Los Alamos Mountaineers
Monthly Program:
Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Day Hike
The September 23 Mountaineers meeting will feature a talk featuring Rim-to-Rim hiking in the Grand Canyon. In this presentation, hikers Ann Satsangi and Jan Velechovsky will share their experience tackling this iconic trek, offering practical insights into planning and preparation, as well as the physical and mental challenges involved.
Hiking the Grand Canyon crossing in one day is a challenging but rewarding way to experience the grandeur of one of the world’s iconic landscapes. In 2023 and 2024 Ann led a group to tackle the Rim-to-Rim crossing. Jan took part in the 2024 adventure when a group of 10 Los Alamos hikers traveled to the Grand Canyon. The group divided into two teams, each crossing the canyon in opposite directions, and swapping car keys to manage transportation. The first team left Grand Canyon Village around midnight in order to get an early start on the North Rim heading south. The second “Heat Tolerant” team started at Bright Angel trailhead early as well, hoping to avoid the afternoon heat of the south -acing slopes of the North Rim. This presentation will cover aspects of planning, preparation, and group coordination as well as share insights of the speakers’ experiences in the canyon around this iconic hike. Both groups covered well over 20 miles and climbed a vertical mile or more.
From logistics like route selection, gear, and timing to group dynamics and safety considerations, this talk will provide valuable guidance for anyone curious about long-distance hiking or considering their own Grand Canyon adventure. Alongside the practical information, Ann and Jan will share reflections, stories, and photos from the trail that highlight the beauty, intensity, and reward of experiencing the canyon on foot.
Ann Satsangi grew up in Minnesota where she did a lot of running, Nordic skiing, canoeing, and backpacking. She came to Los Alamos in 2022 and found the LA Mountaineers a welcoming group to connect with people for all sort of adventures. Jan Velechovsky, originally from the Czech Republic, moved to Los Alamos in 2015. He joined Los Alamos Mountaineers (LAM) after graduating from LAM Climbing School in 2017. Next to climbing, Jan enjoys backpacking, running and cycling local trails and forest roads.
We welcome all to this Mountaineers’ meeting, held on the usual fourth Tuesday of the month. The social hour, with cookies, begins at 6:45 PM and the program at 7:00 PM. The presentation will be in-person at Los Alamos Nature Center; the slides will be live-streamed on Zoom. Registration is required to Zoom and recommended for in-person – we would love to see your smiling face. Registration details are available at https://peecla.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/peecla/event.jsp?event=57349&.
Near the bottom of the Grand Canyon, with thousands of feet yet to climb.
Climbing School Update
Registration is Open for Los Alamos Mountaineers Climbing School
The Los Alamos Mountaineers are thrilled to announce that they will be offering a climbing school following last year’s successful revival of the school, in conjunction with Mountain Skills Rock Climbing Adventures of Taos. Details can be found on their climbing school page, here .
Mountain Skills, supported by Mountaineers volunteers, will teach rock climbing with a safety first attitude, including movement on rock, belaying, rappelling, cleaning protective gear, and removing anchors, with extensive on-rock practice. The course objective is such that successful students should develop the skills needed to participate in top roping, follow a leader in a multi-pitch trad climb, and be able to climb or descend moderate technical obstacles in unplanned backcountry situations using improvised gear (e.g. rope and carabiners). No previous rock climbing experience is required.
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Ongoing Events
Monthly Public Meeting and Presentation:
Normally held in the planetarium of the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC)
on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Now offering hybrid meetings with in-person and zoom options! Sign up for each talk at the Monthly Program page.
Social at 6:45. Reports of recent and upcoming trips at 7:05pm. Program to follow.
Visitors are always welcome! Free refreshments!Past presentations, and occasionally future, can be viewed here
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.
Trip Leaders: Post your trip by logging in and then going here. If you do not have an account, contact the webmaster. For overnight trips, please ensure that membership waivers for participants are current and recorded by the club Membership Chairperson prior to your trip. Non-members may participate in day trips. All club sponsored trips require the trip waiver. After the trip, please scan and email a PDF of the waiver to the Trip Coordinator.
Trip Leader Awards: The club will recognize trip leaders as described here.
Borrow Equipment: We have a limited amount of mountaineering equipment for loan (e.g., avalanche transceivers). Contact our Equipment Manager listed on this page.
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