Winter Scramble - Camp Muir

Longmire by the gate to Paradise, 8:30am on Saturday morning.

Participants must be willing to have type-2 fun and enjoy the suck. We will certainly not go out in stormy conditions or attempt anything unsafe, but we will not shy away from a little bit of proper December mountain weather, either, and we will treat sunny skies and great visibility all around as a bonus, but not a requirement. Indeed, the hope is it will be cold, maybe even refreshingly windy, and miserably awesome.

The primary purpose of this trip is conditioning for the winter. We will move at the pace of the slowest participant. There is no time pressure on this trip.

All participants must be dialed in on navigation skills, carry a GPS-capable device with a backup source of power, a compass + printed set of Muir snowfield bearings from NPS (and knowledge how to use), and be comfortable traveling by the headlamp and compass/GPS in the dark or in a whiteout (we can expect to have ski tracks to assist in navigation, but we will not depend on them).

Must have have completed AIARE-1, and may need to carry avy gear (depending on the conditions that weekend) for the avy-prone area near Panorama point.

If you have AIARE-1, have previously done some winter camping, your navigation skills are solid, and you are either an experienced scrambler, a Basic grad, or an Intermediate student or grad, you have my permission - please go ahead and sign up. Otherwise, or if you have any questions or doubts, please request leader's permission and describe your experience in snow travel and winter camping.

The plan is to hike to Camp Muir on Saturday, camp in tents overnight, descend back to the cars on Sunday in the morning.

Expect to travel in snowshoes on the way up and crampons in the morning on the way down from Muir.

Due to low temps and possibility of some wind, this trip calls for carrying winter gear (such as 4-season mountaineering boots and tent, 0-degree sleeping bag, and so on).

Please note that we will need to carry all individual gear, including tents (except if you are signing up together with somebody in your "pod" that you don't need to socially distance with). Don't plan on using the shelter (for the same reason).

Further details to be discussed via email.