[From the December 2011 Mazama Bulletin]
Welcome to our winter climb season! Here at the Mazamas, winter climbs run from December 1 to April 30. The good news is that, during the winter, the mountains have fewer climbers and more snow. The bad news is that the weather tends to be much less predictable and avalanche danger much greater. Therefore, the Mazamas conduct winter climbs a little differently from those that take place during the summer.
First of all, in order to accommodate the impromptu nature of Winter Climbs, as in “Hey, the weather looks good next Wednesday. Let’s go!” the Climb Application procedure is more flexible:
- View the climbs that leaders intend to lead in the upcoming months under Winter Climb Schedule on the Web site at this link.
- Choose the climb(s) you are interested in.
- Contact the leader for each climb that you would like to apply for. You may want to e-mail the climb leader a copy of your climb resume, along with a personal note highlighting some of the reasons why you would be an exceptional candidate for a spot on this particular climb.
- Wait for a call/e-mail from the leader letting you know when a climb is planned, or check out the schedule online.
- If you think there is an opportunity to climb, dropping a friendly note asking if they have any plans for upcoming climbs may be a good way to keep yourself in the loop.
- Dropping a friendly note every week is a good way to get yourself perceived as a little jumpy and not an exceptional candidate for a spot on this particular climb.
- If you are available for the climb, let the climb leader know.
- The climb leader should then send you a climb prospectus.
- Arrive promptly at the appointed meeting place.
- Bring a properly completed climb card with you to the climb (no stamp necessary).
- Bring batteries for the transceiver. Unless told otherwise, bring both AA and AAA just to be safe, as different transceivers take different batteries.
Because of increased avalanche danger during the winter climbing season, climb leaders will provide shovels, avalanche probes and transceivers for the climb team. If you own these tools, please bring them and let the climb leader know that you have them. Climb leaders will NOT provide batteries. [Note that grading of climbs is increased for winter.]