Snow camping — a lesson worth
learning
“Snow camping? — you're
crazy." scoffed my parents,
most of my friends and those
professors who wore gracious
enough to let me spend a Friday
trudging through the snow, in
stead of sleeping through class.
Ever since I got the physical
education department's seal of
approval, a red stamp on my
registration computer sheet, I
have been defending my deci
sion to take this course and
entertaining questions on how 1
was going to survive three days
and two nights housed in a
snow structure 5.600 feet above
civilization.
“Wouldn't I freeze?” "What
if the snow cave should col
lapse?” "How would I breathe
in a bedroom constructed of
frozen water?” At first I laugh
ed off these questions that seem
ed so ridiculous. But then, as
the term wore on. and the day
drew closer. I started to think:
"Would 1 freeze?” "Would it
collapse?” "Would I be able to
breathe?”
My fears were dispelled one
weekend when I joined 18 other
University students for a trip up
to the Cascades to build snow
structures for snow-camping
class.
My stucture didn't collapse.
In fact, my cohorts and I had a
difficult time destroying it. I
was able to breathe (through
holes 6 inches in diameter that
let in 15-degree oxygen from
outside), and freezing was the
least of my problems.
I showed up at the meeting
area, 6:15 a.m. on Feb. 15 with
a three-day supply of bagels:
cross-country skis lashed to my
obnoxious orange backpack;
and my release forms signed,
which put all responsibility for
injury or death on my
shoulders.
Although I wasn't dressed in
the latest state-of-the-art. light
weight, synthetic styles for the
trendy outdoor enthusiast. I did
come clad in my polypropylene
underwear and full layer of
wool ready to take on any ele
ment that Mother Nature could
dish out.
As it turned out. my warm
clothes were more than enough
protection from the cold, but
they didn’t prevent me from
sliding down an icy slope that
neither skis nor snowshoes
could grip.
Along the two-and-one-half
mile trek that took us straight
up the mountain, 1 plodded
along, slipping back two steps
for every step 1 took. An occa
sional face-plant (characterized
by my head buried in snow and
the tail end of my skis jutting
out from the white powder)
made getting up especially dif
ficult because the weight of my
pack further compressed me in
to the mountain.
1 became frightened by that
adage "getting there is half the
fun” and privately wondered if
this wouldn't lie a good time for
the world to end.
When we finally ar
rived at our destina
tion three hours
behind schedule,
there wasn't much
time to pick and
choose for the best
real estate. My
cavemates, Nicole
and Michael, and I
chose a location close
to where we had
dropped our packs
and began piling
snow that in hours
would become our
weekend home.
We dug, hollowed
and smoothed until
our pile of snow
transformed into a
spacious room for
three, I was amazed at
how comfortable our little
abode was and how the
temperature remained a balmy
31 degrees when it was much
colder outside.
1 regretted having to move out
of our snow cave the following
day but was excited to move on
to bigger and better things —
igloos.
Unfortunately the snow
wouldn’t cooperate. After three
hours of watching our delicate
ly constructed ice blocks crum
ble at our fingertips, we gave up
and ran back to our snow cave,
conveniently located 50 yards
away.
Once inside my former
shelter, I felt relieved that 1
wasn’t outside with the other
groups furiously trying to build
an igloo by flashlight.
But later, as 1 scanned the
area, 1 was disappointed. Three
or four other groups managed to
finish their igloos that were
glowing blue from the flicker
ing candlelight from within.
They looked cozy.
On the trek home on Sunday,
I looked back on the events of
the weekend and realized it was
worth it. 1 survived the many
hazards of snow camping.
1 stayed alive eating bagels
that were frozen to the core and
drinking melted snow with
floating lichen in it. I didn't suf
fer from hypothermia or
frostbite, but I did get a bit of a
sunburn. And although 1 didn’t
master the art of skiing with a
pack on, I did leam the proper
technique for falling.
Story by Diana Elliott
Graphic by Rob Kraft
Watergate participant to
speak Wednesday in EMU
G. Gordon Liddy will speak
on “Government: Perception
Vs. Reality” in the EMU
Ballroom on Wednesday at 7:30
p.m.
Called “the number one
speaker in the country” by The
New York Times, Liddy first
gained notoriety for his involve
ment in the Watergate break-in
and cover-up.
The former FBI agent worked
for the Nixon administration
doing “special duties” before
becoming a counsel for the
Committee to Re-Elect the Presi
dent, where he worked until
1972.
Liddy was convicted of
numerous offenses connected
with the Watergate break-in and
subsequent cover-up. He was
sentenced to 20 years in prison
in 1973.
During his trial, Liddy,
unlike his co-conspirators,
refused to testify about the
break-in or other covert ac
tivities. In 1977, President Jim-,
my Carter commuted his
sentence to eight years and he
was released from prison in
September, 1977.
Since then, Liddy has toured
G. Gordon Liddy
the country giving lectures. He
has also written two books.
"Out of Control,” and his 1980
autobiography, "Will,” which
became a best seller.
Liddy’s lecture, sponsored by
the EMU Cultural Forum, will
be followed by a question and
answer period.
I Coupons in the Emerald save you money.
■ Check every page, every day. It pays.
1
I
I
I
Continued from Page 9
“Jazz in the Afternoon” with
Mapenzie, the Dennis St. Ger
main Trio and Helix from 4:30
to 7 p.m.; "Fiddlin’ at the
Hilton" with Wolf Creek, Big
Sue and Wooden Windows
from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.; and
"Kaggae 'til Midnight" with
Strictly Roots. Bar refreshments
and a dance floor will also be
available.
Admission to the Hilton
entertainment is on a donation
basis. "For anything you can af
ford to give, you can hear some
of the best music in town," says
Rundo.
The Hult Center is providing
HOPE with use of the Silva Hall
at a discounted price, and Hult
staff members are donating their
services for the day’s festivities.
In addition, the Hilton is
donating lodging and meals for
out-of-town performers.
Tickets are available at the
Hult Center and at Hult Center
outlets.
COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON
COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON
r
i
The Ultimate Kabob
Buy One Dinner
Get Another For $1
New from The Branding Iron, The Ultimate Kabob.
It's a delicious Combination of marinated Top
Sirloin chunks, Chicken Breast and Prawn
skewered and broiled with fresh mushrooms,
onions, and bell peppers. This delicious new din
ner entree is served with rice pilaf or french fries,
homemade soup or tossed greens and bread.
AND, FOR A LIMITED TIME, WHEN YOU BUY
ONE ULTIMATE KABOB DINNER AT THE
REGULAR PRICE OF $8.95. YOU'LL GET ANOTHER
KABOB DINNER FOR ONLY $1. JUST PRESENT
THIS COUPON WHEN ORDERING.
Bmonrc iron
579 East Broadway, Eugene Phone 683-3626
COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON
Credit Card
Sears, Roebuck and Ca
0 □□□□□ 00000 0
H LEWIS
Use This Credit Card In Any Sears
0000
One of the most valuable cards
a student can carry
A bear. Credit Card can he extremely helpful to you.
especially if yuu’re a junior, senior or graduate student
Because, aside from us immediate usefulness. a
bears Credit Can! will hdp establish the catlgjutk
ground you will need after you graduate
It s easier to get a Sears Credit Card than you might
thuik Mxi don't need a hig hank account or a regular
|uh or even adiploma If you are a responsible pervm
wuh the ability to pay vour hills, bearsnelieves vou
deserve credit and will handle it with care
It's smart to establish credit now
And it s wise to get a Sears Credit Card now; while
you're still in schtxil It w ill he useful to vou right aw ay
letting you get what you need when vou need it hi
(HkbtKm. a Sears (Jxirgr Ac a >toil could he i xtur first
step m building a credit history A credit historv that
w ill help you get the credit you II want when vou
leave school
No annual fee with a Sears Credit Card
Unlike some credit cards, there’s no annual fee for a
Sears Credit Card And there are no hidden credit
charges either finance charges are always fully dis
ckwed on your bears statement
Get nationwide credit at Sears
There are over J-rOO Retail and Catalog Stores all across
the country and your bears Credit CanJ is good at every
one of them This means w herever you live, travel or
w tirk and wherever you max move yt xj have* avallahle
credit at a nearby bears
Over 100,000 fine products and services
Vt «h a Sears Credit Card you can choose from an
enormous range of products and services, and iust sax
Charge it* Everything from ckithes and cameras.
dectronii games and cakulators. 10 tires and a tune up
k* your car And all your merchandise purchases are
hacked by Sears famous promise 'Satisfaction Guararv
teesl or Vi Hir Money Back
Buy what you need when you're short on cash
Mxir Sears Credit Card lets you buy what you need when
you need it, even though you may not have the cash on
hand at that particular moment >bu can take advantage
of Sears special sales as w ell as everyday good values
And you can stretch your pay ments over many months
if you w ish
Shop from Sears catalogs when
you're short on time
When you dnn t have time to get to a Sears Store, use
VI Kir Sears Credit Card 10 order by phone fnxn our
famous catakigs Just say Charge W>u can even
arrange for delivery right to your door
Apply for a Sears Credit Card right on campus
DATE: Monday, Tuesday
(3/4, 3/5)
TIME: 10am-4 pm
PLACE: Main desk area