Annual Report 1999

Contents

  1. President
  2. General Manager
      Financial Report
  3. Trainer
  4. DOC Trips
  5. Boots and Saddles
  6. Cabin and Trail (C&T)
  7. Cycling Club
  8. Dartmouth Mountaineering Club (DMC)
  9. Environmental Students at Dartmouth (ESD)
  10. Ledyard Canoe Club
  11. Ski Patrol
  12. Snowboarding Club
  13. Winter Sports Club
  14. Women in the Wilderness

President

When I looked around in amazement and wonder at the people and the place I began to understand what it meant to be a part of the Dartmouth Outing Club. My DOC Trip group climbed up the North face of Moosilauke on the Beaver Brook Trail in the pouring rain at 10:30 p.m. We hiked down in sunshine to cheering voices and excited spirits. That is what it meant. That is what it means. It is enthusiasm and love for the out-of-doors. It is craziness and learning hard skills. It is awesome people and mind-penetrating settings. It is so many different things to so many different people. It is inspiration ammunition.

We, the members of the DOC, must figure out how best to arm people. Over the past year, we have done many things in this regard. Basic Leader Training arose from the purpose of developing a program to introduce people to the outdoors, the DOC, and to leadership in general. The ideas of Walker Holmes '00 and Maria Calvi '00 were invested into the first section of BLT during Spring 1998. The program was an unbelievable success. Participants learned outdoor skills, group dynamics, logistics, and risk management. They had a great fun time at Velvet Rocks, the BEMA, the Green, Oak Hill, and Gile Mountain. Since then, BLT has been run every term, including two sections during the summer term. Leaders have included Sarah Taylor '00, Anthony Accurso '99, Lydia Dixon '01, and Melanie Watts '99, some of whom were participants during previous terms! BLT arms people with knowledge of DOC opportunities and leadership skills.

The DOCTour program was developed last spring, and initiated in the summer under the direction of Matt Hood '00. The program is centered around DOC student office hours held in Rm 13 Robinson Hall. Renee Gambell '00 continued leading the program through the winter. She initiated "smoke-talks" by impressive DOC members who have had some incredible adventures. DOCTours arms people with information and consistency.

The GO-Out! program, Group Organized Outings, continues to be available for Dartmouth groups to take advantage of the DOC's resources and opportunities. Molly Feltner '01 and Jessi Halverson '00 have organized several outings with UGA groups and other campus organizations.

As always, the DOC member clubs provide the outing club with the foundations for awesome trips and skill-learning opportunities, as well as environments for people who love to climb, or boat, or hike, or ride, or farm, or ski, or... The past year has seen a Cabin and Trail expedition to Bolivia and a Snowboarding Club Spring Break to the Italian Alps. It has also seen a great Mascoma Race, a soon-to-be doubled climbing gym, and an incredibly active organic farm. The clubs are stronger than ever.

Liz French '99 and Nathaniel Wells '00 served the club extremely well as vice-presidents. During the fall, Liz stepped in as acting president and during the fall and winter Nathaniel was acting vice-president. As chairs of the DOC Advisory Council, they shaped its role in the DOC. The discussions from the monthly meetings were valuable to members and member clubs.

The Outdoor Programs Office staff commit themselves to the DOC. David Hooke '84 and Brian Kunz are advisors and friends. The DOC thanks them and the other behind-the-scenes people, including the great Kathy Decato, Earl Jette '55A, Larry Hathorn, Scott Stokoe, Ashley ASE Thomas '91, and Lynne Aylesworth (whom we will miss).

The DOC has encountered several issues in the past year which have caused it careful thought. What is the DOC? Who controls and is responsible for the DOC? What is the DOC's role as a member of the Dartmouth Community? We will continue to find more questions in light of these. Answers are found in action.

In the near future, the DOC will be afforded many opportunities to continually redefine itself. A new Dean, a new President, and a huge student life initiative could give the DOC more resources and a more prominent place in Dartmouth life. The DOC will be afforded sunny days.

It has been a year. Thank you for your smiles. The DOC looks forward to inspiring a new group, and to giving it the ammunition to inspire others.

More about the DOCTours Program

DOCTours is a new program this year, beginning in the summer of 1998. It was initiated with the purpose of providing a student-run DOC office. Several students involved in the DOC volunteer to staff room 13 in Robinson Hall for about two hours each per week. The students answer the phone, reply to any blitzes to the DOC account, and help anyone who stops by with questions. In return for their service, the students receive Outdoor Programs Office staff privileges. These privileges include free cabin rentals, free rentals at Dartmouth Outdoor Rentals, free climbing gym pass, and a free Moosilauke Ravine Lodge Pass. In the winter, the Lodge pass was replaced with a season trail

pass for the golf course and Oak Hill cross-country ski trails.

The summer and fall terms of '98 were headed up by Matthew Oliver Hood. He, along with his trusty crew, Chris Saccardi '97, Ben Berk '00, and Jonny Waldman '00, served lemonade to thirsty visitors and held sign-ups for major events such as the Fifty-Mile Hike. They also co-hosted a delicious, vegetarian-friendly barbecue with Ski Patrol.

In the winter of '99, the DOCTours were Jolyon Rivoir-Pruszinski '00, Matt Hood '00, Lydia Dixon '01, Ben Berk '00, Dan Becker '00, and Renee Gambell '00, who also served as director of the program. The winter saw the start of weekly informal discussions sponsored by DOCTours. Those who came and shared their adventures included Lorissa Foster '00 (volunteering in Nepal), Pat Leslie '01 and Rich Harvell '01 (trekking in Greenland), Ben Berk '00 (Semester-at-Sea), and Justin May '00 (experiential education in Alaska). The discussions were a great opportunity for students to learn about what other students are doing when they are not here, and how. It is also a great chance to share yummy cookies!

DOCTours looks forward to greater publicity in the coming year. We hope that more students will become aware of what we and the DOC have to provide. In the spring of '99 we will be instituting a volunteer database. The purpose of this is so that those people who are particularly generous with their time can be recognized. Renee Gambell '00 will be directing the program again in the spring, supported by veterans Lydia Dixon '01 and Matt Hood '00 and a couple of newcomers to the program.

- Ben Berk '01, DOC President

General Manager

Last year I ended my report by saying

The spring term is a time of great ferment and excitement in the DOC, and this year is particularly so, with ideas from membership promotions to new office hours to leadership training and much more all struggling to become reality, new people getting involved, and endless exciting questions. I look forward to seeing how these ideas turn out...

Looking back a year it is almost shocking to realize that so many things that are fixtures now were only ideas then. Ben Berk '00s Presidents Report gives a lot of the details, but it must be said that Ben's leadership has truly been central to bringing the club to its new heights. Two new ideas stand out when viewed from the long perspective.

The DOCTours program, Ben's baby from the start, has found some of the club's oldest and wisest members running office hours in the late afternoon, and hosting slideshows and other talks. The effect has been remarkable. Dear old Room 13, which had been somewhat forlorn since the club's return to Robinson in '96, is now a hive of activity. People are dropping in to find out what's going on (actually abandoning Blitz for face to face contact!), attempting, if briefly, to study, and are perpetually scheming about plans. Prospective students come by and actually find a living breathing student–or perhaps several–willing to tell them about the club. Now if only we could persuade the powers that be to allow us make the lobby more attractive for all Robinson inhabitants, with more pictures and displays, the place would be a true and remarkable hub of campus life.

The Basic Leader Training program is another millennial shift resulting from Ben's energy. After years of talking about it, the DOC finally has a central leadership training program, and a lot of people have taken part in it. It took a while to find a way to make this part of the DOC culture, but it has taken hold now.

So to you Ben, a salute. You have left a wonderful mark on the DOC.

DOC has been in the thick of the discussion about the Trustees' new residential and social life initiative. A focus has been the idea of a true "DOC House" to be primarily a place for meetings, feeds, and so on, possibly with shop and work space, trips staging area, storage, archives, and other functional spaces, where the club can convene. Where and how this would happen, and how this would relate to the existing Robinson hub, are subjects to resolve. The challenge is how to create a space that does not suffer the fate of the 1929 DOC House, which was just a bit too big to be warm, and too far away to be central.

Many other threads woven by many other people have strengthened the fabric of the DOC. Woodsmoke issues came out in late spring and again in fall, the work in particular of Rebekka Brooks '01 and Jen Taylor '01. Al Lam '01 grabbed the bull by the horns and completely revitalized the Cycling Club, putting it on a screaming racing schedule–Anne Wadlow and Barbara Peterson-Cremer '01s did the same with Boots and Saddles, gaining the club's re-activation in the DOC. Liz French '99 was stoic as VP and acting President, organizing a huge Fall weekend among many other thankless but highly club-expanding tasks. Nathan Wells '00 did yeoman duty as Acting VP this fall and winter, and the result was a vastly strengthened and revitalized DOC Advisory council, which has already proved its worth in numerous discussions, and stands ready to do more. Scott Stokoe, the Organic Farm manager has been a magnet for ESD and Farm-connected people, stirring a ferment of high-level thinking about agriculture and the environment that is in the best tradition of DOC. A Center for Sustainable Living is now being seriously discussed, and it is hard to imagine that the idea could have gone anywhere without the Farm's impetus. Many C&T hands finally completed the work on Happy Hill Shelter, and it was dedicated in a rousing mid-summer ceremony. Finally for the Appalachian Trail, Bruce Curtis-McLane's tireless organization got us through the Ice Storm cleanup, and his job of Adopter Coordinator now passes to Hunter Rieseberg, who has already stirred up excellent participation among the Adopters. You and many others I have not mentioned have given more than was asked. On behalf of the College and the DOC past, present and future, I thank you.

Lynne Aylesworth's departure after 2 1/2 years as business assistant leaves a big hole to be filled. Lynne's perpetual good cheer and hard work will be much missed by DOCers.

There are a lot of other people who give generously of their time and energy to make things happen. Here are a few:

DOC Advisory Committee
Kevin Peterson '82
Willem M. Lange '57A
Dean Dan Nelson '75
Professor Andrew Garrod
Dean Peter Goldsmith
Susan Folger
Professor David Kotz '86
Jeanie McIntyre
Professor Terry Osborne
Randy Spydell '73

Safety Review Board
Jim Mason, Chair
Dr. Alex Reeves
Marcia Colligan
Dr. Michael Mayor
Earl Jette '55A

LCC Board and Overseers
Creigh Moffatt
Tom Hietzman
Dean Dan Nelson '75
Diana Munson '82
Billy Nutt '76
Daniel Johnson
Dan Lambert '92
Jay Evans '49
Walker Weed '40
Vail Haak '49
Herve Garant '90
Andy Mann

Club Advisors
Sally Boillotat, Boots and Saddles
Dr. Alex Mamourian, Biathlon
Professor Andy Friedland, ESD
Professor Leslie Sonder, Mountaineering
Richard "Pokey" Low, Ski Patrol

Appalachian Trail Advisory Committee
Dr. Robert W. Averill '72
Bert Gilbert
Pete Richardson

Thank you, one and all, for your dedication to this organization. It really wouldn't be the same club without your support - moral, physical, and otherwise.

The DOC's sights are high, as they deserve to be. To Lydia Dixon and Pat Leslie '01s, who are the newly-elected President and Vice President, and to all the many dedicated student officers, here's to a great year ahead. The possibilities are endless.

Financial Report

The following financial report allows some approximate estimations of the level of activity in clubs. Note that income is negative, net expense positive, per the College's accounting convention.

  1998
Gross
Revenue		 1998
Net
Expense		 1999
YTD
Gross
Revenue		 1999
YTD
Net
Expense
Central Pool Clubs
  Biathlon0000
  Cycling0774-105322
  Directorate-33661287-17952793
  Mountaineering-29701474-2931384
  Riding00-204601
  Snowboarding0373-313148
  Service/Go Out013000
  Ski Patrol -1214607-2424386
  Women in the Wilderness-534597-256228
  Total-80845242-53905862
Endowed Clubs
  Bait and Bullet0403098
  Cabin and Trail
    General-491793-621191
    Trails and Shelters0132102429
    Forestry team-390959-150928
    Woodsmens Weekend-528878966
    Instruction-1471133-119594
    Trips-28473778-8411189
    Total-91638773-11726397
  ESD-90417-113438
  WInter Sports0500251
Self-funded Clubs
  LedyardLedyard figures are not yet available.

Some notes:

  1. 1999 YTD does not include
    1. DMC Spring trip, gross revenue 4,082. Several costs have not yet been paid
    2. C&T Spring woodsmens meet costs
    3. Any vehicle miles for month of April.
  2. 1999 YTD does include
    1. Gear lost at fall weekend, expensed to Directorate (approx $1050.)
    2. 2 WEC courses for Ski patrol, which were not in the budget in prior years.

- David Hooke '84, DOC General Manager

DOC Trainer

Leader Training

The DOC basic leader training course (BLT) has become very popular since its debut in 1998. Classes are held every term, and often they are offered twice/week in order to meet the demand. During the sessions the group hikes, performs a mock rescue, learns emergency procedures, and has a great time together. They receive real experience as a leader and forge strong bonds as friends.

DOC Club Partners

The partnership arrangement between clubs and their OPO staff partner continues to solidify as Clubs increasingly find it effective to work closely with one partner who can help them create safe and effective programs. Ledyard, DMC and WIW meet regularly with me, and I have personally enjoyed working with them.

Daniels Climbing Gym

The Gym is dedicated to the memory of Jonathan Belden Daniels '86, an avid outdoorsman and active member of the DMC who died in an avalanche in Poland's Tatra Mountains. Daniels was instrumental in establishing the climbing classes which have taught hundreds of Dartmouth students how to climb.

Thanks to a generous gift from the Drake Family, in honor of their son Charles W. (Chuck) Drake '90 and Josh Hane '89 who were killed in an avalanche on Alaska's Mount Hunter, a new gym will be built in the adjacent racquetball court and will be called the Charles W. (Chuck) Drake '90 and Josh Hane '89 Leadership and Training Room. This new gym will be used for climbing classes, special skills training sessions, and major climbing events. This addition will help meet the needs of the many climbers on campus. The gym will be built this year and be ready for operation fall term.

Both gyms are located in the basement of the Maxwell dormitories. They are open to students, faculty, college employees and affiliate members of the Dartmouth Outing Club. John Joline '70 manages the gym. The manager oversees the monitors, route setting, equipment and pass sales for the gym.

Leadership and Training Fund

This fund allows us to bring in experts and resources to teach outdoor skills including leadership training for the DOC and its member clubs. This year we brought climbing guides from North Conway to run a top rope certification program for the DMC. This certification was instrumental in allowing DMC student instructors to head up a student run PE climbing class with head instructor Thad Law '99. This spring we plan to offer a workshop on how to manage multi-pitch climbing stances and how to organize a rappel while guiding.

Rock Climbing Programs

The typical outdoor class meets once a week for four hours and travel to Rose Ledges in Western Massachusetts for a full day of climbing at least once a session. Students master the skills of belaying, anchoring, tying-in, and climbing. In the advanced class the group is smaller by design and meets five hours every week and the highlight of the course is the weekend "Gunks" trip. The advanced students focus on climbing technique and fitness training. Classes continue to be popular, and we have added an intermediate class, which focuses on the indoor climber who wished to learn how to climb outdoors. The head instructors for these classes include Thad Law '99, John Joline '70, and Jed Eliades. Brian Staveley '98 taught advanced technique classes with great success in the climbing gym.

Rental Program

Robinson Outdoor Rentals has had a very successful year financially and was finally able to break even. In addition, we added telemark skis, boots, and poles to the inventory, purchased new tents, lanterns and headlights, and turned over older gear for new. We offer bike repair sessions every week. Our main purpose is outfitting club trips, Outdoor Programs PE classes and catering to the recreational needs of Dartmouth students. Rentals is open Monday through Friday from 12-6:30 p.m.

Groulx Mountain Spring Break Trip

This year we had twelve participants on the trip, and we explored far to the east to the shores of Lac Lucie. Many leaders of the Outing club joined the expedition, including Earl Jette, Director of Outdoor Programs. We had more snow than we could imagine, and we also had a couple of days of wind and poor visibility that made for some challenging navigation. Now there is talk of building our own cabin up in the Groulx!

Winter Mountaineering

Billings Cabin was filled to capacity at the beginning of Winter Break this December as fourteen students participated in the annual Winter Mountaineering Skills Course offered by Educational Programs. The weather was warm and we had a limited supply of ice and snow at lower elevations, but on Mount Washington we had ideal conditions for winter mountaineering. We climbed at Tuckerman Ravine twice, Crawford Notch once and were able to aid climb at the north end of Cathedral.

Ropes Course and New Games

Instructor training for the ropes course has produced a group of well-trained instructors that can lead groups in team building activities. The instructors led adventure team-building activities for: thirty-six First-Year Students in the Leadership Development Program (LDP), fifty Dartmouth students in the Women in Leadership at Dartmouth Program sponsored by the Rockefeller Center, and twenty-four Seniors active in the SEC.

Many new programs were added this year as we continue to provide teambuilding for a variety of Campus programs including Tuck Bridge Program for undergraduates from around the country, the Tuck Lead Program for minority high school students.

Dartmouth Out-of-Doors

The Dartmouth Out of Doors class offered through Collis Miniversity attracted a great group of sophomores during summer term. We whitewater rafted, rock climbed, and did the ropes course. We will be offering this course again this summer.

Northern Forest in summer and winter

This new addition to our PE class offerings exposed students to the wonderful flora and fauna of New England. Alcott Smith, local vet took us on some wild adventures during the summer and winter terms. We saw bear sign, coyote, and moose and discovered many interesting plants and habitats. Participants developed a new appreciation for Dartmouth's wonderful location in northern New England.

DOC Trips

The '98 Trips program was a remarkable success thanks to all of the hard work and enthusiasm of the student and faculty volunteers. With over one thousand first-years signed up come September 1, 1998, we were ready for the biggest Trips program in recorded history! Aside from a couple of new trips, the format of the program remained relatively the same. The statistics are as follows:

This year, sections A, G, and I were the most popular trip sections and kayaking and rock climbing were the most popular trip choices. To my great excitement, two new trips were added to the already impressive list of options for first-years to choose from. Due to the enormous amount of interest in the previously offered mountain biking trip, and the resurgent popularity of road-biking in the DOC cycling club, I decided to add a road-biking trip this year. Earl Jette was rightfully hesitant because of the problems road-biking had caused in the past, with flat tires and lost trippees, but after long safety meetings with experienced road bikers, we determined the trip would succeed. We decided to keep the trip small (5 trippees) and to have a support vehicle standing by in case of any equipment failures.

Chris Root '00 of the Cycling Club was very helpful in organizing the route and tuning up bikes for the '02s; he acted as leader for the trip. The nicest part about the road bike trip is that, transportation-wise, they are completely self-sufficient. After doing a warm-up lap around the green the six bikers sped down West Wheelock, across the river and up Vermont Route 5. They spent the night at a camp which used to be run by Put Blodgett '53. The second day they rode back into New Hampshire, through Lincoln, and wound up at Ritchie Smith Cabin, which was not being utilized by any other DOC trips. The very best part of the trip is that they rode themselves into Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, ate some dinner, did some salty-dogging, and then rode themselves back to Hanover the next day. When I saw them pull into Hanover before the first of the busses had arrived back, smiling from ear to ear as they did a victory lap around the green, I knew the trip had been a success. I would recommend keeping the trip for next year, perhaps having co-leaders, and limiting it to one section, due to the small strain it put on Hanover Crew to shuttle their gear.

Last year after Trips, there was a lot of excellent discussion about the idea of incorporating service into freshman trips. This suggestion was made in the prior year by Dean Scott Brown of the Tucker Foundation. This discussion of service led to several ideas about ways in which we could integrate our notion of service into the program as well as other ways in which we could improve the trips program to reflect all aspects of the greater DOC. We considered the following ideas:

After a lot of productive discussion, we decided on a trail-working trip. We felt this trip would accomplish the two tasks of providing a service trip, and introducing first-years to one of the most important services the DOC, specifically Cabin and Trail, provides to the community, namely trail maintenance. Earl Jette and David Hooke helped design the trip which involved cutting a section of new trail from the Fish and Game Camp in the Second College Grant to the remote Lamb Valley Pond. The trip was kept small for safety reasons, and was co-led by two experienced trail-workers, Christina Glastris '01, and Josh Berman '00. Hawkeye King '00, a dedicated member of C&T, helped out by teaching the trippies the use of trail work tools and techniques. When I met up with the group at the lodge, they were easily recognizable as the loudest and dirtiest bunch there. After having cut over a mile of fresh trail, they all deserved to feel excited and proud of their achievement. I would definitely recommend that this trip be offered in future years, with the possibility of expanding it to more than one section. We all know there will always be a surplus of trail work to be done, and the trip was a huge success.

Leader training continued to remind leaders of the importance of good risk assessment and group dynamics skills. The mandatory two-evening seminar training and weekend during the spring and the summer taught upperclassmen how to be approachable and safe leaders. In all of the hype surrounding trips, I think it is easy to forget what an enormous responsibility it is to be in charge of twelve first-year students, some of whom have never been in the outdoors before. In leader training, both the gravity and the privilege of this responsibility were stressed. All leaders arrived the night before their trip section this year, and canoed to Gilman Island to review the material learned in the spring or summer. Although this additional training at Titcomb has only been happening for three years, I feel it is a vital part of preparing to lead a trip, and it is important for leaders to meet and become acquainted with their co-leaders and the other leaders on their section before they meet their trippees.

Another small, but important change this year, was to implement a composting program at the Ravine Lodge. If you think of ALL THOSE EARS OF CORN being converted into fertilizer rather than ending up in a dumpster, it is easy to see why we had less than one-fifth the garbage this year than any previous year. In addition to being ecologically sound, we also saved money by not having to pay to pile more garbage on the Warren dumpsite. Nicole Sanger '99 was instrumental in setting up this program and she deserves thanks for that, in addition to being a super Lodge Crew Chief. As great as the composting was this year, we have a few suggestions for how to improve it in the future. During leader training, trip leaders should be instructed to collect all of the compostable waste material from their trips, such as orange peels and leftover cous-cous in one plastic bag, and non-compostable waste in a separate bag. This way when they get to the lodge, their compostable material can easily join the rest of the lodge compost, and the only thing thrown away would be the plastic bag. There would be even less trash generated if trip leaders could remember this simple task.

Every year changes are made to the Trips program. My only hope is that the program continues to get better and better every year. I think of my term as Freshman Trips Director as one of the greater lessons in management that anyone could ever have, and the most fun I have ever had helping other people have fun. It is the oldest, and–I feel qualified to say–best student-run orientation program in the country. Without the help of all the willing and dedicated volunteers it could not possibly have been as unbelievable as it was. For the record, I want to thank each and every one of you for giving me the greatest trip of my life. I will treasure this experience forever, and I look forward to coming back and leading trips as an alumna. Last but certainly not least, David Hooke deserves a medal for his hard work.

Without a doubt, Trips '98 was awesome!

- Amanda Eaken '99, DOC Trips Director 1998

Boots and Saddles

This year, Boots and Saddles was reactivated into the DOC after a several year hiatus. In the spring, we started going to Directorate meetings and held our first meetings to write a constitution and gather interest for the club so that in the fall when we returned, we were able to be reactivated. In the fall we put together Dartmouth's first Dressage Team and went to two competitions at which our team performed admirably. We also hosted two days of trail rides, both for experienced and inexperienced riders up at the Dartmouth Riding Center at Morton Farm. We feel that our first active term went relatively smoothly, and we look forward to becoming larger and more active in the coming terms as our organization solidifies.

- Anne Wadlow '01 and Barbara Peterson-Cremer '01, Co-Chairs

Cabin and Trail (C&T)

Cabin and Trail had a successful and busy year. Many more people started coming to and contributing to Monday night meetings, several new heelers were begun on their way to leadership, and much fun was had by all.

Weekend trips included a two day hike of our Vermont section of the AT, a Franconia-Kinsman notch overnight, several Moosilauke trips, and of course, a few epic trips to the Grant. Diner Tour has proceeded in full force, and we've had a few great feeds: Thanksgiving at Foley, for one, and breakfast at the Rock.

Much was accomplished in the work-trip end of things. The Happy Hill Shelter in Norwich, VT was finally finished up this fall (the stone foundation was a new challenge for us), and work has begun on a shelter at Ore Hill off of Atwell Hill Rd. We went out several times this winter and felled trees. To make things more peaceful, educational, and inclusive, we've been using only hand tools to do the work. Everyone can participate in felling the trees, limbing them, and cutting them to length, which is done with cross-cut saw, axe and bowsaw. Hopefully we will succeed in building the whole shelter without using a chainsaw. Sign making has gotten back in gear, with a new inventory and many signs finished or in progress.

The Woodsmen's Team went to McGill as usual this winter and, as usual, were rather low in performance, but #1 in fun. We are heading to Finger Lakes Community College in NY this very weekend, after a mere two weeks of practice. The team has made a great effort to get in shape in this limited amount of time.

Cabin and Trail is looking forward to a great Spring, with at least four heelers ascending at the end and many great trips planned.

Cycling Club

Hopefully this year will be remembered as the beginning of the "renaissance" of the Cycling Club. As the first year of my presidency of the Cycling Club, and probably my last, as I pass the torch onto very eager younger generations, what I hope is that the club has been solidified enough so that the momentum we have built up this year continues well into the future. Last spring, when I first took over the club, I found that it existed as essentially a blitz list, with membership stagnant and top-heavy with older, more experienced riders. I set out to garner more publicity for the club, so that beginners would be attracted to the sport, and hopefully join the club. Another goal was to solidify recreational as well as racing activities, so that everyone would have something to do. Though I must admit that at the beginning I was very shaky at leading the club, making many silly mistakes, we still had a productive season. The trials exhibition we held was a shot in the arm in terms of exposure, where we even made it into the yearbook. The event featured riders hopping up, over, and around man made obstacles, awing the large watching crowds. We also solidified the racing deal with the DOC, which stipulates that money in our budget can go to all the transportation and a third of the race fees. We used the deal numerous times. David Belden '97 performed very well that season, scoring very high on the points board for the Nike ACG race series, while Pat Leslie '01, Ben Miller '01, and Ryan Jones '00 put up some great race finishes. Many people started to race too, including me. Regular meetings were being held, and things looked very rosy at the end of the term.

Summer passed by uneventfully, since many riders were off or had graduated. Everyone was raring to go in the fall, where we attended several races, this time collegiate. We raced at Williams, UMass Amherst, UNH, and UVA. Marc Fenigstein '01, Ben Miller '01, Ryan Jones '00, Patrick Leslie '01, Christian Cutul '01, Rob Dapice '00, and many others continued to rack up great racing finishes during this season while necomers like Lucy Goddard '01, Ben Barnes '02, Andrea Roberts '99, and Marybeth Walsh '02 burst into the race season with great rankings and finished with wide smiles. Some sponsorship pro-deals came in, helping riders repair and upgrade their bikes at the fraction of the regular cost. Companies such as Marzocchi, Nukeproof, and FSA all supported our cause. The winter lulled most riders to hibernation, where bikes changed into skis and snowboards. But besides the core bunch who rode during some or most of the winter for training, the club was very active in re-organization and streamlining. Ryan Jones '00 and Ben Miller '01 joined me in leading the club as co-vice-presidents. We worked on a beautiful sponsorship packet, which was sent to many companies in hopes of securing even more deals. We also looked at race schedules and came up with new ideas. Now it is the spring again, and my term has come full circle. But my hopes that the momentum will keep on going seems fulfilled. This spring term we will attend five races, hold another trials exhibition, and also add recreational group rides for beginners and women to our list of activities. There are ideas of volunteerism on bikes in the air as well.

In all, this year was a very successful one. Ten races were attended with school support, thirty new members were signed up, seven new drivers were added, and three new leaders were admitted by the DOC's standards. Meetings were held, recreational events were put on or at least planned, and outside help from manufacturers was secured. The future looks even brighter. Racing seems pretty solid this term, and the Second Annual trials exhibition may be joined by an All-DOC affair. Liz French '99 and Lydia Dixon '01, two of our leaders, will be leading beginner group rides to local trails on Wednesday or Thursday. Lydia Dixon is also trying to organize women-only group rides in order to solidify the comradeship among the females of the club. Finally, I am working currently with some of the recreational departments in the area to organize rides or trips led by Dartmouth students for younger kids interested in mountain biking. Hopefully the base that we built these last few terms will be strong enough for others to take the club to new heights in the future.

- Alric J. Lam '01

Dartmouth Mountaineering Club (DMC)

Dartmouth climbers pulled down harder than ever before in New England, out west and beyond this year. During off terms in the winter, Matt Holmes '00 climbed with the Los Alamos Climbing Club at White Rock, Penitente, and Jack's Canyon, and Jon Waldman '00 fared well during a month-long escapade at Red Rocks and Hueco. Back in Hanover, despite the warm weather, Thad Law '99 led the Black Dike on Cannon Cliff. Middlebury's Matt Wilder won Dartmouth's third annual intercollegiate climbing competition, but a month later our own Brian Staveley '98 took the prize at Middlebury's climbing comp. The DMC also made a fabulous showing at Hampshire College's comp, with Ben Fuller '98 winning the men's division and Ann De Bord '99 winning the women's division. Our annual spring break pilgrimage out west, this year to Hueco, was again a wonderful success due to steep rock, cheap bread and warm sun. While some of us worked the beta on classics including Moonshine Roof and Sex After Death, and others lounged and read books, Gus Moore '99 and Thad Law '99 made a nude ascent of Indecent Exposure, providing an unparalleled view for everyone below at the Mushroom Boulder.

As the weather warmed up and club members returned to local crags, Bobby Hardage '99 began a meticulous and productive search for as yet undiscovered boulders in the area. Ben Fuller spent almost every weekend bouldering at the Gunks and snagged the fifth ascent of the difficult Illustrious Buddha. DMCers also confirmed their reputation on campus by hosting a fabulous party centered around a giant pool of blue jello.

During the summer, ten of us met up at Kentucky's Red River Gorge, and found the long steep sandstone a welcome variation from New Hampshire's granite slabs. Pat Leslie '01 and Rich Harvell '01 spent two months trekking and adventuring in Greenland, and Thad Law and Rusty Talbot '99 climbed many of the Cascades' snowy volcanoes. Luke Cudney '97, Kevin Tompsett '00 and Jon Waldman made a quick trip out to Wyoming's Cirque of the Towers and climbed the classic Pingora.

Fall was the most active term for the DMC. We were happy to have many new and experienced freshmen join the club, including Freddie Wilkinson '02 and Bart Paull '02, who during their first weeks here made a quick ascent of Cannon's VMC Direct Direct. We visited Cannon, the Gunks, Rumney, and Cathedral, and a few students gave up a weekend to partake in an AMGA instructors course. Former DMCer Andy Tuthill '78 talked about some of the amazing climbs he did during his years with the club long ago, and Bobbi Bensman came to town, inspiring us with her slide show. She also taught a clinic in our climbing gym, which is soon to be doubled in size, thanks to the dedication of John Joline '70 and a donation from the Drake Family, in memory of their son Charles W. (Chuck) Drake '90 and Josh Hane '89. As the term came to a close and the snow began to fall, Chris Reidy '01 and Chris Leander '01 began planning an upcoming expediton to Nepal, and Thad, Freddie and Rusty prepared for a winter trip to Katahdin. Immediately after exams, eight lucky club members drove out to Las Vegas, where a few climbers onsighted 5.12 and Matt Holmes sent The Gift.

Environmental Students at Dartmouth (ESD)

Composting was ESD's focus in Spring 98, and the center of a successful Earth Day. ESD members worked with Bill Hochstin of Dartmouth Recycles and Woody Eckles of the Office of Residential Life to help design the system for collecting compostable waste from dining and residence halls. On Earth Day, over 400 Dartmouth students signed the Composting Pledge as part of the campaign to kick off the promotion of composting.

Earth Day also featured a panel discussion in 105 Dartmouth Hall, bringing together faculty and staff from many departments and offices to discuss where Dartmouth stands in terms of the environment, and where it is going.

Spring also saw the introduction of the SPARC (Save Power and Receive Cash) program to the campus, thanks to the efforts of Kyle Teamey '98. The program encourages students to reduce the waste of electricity in their residence halls by returning the monetary savings for doing so to them, with an extra $100 prize going to the dorm that reduces its electric use by the greatest percentage. In its initial term, running in half of the dorms on campus, SPARC returned almost $1400 to students, and prevented the release of nearly 44 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Spring also saw the introduction of the "Waste Warrior"–a large, green, metal container for recycling on each dorm floor–to half of the residence halls on campus. ESD members helped determine where the bins could fit, and began emptying them on a weekly basis.

Summer '98 saw the continuation of SPARC, the installation of more Waste Warriors, and the beginning of composting at the new Dartmouth/Hanover composting facility, two miles south of campus. In addition to coordinating these programs, ESD members were active in the fields of Dartmouth's Organic Farm.

By Fall 1998 SPARC was in operation campus-wide, there were composting bins in all dining and residence halls, and over 70 Waste Warrior bins were busy collecting recyclables in the 21 residence halls they could fit into. Dartmouth now had the infrastructure in place for successful recycling, composting, and energy-conservation programs. The success of these programs, however, depended entirely on student coordination and cooperation, and the task of running all three conservation programs was becoming full-time work. In response, Nicho Dankers '01 began the ECO–the Environmental Conservation Organization. Run through the Tucker Foundation, the ECO is a network connecting student representatives in each residence hall, student interns in many college offices, and faculty and staff advisors from various departments and offices–all working together to promote resource conservation, reuse, and recycling at Dartmouth.

ESD was busy during the Fall with the Organic Farm's Harvest Festival, a mid-October trip to Ritchie Smith Cabin, and a trip to Craftsbury Vermont to take part in the Northern Forest Alliance's annual "Pathways to Protection" conference. ESD also held weekly EcoStews–student-cooked dinners at which members sat down with a guest from the Dartmouth and/or Hanover environmental community for an informal chat.

Winter '99 was a time of change for ESD in many ways–all of them good.

Feeling that, especially in light og the creation of the Environmental Studies Program at Dartmouth, a new name was needed to clarify the club's identity and purpose, ESD changed its name from "Environmental Studies Division" to "Environmental Students at Dartmouth". The name change was approved by vote of the DOC Board on February 25, 1999.

The name change corresponded with a changing role for ESD. With the ECO under ECO Coordinators Nicho Dankers and Joceyln Leavitt 01, having taken on the job of maintaining and improving Dartmouth's resource conservation programs, ESD became freed up to do a lot more of what it was founded to do–awareness and activism, on campus and off.

In Winter 1999, ESD sought to educate itself by continuing weekly EcoStews and beginning a series of student presentations. The club promoted paper reuse by making over 100 notebooks of Kiewit scrap paper and giving them away to students, along with information about the benefits of paper reuse and recycling. ESD also promoted reuse by giving gifts (i.e. candy) to students using Enviro-mugs. ESD promoted reduction by collecting over 200 signatures to stop junk mailings to Hinman boxes.

The club also sent members through the Basic Leader Training program for the first time, and created a new website: <http://www.dartmouth.edu/~esd/esd.html>.

Off campus, ESD began work to join in on environmental education programs with local elementary schools. ESD also became an official chapter of the Sierra Student Coalition in order to, with the help of NH Coordinator Tom Elliott and the Hanover Conservation Council, keep up to date and help with regional and national conservation campaigns.

ESD members also spent a weekend at Stoddard Cabin in the Grant, took a tour of the Dartmouth/Hanover composting plant, sponsored and attended the Organic Farm's winter event, and traveled to MIT in Boston to take part in the New England Student Activism Conference.

Much has changed with ESD in the past year, and as spring begins again, with plans of another Earth Day, more EcoStews, more conferences, more campaigns and speakers, the club is as active as ever. In particular, many '02s have become dedicated and enthusiastic members, and have quickly worked their way into positions of leadership within the club. In their hands, ESD's future looks bright.

Ledyard Canoe Club

Boaters who thought that Ledyard had a good year in 1997-1998 did not expect 1998-1999 to be a better year, but they were wrong! From squirt boats to sea kayaks, the diversity and number of Ledyard trips increased dramatically. Traditional events continued and new trips emerged to create a memorable year.

Paddlers wasted no time upon returning from Spring Trip and took advantage of New England's whitewater. Trips went out to Pond Brook, the Smith, and the Pemigewasset within the first week back! The 35th annual Mascoma Race saw a highly competitive field of racers compete in the historic slalom race organized by Margot Knight '99. Trip to the Sea saw 23 students and 2 alumni, led by John Magyar '98, paddle from Hanover to the Atlantic Ocean in one week. Although they never quite got to see the sun during that period, the rain did not dampen their spirits, and a strong senior class bonded one last time before graduation. Students were greeted one spring evening by the ghost of John Ledyard himself (a.k.a. Jay Evans '49), as he spoke about, and showed a slideshow of, Ledyard history over the last eight decades. Temperatures warmed early in the spring, and spring director Kari Crowe started off a great business year. Interest in the club increased as the days got longer and the rivers got warmer.

As the spring term came to end, so too did some of the little problems that have plagued the clubhouse over the years. The lighting in the clubhouse was replaced, and new lights were added to the canoe shed. The fireplace and the electrical wiring were repaired. Plans to ensure handicap access to the club were laid out, and extensive renovations to the clubhouse, kitchen, and bathroom were organized.

Summer started off with a bang with the Ledyard grand opening, bringing students and non-students down to the club. Ledyard bridge construction did not keep anyone off of the river this year! The warm sunny weather bought boaters to the Connecticut and made for great paddling at Hartlands, the Penobscot, and the Kennebec. Jolyon Rivoir-Pruszinski '00 led his classmates back from the upper reaches of the Connecticut on a superb Sophomores from the Source trip. Nick Koshnick '01 organized the 6th Annual Ledyard Canoe Club Classic, a pro-am marathon canoe race, on July 5 with a qualified field of racers. Nick, Jolyon, Mike Pirozzi '00, and Brett Golden '99 took advantage of the hurricane season and ended the summer kayak surfing at Hampton Beach.

DOC Trips began the fall term as usual, and Ledyard members spread stories of overzealous moose throughout the Second College Grant. Even with the moose (or is it meese?), the kayaking, flatwater canoeing, and whitewater canoeing trips all went smoothly. After DOC Trips, Colin Keenan '00 led a group of intermediate paddlers to the Black and Beaver Rivers for Fall Trip. Although Dave Lysy '99 drooled endlessly, no one ran the Class V Eagle Section of the Beaver at twice its normal water level. The rest of the term continued with trips to the Upper Ellis, the Kennebec, and several local rivers.

Ski Patrol

The 1998-1999 season saw many positive changes and events for the Dartmouth Ski Patrol, including new projects, new members, and new equipment.

During the spring of 1998 our elected director took one of three leave terms during the year, placing our assistant director at the helm. While the director's absence during spring and summer were relatively inconsequential, her absence during the winter provided our assistant director the opportunity to officially take over as director. By that point patrol was down to three remaining officers (Director Paul Krakow '00, Equipment Officer Nate Wells '00, and Secretary Jen Anderson '99), but they were all very dedicated and able to run patrol. Patrol itself was near 70 strong this year, with close to 40 vested patrollers by the end of the season, and a full 36 apprentices. But let's not get ahead of ourselves...

In the spring patrol provided EMS service for the Mascoma canoe races, which proved to be medically un-eventful. Summer term was also uneventful, although we held a wonderful BBQ through DOC funds.

Fall saw the brief return of our elected Director. The annual recruitment of apprentices was successful, but perhaps a bit too much so. Almost 40 applicants applied, and while selectivity should be paramount for an organization such as our, all applicants were accepted. In an attempt to provide better training and contact with our apprentices, we are considering either stricter acceptance criteria or on-hill skill testing in the winter for selection into the OEC class. Of the almost 40 apprentices, only 15 are eligible and willing to continue as patrollers for the 1999-2000 season.

As was mentioned earlier we had issues this year with officers who were either not present on campus, or not effective as leaders in patrol. The only real problem that manifested was a $500 mystery deficit that occurred during the fall, and was left to the winter officers to rectify. Despite the awful timing of this fiscal problem, patrol was able to purchase a new Cascade Sled, as well as "Dartmouth Skiway Employee" vests for apprentice patrollers to wear while they are at the ski-way. Maybe now Henry will let apprentices up Holts before nine... We resorted to borrowing money from Professional Patroller Matt Fulton '96, and charging our apprentices to make up the difference for the vests. We are discussing the possibility with the DOC of limiting our funds during the off season and increasing our funds in the Fall to make such purchases easier.

This past fall Pam Smith '99 taught our OEC class. She did a wonderful job, as all members of the class passed the OEC exam, and became vested patrollers in the winter. In an effort to increase the number of Sophomores involved in patrol leadership, we are going to hold this year's OEC course in the spring. Additionally two members of the class of '02 have been elected as patrol officers. This will help build some responsibility for patrol in the younger classes.

All in all the 1999-2000 Season is beginning well with an organized and dedicated patrol. I am already looking forward to next winter.

- Paul Krakow OEC, Patrol Director '98-'99

Snowboarding Club

Spring 1998

Lydia Dixon '01, Brad Crevier '01, and Josef Jung '01 headed the club last spring. Though three trips were planned, none ended up going due to lack of DOC drivers willing to drive for trips. We were in contact with a representative of Ride Snowboards in order to perhaps organize some kind of sponsorship. As of the beginning of the summer, we had not heard back from Ride regarding our request. Other projects that were initiated included a proposal for a trampoline in order to facilitate off-season training. That is presently still in the works.

Summer 1998

Antje Herlyn '00 took over the club for the summer.

Fall 1998

Mel Watts '99, Adam Chavez '99, and Lydia Dixon '01 were the leaders of the club this term. One trip to Killington went out in early November, and Adam Wilson '02 planned an end-of-term trip to Sugarbush. It was three days of skiing/riding and three nights in condominiums at Sugarbush, VT. The trip was very successful: 25 people went on it and everyone seemed to have a great time. Our Sugarbush contact in Group Sales wants to try and make this end-of-term trip a regular occurrence every year. In other trips news, Mel and Adam planned Spring Break to Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia.

We also ran a tuning clinic and held several meetings, all of which were well attended. Finally, Ryoji Takeyama '00 spoke with representatives from Ride Snowboards and was able to organize a deal with them for the club through Lebanon Golf and Ski. We received discounts on Ride gear as well as $500 worth of free merchandise, which we used to buy ten Ride hiking backpacks, which were embroidered with both the Ride logo and the Lebanon Golf and Ski logo.

Winter 1999

The same people headed up the club this term as in the fall. Three trips went out–two to Sugarbush, and one to Jay Peak. The Sugarbush trips were co-sponsored with Winter Sports. This was a new venture for the Club; we hadn't co-sponsored any trips in the past. This worked out very well; all the trips were full and we were able to split the cost of van mileage.

We ran a couple of tuning clinics again which were well attended. It was kind of a disappointing snow season over all, but we took advantage of all the white stuff we could get. Unfortunately, however, we were not able to build a snowboarding park at the Dartmouth Skiway due to the severe lack of snow this winter.

Winter term concluded with an incredible spring break trip. It got off to a shaky start due to bad weather and our plane flights, but all 23 of us had a crazy time. The snow was amazing, the mountains were huge, and we were all psyched!

Looking Ahead

Starting small, we need to purchase more tuning gear for the club–namely, wax and clamps. Antje Herlyn '00 and Mel Watts '99 are taking over for the spring, so they will be working on that. We are also hoping to take a few more trips before all the snow is gone–namely to Tuckerman's Ravine and then to a local resort, ideally when there is a competition going on so we can check that out. For spring break next year…well, we can't go much bigger with Jackson two years ago, Cervinia, Italy last year and B.C. this year. The initial inclinations seem to be to head out to Whistler again. We also would like to look into starting a circuit with other colleges and perhaps hosting some kind of gathering at our Skiway next winter. This has been talked about quite a bit; we really should look into actually making it happen. Other than that, the only thing we will be doing is ALWAYS praying for snow!

Winter Sports Club

This winter witnessed a resurgence of the Winter Sports Club. Having been relatively quiet in the last few years, we returned with a host of trips and activities this winter.

Together with the Snowboarding Club we led several trips to local ski resorts, such as Killington and Sugarbush. These one day trips allowed many people who do not have cars to go out and ski at various areas. Conditions were mixed at times due to the fickle weather but all had a great time.

We also organized a seminar on avalanche prediction, safety and rescue techniques with several other clubs. This seminar involved an overnight to Mt. Washington, a hike up to Hojos, a lecture by the Snow Ranger at Mt. Washington and various drills taught by Brian Kunz. We then skied down the Sherbourne trail. This seminar was extremely fun, educational and managed to bring together a diverse group from various clubs in the DOC. We hope to continue this tradition and conduct more of these types of things next year.

For spring term we are planning several more excursions to local ski areas, weather permitting. We are also planning a trip to ski Tuckerman's Ravine itself, in late April/early May. Hopefully the weather will hold this year and the conditions will allow the Ravine to be skied.

For the future we would like to obtain space for our members to tune their equipment and are very interested in the recent proposal of obtaining a DOC house. In addition, we would like to branch out to include snowshoeing, XC-ski trips and possibly winter camping, perhaps in cooperation with other clubs. We're looking forward to a productive and exciting spring term and year ahead.

- Thomas Levi '01

Women in the Wilderness

The early warmth of Spring 1998 allowed enormous adventures in the outdoors–Women in the Wilderness enthusiasts took the season by storm. A growing number of leaders produced by the Basic Leader Training program, established this spring term, thankfully gave the club a broader base of trip leaders. Early in the term, a small group of women enjoyed a Saturday at the organic farm. Another group, led by Lydia Dixon '00 and Walker Holmes '00, braved the mosquitoes for a spontaneous night at Velvet Rocks. The incessant little insects, however, failed to deter the group from enjoying their midnight weekday hike. Perhaps the outdoor feat of the term was the beginner's climbing overnight. Katy Young '00 and Cheryl Shannon '00 guided a full trip of fifteen women through the basics of rock climbing at Stroker Cliff. The trip ended with a short hike to Nunnemacher cabin for dinner and much needed sleep.

WiW was inactive in Summer '98.

Fall '98 brought in the long-awaited flurry of enthusiastic freshwomen. Countless names were added to the blitz list, and small sunday dinners became huge sunday banquets. The club filled the term with trips of all sizes–from a sunset hike up Gile to a weekend at John Rand. Thanks to an enthusiastic partnership with John Joline, Women in the Wilderness sponsored an all women's free climbing day in the climbing gym. The event was an enormous success, with over fifty women in the gym over the course of the day. The numbers included both experienced and beginning climbers, all excited about the seldom-before-seen abundance of women in the gym. There are plans to hold a women's free day in the climbing gym every term.

In Winter '99, Women in the Wilderness ventured out under the January blue moon for a dinner and full moon snowshoe. And again, the traditional Winter Skills Trip, this winter to Hinman cabin and surrounding area, was a huge success.

Women in the Wilderness looks forward to another wonderful year in the outdoors. Because the club's present leaders are primarily '99s and 2000's, the club now looks with anticipation toward the young wild women who will lead the club into the years to come.

- C. Walker Holmes 2000

 

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