Sierra Club Wilderness Travel Course (WTC) 2011 - Modjeska Group Snowmageddon
- Updated: October 15, 2011
- Post By: Matthew Hengst
Past the break is a very long quasi chronological sequence of photos following the 2011 Wilderness Travel Course in Orange County with most being specific to Modjeska Group led by Wayne Vollaire and myself along with a staff of hardworking volunteers.
For more information on what WTC is and how to take the course see the official site here. More posts by me can be found here.
This is the year went down in history as the best snow camp snow in recent memory. 30 to 36 inches would come down on us over the three days and two nights we were out there.
We also almost had to abort the climb of 4377' at Joshua Tree due to rain on Saturday but ended up just dealing with some wet sand.
At this time the class was at Red Hill Lutheran Church where we'd stay for two more blissful years before we were crowded out by their own uses and had to move to Santiago College in 2014.
Classroom Sessions
January to March, 2011
Conditioning Hike To Sierra Peak
February 5th, 2011
Joshua Tree Weekend
January 19th & 20th, 2011
This also happened to be my 30th birthday Saturday night which we celebrated around the campfire.
Snow Travel Day At South Fork San Gorgonio
March 5th, 2011
Snow Camp At North Lake aka Snowmageddon!
March 18th to 20th, 2011
Graduation
October 15th, 2011
This is the year went down in history as the best snow camp snow in recent memory. 30 to 36 inches would come down on us over the three days and two nights we were out there.
We also almost had to abort the climb of 4377' at Joshua Tree due to rain on Saturday but ended up just dealing with some wet sand.
At this time the class was at Red Hill Lutheran Church where we'd stay for two more blissful years before we were crowded out by their own uses and had to move to Santiago College in 2014.
Classroom Sessions
January to March, 2011
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| Working registration as students start to arrive |
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| OC students before the first class starts |
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| Wayne addressing Modjeska Group the first night |
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| Dave Evans giving the boot lecture at Class 1 |
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| Me presenting non standard sleeping bag systems |
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| Dan Richter lecturing at the start of class |
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| Edd Cottone talking about how he did the JMT with a homemade backpack |
Conditioning Hike To Sierra Peak
February 5th, 2011
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| Navigation practice along the way |
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| Everyone on the summit |
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| Playing the name game on the summit |
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| Post hike pizza |
Joshua Tree Weekend
January 19th & 20th, 2011
This also happened to be my 30th birthday Saturday night which we celebrated around the campfire.
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| The bus ready to leave pre dawn |
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| Indian Cove Campground |
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| Wendy Miller ready to defend her site |
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| Rock skills practice |
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| Starting up the canyon to 4377 |
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| Students negotiating water hazards |
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| It had rained recently and there was a fair amount of water |
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| On the summit of 4377' |
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| Looking across Indian Cove |
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| Helping someone down the crack near the summit of 4377' |
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| Modjeska Happy Hour |
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| It rained on us lightly later in the night |
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| It got cold enough we found ice on our gear in the morning |
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| Draw your own topo diorama exercise |
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| Loading up the bus after a long weekend |
Snow Travel Day At South Fork San Gorgonio
March 5th, 2011
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| Meeting up early in the morning in Orange County |
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| Getting ready at the parking lot at the South Fork Trailhead of San Gorgonio |
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| Edd and Cheryl from Whitney putting on socks with great enthusiasm |
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| Snowshoes on |
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| San Gorgonio summit from Poopout Hill |
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| The group at Poopout Hill |
Snow Camp At North Lake aka Snowmageddon!
March 18th to 20th, 2011
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| People slowly trickling in at the Irvine Transportation Center |
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| WTC celebrity Bus Drive Bill was once again our driver |
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| Garry wins the award for most organized student this year (and most years honestly) |
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| Grabbing one last meal at Schatz in Bishop |
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| Changing into snow gear at the park in Bishop |
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| Mount Tom as we're heading up the hill from Bishop. This is a good sign... |
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| Unloading at North Lake |
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| Where the bus stops |
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| Looking back at the gate where the bus stops |
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| Packing in towards Sabrina |
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| We had snow all the way but it was a little sparse in a few spots |
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| Fortunately mother nature was going to fix that |
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| Setting up camp in the dark as snow comes down |
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| The snow came down off and on |
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| View of camp Saturday morning |
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| Heading up towards North Lake as a dayhike |
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| Periodically a blast of wind would hit knocking the loose snow around |
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| Snow depth at North Lake |
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| Impromptu dance party for warmth while waiting for the rest of the group |
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| Glissading practice |
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| Kim Bruel done with glissading |
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| Headed back to camp |
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| Meanwhile another group worked on the snow table |
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| Happy Hour Saturday night |
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| The next morning we awoke feeling the sides of the tent pressed in on us. Opening the door found this |
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| Looking out at zipper top level showed it had snowed quite a bit last night |
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| James Montross tent before he got out |
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| Camp as we packed up |
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| Breaking trail coming out |
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| Just able to make out the bus in the distance |
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| Bus Driver Bill reliable as ever |
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| Dry and warm back on the bus |
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| Back in Orange County after driving through heavy rain |
Graduation
October 15th, 2011
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| An array of alcoholic gummy bears and worms |
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| The group leaders handing out certificates |
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| Edd Ruskowitz and company perform around the campfire |
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