What is the DMC?

The DMC was founded in 1936 as a student-run club, and carries with it a long history of climbing and mountaineering all around the world. Today it is still student-run, and is officially a branch of the Dartmouth Outing Club. We run climbing trips to Cathedral/Whitehorse Ledges and Cannon in the White Mountains of NH, the Shawanagunks and the Adirondacks in NY, and Rumney, the hard sport climbing mecca of the northeast. Over Spring Break we leave the cold of Hanover for the warmer half of the country, recently exploring areas like Hueco Tanks, Jack's Canyon, Joshua Tree, and Red Rock Canyon.

Mountaineering club members indulge themselves in every form of climbing possible; from the long aid routes on El Capitan to the burly boulder problems of Hueco Tanks; from the loose trad climbs of Cannon to the sharp security of Rumney sport climbing.

The DMC meets every Tuesday night during the term (around 7pm) for a feed and to plan the upcoming weekend's trip. Feeds are usually held in the basement of Mid Fayerweather Dorm.

The DMC is also in part responsible for the campus climbing gym, providing staff and routesetting support. The gym, dedicated to the memory of Jonathan Daniels, is located in the basement of the Maxwell Kade German Center near the River Dorms. Hours are 5 till 11 Sunday through Friday and 5 till 8 on Saturday.

More esoterically, the DMC is a mentality, a desire to do the most within our collective time here at Dartmouth. Members of the DMC share a common drive to excel that extends beyond the rock. Sometimes this enthusiasm is a little too much for the college. The incident of four climbers ascending to the top of Baker Tower stands as only one example.

What do I need to do to Join?

There are no formal requirements for joining the DMC. All we ask is that you be a paid member of the Dartmouth Outing Club. If you are not a member already, you may want to check out the DOC website before heading to Robinson Hall to take care of membership dues (only $35 for your entire Dartmouth student career). Once that is taken care of, blitz the chairs of the Mountaineering Club at mou@dartmouth.edu. They'll take care of you.

Once you are a member of the DMC, your e-mail address will be placed on the "dmc" mailing list and you will begin to receive information on upcoming trips, meetings (or feeds), climbing gym hours, and quick blitzes about on-campus climbs being set up.

How involved you get with the DMC is completely up to you. Some members just come to the climbing gym every now and then for a workout. Others don't spend a single weekend on campus because they are climbing so frequently. The best ways to meet up with people to get involved is to stop by one of the weekly meetings or to come down to the climbing gym in the evening.

DMC Leadership

Just to keep things fresh, the DMC elects new student co-chairs every term. There are also a few adult administrator types who help keep things running smoothely and provide us with a bounty of supplies. Brian Kunz of Outdoor Programs (OPO) is the head honcho when it comes to approving trips and various budgets. Kathy Decato handles all the funds for the DOC and the DMC. If you ever need to pay for a trip or get money for a feed, go see her in Robinson Hall.

That takes care of the "official leadership" of the DMC, but you'll find that numerous climbers take charge of the different trips and other activities. John Joline '70 is a mentor to all Dartmouth climbers and probably the most influential person in the DMC. He teaches lead climbing and technique classes most terms through the PE program and manages the JBD Climbing Gym. If you haven't met John, you're not really a part of the DMC yet.

You'll also find a number of students who do their part to keep the DMC running smoothly. They are the van drivers, old club chairs, and exceptionally motivated kids who keep things from falling apart. You'll know them when you meet them. Thank them when you see them, they'll appreciate it.