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• Annual Seneca Rocks Chili Cook-off and Climbing Weekend

  • Start
    Friday, October 18, 2019
  •  
    6:00 PM (EDT)
  • End
    Sunday, October 20, 2019
  •  
    1:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Seneca Rocks, WV

  Register

  Annual Seneca Rocks Chili Cookoff Trip

  Friday, October 18 - Sunday October 20
  (cookoff Saturday evening)

  Seneca Rocks, West Virginia

   

  
  

   

  OPEN TO ALL - BRING YOUR OWN CLIMBING PARTNER!
  

  
  

  This fun annual gathering serves as the last big event to closeout another amazing rock climbing season, and to commemorate the fall of the Gendarme pinnacle at Seneca on October 22, 1987. Join us for a weekend of climbing, good food, and hanging out!

  
  

  This is not a PATC-MS-only event; however, you need to sign up if you would like to stay at our campsite for free.

  
  

  The club has reserved a group campsite at Seneca Shadows. We have the site from Friday through check-out at 1pm on Sunday. See your confirmation email for campsite information. Please work together to utilize the space on each tent pad to its maximum; all tents must be on the pads. Please also try to refrain from using a larger tent for just one person.  

  
  

  We suggest putting yourself on the Google Spreadsheet, particularly if you are looking for a ride or a leader.

  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Et1umOOQrDq0hWbfN3FkyRhKJwmgofsGg3BC-6Orp80/edit#gid=0
  

  
  

  Seneca is an almost exclusively trad multi-pitch area with limited opportunities for top roping. There are some sport climbing areas within a reasonable drive of Seneca (Reed's Creek and Smokehole).

  
  

  This event is for members and registered guests of members.

  
  

  A few reminders....

  • The parking at the Group Site will fill up.
    
  • Don't leave your car at the site when the parking area is full. Pull around to the overflow area (by the walk-in sites).
  • The Group Site itself might fill up.
  • If you know you are arriving late you might want to know about other options, like the walk-in sites or Princess Snowbird.

  
  

  If you want to compete in the chili contest...

  • Make 1 gallon, or more, of your favorite chili recipe and submit it by 5:30pm on the front porch of the Gendarme
  • $5 entry fee
  • Judging will begin at 6pm
  • Only one category will be judged: best overall. Winner takes the total entry fees plus $50 kicked in by The Gendarme.
  • Judging will be by an impartial (and hopefully sober) panel
  • Bowls for judging will be provided when the entry fee is paid. The rest is up to you. The Gendarme does not have facilities for heating chili up.

  
  

  IF YOU WANT TO EAT CHILI....

  • Please bring your own bowl, cup, and spoon to reduce waste
    
  • Be there by 5:30pm!!
    

  Kegs will be tapped when the time comes, but normally around 5:30. Bring donations!

  
  

  Throughout the night there will be an on-going raffle to benefit Friends of Seneca. Tickets are 2 for $5, or 5 for $10. There'll be a variety of prizes!

  
  

  At dark there will be a guest presentation...TBA.

  
  

  This is a rain or shine event.  See y'all out there!

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• November Monthly Meeting - Gear Swap and Skills Practice Session

  • When
    Wednesday, November 13, 2019
  •  
    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    PATC-HQ, Vienna, VA

  PATC-MS Monthly Meeting

  Gear Swap and Skills Practice Session. This month in Vienna, VA.

  
  

  Join us Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at 7:00 pm as we conduct our monthly meeting.

  
  

  Gear Swap and Skills Practice

  
  

  Come early for our annual gear swap. Bring stuff you'd like to give away, swap, or sell. Clean out that gear closet! The gear swap will be followed by a rope and equipment skills practice session (exact skills TBD).

  
  

  This meeting will be at PATC-HQ in Vienna, VA. Join at 7 PM for pizza and drinks.

  
  

  This meeting is open to all, members and non-members alike. Registration is not necessary, just show up!

  
  

  PATC-HQ

  118 Park St.

  Vienna, VA 22180
  

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• Friends of Seneca Rocks Fall 2019 Trail Work Weekend

  • Start
    Saturday, November 16, 2019
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • End
    Sunday, November 17, 2019
  •  
    3:00 PM
  • Location
    Seneca Rocks, WV
  • Registered
    5 registrants

  Register

  
  

  
  

  OPEN TO THE CLIMBING COMMUNITY
  (PATC-MS Membership encouraged, but not required)
  

   

  On 16-17 November we will hold a two-day trail work weekend to improve the climbing access trails in a variety of areas.   We have several areas of concern that we will work depending on the size of the overall group.

  We will meet at the Gendarme at 800am on Saturday morning.  From there we will gather and load up tools and carpool over to the crag.
  

  
  

  If you want to come out for even just a half-day or just one of the two days, please sign up and we'll work it out.  We can use all the help we can get on this weekend as there is plenty to be done.
  

  
  

  Dinner will be covered by Friends of Seneca.  Camping at Princess Snowbird will also be covered by FOS.

  
  

  Some proposed items on the list for work:

  
  

  -Rehab the West Face Trail base area around "Prune"

  
  

  -Fix trail damage on the Upper East Ridge Connector Trail

  
  

  -Improve trail/clear downed trees and debris from North Peak-East Face approach area.

  
  

  -Improve the approach and base area for the Southeast Corner (Skyline Traverse area)

  
  

  -Install new blue diamond trail markers

  
  

  -Continue staircase construction and improvements to the East Ridge Trail

  Please be sure to wear good sturdy boots and long pants.  Bring a helmet, gloves, a small pack, and food/water for the day.
  

  
  

  As the work will be taking place in a busy area, we will need to be aware of others wanting to use the trail while we carry out repairs.
  

  
  

  Questions?  Please contact Andy Weinmann (rocclim78 at gmail.com) or Edwin Bachetti (edwin at bachetti.net).
  

  
  

  
  

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• Alpine Skills Weekend 2020

  • Start
    Thursday, January 16, 2020
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • End
    Monday, January 20, 2020
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    North Conway, New Hampshire
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  
  

  PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION IS CAPPED AT 10

   

  The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club - Mountaineering Section (PATC-MS) organizes an Alpine Skills Weekend each winter to share our members' mountaineering experiences from Mt. Rainier, Denali, Aconcagua and more.

  
  

  Signing up is just an application, all participants will be notified of acceptance to ASW soon after the application is submitted. Detailed information about the weekend will be provided once you've been accepted. 

  
  

  Previous years we have split the group with some camping, and some staying in the Harvard Cabin. This year the entire team will camp outside.   

   

  Course dates: January 16-20, 2020 (MLK Weekend)
  

  
  

  Participants will be required to attend 2 full day training hikes and 1 day of training hike and Gear Check (including all personal and group gear).

  
  

  Training dates are:

  • October 5 - Training Hike 1
    
  • November 9 - Training Hike 2
    
  • December 15 - Gear Check and Training Hike 3

  Participants must be an active member of the PATC-MS prior to October 1, 2019.
  

  
  

  Consider the dates and training carefully. It is imperative that you be available for the training hikes and Gear Check. This is one of the club's most popular events. There will be a waiting list. If you drop out of the course it may affect the other participants.

  
  

  Remember, climbing, and especially mountaineering, is a dangerous sport. Mt. Washington has recorded many of the worst winds and coldest temperatures - anywhere. Climbers have died on this mountain before (this year!), and they will in the future. Do not underestimate what -20 degrees F air temperature feels like, especially for days on end.

  
  

  
  

  Basic List of Skills Covered

  • Introduction to general mountaineering equipment (crampons, ice axe, ropes)

  • Ascending a snow slope in boots

  • Use of crampons (climbing foot techniques)

  • Use of mountaineering ice axe

  • Self-arrest and glissading

  • Roped travel

  • Anchors (focus on deadman anchors, use of tools, snow pickets, and ice screws)

  • Descending: focus on walk-off (plunge step, side-step, downclimbing), and rappelling (v-thread, bollards) - if time

  • Basic full process of ascending and descending a snow (and ice) gully (putting it all together)

  • Intro to ice climbing (optional - time and weather permitting)

  • Use of avalanche gear (optional - time and weather permitting)   

  
  

  Experience and Equipment
  

  No prior experience is required for ASW. Participants must obtain (rent, borrow, buy) general mountaineering equipment and winter clothing for possible extreme severe weather conditions. Some equipment (axes, boots, crampons, avy gear) is available for checkout from the Club gear locker. Rental gear is available in North Conway at International Mountain Equipment (IME) and Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS).

  
  

  A program guide will be distributed to all participants detailing all of the required gear and other logistics for the course.

  
  

  Lodging/Camping

  This year all participants and mentors will camp outside, and will be required to share a tent (unless you bring your own 4-season tent). Camping space is available outside the cabin for $10/night. These are first come, first serve spots. Last resort is to stay at Joe Dodge Lodge and hike up each morning (approximately a two hour hike).

  
  

  Course Start Time

  You must arrive at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center no later than 11am on Thursday, January 16. Several leaders will be arriving in North Conway Wednesday evening (motel stay) to allow plenty of time on Thursday to take care of last minute things. It is recommended participants strongly consider this option.

  
  

  Training
  

  It is expected that you will train both psychically and mentally for this trip. The trip leaders will help develop and/or recommend the best way for participants to train. We will have 3 required training hikes in Shenandoah National Park where all participants will carry a full pack over a long day of hiking. The goal of the hikes is to help you understand the rigors of a good deal of elevation change and negotiating rugged terrain in colder weather.  

  
  

  
  

  Send all questions to Bill Kessinger (wkessing@gmail.com) or Corey Hilz (coreyhilz@gmail.com)
  

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