MITOC Winter School Leaders
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Lectures 1 and 2 (Jan 10, 12) are mandatory for weekend trips
Prereq: None
What
Winter School is MIT Outing Club's annual winter extravaganza! Every weekend of IAP, you’ll have the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the wilderness in the cold. Activities include hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, and ice climbing. Whether you've never been on a hike before or are a seasoned pro who likes to share your love for the outdoors, WS is the opportunity to expand your outdoor experience and meet amazing people while doing it!
More information is available here.
Who
Winter School is open to anyone who hopes to enjoy the outdoors during the winter! Absolutely no prior experience is necessary. We will teach you all you need to know to stay safe and have fun when the temps are low.
When/Where
Trips: Held each weekend of IAP. Typically go up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Required Lectures: Tuesday January 10th and 12th at 7pm in 10-250
Optional Instructional Lectures: January 17th and 19th at 7pm in 6-120
Guest Lectures: January 24th, 26th, 31st and February 2nd at 7pm in 6-120
How do I join?
You must attend the first two required lectures: January 10th and 12th at 7pm in 10-250. No advance signup is necessary.
What gear do I need?
MITOC offers rentals for almost all of the gear you need at or below cost and we will tell you how you can get the remainder on the cheap.
Questions?
Please email the Winter School chairs at ws-chair@mit.edu and we will be happy to help.
Sponsor(s): Outing Club
Contact: David Johnson, David Migl, ws-chair@mit.edu
| Jan/10 | Tue | 07:00PM-09:00PM | 10-250 |
This lecture will cover winter safety, the basics of winter gear, food to bring on a winter hike, and MITOC policies.
| Jan/12 | Thu | 07:00PM-09:00PM | 10-250 |
This lecture will cover winter hiking basics, navigation, weather, winter driving, and gear rental.
| Jan/14 | Sat | 12:00AM-11:30PM | White Mountains, NH |
| Jan/15 | Sun | 12:00AM-11:30PM | White Mountains, NH |
| Jan/16 | Mon | 12:00AM-11:30PM | White Mountains, NH |
| Jan/21 | Sat | 12:00AM-11:30PM | White Mountains, NH |
| Jan/22 | Sun | 12:00AM-11:30PM | White Mountains, NH |
| Jan/28 | Sat | 12:00AM-11:30PM | White Mountains, NH |
| Jan/29 | Sun | 12:00AM-11:30PM | White Mountains, NH |
| Feb/04 | Sat | 12:00AM-11:30PM | White Mountains, NH |
| Feb/05 | Sun | 12:00AM-11:30PM | White Mountains, NH |
The fun part of Winter School--hiking, climbing, and skiing trips in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. There will be multiple trips each day at various levels of difficulty; signups are by lottery. You can come on one trip or go out every weekend--up to you!
| Jan/17 | Tue | 07:00PM-09:00PM | 6-120 |
This lecture will cover above treeline travel, skiing, ice climbing, avalanches, objective hazard management, and winter safety.
| Jan/19 | Thu | 07:00PM-09:00PM | 6-120 |
This lecture will cover all the information you need to know about winter overnights, such as winter camping site selection, stoves, tents, snow shelters, and sleeping bags.
| Jan/24 | Tue | 07:00PM-09:00PM | 6-120 |
Guest Speaker: Nick Aiello
Nick is a guide at Synnott Mountain Guides and a member of the NH Mountain Rescue Service. He will talk about winter safety incidents that he has been involved in, as well as his personal trips to Mt. Rainier and in the Central Alaska Range's Ruth Glacier, and tips for planning low-budget trips.
| Jan/26 | Thu | 07:00PM-09:00PM | 6-120 |
Guest Speaker: Rick Wilcox
Rick Wilcox is an accomplished mountaineer, owner of International Mountain Equipment, and president of the NH Mountain Rescue Service (MRS). He will share stories from the MRS, talk about winter safety, and share pictures from his many expeditions to the Himalaya.
| Jan/31 | Tue | 07:00PM-09:00PM | 6-120 |
Guest Speaker: Philip Werner
Philip Werner will give a workshop on navigation, from the basics of using a map and compass to advanced topics in off-trail navigation. Phil is an accomplished day hiker, backpacker, bushwhacker, and 4-season leader for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). He runs the website sectionhiker.com, where he shares gear reviews and writes comprehensively on backpacking and day hiking skills.
| Feb/02 | Thu | 07:00PM-09:00PM | 6-120 |
Guest Speaker: Eric Gilbertson and Matt Gilbertson
Eric and Matt Gilbertson will share tales from their expeditions to climb Mt. Shkhara, the country of Georgia¿s highpoint, and Mt. Logan, the Canada high point. Eric and Matt are MIT alumni and have summited the high points of all 23 North American countries. They are currently on a quest to summit the high points of all 195 countries in the world.