Mike's Climbing Blog

Northwest Climbing Links

2012 CLIMBING ACTIVITIES

TRACK CLIMB TEAMS PROGRESS

Current (Climbs in the last 7 days) location via SPOT Satellite messenger

WEATHER, FIRE, SNOW and ROADS

CLIMBING CLUBS and WEBSITES

A big thank you to Bryon Snapp for organizing the clubs first-ever assistant climb leader orientation on January 18, 2012. It was very successful ....and encouraging to see the number of folks who are stepping up to take a role in future club leadership. Attendees included:

Leaders
Bryon Snapp
Mike Niemeyer
Scott Phillips
Steve Dougherty
Jess Palacios

Current Assistants
Jerry Croft
Aslinn Adams
Amy Dale

Aspiring assistants:
Cathy Lazarus
Stephen Rockford
Justin Clark
Simon Boyd
Cipriano Manon
Jason Kabbes
Brad Wood
Dan Harris
Mason Smith
Guy Rodrigue
Brett Millikenas
Mary Wandell (Mary insisted that she is "rock only" and refused to be in the picture but I added her name here as form of peer pressure.)

Also active assistants, or expressing an interest in being an assistant (but not able to attend this event);
Linda Beddard (current assistant)
David Braun
Josh Zielinski
Sean Breslin
Theresa Conley
John Coyer

Mt Washington, North Ridge, August 19, 2012

On August 19, 2012 I'll be leading a Chemeketan club climb of Mt Washington via the North Ridge route. This is a relatively easy rock climb but requires climbers to be in good physical shape and comfortable doing rappels with exposure, climbing on a fixed line and using a prussik. Its a long (12 hr car-to-car) but fun day.

Roster: (Note that inclusion on the roster is not a guaranteed spot on this climb. Climbers must demonstrate prior to the climb that they are in good physical condition for an alpine climb and have the requisite skills and equipment.)
Mike Niemeyer (leader)
Mason Smith
Seth Lucas
Bryan Brenneman
Brett Milliken

Alternates
Jason Kabbes
Bhavani Krishnan
Miranda Yarbrough
Carl Shephard
Guy Rodrique
Mark Olson
Justin Clark

Climb Schedule:

6:30am, We will start by hiking south on the PCT for 3.5 mi. to a climbers cairn marking the climbers trail.

7:30am, Turning east we will head toward the north ridge of Washington. following the contour onto the north ridge
11:00am, We will continue along the last edge of the ridge until turning west to descend around the final pinnacles that lead up to a loose gully and saddle
12:30pm - Here we will don our harnesses and helmets as the next 75 ft. of climbing to the top of the nose is the most difficult on the route
2:00pm- from here we move on to the left leaning chimney where some easy face climbing leads to the top of the nose (Class 4/easy 5) above the nose its unexposed scrambling to a short gully(grade 1)
3:00pm - Summit shots, high fives. Three rappels back down to the notch. hydrate and pack up for the scramble/hike back out the same way we came in.
7:30pm back to the trail head. We may stop in Gates for dinner.
Current Mt Washington area weather

Last minute fires to worry about? A good resource is the Inci-web website to see if there are any fires in our climbing area.
Approach (From Steve Doughtery's Website): Follo

w an unmarked trail along the lake for two or three minutes, to a junction with a second trail called the Patjens Lake Trail. Continue around Big Lake until the trail leaves the shoreline. At an obvious junction, turn left (east). (Continuing straight will lead away from Mt. Washington to Patjens Lake.) Head east for about five minutes. Several spur trails will join the trail from the west, but continue east until the trail splits. Take the right fork for two or three minutes to a clearing with a pile of dead logs on its south side. (The left fork continues around the east side of Big Lake). Turn right (south) in the clearing and follow a wide trail for five minutes to its junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Follow the PCT south for 30 minutes (or about one hour from the road head), to a climbers' trail which goes uphill to the east. The climbers' trail is usually marked by a cairn and is just after a large rock on the left side of the trail. If you reach Coldwater Spring, the only year-round water source on this section of the PCT, you have missed the climbers' trail and hiked about 10 minutes too far. About 150 feet after leaving the PCT, the climbers' trail splits. The right fork can be used for gaining the west ridge or routes on the south face. Follow the left fork until it breaks out of the timber onto the north ridge proper. Drop onto the east face. Continue up the ridge for routes on the north and west faces. As you approach the summit pinnacle, stay on top of the ridge as long as possible. Skirt several towers to the west until you reach the north wall of the summit pinnacle. Move up a short loose gully to a notch just below the northeast side of the mountain. Move right (west) 30 feet and scramble up to a fractured ramp. (I consider there to be two ramps ... take the second.) Climb the ramp up and left 35 feet to the base of a rotten chimney. (Start of chimney is slightly overhung) Climb the chimney and move left, then up, to a ledge with a large block. The block usually contains one or more rappel slings for the descent. About 250 feet of scrambling leads to a second chimney. From the top of the chimney, scramble 100 feet to the summit.

Emergency Info:Leader is carrying a cell phone 503-910-9726 and a SPOT rescue beacon. I'll be sending out OK messages during the climb and can send out a 911 if we run into trouble (or come across another party that needs help.) Willamette National Forest Contact Information 57600 McKenzie Hwy McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413 (541) 822-3381. Linn County Sheriff: 541-967-3950. Detroit Ranger District: 503-854-3366
Equipment:
See this link for equipment lists #1 (10 essentials) and #6 (One-day technical rock climb) Please be sure to have a prussik ready and a piece of personal pro (sling girth-hitched on your harness with a biner on the end) ready to go. Carrying a separate pair of rock shoes for the summit pitches is optional.

See route details and GPS from my previous Mt Washington climbs at http://mikessummits.blogspot.com/search/label/Mt%20Washington
See my July 18th Mt Washinton climb for the full Prospectus

SPOT Waypoints from our August 22nd 2009 climb:
-Latitude:44.3776 Longitude:-121.8811 Nearest Location:not known Distance:not known Time:08/22/2009 19:57:16 (US/Pacific) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44.3776,-121.8811&ll=44.3776,-121.8811&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
-Latitude:44.3508 Longitude:-121.8654 Nearest Location:not known Distance:not known Time:08/22/2009 18:53:03 (US/Pacific) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44.3508,-121.8654&ll=44.3508,-121.8654&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
-Latitude:44.3434 Longitude:-121.8447 Nearest Location:not known Distance:not known Time:08/22/2009 18:11:57 (US/Pacific) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44.3434,-121.8447&ll=44.3434,-121.8447&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
-Latitude:44.3363 Longitude:-121.838 Nearest Location:not known Distance:not known Time:08/22/2009 17:17:43 (US/Pacific) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44.3363,-121.838&ll=44.3363,-121.838&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
-Latitude:44.3333 Longitude:-121.8382 Nearest Location:not known Distance:not known Time:08/22/2009 16:57:00 (US/Pacific) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44.3333,-121.8382&ll=44.3333,-121.8382&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
-Latitude:44.3392 Longitude:-121.84 Nearest Location:not known Distance:not known Time:08/22/2009 10:08:07 (US/Pacific) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44.3392,-121.84&ll=44.3392,-121.84&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 -Latitude:44.3776 Longitude:-121.8807 Nearest Location:not known Distance:not known Time:08/22/2009 07:09:25 (US/Pacific) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44.3776,-121.8807&ll=44.3776,-121.8807&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Middle Sister, Hayden Glacier, July 21-22, 2012

On July 21-22, 2012 I'll be leading a Chemeketan club climb of Middle Sister via the Hayden Glacier and north ridge route. (Crux pitch shown below)

Schedule:

Wednesday July 18, 6:00 pm
Pre-climb meeting at the Chemekaden (State Street above Cooks stationary) Please bring your gear.

Saturday July 21

7:15 AM -Silverton folks meet at Niemeyers - final gear check.
7:45 AM Carpool from Salem State Motorpool (Airport road) headed to Sisters.

9:15 AM short coffee and restroom stop in Sisters. Drive to trailhead.

10:00 AM - Arrive at trailhead, pass out group gear, etc.
10:45 AM -Depart Pole Creek Spring Trail Head (5300’/0.0 miles)

11:30 AM -Green Lakes Trail junction (Tr 4070) (5900’/1.4 miles).

11:50 AM -Lunch break at Soap Creek ... Chambers Lakes Trail Jct.(Tr 4074) (5760’/1.9 miles)

12:45 PM -Climbers Trail junction (3.7 miles)

2:30 PM -Arrive at 6800’ camp on Squaw Creek below Hayden Glacier. As time, and conditions, allow we will be practicing rope team travel, passing through pickets and crevasse rescue after we set up camp.

Sunday July 22

3:00 AM -Wake up.

3:30 AM -Start climb

9:30 AM -Arrive at summit. (10047')

10:00AM -Depart summit.

12:45 PM -Arrive at 6800’ camp on Squaw Creek.

1:30 PM -Depart 6800’ camp on Squaw Creek.

4:15 PM -Arrive at Pole Creek Spring Trail Head (5300’).

5:15 PM -Dinner in sisters.

6:30 PM -Depart Sisters.

8:15 PM -Arrive in Salem.

Roster (Note that inclusion on the roster is not a guaranteed spot on this climb. climbers must demonstrate prior to the climb that they are in good physical condition for an alpine climb and have the requisite skills and equipment.)

Mike Niemeyer (leader)
Mason Smith (assistant)
Justin Clark (assistant)
Megan Hogland
Mike Pennington
Brett Milliken
Bryan Brenneman
Mark Olson
Justin Ego
Carson Hershberger
Mark Simmons
Joni Simmons

Wait List:

Meryl Lipman
Dimitry Zaichenko
Roger Monet

Driving directions: Drive east on highway 22 to Sisters. Just before you get into Sisters, turn Right onto Hwy. 242.To get to the Pole Creek trail head: travel 1.5 miles west of Sisters, OR on Hwy 242, turn South, Left, on Forest Service road 15 which is paved at first, but the pavement soon turns into washboard gravel. Follow the well traveled forks (generally to the right) for the first few miles. At 7.1 miles you'll reach a "Y" intersection. Stay left at this junction (following the signs to Pole Creek), and follow the road to its end just past milepost 10 at the parking area for the Pole Creek Trailhead. There is a pit toilet at the trail head but no water. Drivers: You will need a Northwest Forest pass to park at the trailhead - these can be purchased from a machine at the trailhead.

Participant responsibility: It is each participant's responsibility to be in good physical shape and have the skills and equipment to participate safely in this climb. A club release will be circulated at the trailhead for each participant to sign.
Skills needed: Passing through pickets on a rope team; tying/using prussiks on rope for crevasse self-rescue; ice-axe self arrest; rope team travel.

Required personal equipment - See List #3

Group Gear: The following will be distributed at the trailhead and redistributed periodically during the trip: Ropes; Pickets; one bivy sack and one sleeping bag will be carried by the party on summit day;

Emergencies: In addition to the personal gear and group gear (above) the leader will be carrying a SPOT satellite rescue beacon, GPS and cell phone (503-910-9726.) I will also be sending occasional satellite "check-in" messages to this blog during the trip. In the event of an emergency, I will send out a 911 signal from this device. Track our progess real-time at this link. Local Emergency Contacts: Emergency Contact Information: 911; Central Oregon Emergency Dispatch Center 541-416-6800; Deschutes National Forest, Sisters Ranger District: 541-549-7700.

NAVIGATION and WEATHER:

Middle Sister Weather forecast at 9000ft

Trip Profile

Trip distances and GPS waypoints

Route topos courtesy of the Mazamas: Middle Sister Route and Middle Sister approach

Links to recent middle sister climbs:
http://mikessummits.blogspot.com/search/label/Middle%20Sister
http://mikessummits.blogspot.com/2011/01/middle-sister-via-hayden-glacier-july.html

Mt Hood, South Side, June 2-3, 2012

The June 2-3, 2012 climb of Mt hood has been cancelled.

Personal Gear (See List #4)

Group Gear: We will have a stove and fuel, a sleeping bag and bivy sack (1 set for for emergency), SPOT beacon, cell phone, GPS with route on it, 1 60'm rope, 5 pickets, wands (each flag marked "MWN") 1 shovel and first aid kit.

Tenative Climb Schedule:

June 2nd- Drive to Timberline Lodge, nap in parking lot, alpine start.

1:30 pm- Meet in Silverton/Salem for carpooling (location TBD). Check individual and group gear.
2:00 pm leave for Mt hood.
3:30 pm stop in Government camp (or somewhere along the way) to get something to eat.
4:45 pm or so - arrive at Timberline lodge parking lot, pick up permits and blue bags, maybe do a quick review of passing through pickets.
5:30 pm or so- rest in the overnight area.

Monday, June 3rd, Summit Day

11:00 pm- Wake up time (This is where climbing seems like a really stupid sport.)
11:30 pm, Head up the climbers trail east of the ski area.
Approximately 2:15 am arrive at top of Palmer about 8,500' (Probably put crampons on here if not sooner)
5:00 am at hogsback area, rope up
6:15 Summit via old chute route (Wow climbing is great.)
7:30 Arrive back at hogsback and get out of harnesses and ropes. long break.
7:45 Descend,
9:00 regrouping at top of Palmer climbers trail
10:30 or so arrive back at Timberline parking lot. Clean up.
11:15 lunch/breakfast in Government camp .
12:15 head home
2:15 back in Silverton/Salem area.

Weather

Route:

Here are links to similar, recent Mt Hood south side Climbs:

Silver Falls Trail Maintenance April 21, 2012

Silver Falls State Park Spring Trail Maintenance Day, April 21, 2012. Join your fellow Chemeketan climbers and hikers as we build a new connector trail at Silver Falls State Park!

We will meet a ranger at the main park headquarters office and shops at 8:30 am (Note that this is a change from the original plan.) Carpoolers planning on meeting at the South Salem K-mart parking lot (next to Jack-in-the-Box along Mission street) meet at 7:30 am and leave by 7:45. This work party will have something for every ability and skill level. The park will supply all needed tools - you need to bring gloves and wear hike/work clothes (i.e. a tuxedo would be inappropriate.) It will be warm so bring plenty to drink, sun protection and your lunch. You will also need to sign a park release form. The event should wrap up no later than 3:00 pm - leaving some time if you want to explore the park afterwards. Park Trail Map and directions

Besides getting outside in a beautiful place with fun folks this activity also has the benefit of improving park trails, getting the club access to some really great park facilities for future Chemeketan Wilderness first Aid classes (see picture right) and we also get some signage in the State’s most popular park.

Please RSVP to Brett Miliken so he will know how many folks to expect and to coordinate carpooling.

CPR Certification Course (AHA Heartsaver), February 17, 2012

CPR Certification Course (AHA Heartsaver), February 17, 2012. (Note that Chemeketan climb leaders can get reimbursed from the club for this course.) To register or for additional information contact Mike Niemeyer.

Schedule
Friday, Feb 17th from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Cost: $40 ($30 if live or work in the Fire District). Please make checks payable to "Drakes Crossing RFPD".

Location:
Drakes Crossing Fire Station
19364 Powers Creek Loop NE, Silverton, OR 97381
Phone (503) 873-6868

Pre-registered:
Brett Milliken
Bryon Snapp
Justin Clark
Mary Wandell

Preparations:

Please wear loose fitting/comfortable close that will allow you to perform CPR on a mannequins on the floor.
Note that cell phone coverage is sparse at this location.
Check road conditions before heading to class. the station is at about 1,500 ft elevation and we can have snow on the roads this time of year.

Mt Hood Snow Skills Clinic, May 5, 2012

On Saturday May 5th, 2012 I'll be coordinating a Snow Skills Clinic on Mt Hood along with Bryon Snapp. This is an opportunity for climbers of all levels to test and improve their fitness and add to their snow climbing skills. Depending on the group’s experience and the snow conditions these skills may include: use of the ice axe on steep snow; crampon technique; "hanging" belays, building and belaying off of snow anchors; Intro to avalanche assessment (e.g., snow pits); or z-pulley (rescue). Since this is a training exercise and we are not venturing too far off the Palmer snowfield this trip will still go in less than perfect weather. (I'll post a no-go notice to this website if weather is truly awful.) Note that Bryon Snapp will also be linking this with a summit climb on -Mt Hood.

Equipment:

We will be getting into steep snow conditions for this outing. Ice axe, harness, helmet and crampons (fitted to your boots ahead of time) are required. Crampoon compatible boots and gators. Sunglasses are mandatory. I recommend that you pack as you would for a Mt Hood Climb. this will be a good chance to test your gear and food/water options out. Prussik cords and pulleys will be helpful if you have them. Please have your gear together and be prepared to carry some group gear (ropes, shovels, etc.) Its best to have a larger pack and have some external straps for lasing down a rope and strapping on an ice axe (i.e., don't come with a small textbook type daypack. I've got nothing against Care Bears but their equipment line rarely includes ice axe loops.) We will be getting into the snow so a waterproof outer shell layer is important and an extra set of gloves to swap out when your first pair gets wet.See Gear List #4. (Don't buy expensive gear. Borrow it from other climbers or rent from REI. ) Bring plenty of water (at least 2-3 liters) and food as we won't be returning to the cars during the day.

Location
We will be somewhere along the south side climbing route and on East edge of the Palmer snowfield...where ever we can find some steep, suitable terrain.

Schedule
We will have carpools leaving from Silverton and Salem on Saturday morning May 5th at 6:30 am. Email Mike Niemeyer if you want to join the Silverton carpool. The Salem carpool will meet at the Salem State Motorpool parking lot on airport road.

We will assemble at the end of the "climbers" parking lot (below the main lot and the same place we park for climb school) at 8:30 am, distribute and load up pickets and ropes and head out. Please have your gear organized ahead of time so we can push off quickly while snow conditions are still firm. If you have a FRS radio (i.e. motorola family band) please bring it. We will be using Channel 10 Code 5.

This will be a full day activity. I expect we will be wrapping up and back to the Timberline parking lot about 3 pm or so.

Roster (Note - if you asked to be in this class but don't show up on the roster shoot ne an email as it was likely an error)

Mike Niemeyer (leader)
Bryon Snapp (Leader)
Mike Rudy (leader)
Cathy Lazarus
Stephen Rockford
Justin Clark
David Braun
Mike Pennington
Courtney Carlson
Seth Lucas
Mason Smith
Brett Milliken
Jason Kabbes
Megan Hogland
Mark Olson
Jack Myrtue
Bud Littleton -(Will drive from Salem motorpool, has room for 4 plus gear)
Mike Buren
Amanda Gaylord

Santiam Fire Academy

Santiam Fire Academy, Learn-to-Burn December 11, 2011

Santiam Fire Academy, Fire Control Class at DPSST - December, 2011

Virtual Climb School: Part 5

Wilderness First Aid training, February 25-26, 2012

This was an 18-hour Wilderness First Aid course sponsored by the Climbing Section of the Chemeketan outdoor club.

The course was conducted on a snowy weekend February 25-26, 2012 at Silver Falls State Park a(8 am to 7 pm on Saturday and 8 am to 5 pm Sunday.) The course covered practical skills and decision-making using realistic emergency medical scenarios (See pictures below) as might be encountered on a climbing, hiking or backpacking trip in the Cascades. This was a fun, intense, hands-on course that includesdoutdoor scenarios in the dark and in cold, wet, winter conditions.

Lead Instructors:

Mike Niemeyer, Wilderness EMT (Bio)
Dorothy Brown Kwaiser, Wilderness EMT

Instructors, coaches, patients and hysterical bystanders

Mike Rudy, RN
Jason Wagoner (Sat morning)
Joanne DeMay
Courtney Carlson (Sunday)
Jackie Niemeyer, RN
Dan Harris, MD
Aslinn Adams

Will Vercoutere

Guy Rodrique (Sat evening)
Miranda Yarbrough
Terry Wallstrom
Mike Gabe, MD (Sunday)
David Leikem (Sunday afternoon)

Students Preregistered

Cynthia Vargo

Bryon Snapp (pd)

Amy Dale (pd)

Mark Olson (pd)

Brett Milliken

Simon Boyd (pd)

Theresa Conley

Mary Wandell (pd)

Brad Wood (pd)

Justin Clark (pd)

Sef McCullough (pd)

Ronald Glaus (pd)

Anne O'Rourke (pd)

Mason Smith (pd)

Sara Dinsdale (pd

Janet Russell (pd)

PREREQUISITES and PREPARATION

Must be 18 years of age or older

Must have the ability to lift 40 lbs

Must have current CPR certification (Available through the Drakes Crossing Fire Dept if you can't get this elsewhere in time.)

Course Text book Buck Tilton's "Backcountry First Aid" prior to class. See below for ordering information.
Be familiar with the Mazama Rope Litter (We will cover this in detail in class)
Provide your emergency contact information to Mike Niemeyer.
Sign a class agreement and release form and bring the form with you to the first class.
You will need a watch that displays seconds and a headlamp.
Bring snacks and meals for both days (we won’t be feeding you). We will have a kitchen facility available with a sink, microwave, fridge, stove, etc.
Bring a day pack or backpack that can get knocked around a bit – with supplies you’d typically bring on an outing. Bring an extra thrift-store quality shirt and pants/sweat pants – should you volunteer to be a patient in a scenario. A small foam pad is optional - something for you to sit or kneel on when you are outside assisting a patient.
Wear/bring warm clothes and a waterproof shell layer or rain pants/coat.
Bring a towel or rags to dry yourself off as we come in from outside scenarios.

COURSE COSTS and REGISTRATION:

Cost is $45 (Mainly to cover the cost of expendable first aid supplies students will use in the training.) Students will need to purchase the textbook on their own (about $10). You are on your own for meals. A State Park parking pass is also required ($5/day). Payment is required to confirm your reservation. Email Mike Niemeyer to register.

Course Wilderness First Aid Report form and Checklist - We will be including this form in your first aid kits for use during the class scenarios - its a good idea to get familiar with it before class. The form should be printed 2-sided and folded twice so the numbered pages open in order.

Course required reading

Backcountry First Aid, Buck Tilton. This book is $5.95 new from Amazon or a dollar or two used. Its also available at most outdoor stores including REI. We selected it because it was small in size, very inexpensive, and covered the basics needed for a weekend wilderness first aid course. You must purchase and read this book prior to class - we will be giving you a short quiz on the first day of class - just to keep you honest.

Optional reading

For the medical professional: Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to Emergency Medical Procedures and First Aid, Auerbach. If you have a medical background you'll appreciate the information in any of the books by Paul Auerbach, MD. I frequently use his Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine as a handy desktop reference (I usually have a medical dictionary nearby when I'm reading it). Also for medical professionals: Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for Wilderness Emergency Care, 5th Ed. This text is often cited as the standard of care for wilderness medicine.
Other good wilderness first aid books for the lay person: Mountaineering First Aid by the mountaineers - This is a good text for a wilderness first aid course (We used it for this course last year.) Wilderness First Aid, Third Edition: Emergency Care for Remote Locations by AAOS is a nicely produced and illustrated work.

Accomodations and Carpooling

Silver Falls State Park has cabins, and RVand Tent sites for those who want to stay at the park during the course. Some students have indicated they might want to share a tent site.

There is no staying in the N Falls lodge overnight (Our training venue). The N Falls lodge is located in the group camp area but we didn’t reserve that camping option due to expense and limited amenities. The tent sites at the main campground are a few miles south of where we will be but have hook ups, heated restrooms and showers. The campground cabins are all full as of 2/21/12 but there may be rooms and cabins in the Silver Falls Conference Center (located within the park). They have cabins and meals: http://www.silverfallsconference.com/cabins You might just give them a call if the reservations link doesn't work. 866-575-8875.

Carpooling from Salem: Meet at 6:30 am Saturday and Sunday at the State Motorpool on airport road and leave at 6:45 am. Amy Dale will be driving her Suburban. We may need other drivers.

Carpooling from Silverton: Email Mike Niemeyer if you are interested in this option. We will leave from Silverton Safeway parking lot at 6:30 Saturday and Sunday.

Given the weather forecast 4wd vehicles or good snow tires may be best. We will be at about 1550 ft elevation. (See links below for Park weather and webcams)

Helpful weblinks:

Silver Falls Park Weather (NWS)
Silver Falls Current Conditions and webcam
Wilderness First Aid - legal issues

Hypothermia Guidelines - Alaska (This is an advanced protocol for EMS folks but provides a detailed discussion of cold injuries.)
Military Survival Manual (See chapter on "Basic survival medicine")

Course Outline

Course safety considerations
Legal, moral and ethical issues in wilderness first aid
Scene survey and scene safety
Initial Patient Assessment and Urgent first Aid
Focused Pt Exam (secondary Survey)
Wounds and Bleeding
Head, neck and back Injury
Chest and Abdominal
Extremity injuries
Overview of fractures, dislocations,

b. Slings and splints– includes practice.

c. Sprains, strains,

11. Foot care and Blisters

12. Miscellaneous: rings, eye and dental emergencies, CO Poisoning

13. Evacuation

a. Hypo-wrap and evacuation techniques, demo

b. Litter building demo

14. Burns

15. Shock

16. Environmental Illness

a. Cold Injuries

b. Heat Injuries

c. Altitude Illnesses

17. Sudden Medical Issues and bites

a. Difficulty Breathing and chest Pain

b. Unconsciousness (non-traumatic)

c. Allergic reactions

d. Bites and stings, Ticks

e. Diarrhea

17. Organizing a rescue

a. Assessing rescue needs,

b. Making a 911 report,

c. helicopter operations

Course Philosophy

This outdoor class is the place to "Take chances, make mistakes and get messy"(Ms. Frizzle) so you can be prepared for your next outdoor trip, aid other hikers, enjoy life's legitimate messes (i.e., dirt) and avoid unnecessary suffering (i.e. giardia.)

Training Location: Note that you will need a state park day use permit (NW forest pass does not work here) to park at the N Falls Lodge. You can get these permits at the automated machine in the parking lot at the North Falls trailhead which is about 1/4 mile past the entrance to the group Campsite - if you are traveling South on Highway 214 . This is also a good reason to carpool.