Steep/Climbing Terrain Backpack Conditioning Adventure - Mon, Jan 23 2012

Steep/Climbing Terrain Backpack Conditioning Adventure (1/23/2012)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Adventure

Event Location:

GHV Bulyea Park

Date(s) & Time:

Mon, Jan 23 2012 6:30 PM

Registration Cut Off:

Mon, Jan 23 2012 4:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

~ 1 Hour

Difficulty Rating:

D3: Moderate

Event Coordinator(s):

Rhonda S
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Member Cost:

Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 18 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

4 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

You've heard about the three terrors of the Fire Swamp (or maybe you haven't... if you haven't, that's from The Princess Bride and the three terrors are the Fire Spurt, the Lightening Sand and the ROUSs - Rodents of Unusual Size). Rhonda and Brent are going to hike part of the West Coast Trail next summer and need to get ready. On the West Coast Trail, the three terrors are the Beach Sand, the Ladders and the ROUSs - Roots of Unusual Size. This conditioning adventure is designed to help people train for hiking the West Coast Trail by building skill in climbing and traversing rough terrain with backpacks on.

You do not have to be planning to hike the West Coast Trail to come out for this event. Come out if you want training for any backpack in rough terrain, if you want to build upper body strength and coordination, or even if it just sounds like fun to you.

Bulyea Park has a perfect playground for training for both the Ladders and the Roots of Unusual Size (which require a lot of climbing). If we have enough snow on the ground, we can also tromp about in it to condition with our packs on while hiking through the resistance of snow (not unlike the resistance of hiking in sand).

To participate in this adventure, you should have:
- Backpack - a multi-day proper backpack is recommended, but a day pack is acceptable
- Weight in your pack - you can start training with as little as 10 pounds of weight in your pack if you wish and go up from there. If you're an experienced backpacker, I recommend starting with at least 20 pounds.
- Bulk in your pack - regardless of how much weight you have in your pack, make sure you bulk it out (like with a pillow or something) to simulate a completely full pack.
- One (and only one) hiking pole. On the West Coast Trail, you should have one pole and one free hand for grabbing things. We will do all of our activities with one pole.
- See "Required" and "Recommended" lists below for more.

This event will be postponed or changed if conditions aren't conducive to training.

Be careful out there, folks! Playgrounds can be dangerous places and caution clambering about on them with our backpacks on does require caution. We have already had one unfortunate incident resulting in an injury, and I would like to continue doing these events... but with no further injuries.

Required Items to Bring:
- Backpack with weight and bulk (see above)
- One hiking pole
- Water
- Sturdy footwear
- Clothes for the weather

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
- Gaiters

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

300 Bulyea Road NW - from Terwillegar Drive, turn east onto Bulyea Road. The park will be a short ways up on the right-hand side of the road. There is a large parking lot.
Map

Notes:

- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in EOC events.
- Please scroll through and read the entire online waiver when you sign up.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.

Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!