LAM Constitution and Bylaws

The "Los Alamos Mountaineer's Constitution and Bylaws" provide guidance and rules for the operation of all aspects of our club's operations. The bylaws specifically address issues such as rules for trip leaders and participants. LAM is a New Mexico, registered, non-profit corporation. You may download a pdf version of the "Los Alamos Mountaineer's Constitution and Bylaws" by clicking here.

Los Alamos Mountaineers Waiver (individual waiver required for membership)

Note: This form is used as the New Membership form as well!

This printable waiver is to be signed by each member of the "Los Alamos Mountaineers" as a condition of membership and participation in their activities. It is a release of liability and a waiver of rights that will be held by our club's secretary. Completed waivers can be mailed to: Los Alamos Mountaineers, P.O. Box 987, Los Alamos, NM 87544  You may download a copy of this waiver by clicking here.

LAM Trip Sign-Up Sheet (group waiver required for trips with none members)

The "Los Alamos Mountaineer's Trip Sign-Up Sheet" includes the trip waiver, and should be used for all club sponsored trips. You may download a pdf version of the "Los Alamos Mountaineer's Trip Sign-Up Sheet" by clicking here.

Guidelines for Trip Leaders

Have you wanted to lead a Mountaineers trip but didn't know where to begin?  Do you have the technical skill for a mountain adventure but aren't sure how to organize the trip?  Now you can share your wisdom, skill, and leadership with confidence.  Two experienced leaders have collaborated to create this document to help people lead trips more effectively, have fun doing it, and hopefully, bring everyone home again safely.  The Guidelines cover such things as leader responsibilities, how to set up a day trip, how to organize a longer multi-day adventure, tips for expedition planning, how to advertise your event, and useful references.  You may download this document as a PDF file here, or speak with Rick Light or Bill Priedhorsky to purchase a spiral-bound, color copy for the cost of printing.

Current Community Bolting Agreement for Los Alamos Climbing Areas

This document is a reproduction of the "2004 Bolting Agreement for Los Alamos Climbing Areas" which was agreed upon by active climbers from Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos and Los Alamos. This revision was necessitated by severe drought and the die off of trees used for anchors at all areas.  The original 1989 agreement has stood the test of time.  Hopefully, this revision will also be accepted by all who wish to climb in Los Alamos. You may download a copy of the "2004 Bolting Agreement for Los Alamos Climbing Areas" by clicking here.

Proposed Community Bolting Agreement for Los Alamos Climbing Areas ...Please Vote Now!

The Los Alamos Mountaineers Board of Directors is pleased to disseminate the proposed 2010 revision to the Bolting Agreement for Los Alamos Climbing Areas.  This revision could replace and supersede the earlier 1989 and 2004 agreements.  It is the result of a long and open process that was intended to address the concern of many members of the local climbing community about either the placement or removal of fixed bolt anchors at certain climbing areas.  The new agreement can be viewed here.

In the fall of 2009, the LAM Board asked local climber and LAM member Scott Hsu to take the lead in trying to address and resolve these bolting issues.  Scott came to this process with a neutral point of view, and he met with climbers on all sides of the issue.  He also sent e-mail requests for input to many local climbers and climbing groups.  In order to reach out to as many members of the local climbing community as possible, Scott initiated a forum thread on the Mountain Project website, soliciting input for a revised agreement.  Seven forum pages including more than 150 posts appeared over the next month.  The LAM Board would like to thank all of the climbers who contributed their thoughts and suggestions via this website or via direct conversations with Scott.

Scott found that, while a majority of posters supported the installation of fixed anchors, enough people opposed them that a substantive compromise was warranted.  He worked hard to integrate the many individual suggestions into the current agreement.  The goal was to acknowledge and respond to the most important ideas and suggestions from all sides of the issue, and to craft a compromise agreement that most local climbers could accept because it addressed some of their most important concerns.  The LAM Board is very grateful to Scott for this effort, and we would like to thank him for all of the time and effort that he devoted to it.

The LAM Board is now in the process of disseminating this proposed agreement as widely as possible via e-mail, club meetings and announcements, and postings at local climbing stores.  We invite all climbers who feel that they can support this document as a whole, even if they have reservations about some parts, to write to white.rock.bolting@gmail.com to register that they are willing to be listed as signatories.  We also invite all climbers who feel that they cannot accept the agreement to write and be listed, in a respectful manner, as climbers who cannot sign.  Please respond ASAP!  For the sake of the local climbing community, our beautiful climbing environment, and our desire to maintain the enjoyment that we all experience while climbing in White Rock, we hope that most climbers can accept this proposed 2010 Agreement as one that meets many of their important concerns.  Please share this information with all who may be interested.

Tres Piedras Rock Climbing Waiver

The Tres Piedras crags are located (partially) on private property owned by Gus Foster of Taos, NM.  South Rock is mostly on Gus's property, as is one of the access points.  He permits small parties to climb on his property, only if they have a waiver on file.  (As of 2019, the waiver is no longer required). You may download a copy of the waiver by clicking here.

How to Plan a Grand Canyon Trek

Have you ever wanted to backpack down into the depths of the Grand Canyon?  How hard could it be?  Oh, yeah, people die down there when they don’t plan well!  Oops.  So how does one plan such an adventure?  This course covers the following topics:

  * GC Topography Overview,
  * GC Backpacking Options Based on Your Experience,
  * Dangers of Hiking the Canyon,
  * Steps to Planning a Trek,
  * Planning Group Gear,
  * Organizing Personal Gear Around the 10 Essentials,
  * Living to Tell About It,
  * Having Fun.

The Grand Canyon is one of the most amazing places on this beautiful planet.   It is gorgeous, challenging, dangerous, silent, gigantic, spiritual, thrilling, and peaceful – all at the same time!  Why not explore its depths and discover its hidden secrets?  With proper planning, GC treks can be truly exciting and at the same time, safe and fun.  Click here for a PDF file of the PowerPoint slides used in this class.  Click here or a personal equipment list based on the 10 Essentials.

Glacier Climbing Guidelines

Canyoneering Teaser

This short talk  presents an overview of canyoneering.  It is presented as part of the LA Mountaineers Climbing School, so it's focus is to inspire students to learn more about canyoneering as a natural extension of rock climbing.  The talk includes the ACA rating system used for assigning difficulty ratings to canyons, as well as an overview of canyoneering skills and equipment, how these relate to normal rock climbing, and some of the safety concerns specifically related to canyoneering as different from rock climbing.  Click here to download a pdf version of this PowerPoint presentation.

Winter Camping Field Guide

This is a field guide to winter snow camping for individuals and parties, covering preparation, gear, clothing, food, camp setup, medicine, travel, and snow shelter construction. Prepared by REI Santa Fe staff. You may download a pdf version of the "Winter Camping Field Guide" by clicking here (2012 update).

Winter Travel in the Backcountry

This basic classroom course by Dianne Eschman provides an overview of the dangers of winter travel and the appropriate tools and skills necessary for safe and fun winter excursions.  It is designed for skiers, snowshoers, snowboarders and mountaineers who want to understand safe winter travel in the back country. Winter trips can be fantastic experiences, but they come with certain risks that must be recognized and planned for. The purpose of this class is to discuss the various factors that can influence your enjoyment and safety in the back country and provide you tools to deal with changing conditions that may arise. The following are reference materials for this course:

• Backcountry Snowshoeing and Skiing Fundamentals
• Recognizing and Preparing for Avalanche Dangers
• Medical Conditions and How to Deal With Them
• Suggested Reading List

For more in-depth avalanche classes check out www.nnmae.org for classes in the area.  Beginners are always advised to travel with experienced leaders.

Backpacking Basics

This course is intended for adult hikers who wish to take multi-day hiking trips.  Beginners and experienced backpackers will both benefit from this thorough course.  Course content includes the following general areas: safety and respect, leave no trace, equipment and clothing, food options, how to pack, how to walk and breathe, how to pick a campsite, hazards and survival, and how to plan trips.  Each major area is organized around the 10 Essentials, as is the example equipment list.  Download the PowerPoint slides used in presenting this course here (7.3 MB, pdf format), or an expanded, more detailed version of this material here (7.2 MB, pdf format).  Download an example backpacking equipment list (based on using the 10 Essentials as systems for modular packing) here (in pdf format).

Bags, Pads, Shelters

This course is an extension of the above course (but stands alone), and is intended to give more details specifically organized around sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and tents of various kinds.  The course will help you understand differences in bag, pad, and shelter types, construction, and use, as well as features to take into account when choosing which item to purchase.  Download the PowerPoint slides used in presenting this course here (3.6 MB, pdf format).

10 Minute "Potpourri" Speaker Presentation Timer

A presentation "timer" using PowerPoint (2004 and after).  Simply displays a 10 minute countdown in a very large font with updates every minute until time 0, then switches to a flashing "STOP" sign for 20 seconds, followed by audible applause.

The PowerPoint timer is utilized on a (second) laptop pointed at the speaker so that he/she can better judge slide and talk times so that the presentation fits within the 10 minutes that each of our 6 presenters are given in LAM's December programs.  Thanks go to Zack Baker for coming up with simple but effective tool!  Download the "timer" PowerPoint file here.