Winter mountaineering camp held in Lake Placid region (03/26/00)

Winter mountaineering camp held in Lake Placid region

by Dorian Yurchuk

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Zymovyi Mandrivnyi Tabir (ZMT) is the name of an annual winter mountaineering excursion initiated by members of Plast's Lisovi Chorty fraternity. The excursion is held annually between Christmas and New Year's Eve in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.

It all began eight years ago when a group of friends rented a cabin near the village of Lake Placid. Some came for the downhill skiing at Whiteface Mountain, others to try the luge and bobsled (others still for the shopping and nightlife). But the main draw was the state park's backcountry, with its high peaks and picturesque valleys.

During the first few years organizers learned the skills required to access these areas: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking with crampons (steel spikes that attach to one's boots for traction in icy conditions). Later they also delved into winter camping and ice climbing, and began to bring along their younger siblings.

Soon the group of Plast friends realized that this was a wonderful opportunity for skills and leadership training for other young members of Plast. For the last three years the trip has been open to all older "yunatstvo" on a first-come-first-served basis. All ZMT participants receive in-depth instruction on first aid, clothing systems and nutrition as they pertain to the winter environment. A brief geological and cultural history of the Adirondacks is also provided. Finally, ZMT includes instruction in the history, theory and practice of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, ice climbing and winter camping.

This year 14 campers from the United States and Canada took part in the trip, along with an assortment of guest lecturers and fellow enthusiasts.

When ZMT'ers arrived at the southern edge of Adirondack State Park, they were dismayed to find no snow on the ground, even as far north as the town of Keene. However, as they ascended towards the High Peaks Region, conditions improved: there was a six-inch base of snow.

For the first two nights the group stayed at a large cabin not far from the Lake Placid Olympic Authority's ski-jumping facilities. Accommodations included indoor plumbing and electric heat. The evening hours were spent indoors discussing the various topics mentioned above. During the day there were short hikes to Mount Jo, Indian Falls and Wright's Peak. These allowed the campers to familiarize themselves with some of the equipment and techniques of winter travel.

On the third day the whole camp packed up and set out into the backwoods interior. ZMT'ers carried their personal gear in backpacks; the group's food and other supplies were distributed among the individual packs and also loaded onto a home-made gear sled that campers affectionately named "Tymotei." All took turns pulling the sled along the seven-mile trail to the John's Brook campsite.

The first leg of this trip required some bushwhacking through a frozen swamp. This was a complicated task, especially with a heavy sled. When the group reached the wooded terrain on the other side, the trail became increasingly difficult. Hurricane Floyd had wreaked considerable damage in this park, and hikers had to maneuver their beloved Tymotei over, under and around dozens of fallen trees.

Although there was very little net gain in altitude along the way, there were many small hills, dips, turns and rocks in the trail and our progress was slow. The weather was ideal: 20 degrees F, and no wind. It was cold enough to keep the snow from melting and to keep campers from overheating from carrying their loads, but warm enough to keep them from freezing during frequent breaks.

Hikers arrived at the lodge around 5 p.m., having traveled the last mile by flashlight.

Upon arrival campers quickly lit the propane lanterns and fired up the wood-burning stove. Water was collected at a brook and boiled on the propane stove. This was an Alpine-style hut, where supplies are flown in and and waste flown out by helicopter so as to keep the surrounding wilderness area as unpolluted as possible. Dinner was especially appreciated after the long journey, and all slept well in the relatively rustic accommodations.

On the following day the ZMT'ers split up into three groups. One group chose to stay near the lodge and began to construct a small "village" of tents, tarpaulin shelters and quinzee huts. The latter are structures shaped similarly to an igloo, but constructed by hollowing out a large mound of snow from within. Final wall thickness is gauged by tens of short twigs of equal length that are inserted into the outer surface of the snow mound.

The other two groups hiked up to the summit of Upper Wolf Jaw and then to the summit of Mount Armstrong. The view from these peaks was stunning as visibility was exceptional. From one face they could see the forbidding profiles of Mount Marcy and Algonquin Mountain. From another, they saw several other mountain ranges, including the Green Mountains in Vermont and the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The landscape at this altitude consisted of ice-covered tree branches that sparkled brilliantly in the sunshine. Campers posed for group photographs and descended.

Back at the lodge, preparations were made for nightfall. Almost all the participants spent that night in their winter "village." Unfortunately, a sudden change in the weather caused overnight temperatures to soar to 33° F, creating rather moist conditions by morning.

The campers quit the lodge early that day, splitting up into groups once again. The first group collected ropes, helmets, ice axes and crampons, and set out for ice climbing. The second group was fitted for cross-country skis and hit the trails.

Campers concluded the day (and the short week) with the traditional, albeit indoor, bonfire and went to sleep once again in the comfort of that first, luxurious cabin. The next morning ZMT'ers left the Adirondacks behind and headed in various directions, ready to ring in the new year.

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Similar activities are planned for winter 2000. "Yunatstvo" should consult newspaper announcements and Plast publications for information regarding dates, locations and age requirements for future ZMT trips.

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