company. Unfortunately, I can no longer go hiking with just a water bottle and an apple. I bring a 45 liter day pack with all the potential gear in case of accident---mine or someone else's. I figure the weight is just good practice but it still takes me a while to pull it all together. I should have twos of everything so I can keep my main pack complete.
I wanted to head to Westfield to see Fran afterwards so south rather than north made sense. Mt. Tom was a good suggestion and I decided to go in from the Holyoke gate where my family accessed the reservation often when we were kids. Compared to the Rockies, our mountains are ant hills but I've been told that these mountains are some of the oldest on the planet and they've been worn down over time.
Anne lent me her map to find some trails. I walked down the road that was noted as a fire road. When we were kids riding in the car, we always waited to see what we were told was petrified rock in the middle of the road that served as a lane divider. We must have stopped at some time to look at it though maybe never actually got out 'cause rounding up 6 kids on the narrow road could have been like herding cats. But now, walking on foot, I notice more petrified rock on the sides of the road and wish that I had my camera to play with close-ups of the striations. And what's that big rusty thing on wheels just off the road and up the hill and how could I have never noticed it before? The sign said it was formerly used to crush rocks, circa 1928 by the CCC Civilian Conservation Corps.
I go further on and decide to follow a drainage off to the right. I'm careful to stay far enough away so I don't do something careless like slide down and twist an ankle. There's not much water but I know not to get anything wet and I'm by myself. Yes, I've told Anne where I am and I've got dry layers, socks, my down jacket, treking poles that I could use as a splint, and on and on. What I can't believe I've forgotten are my mini spikes that make my footing feel so secure. Following the drainage, I notice the trees with a new eye and try to identify the bark or the conifer needles. Last year I just wouldn't have thought about it, would have taken them for granted and been unaware of the various types in our area. I spot what I think are As in the bark that indicates an ash tree. Yesterday on a hike I was talking about MADDOG--maple, ash, and dogwood trees but couldn't remember if they have alternate or opposite branching. I found a twig of pine needles and knew it was white pine because of the cluster of 5 needles. Today I think I found hemlock but didn't have my glasses on to see if it had white marks underneath. I'm impressed that I care and know that by really noticing nature is one way I have changed. I wish I had an Audubon guide with me.
The drainage seems to end under the ground and snow. I find a tree to lean against as I sit on an insulated pad. I pull out my journal and begin to write but having stopped moving, the wind makes me cold and I hear voices in the distance. They are a distraction as they get clearer and closer. I want to be alone and become aware that I am suddenly uncomfortable not far off the road but out of sight. I'm angry that I can't feel safe in the woods. I see them finally through the winter branches moving slowly with treking poles, probably hiking off the M&M as they disappear below the slope beyond. I've been too distracted and now I'm chilled. I pull my pack on and head down the hill toward the road. I could count once, maybe on two hands, the number of times I've been in the woods alone. And I could hardly count where I was today as "in the woods." I realized that retracing familiar land from years ago and keeping myself company were really all I needed today. My goal was to go through the motions of being with myself, self-sufficient, and that being just fine. . . it's enough. I never turned on my Ipod to hear Ferron's soothing tunes. I listened to myself and, mostly, what I had to say was enough. I even practiced some LNT and picked up someone's trash thrown next to some petrified rock. I just don't get the littering mentality. . . especially in the woods.
It's been way too long since I've been out hiking so decided to hike yesterday with Women Outdoors and take myself out hiking today and keep myself company. Unfortunately, I can no longer go hiking with just a water bottle and an apple. I bring a 45 liter day pack with all the potential gear in case of accident---mine or someone else's. I figure the weight is just good practice but it still takes me a while to pull it all together. I should have twos of everything so I can keep my main pack complete.
I wanted to head to Westfield to see Fran afterwards so south rather than north made sense. Mt. Tom was a good suggestion and I decided to go in from the Holyoke gate where my family accessed the reservation often when we were kids. Compared to the Rockies, our mountains are ant hills but I've been told that these mountains are some of the oldest on the planet and they've been worn down over time.
Anne lent me her map to find some trails. I walked down the road that was noted as a fire road. When we were kids riding in the car, we always waited to see what we were told was petrified rock in the middle of the road that served as a lane divider. We must have stopped at some time to look at it though maybe never actually got out 'cause rounding up 6 kids on the narrow road could have been like herding cats. But now, walking on foot, I notice more petrified rock on the sides of the road and wish that I had my camera to play with close-ups of the striations. And what's that big rusty thing on wheels just off the road and up the hill and how could I have never noticed it before? The sign said it was formerly used to crush rocks, circa 1928 by the CCC Civilian Conservation Corps.
I go further on and decide to follow a drainage off to the right. I'm careful to stay far enough away so I don't do something careless like slide down and twist an ankle. There's not much water but I know not to get anything wet and I'm by myself. Yes, I've told Anne where I am and I've got dry layers, socks, my down jacket, treking poles that I could use as a splint, and on and on. What I can't believe I've forgotten are my mini spikes that make my footing feel so secure. Following the drainage, I notice the trees with a new eye and try to identify the bark or the conifer needles. Last year I just wouldn't have thought about it, would have taken them for granted and been unaware of the various types in our area. I spot what I think are As in the bark that indicates an ash tree. Yesterday on a hike I was talking about MADDOG--maple, ash, and dogwood trees but couldn't remember if they have alternate or opposite branching. I found a twig of pine needles and knew it was white pine because of the cluster of 5 needles. Today I think I found hemlock but didn't have my glasses on to see if it had white marks underneath. I'm impressed that I care and know that by really noticing nature is one way I have changed. I wish I had an Audubon guide with me.
The drainage seems to end under the ground and snow. I find a tree to lean against as I sit on an insulated pad. I pull out my journal and begin to write but having stopped moving, the wind makes me cold and I hear voices in the distance. They are a distraction as they get clearer and closer. I want to be alone and become aware that I am suddenly uncomfortable not far off the road but out of sight. I'm angry that I can't feel safe in the woods. I see them finally through the winter branches moving slowly with treking poles, probably hiking off the M&M as they disappear below the slope beyond. I've been too distracted and now I'm chilled. I pull my pack on and head down the hill toward the road. I could count once, maybe on two hands, the number of times I've been in the woods alone. And I could hardly count where I was today as "in the woods." I realized that retracing familiar land from years ago and keeping myself company were really all I needed today. My goal was to go through the motions of being with myself, self-sufficient, and that being just fine. . . it's enough. I never turned on my Ipod to hear Ferron's soothing tunes. I listened to myself and, mostly, what I had to say was enough. I even practiced some LNT and picked up someone's trash thrown next to some petrified rock. I just don't get the littering mentality. . . especially in the woods.
Winter Trip Debrief
Everyone but FDK arrived at class on Friday. Katey apparently fell through ice up to her waist on the trip but I heard was unhurt and laughing about it. She had somewhere to be today or I would have asked her more about it. Marc said that the sleeping bag he bought from me was toasty and he had no complaints about it. Erin had remnants of a gash across the bridge of her nose. There were several announcements before we started the debriefs.
Group B went up to the study room and the idea was to create a game board, Winter Wonderland, Survival Edition. It involved drawing a map again with campsites and significant events. I drew me texting the SAT phone but they never got my message. Apparently you need to text from a particular site and not on a cell phone. The board also had colored squares and groups of cards with questions and consequences to make you jump ahead, fall behind or miss a turn. Since I didn't know any of the events, I offered to draw where they told me to and made myself the de facto time keeper so I'd have some kind of role.
I didn't hear any stories or get a sense for how things went other than learning that for some reason Poo Olympics didn't happen. sigh Maybe next week I'll hear some stories.
Next week: 2 groups Tues & Wed 1 group does ropes all day, likely with Austin. The other group does rolling in the Hampshire pool likely with Beth. Thursday & Friday we switch.
Group B went up to the study room and the idea was to create a game board, Winter Wonderland, Survival Edition. It involved drawing a map again with campsites and significant events. I drew me texting the SAT phone but they never got my message. Apparently you need to text from a particular site and not on a cell phone. The board also had colored squares and groups of cards with questions and consequences to make you jump ahead, fall behind or miss a turn. Since I didn't know any of the events, I offered to draw where they told me to and made myself the de facto time keeper so I'd have some kind of role.
I didn't hear any stories or get a sense for how things went other than learning that for some reason Poo Olympics didn't happen. sigh Maybe next week I'll hear some stories.
Next week: 2 groups Tues & Wed 1 group does ropes all day, likely with Austin. The other group does rolling in the Hampshire pool likely with Beth. Thursday & Friday we switch.
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