While it's often too wet on the West Coast in October for rock climbing, it's the perfect time to climb on the other side of the Coast Mountains - especially Skaha Bluffs in Penticton, BC! During the summer months, it gets pretty hot there and we climbers wait until Autumn to roll around for the temps and the rock to cool down. 

OVERVIEW

The BCMC Autumn Climbing Camp 2016 will be 3 or 4 days of rock climbing fun at Skaha Bluffs. This event is intended for a wide variety of climbing abilities, and will include some member-led courses to help you improve your skills. 

LOGISTICS

Detailed logistics planning is currently underway, but here's the general idea of what it'll look like:
> Carpool from Lower Mainland (or wherever you're coming from) to Penticton. Some folks may choose to leave on Friday morning and get some climbing or swimming in the first day, while others may leave on Friday afternoon/evening after work
> Set up camp at Banbury Green. We have booked a large, lakefront campsite for the whole group.
> Drive to Skaha Bluffs (or wherever you want to go) each day and go climbing
> Return to the campsite each night for dinner, socializing, and maybe a moonlight dip in the lake!

WORKSHOPS

Participants can sign up for ONE of the following workshops. Your fee helps cover the expenses for our volunteers! 
Saturday October 8: Intro to Outdoor Climbing - suitable for total beginners or those transitioning from indoor climbing to outdoor climbing. Topics will include belaying and lowering, setting up a top rope, and some basic climbing technique. Basically everything you need to know in order to climb with others over the weekend. 

Saturday October 8: Intro to Sport Climbing - suitable for folks who are comfortable top rope climbing and belaying but are wanting to get in to the world of leading. May also be suitable for those who lead indoors and want to transition to leading outdoors. Will include real or "mock" (with top rope backup) sport leads, lead belaying, clipping techniques, proper body positioning with respect to the rope, and other related topics. 

Sunday October 9: Intermediate Outdoor Climbing Technique - suitable for folks who have been climbing (top rope and lead) for a while and are looking to take their technique to the next level. Topics will depend on the instructor, exact climbing location, and climbing abilities of participants. 

Other topics are totally welcome if we have  additional volunteers who want their costs covered, and participants who are interested in other topics. 

**VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WITH WORKSHOPS! Please contact Marlaina Rhymer if you have any rock climbing skills you'd like to share. We will cover your costs of the camp if you can volunteer for a 1-day workshop**

FEES

Your fee for the camp will include:
> Campsite fees
> A bit of money to help cover the costs for workshop organizers
> Perhaps some group treats if there is money left over
The fee for the camp will be $50 for participants and FREE (or very cheap) for volunteer workshop instructors.

CARPOOLING

Please use the planning forum (see tab at top of page after sign-up) to organize carpooling. Driver compensation guidelines can be found here: https://bcmc.ca/club_driver_guidelines.php. Transportation costs can be covered for volunteer workshop instructors. 

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Not much of a climber but still want to come? Please do! There are a ton of other things to do around Penticton, including watersports on the lake, wine tours, road cycling, hikes, or just hanging around the town. Families are welcome, and the campground allows dogs on a leash if you want to bring your fur-babies. Dogs are allows in the Skaha Bluffs Park on a leash. Children are leash-optional :-P 

REGISTRATION

(1) Sign up by clicking the "Join this Trip" button. You will be added to the Request List
(2) The organizer will review your information and add you to the Waiting List.
(3) Once on the Waiting List, you will have access to the Paypal button ("see Pay Now")
(4) Follow the prompts to complete your payment
(5) Once your payment has been received, you will be added to the Confirmed List 
*please note, a few of these steps are a manual process done by the trip organizer and other volunteers, so please be patient if you don't get moved between lists right away

IMPORTANT: Please sign up and complete your payment by September 20th so we can confirm numbers. 

Stay tuned and keep checking back to this page for future updates!