Camp in Greenland. Photo: Steve Fedyna
Leadership, Camps & Adventures For All
By Laurie Harvey
I’ve valued and appreciated my Rocky Mountain Section (RMS) membership for decades. Over the years with the section, I’ve enjoyed countless nights in huts and days on the trails with this like-minded but very diverse ACC community. But what I find most outstanding about the section is the wide selection of adventurous outings that members have access to, year-round.
Adventures in the mountains require trip leaders who have the proper training and then a plan to create trips and put those leaders to use for the benefit of our members. The RMS being able to offer the slate of adventures that it does is largely due to the dedication of three amazing volunteers.
The camps all have a formula: Knowledgeable and organized camp managers, strong communication, and a process and structure that encourages safety, respect and camaraderie.
The RMS takes the training of its members and volunteers very seriously. So far this year, our Training Chair Richard Berry has coordinated 11 training courses, covering everything from first aid to avalanche skills training to rock and ice climbing. To support our volunteer trip leaders, the section offers these courses at discounted pricing and has so far this year invested over $1,500 in our leaders.
Our section’s Trip Leader Chair is Michael Persson, who is responsible for vetting and encouraging the RMS Volunteer Trip Leaders to lead trips so the section can offer as many fun and exciting trips to our members as possible. Our events calendar hosts everything from day hikes to climbs up the highest peaks in the area. If our section members want to do something that is not on the calendar, they can reach out to the section and we’ll find someone to lead the trip.
Steve Fedyna is the section’s Camp Chair and is an organizational genius who works closely with a skilled and passionate team to bring our section fabulous opportunities through summer and winter camps. The camps all have a formula: knowledgeable and organized Camp Managers, strong communication, and a process and structure that encourages safety, respect and camaraderie. It certainly helps that there is a vast network of lodges in the area to choose from for potential camps.
In 2024, the section hosted four full ski camps, with a variety of terrain for beginner through to expert skiers. We also host an annual summer camp, often held at the club’s Stanley Mitchell and Elizabeth Parker Huts. We offered several shorter hut-based trips this year, including ones based at the Asulkan, Elk Lakes, and Peyto Huts.
We think of Steve as a “Stan-cation” expert for his skills in organizing trips to mountainous countries in central Asia. In summer 2024, the section is going on a high altitude trek in the Fann and Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan.
Finally, we LOVE to have fun off the mountain too. Our Social Chairs Laurie Harvey and Claire Dionne have coordinated six socials, which range from a presentation of the RMS trip to Greenland, to Birds of the Bow Valley and beyond, and an annual RMS BBQ, which is always a fun night out with good food, good friends and great entertainment.
Please keep an eye on the Rocky Mountain Section events calendar and consider joining a great group of friends or soon to be friends for an adventure of a lifetime.
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