Alaska on a Splitboard

Wanna see what Jeremey Jones and friends are up to these days? Forget the heli-drop, their going human-powered up some of the gnarliest terrain the world has to offer winter outdoor enthusiasts! Check it...
http://jeremyjones.net/2009/04/alaska-going-deeper/

-SJB

Like to Ride Bikes?

Think about this: Mountain biking for 5 days straight through beautiful intermontane landscape on tight and epic single track around Kamloops, British Columbia- some of the countries BEST XC riding!
It is a race! Solo or with a team member, you have the chance to win $60,000CND prize-purse if you train well and eat your mini-wheats. Make sure you are acclimatized to the desert/bunchgrass environment prior to arrival to help prevent bronchial infections (it happens). The race takes place at the end of July, so be sure to register soon if your interested!
http://www.intermontanechallenge.com/

AGM This Thursday!

To anyone who reads this Blog,

Our annual general meeting is this Thursday being held in the coffee shop/student lounge area next to The Well on campus starting at 5pm. Please come and enjoy a slide show/photo contest, laughs, help elect next years exec. team, and bring your favorite dish!

-Sam Brett

Avi Beacon in your IPhone? Whaaa???

Hey all you technology savvy folks out there, check this out for the ultimate gear-junky purchase! Tired of clunky avlanche beacon's poking you in the side everytime you bend over to do up your bindings? Hate all the straps and buttons? Fear no longer, for your life-saving device can now be installed into your IPhone...? Really? you might ask- please read on!
http://www.wildsnow.com/1773/avi-the-1st-avy-beacon-application-for-iphone/

Yup, pretty cool isn't it?
- Sam Brett

VOCO Potluck at Phelix Hut- PLEASE READ

This is to everyone interested in the Phelix Hut trip at the end of February. It was a hit last year, and I"m hoping this year's to be ever better! (if its possible).
Already there are 7 people interested and we are allowed to bring 10 from VOCO to meet with the VOC.
Still, vehicles are the weakness here, so if you would like to go and have a car with reliable seat belts and some space for gear, please let me know!

Please see the following attachment, sent to me from the VOC.
Trip meeting times and details and directed towards the VOC- NOT VOCO.
I will be having a meeting next week for those interested, so that we can pile our resources and get this planned before reading week begins!

Cheers everyone,
Sam

http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Meet_and_Greet_VOC_Okanagan_Potluck_at_Phelix_2009

Check your Bolts!

To climbers;
Check out this video and this guys blog- The video is further down the page towards the bottom. He shows some very interesting and shifty bolt structure...EKkk!
He also had a near-death climbing experience which you can read about on his blog.
http://www.onsight.com.au/news-blog/articles/37/report-follow-up

Cheers,
Sam

BEST SNOWSUIT EVER!!

Anyone out there looking for a hot new snowsuit for next winter? I maybe you just really need to have it for reading break? It also comes in hot pink- or used to until they sold out.
Check out the link below,

Cheers,
Sam

http://www.backcountry.com/store/NRA0044/Norr%F8na-Lofoten-Gore-Tex-Pro-Shell-One-Piece-Suit-Mens.html

Snowshoeing a Spine at Mt.Swite

Mt. Swite, located above Bear Lake, the head waters for Bear Creek on the Westside of Okanagan Lake, sits at 4500ft above sea level. Within sight are Mt. Haymen, Blue Grouse Mountain and Mt. Terrace, which sits at 6200 ft. This is not far from Kelowna if you have a vehicle, however cycling there could take a while in the spring, as the logging road could get muddy and rowdy. There are a series of creeks that flow through the valleys such as Bear Creek and Hidden Creek. Endless MOUNTAIN BIKE trails have been created in this area, such as the McDougal Rim gruel, and a current work-in-progress called the Four Fingers. On Saturday morning, I went out with a biking friend from Kelowna, up into these mountains to GPS spine #2 of the four, and to locate significant natural features that would make the most orgasmic mountain bike trail, worthy of being filmed. I noticed endless miles of logging road, heading in many directions, all surrounded by crown land perfect for XC skiing or snowshoeing, and perhaps if at altitude, snowboarding. I also did notice other snowshoe tracks and XC ski tracks heading in the opposite direction of where we were going. We were climbing 2000ft to then begin our descent. Physical fitness would be recommended for this sort of hike, and a full day with plenty of sunlight would also be recommended. It is easy to get lost out there.
Our hope is to build some epic ridge-line single track this summer, but snowshoeing and GPS is all part of the process! We had lovely +5 and sunny weather, came across a Bull Moose, and endless deer nests in the snowy forest. If you ever have the time, I would recommend exploring the wilderness on the other side of the lake, OR now that its finally snowing, perhaps save a trip like this for the spring!
Cheers,

Sam

Cross Country Skiing on Campus

Hey Team!

If you're interested in XC Skiing near/on campus, there are various places to go- some within driving distance, and some within walking distance. I have been XC skiing out behind the UBCO campus in the farmers field, that offers some moderate hills and a wonderful open space. If you have you're skis here and you're feeling trapped in you're dorm due to the winter doldrums, please check out the back field and the running trail behind campus. The snow is brilliant for skate skiing right now, and you might even see or hear wildlife such as coyotes and many different birds. There is a great loop that you can do over and over and over...like a hamster in a wheel.
Have fun!

Sam

Ski to Sea Event

Everyone in VOCO!

Need a little adrenaline in you're lives? An event to train for? Well, lets put together a few teams for the Ski to Sea held in Kelowna at the end of March here in Kelowna! Teams of 2-7 people, or you can do the race solo- it is a relay race event starting with DOWNHILL SKIING on Big White, to NORDIC SKIING at Big White, MNT BIKING down Big White to meet the ROAD CYCLIST, who does a 40km ride and meets the distance RUNNER, who runs to Okanagan Lake to meet the 2 CANOESTS who paddle across the lake to Westbank and back (close to the bridge) completing the event over a few hours. Then of course, drinks must be had at the local pub (if you're of age!).
This is a very fun event that I participated in last year for Venture Gear as their XC skier, and I reckon VOCO should be putting a few teams out there to represent our sick club within the community! So gather you're pals and contact me for more info. or go to www.ski2sea.ca and investigate the wild race for yourself!

There is still time to register and gather a team, but I wanted to put the idea in you're heads earlier rather than later! Remember, these events cost money too, so the more team members you have, the more you can afford to split the cost. Registration deadline I believe is March 16th- after that the price goes UP!

Maybe we can make team t-shirts or something- props to those of you who give it a shot going solo! May the farce be with you.

Cheers,
Sam Brett