The American Alpine Club E-News: January 2003

Dear AAC Member,

Three new programs have been added to the schedule for the 101st American Alpine Club Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1 at the Westin Waltham Hotel in suburban Boston. However, time is running out. Late fees apply to registrations that are mailed, faxed or emailed after Thursday, February 13—less than a week away.

As a special incentive to attend the Annual Meeting, we will be debuting a beta test version of the complete American Alpine Journal collection on CD-ROM. That's right, all 75 issues from 1929 through 2001 are on seven CDs in Adobe PDF format. We will be selling a limited number of the sets at the Annual Meeting. In return, we hope to get the feedback and insights of purchasers about the product to see how it can be improved before we market the product commercially.

This issue of E-News also contains information about positions with Yosemite Search and Rescue and Denali National Park, grant funding available from the Banff Centre for Mountain Culture, and coming events in your area

Enjoy the issue, and happy climbing.

Regards,

Lloyd Athearn
Managing Editor
mailto:lathearn@americanalpineclub.org

To change your e-mail address or subscribe to the E-News, go to the AAC website (http://www.americanalpineclub.org/) and click on "E-News," then "Join List" for instructions. To change your mailing address or other membership information in our database, please contact Jennifer Podolak, our membership services coordinator, at mailto:jpodolak@americanalpineclub.org.

In this issue:

NEW PROGRAM S ADDED TO ANNUAL MEETING LINEUP

EARLY REGISTRATION CUTOFF NEARS FOR ANNUAL MEETING

SILENT AUCTION OFFERS GREAT DEALS ON GEAR, TRIPS, ART

YOSEMITE SEEKS SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM APPLICANTS

DENALI NATIONAL PARK SEEKS BUSINESS/CONCESSIONS MANAGER

BANFF MOUNTAIN GRANTS AVAILABLE

COMING EVENTS

E-NEWS POLICIES

NEW PROGRAMS ADDED TO THE ANNUAL MEETING LINEUP

Three new programs have been added to Saturday's afternoon lineup for the Annual Meeting in Boston.

JULIE SEYFERT LILLIS: WOMEN IN THE 'GUNKS. Seyfert Lillis, a guide and frequent photographic contributor to the major climbing magazines, shares with us a look at women climbers at New York's Shawangunks, as well as 'Gunkies on the road in places including Wales.

MARK BOWEN: CANARIES IN A COAL MINE. Global climate change is wreaking havoc on alpine areas worldwide, but especially in the equatorial mountain ranges in Africa and South America. Bowen brings his December 2001 Climbing article to life with photos of what global warming means to alpine climbers and what climbs future generations may no longer be able to experience.

VERTICAL FRONTIER. Winner of the Best Mountaineering Film award at the 2002 Banff Film Festival, this documentary traces the historical development of climbing in Yosemite Valley, as well as the AAC's role in stopping development of Camp 4.

EARLY REGISTRATION CUTOFF NEARS FOR ANNUAL MEETING

Late fees of up to $20 will be imposed on all registrations mailed, faxed or emailed to the AAC after Thursday, February 13. If you are considering attending the meeting, do not delay any longer. Complete information about the event, including a downloadable registration form, are now available on the AAC's website at http://www.americanalpineclub.org/special_programs/2003AnnualMtg.htm.

In addition, the discounted room rate of $99 per night (plus tax) for Annual Meeting attendees staying at the Westin Waltham Hotel is not guaranteed after the 13th. The hotel may continue to make this rate available after that date, but only at their discretion. Call 800.WESTIN.1 to make your reservations. Be sure to identify your reservation as being with the AAC Annual Meeting to obtain the special discounted room rate.

SILENT AUCTION OFFERS GREAT DEALS ON GEAR, TRIPS, ART

Annual Meeting planners expect this year's silent auction to offer more than 200 items from 80 companies, artists, and resorts. Auction items already include:

* A 32-day trip to Ama Dablam from SummitClimb.com

* Photographs and paintings by John Svenson, Monkman EcoPhotography, Harrison Shull and, of course, Brad Washburn

* Climbing with Alpine Ascents International, Chicks With Picks, and the Rhode Island Rock Gym

* Gear galore from The North Face, Lowe Alpine, Marmot, Patagonia, and more

Items include four-season tents, alpine packs, mountaineering boots and socks, ice gear, maps, books, ropes and much, much more. Bids start at nearly 50 percent off retail!

The auction is a great way for you to get new gear while continuing to support the AAC's work promoting climbing knowledge, conserving mountain environments,

and serving the American climbing community.

Other items for the auction are still needed though, such as gift certificates to nice Boston-area restaurants, weekends at a time share or condo, ski (or other) vacation packages, or travel vouchers or tickets. If you or someone you know might be willing to donate any of the above and help support the Club's work to protect alpine environments and preserve the climbing experience, please do not hesitate to contact AAC Development Director Chris Chesak at mailto:cchesak@americanalpineclub.org or 208.344.5114.

YOSEMITE SEEKS SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM APPLICANTS

Yosemite National Park is currently taking applications for our 2003 Search and Rescue team members.

These YOSAR positions are filled by volunteers who are "hired" every year An exact amount of "work" is not guaranteed, however all team members will be paid "per incident" and also will be given a camp site in Camp 4 or Tuolumne. The work involves all aspects of Search and Rescue in Yosemite. Skills in climbing, search and rescue, outdoor survival, and emergency medicine are helpful. However, an open attitude and a willingness to function as a team member is perhaps more important. This is a great opportunity and a great introduction to search and rescue work as well as an introduction to working in the parks and EMS.

The Park is looking for a minimum of a four-month commitment between April and November, and they will be choosing the positions by late February or early March. Interested applicants should review the information posted on the YOSAR website at http://www.bluebison.net/yosar. If interested, download the application form at http://www.bluebison.net/yosar/application.htm and mail it in by the end of February.

DENALI NATIONAL PARK SEEKS BUSINESS/CONCESSIONS MANAGER

Denali National Park and Preserve is seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and energetic individual who loves living in incredible natural places to be the Park’s Business Manager and Chief of Concessions. The position is part of the Park’s management team and is the lead advisor to the Superintendent on business-related issues such as organizational and fiscal efficiency, tourism growth management, and the park’s business plan.

The position is responsible for the management of all Park concession operations, including the Park’s primary means of access: a bus transportation system transporting 300,000 people and grossing $13 million annually. Other operations include visitor food services, retail sales, guided climbing on North America’s highest peak, air taxis, campground management, hunting guides, dog sled concessions, and others. Duties also include the development of partnerships with the nonprofit and private sectors to increase Park visitor capacity, and formation of the Denali Science and Learning Center. The position supervises two full-time employees, plus potential seasonal staff.

If you are interested in applying for this position, contact Deputy Superintendent Diane Chung by phone at 907.683.9626.

BANFF MOUNTAIN GRANTS AVAILABLE

Applications are now open for the 2003 Banff Mountain Grants. This year, the grants program will award a total of $20,000 CAD to projects that communicate the nature and culture of the world's mountain places.

"The Banff Mountain Grants allow us to support projects that make connections between mountain people," says Bernadette McDonald, vice president, Mountain Culture, The Banff Centre. "Like all of our Mountain Culture programs, these projects communicate mountain ideas, experiences, and visions from around the world." The Banff Mountain Grants program is supported by Mountain HardWear.

Previous grant recipients have included a vertical dance project, a film on Tibetan culture in exile, a photo exhibition on the effects of mining in the Appalachian Mountains, a book on the ice caves of the Canadian Rockies, a field guide for Nepalese national park staff, a play about Canadian mountain explorer David Thompson, and an interactive CD-ROM about Mt. Logan, among many others.

Individuals or organizations from any country may apply for grants of up to $5000 CAD to fund projects that interpret the environment, natural history, human heritage, arts, philosophy, lifestyle, and/or adventure, in and of the mountains. Proposals should include a communication component (film, literature, photography, public presentation etc.) that brings the project before a public audience.

Information on the Banff Mountain Grants application process is available at http://www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture, by email at mailto:mountainculture@banffcentre.ca, or by phone at 800.298.1229.

The deadline for applications for the 2003 Banff Mountain Grants is June 20, 2003.

COMING EVENTS

Central Rockies Section – Central Asia Institute Slide Shows

The AAC and Colorado Mountain Club are jointly hosting three slide shows by Central Asia Institute founder Greg Mortenson at REI stores in Fort Collins (February 10), Colorado Springs (February 11) and Denver (February 12). Mortenson, a past recipient of the AAC's David Brower Conservation Award, will share his story about attempting K2 in 1993 and the decade-long projects he has undertaken to promote community education and conservation projects in remote communities of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has survived relentless intelligence investigations, an eight-day armed kidnapping in 1996, and candid debates with Islamic scholars in a land of turmoil, terrorism, Taliban and Islam. All shows begin at 7 p.m., and a $5 donation at the door is suggested. For more information, contact the Central Asia Institute visit their website at http://www.ikat.org, send email to mailto:info@ikat.org, or call 406.585.7841.

Central Rockies Section – Cody Waterfall Ice Roundup

The Central Rockies Section is jointly sponsoring the 5th Annual Waterfall Ice

Roundup in Cody, Wyoming on President's Day weekend, February 14-17. The

event, known as "the friendliest little ice festival in the Northern Rockies," offers a

weekend of climbing, evening slide-show entertainment, daily climbing contests,

and 10 catered hot-cooked meals—all for only $20. All attendees receive an AAC

Central Rockies Section coffee/beer mug. For more information, visit

http://www.southforkice.com/event.cfm

Sierra Nevada Section – American Bouldering Series Championship Event

Billed as the largest indoor bouldering competition ever, Touchstone Climbing, the American Bouldering Series and the US Competitive Climbing Association are jointly hosting the ABS Championship event, the final event of the USCCA's Big 8 tour, on March 22 and 23 at the Berkeley Ironworks. Not just for young and honed boulderers fighting to represent the US at the World Cup competitions, the event will have many age group competitions (usually in 10-year increments) with categories extending up to the "60 and over" category. Lots of gear and cash prizes available. Visit http://www.biggestcomp.com for all the details about entrance fees, the event schedule and prizes.

Midwest Section – Joint AAC/Chicago Mountaineering Club Annual Dinner

The AAC's Midwest Section and the Chicago Mountaineering Club will hold their Annual Dinner on Saturday, March 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Chicago Yacht Club (Belmont Harbor). The invited speaker is Jack Gorby, a past CMC president and author of the newly published book, "The Stettner Way," which describes the life and climbs of Joe and Paul Stettner. The cost of the dinner and program is $30 for AAC and CMC members and $35 for non-members. Members are allowed to bring one non-member guest at the member rate or may purchase a table of 10 for $275. The event also will feature a silent auction, raffle and Access Fund membership drive. For more information, contact Chris Young by phone at 773.528.7528 or by email at treasurer@cmcwebsite.org.

E-NEWS POLICIES

In order to protect the interests of our subscribers, we have established the following E-News policies:

The AAC office in Golden is the only source of outgoing messages to subscribers; recipients cannot respond to or initiate messages to the list.

The AAC will not sell member e-mail addresses to anyone for any purpose and will have no commercial advertising of any kind in E-News.

The E-News focuses on timely and important news of interest to members worldwide.

Send comments, suggestions or news items to mailto:lathearn@americanalpineclub.org.