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Monthly Public Meeting and Presentation:
held in the Pajarito Room of
Fuller Lodge on the 3rd Wednesday of each month
Social and reports of recent and upcoming trips at 7:30pm.   Program at 8:00pm.


January 21, 2009

"The Slickrock Country: Recent Adventures and More to Come"

by Bill Priedhorsky - Bio

Over the past few years, we have explored a good fraction of Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument. What were once hurried long weekends have become relaxed week-long outings, that let us thoroughly explore the ridges, domes, pools, and slots. The terrain is so complex that we can find adventure while hiking no more than a mile or two from camp. We made camp with gear hauled on our backs, or, more pleasantly, hauled by llamas or horses. In my canyon country experience, the Escalante country is unique for its sheer volume of slickrock. I'll tell stories of some of the Escalante adventures of the last decade and especially the last year, telling the story of trips not discussed in my talk of last January.

 

The slickrock doesn't stop in the Anton Ridge area, in the upper drainage of Death Hollow.  Francesco Grilli relaxes in the middle of a day outing.

 

Although we have covered a lot of ground, there are still corners of the Escalante yet to be explored, and other places worth a return visit. I'll talk about ideas for our next adventures. Finally, we'll review some of the high points of our annual exploration of the Bluff area, in anticipation of our mid-February 2009 outing - our 7th year running, but maybe the last for a while.


Dave Scudder tops a rock outcropping just above
 our Anton Ridge camp.

 

Past presentations, and occasionally future, can be viewed here.
Visitors are always welcome!  Digital projector compliments of Los Alamos National Bank.


Future Anticipated Programs:

February 18, 2009, "Grand Canyon and Harvey Buchart, et al", Elias Butler

March 18, 2009, "Redrocks Climbing", Jason Halladay - Bio, and Roger Rumsey

April 15, 2009, "Himalayan Climb of G-2" and/or "American Rock Climbing", Michael Collins

June 17th, 2009, "Backcountry Skiing the High Peaks of New Mexico and Colorado", Scott Hsu and Amy Bauer

Future Club Speakers:  In addition to frequent presentations by nationally known adventurers, we love to hear from our own members....not that some of you aren't in that group.  A presentation gets you a free club membership and dinner at the restaurant of your choice in Los Alamos.

LAM Member Presentations Wanted!

The LAM Board would like to encourage our members to provide more of our monthly presentations.  We understand well that club members are an active lot, with a wealth of activities in their repertoire that can and have been inspiring to new and old members alike.  We have often focused our monthly presentations on the elite of the outdoor adventure world, and perhaps created the undesired effect of squelching the voices of our own members who participate in frequent beautiful and exciting adventures of their own.  Although our own activities are not always "world class", they are representative of what we "weekend" athletes can and do accomplish.  We want many of our programs to inspire the "I can do that" attitude in our members, not merely entertain.  Shock and awe may have their rightful place, but inspiration to participate and shine is our true goal.

Please consider giving a presentation to the club on one of your favorite outdoor adventures..... it may give your friends the desire to do it themselves.  Contact our Program Chair Rick Light at (505) 662-7710 or RickLight.rxl@gmail.com to let us know of your interest in making a presentation.

Notices      Top | Search

Newly Elected LAM Board Officers for 2009

The newly elected 2009 LAM Board officers and appointees can be viewed at the BOARD ROOM.  You will also find full contact information for all Board members at the BOARD ROOM.

LAM Bolting Reimbursement Policy

The Los Alamos Mountaineers (LAM) seek to promote best-of-practice toprope anchor bolting, and replacement of old bolts.  Quality of materials, diameter and depth of bolts, structural soundness of placements, and unobtrusiveness of new placement are of paramount concern.  As such, within its means, and subject to guidelines and constraints, the Los Alamos Mountaineers will reimburse bolters for their hardware for work done on recognized crags in White Rock Canyon.  This document is subject to change without notice!  You may download a pdf version of the "LAM Bolting Reimbursement Policy" by clicking here.

  LAM Activities:
TECHNICAL RATING:  B (Beginner) I (Intermediate) A (Advanced)
PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: E (Easy)  M (Moderate) S (Strenuous)
Trip Leaders, please do your best at assigning a combined rating for your trip.


Trip Leaders:  Contact our Webmaster Jan Studebaker to have your trip plan posted on the web site and to be announced to the club via email.  Please make sure waivers for participants are current and recorded by the club Secretary prior to your trip.  In addition, the "Los Alamos Mountaineer's Trip Sign-Up Sheet" includes the trip waiver, and should be used for all club sponsored trips.

Trip Rewards: The club is grateful to those who lead our outdoor adventures.  As a token of appreciation, a unique Mountaineers fleece jacket (logo shown here) will be awarded to leaders.  A jacket is awarded for 4 points of leadership service (1 point for a day trip, 2 points for an overnight, 3 points for 5 or more nights out of town).  Points can be accumulated from June 2008 through September 2009, and may be awarded for other service such as the climbing school.  Up to two awards are available per leader per year.

GMRS / FRS Radio Usage on Club Trips:  The Los Alamos Mountaineers encourage you to carry portable "family" radios as a safety measure on appropriate LAM trips, and urge participants to agree on a contact channel at the beginning of the trip.  As a default, if no channel has been selected, LAM suggests channel 3.14.  These three first digits of "pi" might be easily remembered in this scientific community.

Borrow Equipment: We have a limited amount of mountaineering equipment for loan (e.g., avalanche transceivers).  Contact Bill Geist, our Equipment Manager, at (505) 661-2482 or billgeist@gmail.com.

Scheduled LAM Activities (click for details):   Top | Search

January 11, 2009, Valle Grande Cross-Country Ski Tour

January 15-19, 2009, Pagosa Downhill/XC/Snowshow and Soak

January 17-19, 2009, Brazos Cabin X-C Three day Trip

January 18-22, 2009, Tenth Mountain Hut System Ski and Snowshoe Trip

January 24, 2009, Sandia Mountain Snowshoe Race

January 25, 2009, Ski Tour from Pajarito Mountain to the Valle Grande Visitor Center

February 13-16, 2009, Utah Canyon Country Day Hikes near Bluff

February 21, 2009, (Tentative) Circumnavigation of Redondo Peak

February 27-March 1, 2009, Snowshoeing/Skiing Yurt Trip near Chama

March 7, 2009, (Tentative) Pajarito Mountain to La Cueva

Spring, 2009 - Bhutan and India Commercial Adventure Travel

July 2-6, 2009, Annual Summer Trip to the "10th Mountain Hut"

Activity Details:


January 11, 2009, Valle Grande Cross-Country Ski Tour
  Trip Menu | Search

Leader: Norbert Ensslin, lynn.norbert@comcast.net

(B-I/E-M) This will be an easy or moderate cross-country ski tour in the Valle Grande near the Visitor Center.  We've changed to name from "ski clinic" just to emphasize that this trip is open to any skiers who want to go.  Beginners can stay in the vicinity of the Visitor Center and do short tours on the groomed tracks around La Jara hill or over to the ranch headquarters, and we will be happy to provide advice or assistance to anyone who is just starting out.  Intermediate skiers can do a variety of longer tours.  Depending on interest, two very nice 10-mile (round trip) tours are the route to the top of South Mountain and the route out to the Buffalo Girls movie set on the way to the old Cerro Abrigo yurt.

Let's meet at the Sullivan Field parking lot across from the High School at 8:30 AM Sunday to coordinate transportation.  If feasible (but not essential), please e-mail me so we will have a rough idea of whom to expect at the parking lot.  The Valle use fee is $10, or $8 for seniors or children.

If there is enough interest, this trip could also be shifted to do a full-moon ski tour in the Valle.  They will be open that night from 6 to 10 PM for night-time skiing.  For full-moon skiing the fee is $15, or $12 for seniors.
 


January 15-19, 2009, Pagosa Downhill/XC/Snowshow and Soak

Leader: Bill Priedhorsky, bill@priedhorsky.net   Trip Menu | Search

(B-A/E-M) Continuing a successful tradition from past years, I would like to propose a multi-sport long weekend based in Pagosa Springs, CO.  We would drive up on the evening of Thursday, January 15, and spend the next three days on whatever combination of the three winter activities suits the participants.  Friday the 16th is an "A" day off, and we would drive back on the Martin Luther King holiday, Monday the 19th.  We'd like to take full advantage of the wrapup holiday after Christmas.  Besides the outdoor fun ("Most Snow in Colorado" is Wolf Creek's honest motto), we have the hot springs in town for evening soaks.

Knowing that there is one and perhaps another Mountaineer trip planned for the weekend, I'd still like to add this Pagosa trip, if the interest is there.  I'll organize lodging - one big house is my favorite - depending on the number of folks who are ready to commit with a $50 deposit by January 3rd.  Please let me know by e-mail of your interest, followed by a check to 380 Rim Road, Los Alamos 87544.

If the conflict over this weekend is too severe, I will try another date - or maybe go twice!  But we have four probable participants to start, so let's see if there is a trip to be had.
 


January 17-19, 2009, Brazos Cabin X-C Three day Trip   Trip Menu | Search

Leader: David Yeamans, d.yeamans@comcast.net, (505)662-7747.  Payments for reserved space can be made to David Yeamans, 392 Navajo Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544.

(I/M-S) Once again the LAMC will ski into the 8-person cabin maintained by David Yeamans for a 3-day X-C extravaganza supported by snowmobile.  On day one we will ski or snowshoe in with day packs from 8,000 feet to 10,600 and back to 10,000 feet over an 8-mile trail to a cabin with propane lights and stove, wood heating stove, sleeping loft, powder room, and well-appointed kitchen.  The snowmobile will tow in food, water, and heavier back packing items and can give sagging skiers a lift.

Day two is devoted to recovery, light touring, and/or exploring farther out to Grouse Mesa and Brazos Peak on day trips and spending our second night in the cabin.

The last day we will pack up and ski or snowshoe out.  Again, the snowmobile can make travel down the steep, icy road more secure.

Trip cost is $50 each which covers snowmobile services (including secure parking and driver shuttle service between Chama and the road head) and cabin services but not food or transportation to near Chama.  We will eat communal suppers and breakfasts.  Crews and menus will be arranged near the launch date.

Depending on anticipated trail conditions, people may have to meet Trip Leader Dave in Chama at about 9:00 on the 17th.  We'll keep you posted.


January 18-22, 2009, Tenth Mountain Hut System Ski and Snowshoe Trip   Trip Menu | Search

Leader: Kathleen Gruetzmacher, gkathleen1048@msn.com 505-662-0770 h, 505-665-4356 w,
1525 Los Pueblos, Los Alamos, NM 87544,

Note: this trip is currently full, but names are being accepted for a waiting list.

(B-A/M-S) A ski/snowshoe trip to the Tenth Mountain Hut Division - Froelicher Hut is planned for January 18-22, 2009.  Sixteen people can be accommodated in the hut.

The Froelicher Hut was formerly the privately owned Belvedere Hut northeast of Leadville on Hwy 91.  The hut is reserved for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday January 19, 20, and 21, 2009.  The preliminary cost estimate is $195 for hotel and hut accommodations plus Sunday night dinner and Monday morning breakfast at the hotel.  Click here for a map of the whole area, click here for a topo map of the area near the hut, or click here for hut details.

Itinerary as follows:  Sunday, January 18, dinner and hotel room at the Delaware Hotel in Leadville, CO, approx. a 5 hour drive from Los Alamos, Monday-Wednesday nights, January 19-21, Froelicher Hut, Thursday, January 22, ski or snowshoe out and drive home.
 


January 24, 2009, Sandia Mountain Snowshoe Race   Trip Menu | Search

Coordinators: Friends of the Sandia Mountains, Matt or Joy Bosquez

(B-A/M) The 7th Annual Sandia Mountain Snowshoe Race is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009.  The race begins at 10:00 am in the lower level parking lot of the Sandia Crest House.  The race will traverse 4 miles of beautiful Cibola National Forest trails.  Participation is limited to 150, but racers of all skill levels are invited.  The registration fee of $25 (after Jan. 10 fee is $35) includes a long-sleeved T-shirt, pre- and post-race refreshments and prizes.  Registration begins Dec. 1 at REI in Albuquerque or you may mail in registration.  Go to www.sandiasnowshoe.com to download registration form and for complete information.  Come join the fun and enjoy the winter beauty of the Sandia Mountains!
 


January 25, 2009, Ski Tour from Pajarito Mountain to the Valle Grande Visitor Center

Leader: Norbert Ensslin, lynn.norbert@comcast.net

(I-A/M-S) This Sunday tour will be a repeat of last winter's popular 11-mile ski tour from Pajarito Mt. to Pipeline Road and then down into the Valle de los Posos and over to the Valle Grande Visitor Center.  More details will be forthcoming later.  Also, later in the season, the Pajarito Ski Club may organize several guided trips from the top of the Big Mother Chairlift down into the Valle Grande.  Please check their website for further information.
 


February 13-16, 2009, Utah Canyon Country Day Hikes near Bluff   Trip Menu | Search

Leader: Bill Priedhorsky, bill@priedhorsky.net

(B-I/E-M) Our President's Day trips to Bluff, Utah have been a great success for several years running. Many of you know the routine: stay in this small Utah town on the San Juan River, day hike to Comb Ridge, John's Canyon, Muley Point, Cedar Mesa, and other nearby locations, and have great time together in the evenings at dinner and in the hot tub. A description of the February 2004 trip can be found by clicking here. For Feb. 2009, our plan will be similar.

The schedule is as follows: We will drive up to Bluff, Utah, about 5 1/2 hours from Los Alamos, on Friday February 13. I expect that some folks will go up in the evening; folks who have a "A" Friday holiday might go up in the morning and take a short hike on arrival. You will be on your own for dinner the first night. One can cook in one of our kitchens, eat en route (e.g. at the 3 Rivers Brew Pub in Farmington), or eat at the one restaurant in Bluff, the Twin Rocks Cafe (rather good, but need to get there before they close at about 8 PM).

On Saturday, Sunday, and the morning of the Monday President's Day holiday, we will organize day hikes of up to 10-12 participants each, exploring the many intricacies of the surrounding territory. I will be recruiting trip leaders for each of the day hikes. Expect intriguing petroglyphs, impressive ruins, open expanses of slick rock, and broad winter vistas across the Utah canyon country. Most hikes will be easy, although we might organize some more strenuous and challenging outings for the hard core few. Once again, we will add some new destinations for this year. We will drive back sometime on the Monday the 16th. To save resources we will try to carpool as efficiently as possible.

Please let me know if you are interested in a commercial rock art tour on Saturday the 14th or Sunday the 15th, led by Vaughn Hadenfeldt of Far Out Expeditions. We are hoping that Vaughn will give the Mountaineers program in January 2009. He has an extraordinary knowledge of Anasazi rock art, and is is familiar with petroglyphs that date from the Archaic and Basketmaker periods, more than 2000 years old. I have not discussed price with Vaughn this year, but last year he charged $75 plus tax per person for a group of between eight and eleven.

There are 2 opportunities for lodging, the Far Out Expeditions guest house or the Recapture Lodge.

The Far Out guest house will be the site of our dinner parties, using their commercial-sized kitchen. There are two sleeping rooms, each with 3 bunkbeds, for a total sleeping capacity of 12. This will be the cheapest place to stay, perhaps $50 per person for the whole trip, and folks staying elsewhere will chip in to reflect their use of the kitchen. Don't count on buying groceries in Bluff.

I would like a deposit of $50 per person for folks staying at the Far Out, mailable to me at 380 Rim Road, Los Alamos 87544.

For a more private option, please reserve your own room at the Recapture Lodge (435-672-2281). Their rooms are clean and run $40-60 per night. The potluck dinner is for everyone, no matter where they are staying. I would like a deposit of $20 per person from the folks staying at the Recapture, to help with the cost of the kitchen we will share for two nights at the FarOut.

In summary, I would like to:

1. Receive your deposits and lodging preference (Far Out or Recapture).

2. Know if you are interested in Vaughn's rock art tour.

Many folks have told me about the wonderful time that they had in past years. We are going to do it again, and it would be a pleasure to have you. Contact me at bill@priedhorsky.net to sign up.
 


February 21, 2009, (Tentative) Circumnavigation of Redondo Peak   Trip Menu | Search

Leader: Norbert Ensslin, lynn.norbert@comcast.net

(I-A/S) Depending on the success of the January 25th trip, weather, and snow conditions, we may receive permission to do a 17-mile tour on Saturday that does a circumnavigation of Redondo Peak.  More details will be provided later.
 


February 27-March 1, 2009, Snowshoeing/Skiing Yurt Trip near Chama   Trip Menu | Search

Leader: Momo Vuyisich, vuyisich@hotmail.com

(B-I/E-M) We will drive to Cumbres pass on Friday,2/27, and snowshoe/ski to the Grouse Creek Yurt (4 miles).  On Saturday, we will climb to the mesa top behind the yurt, with great 360 views, and explore the area.  On Sunday, we'll come back to the cars and drive home.

Note: the trip is now full.  Anyone interested can ask to be put on a stand-by list.
 


March 7, 2009, (Tentative) Pajarito Mountain to La Cueva   Trip Menu | Search

Leader: Norbert Ensslin, lynn.norbert@comcast.net

(M-A/S) Again depending on the success of previous trips, weather, and snow conditions, we may receive permission to do the classic 25-mile ski tour from Pajarito Mountain to La Cueva on Saturday.  This could be either a long one-day trip, if it's a strong fast party, as was done by the Mountaineers in the past, or as an overnight trip with one winter camping night.  More details will be provided later.
 


Spring, 2009 - Bhutan and India Commercial Adventure Travel   Trip Menu | Search

Leaders: Dick and Judy Opsahl, opsahl@losalamos.com

(B-I/E-M) Consider a trip to Bhutan and India with Dick and Judy Opsahl departing mid April 2009.  This trip, with "Overseas Adventure Travel", will have lots of emphasis on cultural interaction with the local people.  Trip limit is 16 people.

The India trip is 17 days in Northern India, visiting the Taj Mahal, Agra, Old and New Delhi, the "pink city" of Jaipur with its ancient palaces and forts, and Rathambhore National Park, known for its wildlife viewing, among other places.  The main trip is preceded by an 8 day visit to Bhutan.  The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is slowly opening it's borders to foreign tourism after being closed to foreigners until recent years.  It is like visiting Nepal 100 years ago, with spectacular Himalayan scenery, centuries old customs and traditions, ancient forts, temples, and monasteries.  The main India trip is also followed by an optional 6 day post-trip to Southern India, visiting Bombay, Cochin, and cruising the Cochin backwaters by houseboat.  You can get more information at "Overseas Adventure Travel".

The exact departure date for our group will be determined sometime during May of this year.  The number of departures to Bhutan is quite limited so we need trip deposits to help secure our position.  The deposit is $350 per person and we have 2 paid so far.  Total cost (2008 prices; 2009 might be higher) is about $5500/person for Bhutan and India, airfare included.  The optional South India extension is about $1300.


July 2-6, 2009, Annual Summer Trip to the "10th Mountain Hut"   Trip Menu | Search

Leaders: Dick and Judy Opsahl opsahl@losalamos.com

(B-I/E-M) Our 4th of July weekend trips to a 10th Mountain Hut have been a great success for several years running.  Many of you know the routine: Drive up to Leadville the day before and motel for the night, then early on the next morning load up a pick-up truck or two with coolers and and clothing/supplies for the three days.  While the trucks drive up to the hut, others hike. In July 2009, we will go to the hut known as The Tenth Mountain Hut, located a few miles north of Uncle Bud's Hut, where we were last year.  As in the past, we have taken the entire hut, capacity 16.  The schedule is as follows: Drive up to Leadville, CO, about 5 1/2 hours from Los Alamos, on Thursday 2 July.  You will be on your own for dinner and lodging the first night.  There is lots of good eating in Leadville and even a brew pub.  Early on the 3rd we leave to go up to the Hut.  The nights of July 3,4,5 are at the hut where we will prepare our own gourmet meals.  There is lots to do in the area of this 10th hut: Peaks to climb, lakes to visit and so on.  We will have several "led" hikes each day.  On Monday the 6th, we hike out and drive home to Los Alamos.  To save resources we will try to carpool as efficiently as possible.  There will be organized meal and activity planning at Opsahl's home during the month before the trip.

Those who have participated in the trip over the last 4th holiday have already had the opportunity to sign up, and many have re-upped.  To sign up for the still existing open spots on this trip send a check for $ 100 per person made out to Dick or Judy Opsahl, and follow up with an e-mail to opsahl@losalamos.com.  The covers lodging at the hut but not food and booze.  We will organize cook groups for the gourmet meals and wines.  Send your checks to D&J Opsahl, 141 Chamisa, Los Alamos 87544.

Note: the trip is now full.  Anyone interested can ask to be put on a stand-by list.
 

Trip Menu        Notices        Top CALENDAR VIDEOS TOP ROPING
SCHOOL ROOM BOARD ROOM WHITE ROCK CRAGS
GREAT LINKS BECOME A MEMBER DISCLAIMER
SWAP MEET LAM HISTORY INDEX NACLASSICS
TRIP ARCHIVE DOWNLOADS CLIMBING NEWS & FORUM

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