Volume 6, Issue 14, October 21, 2019.

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<<First Name>>,

WHEW! We made it! With the shortest day of the year behind us, I'm already looking ahead to a year full of amazing trips with the Island Mountain Ramblers. The Trip Schedule Survey gave us incredible information about what people are most interested in seeing on the schedule, and I've already started connecting groups for some of the most popular trips.

Additionally, we've worked hard to make sure that our schedule features two popular events that were requested by our members. Thirty-four members requested the MBGuiding Wilderness Navigation and Digital Trip Planning, and seventeen members requested Avalanche Saftey Training. Both of these courses are essential skills for hiking. They don't just focus on navigating in terrain, there is a lot of skill-building toward route planning to keep you safe out there.

But wait! Before you join either of these trips, please, make sure that you've already renewed your membership for 2020.

Regards,
Matthew Lettington
President

Avalanche Saftey Intro - Hosted in Nanaimo

We've hired Island Alpine Guides to host their super popular Avalanche Saftey Intro course in Nanaimo at an unheard of price! This one-day course covers the in-classroom theory session of the Avalanche Canada AST1 (Avalanche Skills Training One) curriculum, as well as an introduction to the basics of companion rescue. This allows students to get part one of the training done in the city first before travelling to the mountains on another weekend to take the Avalanche Skills Field Day; required to earn the full AST certification.

This course teaches essential skills for anyone that wants to travel during the winter in the backcountry. We've asked them to frame the course from the perspective of the snowshoer. The combination of the Avalanche Skills Intro followed by the Avalanche Skills Field Day results in being awarded the AST1 certificate.

Education Provided by: Island Alpine Guides
Date: Saturday, 11 January 2020
Time: course 8:30-4:30 (8 hour)
Location: TBD in Nanaimo

Course Fee:

Regular Rate $150
Member Rate $90
Non-Member Rate $120

Wilderness Navigation and Digital Trip Planning

The Island Mountain Ramblers is hosting MB Guiding for a two-day course that combines two of their most popular courses: Wilderness Navigation 1 and Digital Trip Planning & GPS Navigation.

These courses offer essential skills related to travel in the backcountry. You will learn the basics of navigating with map and compass, how to use your GPS, and how to use a variety of online resources to plan your trips.

Details:

We have secured a great rate from MB Guiding and further reduced the fee through our fundraising efforts. We are happy to offer our members this course bundle for the combined rate of only $80. MB Guiding's normal rate for these courses is $199 per person.

Dates: April 4 & 5, 2020
Time: 8:30 - 4:30
Cost: IMR member $80; non-member $120 (registration for non-members opens March 22, 2020)

Elk River Travers -- Call for Participants

Are you interested in hiking through some of the most dramatic sections of Strathcona Park? This traverse hikes along among five of the ten tallest peaks found on Vancouver Island and includes the option of summiting the tallest peak on Vancouver Island, the Golden Hinde! Club member Mark Heizen is pulling a group together.

This route covers around 60 kilometres and gains and loses more than 5000 meters elevation gain while traversing some of the most remote places on Vancouver Island. This is a mountaineering route that includes some bushwacking, many magnificent views, and probably tears of joy! Start your trip at the Arnica Lake Trailhead and Exit along the Elk River Trail. This is a club lifetime objective that will be sure to be an experience of a lifetime!

You can read more about this trip in Exploring Strathcona p 265 - 272. If this sounds like it's up your alley, please connect with Mark Hezien. here. Use the block's Settings tab to change the caption position and set other styles.

Contact Mark for more details

Executive Search 2020

With 2020 looming I'm sure you're all consumed with the upcoming election. Who will lead us into the future, what new boundaries will be pushed and great things will this person bring into the mix. No, I'm not talking about the US election, I'm referring to the Island Mountain Ramblers election for President, and Vice-President.

Become part of the executive and help make decisions that give direction for the members. If you are interested in knowing more about leading the club or have a great suggestion of who could be nominated, please contact me with this vital information.

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Report the names of trip participants and/or a trip report for our blog,
Timberline Tales!

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