Last year, I took the BCEP class with the Mazamas – Basic Climbing Education Program. It was interesting; a great chance to review my well-trained skills, practice some that I hadn’t used in ages, and get to meet some new climbing and outdoors people. It was fun, and ticked all the boxes that I had hoped that it would.
My faith in the outdoors community reinvigorated, I quickly and happily volunteered to help teach BCEP this year. I was expecting to assist with the same group that I’d taken the class with the previous year, since leaders tend to continue teaching year over year, so I was a bit surprised when I was placed with a different group… but it turns out, this new group was just starting out – the first year the leader had led a BCEP team on their own.
The chance to help out with a new group, and to help build a similar culture of excitement and optimism for the outdoors? All while getting to show people the unbridled joy of rock climbing? Of seeing new views off the side of a mountain?
Well. Sign me right the heck up.
Saturday, 01-Apr-2023
With the scouting done the weekend before, we were ready for our training hike. I’d emailed a prospectus out (a fancy “here’s the info you need” email), and everyone knew both what to bring and where to meet. We’d be convening at the trailhead, hiking, then heading to a nearby campground to sleep out under the stars before doing some actual technical rock climbing at Horsethief Butte the next day.
I have a special place in my heart for Horsethief, since it was the first spot in Oregon that I ever climbed (Ed Note: See the post below, dear readers!), so I was absolutely quite excited for the chance to help everyone lock in their skills ahead of time.
The weather was perfect when we met up at the trailhead, and we got going nice and easily on time… maybe 10min late, but that kind of fits with my style, so I’ll take it as a win.
Ohh… what to write about the hike… We walked. We snacked, we adjusted layers, and we hiked some more. We got to the spot I’d marked out, and set up our anchors and ropes. The students practiced, and further etched the skills they’d need into their memory. We discussed pros and cons to various options, and weighed when each would be appropriate out in the field.
We hiked on.
It snowed, a bit, but nothing stuck… just enough for us to feel good, and get some singularly excellent views.
I led from the front, as strange as that sounds for a hike, and was able to keep a pretty solid pace for the team. It went well, I’m thankful to report, and I was quite happy with how it all shook out.
That evening, we made camp and hit the hay early… but not before catching up with some of the other teams who were joining us at the Maryhill Campground – one of which was my team from the previous year, the Snakedogs! It was awesome getting to catch up with everyone, and hear how their BCEP sessions were going. I learned a bit about what Portland Mountain Rescue (the folks who rescue injured climbers on Mt. Hood) were up to, and what “interesting” politics they were dealing with this year.
I’d brought some pulled pork that I’d slow-cooked the day before, and then put into a battery-powered crock pot, which went over quite well. I shared my delicious creation, sampled many other peoples submissions to the group, and even got to enjoy some especially delicious whiskey.
It was a good day.
My first climb at Horsethief, and in Oregon itself!
https://talesfromthehutt.com/2015/08/31/my-birthday-weekend-the-fourth-weekend-that-im-in-hood-river-oregon-and-the-west-coast-saturday-ribs-and-climbing/
