Wednesday, September 30, 2009

SK0 lesson Oct 6 at 4:30 pm

From: Val Plaus
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SK0 lesson Tuesday October 6th at 4:30 pm. This will cover all the introductory skills to be able to take out the club's sea kayaks on Lake Mendota and beginner trips. You will need:

your kayak late rating and swim test
warm-while-wet clothing (I strongly recommend a wetsuit)
some type of water shoes
a towel and a dry change of clothes!

The lesson includes reminders of lake rules and paddling strokes, an introduction the specifics of a sea kayak, as well as an assisted rescue. That means you will be doing a wet exit and you will be swimming. I am strongly recommending a wetsuit, since the air temperature has dropped, and the lake will soon follow. If you don't have a wetsuit, the club does, so come 5-10 minutes early to pick one out.

Please reply by email to Valerie at vplaus@gmail.com. Updates to the lesson will be posted on the forum, and emailed out to those who reply.

Trail Construction and Maintenance: 10/9-10/11

From: Matt "Navs" Kaufmann
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Hikers/Backpackers/Outdoor Adventurists/Trail Builders/Volunteers/Hoofers:

Well known across the great state of Wisconsin, volunteers from the Hoofer Outing Club are needed for trail maintenance on the Ice Age Trail! [Insert shameless plug here... go on Mary's trail building event happening this Saturday as well!]

On the weekend of October 9-11, let's do some trail work! The Mobile Skills Crew of the Ice Age Trail will be hosting an event in Taylor County (like a 3.5 hour drive north/northwest of Madison). The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is an 1100+ mile footpath that is found entirely within the state of Wisconsin and generally follows the extent of the glaciers. However, the trail is not done yet which is why we are building trail and also doing trail upkeep! Food and fun is guaranteed. No ratings or experience required.

This is how a Mobile Skills Crew event works. Volunteers from across the state gather for a weekend and accomplish a huge amount of work. The work is dirty (sometimes), physical (most of the time), and very rewarding (all of the time... in retrospect). In return for our volunteer efforts on the trail, we are provided three wholesome cooked meals during a full day of work. We will be camping on site at Wood Lake County Park. A typical day goes something like this... Breakfast served at 6:45am. Leave camp at 7:45 and be at work site at 8ish. Work until Noon and break for lunch in the field. Resume work for the afternoon and quit before 5. Get back to camp, clean up, lounge, and then eat supper at 6:30. Hang out around the campfire for however long you deem appropriate and then go to bed.

What you need for this trip. Tent (Hoofer Outing Club has these), sleeping pad (HOC has some), your own sleeping bag, leather work gloves (HOC has a few pairs), clothes to do work in, clean clothes to be comfortable and warm in, and sturdy footwear (ie, hiking boots) are a must. Dress for the weather and also physical, dirty work.

Here is the plan. Work occurs all day Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning (quit at noon). It is most likely that a caravan will leave Friday after work/class. If people are interested, it is certainly possible to work Friday as well. This trip is fairly cheap... bring $ for gas and any road food.

Drop me an email stating your interest in participating and when you can leave Madison. Interested people will then be emailed regarding possible carpools from Madison. Any questions, comments, concerns, drop me an email.

Matt "Navs" Kaufmann
mkaufmann@wisc.edu

Caving - Sunday 10/4/09

From: Nate Frenczak
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If there is enough interest in going caving this Sunday, I'm willing to lead a beginner friendly trip. I'm thinking Popp's cave will be our best best this weekend. The cost including fuel, knee pads, gloves, and food would likely be about $25 per person. If you already have knee pads and work gloves, then your cost would be less.

There are many reason to go caving - To get scared. To get dirty. To challenge yourself. To squeeze into small spaces. To see formations. To impress your couch-bound family members.

And if you've been interested in taking Houssam's really cool vertical cave training, this trip will get you 1 of the 2 prereqs you'll need.

Please email me if you are interested (or if you have any questions). Thanks.

Nate Frenczak natronx@yahoo.com

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Loading Boats for the Fall Colors

From: John Bohlman
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Thursday we will be loading boats for the Fall Colors canoe trip. Meet at Park street circle at 5:00 PM on Thursday, October First.
You need: your car.
You need: Enough rope to tie as many boats on your car as it will carry.
You need: Something to put between your car and the boat.It could be a rack or a rag.
We're gonna have a great time.
John

Wednesday Canoe Lesosn

From: Joyce Hessefort
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For the people in Wednesdays canoe lesson: It will be a nice day but it will be a little chilly and there will be a mild wind. Wear clothing to keep you warm and clothes that you don't mind getting splashed. Bring an extra pair of shoes to change into afterward in case you step into the water. People doing the swim test; you will need long pants and a long sleeve shirt and shoes that can get wet. Avoid cotton and baggy clothes. We would like to start doing the swim tests by 6:30 so arrive at 5:00 so we can start getting out the gear. We have a lot to cover. We are meeting by the outing club pier, next to the boathouse. Our pier is triangle shaped. Those not doing the swim test will help finish putting gear away.
Don't forget to bring your membership card.
Joyce

Ice Age Trail Building Cross Plains!!

From: Mary Collins
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Ice Age Trail Building this Saturday October 3

What:
The Ice Age Trail Alliance is back at it, building new Ice Age Trail close to the UW-Madison campus! This weekend we will be moving rocks and dirt to create a section on one of America's eight National Scenic Trails.Trail building is legendary for the good people, good times, and the satisfaction of constructing trail that will be used for generations to come. No experience required! Hot apple cider may or may not make an appearance at the work site.....

When: Saturday, October 3. Meet at Park Street Circle at 8:15am. Work from 9am-3pm. Return to campus around 4pm at the latest.

Where: Andersen Preserve, Cross Plains, WI (about a 25 minute drive from campus). We will be working in the same spot that Hoofers worked in this summer. There is still about 1500 ft. of trail there remaining to be constructed, and some of it is on tough terrain, back in a deep valley.

What to bring: Work boots/shoes, layers of clothes you don't mind getting dirty, water, lunch, and a few dollars for gas.

Description:
I will be leading a trip to Cross Plains to help construct one of our nation's National Scenic Trails, right here in the Madison area! The Ice Age Trail, a proposed 1,200 mile footpath that is located completely in Wisconsin, is being completed in sections solely by the work of volunteers like us. If you don't know about the Ice Age Trail, check out http://www.iceagetrail.org/. Trail-building is a whole ton of fun.

If you are interested in volunteering on Saturday (doooooo it!), send an email to Mary Collins at outingpresident@gmail.com.

Ken Burns "National Parks: America's Best Idea"

From: Mary Collins
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The
NATIONAL PARKS PBS Series by Ken Burns! http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/history/ep2/

What is it? The most sumptuous visual experience of your life (or, at least, of this week). Renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns (don't let the haircut deceive you; he's awesome) has created a 12-hour long series about the history of America's National Parks.

Where: a TV, anywhere. PBS.

When: The films are shown in 2-2.5 hour segments for six days. They started last Sunday. Tonight is part three of six. It starts at 8pm on PBS and I believe repeats at 10pm. Yes, you might have to miss Grey's Anatomy or Jon and Kate plus 8 this week, but trust me, it's worth it.

Why: Who better than Hoofers can appreciate the rich history of the National Parks system and the amazing scenery all over this film? The basic premise of the film is something I think most Hoofers and outdoor folk can relate to: how Americans perceive, connect with, and respect or disrespect 'Nature.' What's more, UW Geography/History Professor BILL CRONON (!!!) is one of main interviewees and advisers of the film. If you've ever taken his American Environmental History course, you know what a brilliant and delightful historian he is. The man is a legend....I can't even talk about it.

Feed your mind. Watch this series!

Mary

Blackhawk Ski Club Bash 10-4-09

From: Mary Collins
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Blackhawk Ski Club Bash
is Sunday October 4th. Middleton, WI
For telemark skiiers especially:
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Come to the Blackhawk Bash this Sunday for Blackhawk Ski Club's annual
fall open house and fundraising event. This will also mark
Blackhawk's 62nd anniversary. Bring along your family and friends.
Everyone is welcome. We have many fun events scheduled throughout the
day. We'll have a ski jumping target competition with jumpers coming
from all over the Midwest. There will be hay wagon rides, games, bike
race, and a Nordic Combined race through the pines. We have many
sports equimpment stores coming with their latest gear. We will also
have NEW Blackhawk apparel available and helmets for sale.

This year we will hold a raffle along with some silent auction items.
Prizes include ski equipment, lift tickets, gift baskets, a spa
package and much more. Proceeds from the day benefit Blackhawk youth
programs and outreach programs for disadvantaged youth.

Come rain or shine-we've rented a large party tent. We'll have great
food and beverages.

SHEDULE OF EVENTS

11:00 - 12:00 Target Ski Jumping Tournament 15 & 30 meter jumps
11:30 Cookout Begins
11:30 - 3:00 Raffle - Silent Auction
Sports Equipment Vendor Area
BART Used Racing Equipment Sale
12:00 - 1:00 Biathlon
12:30 Mountain Bike Jumpers
12:30 - 2:00 Hay Wagon Rides & Games for Kids
1:00 Target Ski Jumping, Tournament 60 meter jump
1:00 CAT Ski Race in the Pines
2:00 Kids' 12 & under Fun Bike, Race helmets required
3:00 Nordic Combined Races in the Pines

Please RSVP by noon Thursday, Oct. 1st. Here is the link where you can RSVP

http://www.blackhawkskiclub.org/bash.htm

Thanks!!!

Check ski hill conditions and weather online at http://www.blackhawkskiclub.org

This message originated from BLACKHAWK SKI CLUB in Middleton Wisconsin.

Announcements are coming!

HOC. Blogging. In the digital world. Yep, it's true.

Check here for trip and lesson information! I will enter announcements from our club listserv into daily posts on this blog. To sign up for club events, email the contact person for each announcement. You could also email me if you're not sure what to do.

If I ever catch up with my homework (unlikely), the blog will be peppered with sweet trip reports and musings by yours
truly! If you have something to contribute to the blog, send it my way. I know, I know; it's going to be Hoofer stimulation overload!!!! can't wait.

Our tech man Dave tells me that the website www.hoofero
uting.org is back up, but only with forum capability. If you decide to post something on the website, send it to the listserv/me too. Thanks!

-Mary Collins


"Things which produce graphics and clicky-buttons astonish me." -Gordo, expressing what we're all thinking

Image of the Day: Rock Island, WI as seen from the NE tip of Washington Island. Mike Vidal took this photo Labor Day weekend on our Hoofer bike tour of Washington Island off the tip of Door County, WI. Lake Michigan was crystal clear and an incredible blue.(...looked very different than the Illinois beaches I'm familiar with!) Another group of Hoofers paddled through the Door County archipelago via sea kayak this day; another troop hiked Whitefish Dunes State Park and ate cherry pie. Awesome trip.