WelcometoFirstAscent,
WesternCarolinaUniversity’sOrientationProgram
August13th-18th2016
Pleasetakethetimetoreviewthefollowingmaterials:
• TheGearAdvice,Preparation,andGearChecklistprovideyouwithagoodideaofwhatyou’llneedto
bringandwhatourprogramwillprovide.Pleasereviewindetail,astherearerequireditems.
• TheEmergencyContactinformationcoversthebasicplanforyourexpedition,whereandwhentomeet
priortothetripandwhereyoucanbepickeduponyourreturn.
TheAdventureExperiencetripisdesignedasanintroductiontomultipleadventuresportsandoutdoorliving
skills,sonovicesshouldfeelrightathome.However,itwillbechallengingtoeventheseasonedoutdoor
enthusiast.Alldaysareplannedtoincorporateanewoutdooradventuresport,encouragingyoutostepoutside
yourcomfortzoneandtrysomethingnew.Theperfectmatchtohelpprepareyouforyourcollegeadventure.I
dorecommendthatyousticktosomeregularexerciseplan;however,yourattitudewillhavethemostimpacton
thistripforyou.Thisisagroupexperienceandthegroupwilldefinethekindoftripyouhave.Asyouarean
essentialmemberofthisgroup,yourattitude,preparationandparticipationwillplayavitalroleindefiningthe
experience.
Yoursinadventure,
BaseCampCullowheeLeadershipTeam
AdventureExperience
GearAdvice,PreparationandChecklist
GearAdvice
Thisgearchecklistisasummaryofwhatyou’llneedforyourAdventureExperience.We’vebrokenthingsupinto
fourcategories;requiredgearthatwecanprovide,requiredgearthatyou’llneedtoprovide,optionalgear,and
gearnottobringatall.Pleasefeelfreetocontactuswithquestions,comments,orconcerns.
Generally,duringthesummermonthswehavetemperaturesinthe70’s–80’s,withthemercurydippingdown
intothe50’s–60’satnight.However,itisnotuncommontohavenighttimetemperaturesintothe30’sor
daytimehighsinthe90’s.Soyou’llneedtobringalittlebitofeverythingwithyou–emphasisonthe“littlebit.”
Whenthinkingaboutclothing,thinkaboutlayers.Agoodlayeringsystemallowsyoutoeasilyandquicklyadjust
whatyou’rewearingtomatchyoureffortlevelandcurrentweatherconditions.Layersaremadeupofathinshirt
andshortsagainsttheskin,followedbyathicker,insulatinglayerthattrapsairnexttoyou–keepingyouwarm,
followedbyanouterlayerorshellwithyourrainjacket–blockingthewindandrain.
Whenthinkingaboutmaterialsit’sbesttostayawayfromcotton.Cottoniscomfortablewhendry,butiteasily
soaksupsweatandraintobecomesaturated,uncomfortableandevendangerous.Cottonlosesallinsulating
propertieswhenwet–makingyoucolder,sostayawayfromcotton.Syntheticmaterialssuchasnylon,
polyester,orpolypropylene,areagoodalternative.Thesefabricshavebecomequitecomfortableandare
availableeverywhere.Theywillkeepyouwarmanddrywhilekeepingyoucool.Woolisanaturalalternativeto
synthetics,andcanalsobeveryinexpensive.
Bootsorsturdyhikingshoesareagoodinvestmentinyouroutdooractivityfuture.Sinceyoumaybehikingwith
aheavypack,westronglyrecommendahighbootprovidinganklesupport.Itisessentialthatyoubreak-inany
newboots,asblistersarenofun.Wecannotemphasizethisenough–it’sbeenthebiggestcomplaintonour
backpackingtrips.Heedthisadviceandtakecareofyourfeet.Oneotherwaytopreventblistersisbywearinga
socklinerwithathickerhikingsock.Thishelpswickmoistureawayfromthefootandthetwolayersofsockrub
againsteachotherratherthanagainsttheskin.
Whenthinkingabouttheweather,keepinmindthatit’snothowtheweatherdealswithyou;it’showyoudeal
withtheweatherthatwilldefineyourexperience.Rainisafactoflifeandithappensoneverytripatsomepoint.
Therearesmallthingslikegoodbreathableraingear,asmalltowel,extrasocks,thatcanmakeyoumore
comfortable,butthebiggestthingyoucanpackisyourattitude.Beingflexibleandpatientinwetweatherisan
invaluablelifeskill;it’salsoametaphorfordealingwithcollege-life.Sometimesthingsaresunnyandsometimes
theyaren’t,butyouhavecontroloverhowyoureacttothesituation.
GettinginShape!
TheAdventureExperiencetripisdesignedforthenoviceoutdoorenthusiast,butdon’tunderestimatethe
difficultyoftheexperience.Werecommendthatyoubeginexercisingnowifyouarenotregularlyactive.Wewill
bewalkinginsometimeschallengingterrainwithanaverageof10-15poundsofgearonyourback(dayhikesto
andfrommountainsummits,waterfalls,etc).Ifyouwantsomeassistancewithcreatingaplanforgettingin
shape,wearehappytoassistyou.Weencourageyoutoincludethefollowingintoyourexerciseregimetoget
readyforthetrip:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ifyouaregettingnewhikingboots/shoes,buythemASAPandbreaktheminbywalkingupanddown
hills/localtrails,etc.Doatleastathreehourhikeinthemtoassess“hotspots”–potentialblisterareas.
Noshinynewshoes–wewanttoseedirtonyourshoeswhenyouputthemonforthefirsttimeherein
Cullowhee!Walkingupanddownhillscanalsobepartofyouraerobicexerciseroutine.
2-3hoursofaerobicexerciseeachweek–dosomeofthisworkwithaweightedbackpackonsothatyou
getusedtotheweightandworkonyourbalance.Abagofbirdseedinyourbackpackmakesforsome
easyaddedweight,andthelocalbirdswillappreciateyouwhenyouleaveitbehind.
Getyourabsinshape.Youdon’tbyanymeansneedtobe“cut,”butstrongabsareimportantfor
reducingthepossibilityofabackinjurywhencarryingaheavybackpackformanymilesatatime:strong
stomach=strongback.
Ifyouhaveweakankles,agoodpairofbootswithanklesupportwillhelp,butdoinglegraisesandother
anklestrengtheningexerciseswillhelpyoufromturninganankleoveronuneventerrain.
Stretch.Flexibilityiskey,bothphysicalandmental.
Stayhealthy–getlotsofsleep,eatabalanceddiet,drinkatonofwater,andtrytoavoidthemultiple
virusesgoingaroundthistimeofyear!
Don’thesitatetocontactuswithanycomments,questionsorconcerns.We’relookingforwardtoseeingyouthis
summer!
AdventureExperienceGearChecklist:PleasebringthischecklistwithyouwhenyouarrivetoCullowhee.
RequiredGear:BaseCampCullowheewillprovidethefollowingitemsORyoumayuseyourown
Wewillalsoprovideshelter,cooksets,cookingstoves,cookshelters,fuelbottles,cookingutensilsetc.thatthe
groupwillshare.Ifyouchoosetobringyourowngear,youassumetheriskofdamageorloss.
Check Item
Description
Sleepingpad
Closedcellfoampad,orself-inflating“Therm-a-Rest”pad.
Sleepingbagwith
stuffsack
Yourbagneedstoberatedtoatleast30degrees;butnotbelow15.
Syntheticmaterialisrequired,asdownlosesloftwhenwet.
RequiredGear:ProvidedbyYou
Needsomenewgear,butdon’thavealotofmoney?Somelessexpensiveplacestobuygoodqualitygearare
CampmorandSierraTradingPost.Bothofthesecompanieshavewebsiteswhereyoucanorderitemson-line.
But,whenitcomestoshoes/boots,it’sbesttotrythemonbecausefitissoimportant!Allclothingitemscanbe
foundatdepartmentstores,noneedtodropafortuneataspecialtyOutdoorshop–checkoutthe2ndhandstore
aswell.
Check
Item
Description
Daypack–forday
trips
Smalldaypackthatcanbeusedfordaytripstohold–food,water,
clothing,personalitems.Schoolbackpacksizeisperfect!
DuffleBag(Large)
Usedforallyourpersonalitems–clothing,personalneedsitems,etc.
Mid-weighttoplayer Lightwoolsweater,expeditionweightpolypropylene,fleece,etc.This
canalsodoubleasapillow.CottonisNOTacceptable.
1pairofsynthetic
pants/tights
Quickdryingnylonpants,expeditionweightorlightweightfleece,lined
nylonpants,runningpants,orheavyweighttights.Nocotton!
Longunderwear
Longunderwearneedstobemadefromasyntheticmaterialsuchas
“Capilene”,orpolypropylene–cottonlongunderwearisNOT
acceptable.
topandbottom
Raingear
topandbottom
Thebestkindiswaterproofandbreathable.(Goodraingearisprobably
thesinglemostimportantlayerthatyoucanhaveinthewilderness.)
Waterproof/breathablefabricslikeGore-texareoneoptionbutthey
canbeexpensive.Therearenowmanyoptionsin
waterproof/breathableouter-warewithsomecostinglessthanothers,
soshoparound.Breathableraingearalsoactsasanoutstandingwind
layertogooveryourfleeceorpilelayer.Plusit’snicetohaveIn
Ashevilleyear-round.
3pairwool/synthetic Socksmustbemadeofwool,woolblend,orotherwool-likesynthetic
socks(optional:sock “hikingweight”material.Socklinersareathinmoisturewickinglayer
liners)
thathelpspreventblisters,andareareallygoodidea.
1-2pairofshorts
Nocotton!
Underwear,asneeded
Avoidcottonifatallpossible.
2lightweight,short
sleevet-shirts
50/50cotton/polyesteror100%syntheticfibersarepreferable.
Bathingsuit
Thisisforswimmingandotherwateractivities,notsomuchforsun
bathing,somakeitcomfortable.Synthetichikingshortsworkdouble
dutyasswimtrunks.
Mid-weighthiking
boots/shoes
All-leatherbootsarenotabsolutelyrequired,buttheyareadvisable.
Theycanbealongterminvestmentforyouandcanalsobewaterproofedquiteeasily.Bootsshouldfitproperlywhenwearinglinersocks
incombinationwithawoolorwool/syntheticsock.Thebootsshould
alsoprovideadequateanklesupportandbe“broken-in”priorto
arrivinginAsheville.
Watersandals,water
shoes,orextrapair
oftennisshoesthat
cangetwet.
Suchas“Chacos,”“Tevas,”oracheapaquasockfromthedepartment
store.Theseshoesmusthaveaheel/anklestrap,orcoverthefoot
andanklecompletely;theymustnotcomeoffinthewater.Flipflops
orBirkenstocksarenotacceptable.Youwon’tbeallowedtostartthe
hikewithoutanacceptablepairofwatershoes.
CampShoes/Sandals
Somecomfortablefootweartochangeintoaftertheday’shikingis
done.
Sunglasseswith
retentionstrap
SunglassesshouldblockUVAandUVBrays.
Wide-brimmedhat
Forsunprotectionandhairwrangling!
orbaseballcap
Woolorfleecehat
Forwarmth.
1insulatedtravel
mugwithhandle
Anythingwithawidemouthcanbeusedfordrinkingoreating.
1spoon
Heavydutyplastic,“Permaware”forexample.Metaliscoldandheavy.
1smallbowl
A“Lexan”or“Rubbermaid”bowlworkswell,itisagoodideathatthis
bowlbe“lickable”--asineasilycleanedoutwiththeol’tongue.
2widemouth,32oz.
waterbottles
Internalpackwaterbladdersareverypopular,butyoustillneedto
bringatleastone“Nalgene”bottleincasethebladderspringsaleak.
Headlamp
Headlampshouldbewaterresistant.Bringextrabatteries.
Smalltowel
Fordryingoff.Nocotton!Therearenumerous“camp”towelproducts
onthemarket,mostaremadeofasyntheticmaterial.
Toiletries(e.g.,
You’renotgoingoutforverylong,sobringonlytheminimumthatyouneed,
enoughtoothpastefor4nights,andjusttheessentialsforyourhygieneneeds.
WewillbringBiodegradablesoap.Makesureyouincludeallprescription
drugsthatyouwillbringonyourpersonalmedicalinformationform.Thisisa
confidentialformandnooneotherthanthetripleaderswillviewit.Inthe
caseofanemergency,itisvitalthatweknowanymedicationsthatyoumay
betaking.
toothbrush,
toothpaste,floss,
comb/brush,
prescriptiondrugs,
chapstick,insect
repellant,feminine
hygieneneeds,etc.)
OptionalGear:ProvidedbyYou!
Ckd.
Item
Description
Camera
We’llbetakingdigitalpicturesandwillsharethemwiththewholegroup,
butpleasefeelfreetobringyourown.
“PelicanCase”for
absolutewaterand
crushproof
protectionofyour
camera.
GiventhatitcanrainquiteabitintheWNCmountains,youmaywantto
bringafullywaterproofcaseforyourcamera/film.
Journal&pen
Forpersonalreflections.Storeinaplasticbag.
Pocketknifeor
Therearemanyopportunitiestousethistool,butIfinditalsospreads
peanutbutterverywell.
multi-tool
Deckofcards
Bringthisespeciallyifyouknowsomegoodcardtricks!
Bandana
Theusesofabandanaaretoonumeroustolist…justtrustmeonthis!
Telescopingtrekking
poles
Thesereallyhelpwhenyouwanttokeepgoing,butyourkneesaren’tas
willing!
TabooGear:Whatnottobring!
Youshouldn’tneedtobringanythingelsethanwhatwehavespecificallylistedabove.Weaskthatyounotbring
anyelectronicdevicessuchasCD&MP3players,cellphones,Gameboys,etc.Donotbringanykindofweapon;
large“survival”knife,blowgun,etc.asthereisnoneedfortheseitems.
FirstAscentisadrug,alcohol,andtobaccofreeactivity.Useofanysubstanceotherthanaprescribedmedication
fromyourdoctorwillresultinImmediateRemovalfromtheprogram.
WildernessExperience
EmergencyContactInformation
EmergencyResponsePlan
BaseCampCullowhee(apartofWCUCampusRecreationandWellness)hasbeensuccessfullyleadingstudentsinadventureactivitiesin
backcountrysettingsformorethan20years.Intheunlikelyeventofanemergency,thisplanwillguideallcommunicationsbetweenthestaff
inthefieldandthestudentparticipant’sfamilyorcontactperson(s).Tripstaffmembersaretrainedinmanagingavarietyofsituationsand
medicalemergenciesthatmayoccurinthebackcountry.Wehavedeterminedthelocationsmostsuitableforevacuationandestablished
emergencyprotocols.Thestaffareawareofvariouslocationsalongtheroutewhereland-linephonescanbefoundwithin5milesofthetrail.
BaseCampwillbecontactedbythetripstaffregardinganyemergenciesthatmayariseinthebackcountry.Followingnotificationofan
emergency,BCCstaffwillinitiatetheBaseCampEmergencyResponseProtocol;parent(s)and/orguardian(s)willbecontactedappropriately.
Oncecontacted,BCCStaffwillconsiderthefollowingoptionsforcontactingthegroup;
1.
2.
3.
4.
Contactthegroupviacellphone
SendanBCCstaffmemberintothefieldtolocatethegroup
ContactEmergencyServicesifneeded(RescueSquadorSherriff’sDepartment)
ContactNantahalaForestDistrictRangerStation
Ifyouwanttocontactyourstudent,pleasecarefullyconsiderthefollowing:
1.Contactingthegroupcouldtakeuptoorexceed24hours
2.Contactingthegroupmaybedisruptivetothegroupexperience
3.BCCstaffmemberswillultimatelydecideifcontactisappropriate
Ifyoufeelthatcontactisnecessary,callWCUstaffmembersintheorderprovidedbelow
(Allareacodesforbelownumbersare828)
Name
JeremiahHaas,AssociateDirector
Office
227-8805
AlSmith,BaseCampClimbingWallManager
Home
Cell
-----------828-713-0845
227-8813-----------724-388-5449
Vacant,AssistantDirectorofBCC
ShaunaSleight,DirectorofCRW
227-8803-----------421-7762
UniversityPolice
227-8911
MotorPool(Raleigh)919-733-4043
On-CampusEmergencies
9-911
Off-CampusEmergencies
911
For all non-emergency contact, feel free to email Jeremiah Haas at jhaas@wcu.edu