Boulder
American Mountain Guides Association E~Newsletter
May 2008
In This Issue
Spring Board of Directors Meeting
Squamish Mountain Festival
2008 AMGA Graduates
AMGA Merchandise
Greetings!

Spring is here and the sun is shinning.  The Colorado Rockies still have a ton a snow but down here in Boulder, the flowers are out and climbing season is in full swing.

Upcoming is the AMGA Board of Directors Meeting on Friday June 6, 2008 in Golden, CO.  Mark your calendars and head to BC for the Squamish Mountain Festival July 16-20.   And last but not least, we would like to congratulate all the folks who passed an AMGA exam so far this year.
 
AMGA Board of Directors Meeting
Friday June 6th, 2008
 Golden, CO

Eldorado Canyon The AMGA Board of Directors Spring Meeting is being held in Golden, CO at the American Mountaineering Center on Friday June 6, 2008 from 8-4:30.  This meeting is open to the public, all members are welcome.  Below you will find the Spring 2008 Board Meeting Agenda.  Please contact the office at 303.271.0984 if you have any questions or need directions to :

American Mountaineering Center
710 Tenth Street
Golden, CO 80401

Board Meeting Agenda

8:00            Light breakfast served
8:30            Welcome and open invitation to the public and
                   general membership
8:35            Review and adoption of minutes
8:40            President's report presented by John Bicknell
9:00            Executive Director's report presented by Betsy Novak
9:20            Finance report presented by Scott Soden
9:50            Break
10:00           Proposal to accept revised mission
10:30           Proposal to revisit strategic plan
11:00           Proposal to reduce the number of BOD committees
                   and discuss functions of effective committees
11:30           CWA/AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor Certification
                    program update
12:00           Lunch & Museum tour
1:00            CGF report and proposal
2:00            Board nominations
2:20            Proposal to create an AMGA pin for AMGA/IFMGA
                   guides
2:30            Break
2:45            Proposal to discuss... (PCIA and PCGI)...
3:30            Committee reports and question session
                   Public Policy update by Craig Mackey                                           Accreditation update by Ed Crother
                   Awards proposal to accept Land Manager of the Year
                   award criteria
                   Proposal to create ad-hoc committee to focus on
                   developing marketing and PR campaign
4:00            Executive Session
4:30            Adjourn
 

Mountain Festival featuring films, competitions, clinics
and climbing heroes set to Descend on Squamish
July 16 - 20, 2008


The 2008 Squamish Mountain Festival (SQUMF) is getting ready to thrill locals and visitors again this summer with an exciting mix of films, clinics, competitions and guest speakers. The festival takes place at various locations around Squamish, BC from July 16 to 20, 2008. The focus of the festival is climbing and there will be opportunities to take part no matter what your ability or interest. The guest speakers this year represent the past and present, the locals and the international, the dirtbags and the pros. Films will be feature adventurers from around the globe.  More information can be found at http://www.squamishmountainfestival.com

The festival will feature guest speakers fresh of the cliffs telling their stories from life in tight squeezes, exposed edges and harrowing heights. Ed Cooper was one of the first climbers to scale the Grand Wall route of the Stawamus Chief in 1961, he also had numerous first ascents in the Cascades, the Bugaboos and Yosemite during the 1950's and 60's.  Matt Maddaloni climbed the Grand Wall in 2007 but in the same day he climbed two other long Squamish routes totaling 37 pitches and then 4 days later climbed another 50 pitches on 5 different peaks in the Bugaboos.  Sonnie Trotter set a new benchmark with the hardest traditional rock route in world, Cobra Crack, in Squamish in 2006, he's been on the road ever since and has some wild stories to tell.  Cedar Wright is known for his hard first free ascents in Yosemite, Micah Dash just got back from Kashmir, India, and Majka Burhardt has been climbing in the deserts of Ethiopia.  The final night of the festival will feature a presentation from Scottish hard gritstone climber Dave MacLeod.  Festival goers might remember Dave for his huge falls in the film E11.

The vision of the Squamish Mountain Festival is to provide a grass-roots gathering to celebrate the magic of Squamish climbing, bouldering and mountain culture through hands on experience and this year there will be clinics for all ability levels.  The Squamish Mountain Festival is presented by Arc'teryx in a partnership with Mountain Equipment Co-op, the proceeds from the festival benefit the Squamish Access Society, the Climbers Access Society of BC and the Aidan Oloman Fund.  The festival is quickly becoming recognized as the biggest and best climbers festival in Canada.

For media inquiries or more information about the festival please contact:
Ivan Hughes
Festival Director
[email protected]
604 603 2917 - cell
 
Please Congratulate all 2008 AMGA Graduates
We would like to give a big congrats out to all the folks that successfully passed an exam in 2008 gaining AMGA certification.  Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.  
 

2008 IFMGA Grads:
--Adrian Ballinger
--Zoe Hart
--Erik Leidecker
--Bill Liberatoreski class
--Dave Miller
--Jamie Pierce
--Mike Poborsky
--Mark Puleio
--Neil Satterfield
--Geoff Unger

2008 SMGE Grads:
--Mark Allen
--Adrian Ballinger
--Mike Bromberg
--Zoe Hart
--Bill Liberatore
--Erik Leidecker
--Mark Kelly
--Dave Miller
--Nat Patridge
--Mike PoborskyRock Course
--Mark Puleio
--Neil Satterfield                 
--Joe Stock
--Geoff Unger

2008 RIE Grads:
--Karsten Delap
--Geir Hundal
--Joe Vitti

2008 RGE Grads:
--Ian Boyer
--Dawn Glanc
--Patrick Ormond

 

Please welcome two new AMGA Accredited Programs

The Atlantic Climbing School operating out of Bar Harbor, Maine
&
The Ascending Path operating out of Anchorage, Alaska.

AMGA Merchandise 

~ AMGA/MAMMUT MERCHANDISE BLOWOUT!
Once again Mammut, an AMGA Diamond Sponsor, and the AMGA are offering up some great gear to help your perform at your best and look great while doing it.

Yes folks, the AMGA has for sale some great items from Mammut.
Men's Stratus Jacket- size XL ($75.50)
Men's Ultimate Jacket - size Xl and L  ($99.50)
Men's Outline Zip - Size L and M ($59.50)
Women's Outline Zip - size L and M  ($59.50)
Women's Paine Jacket - size L and Sm ($129.50)
Women's Karakorum Jacket - size M ($79.50)
Champ Pants - variety of sizes ($99.50)
Courmayeur Pants - variety of sizes ($89.50)

Each item comes embroidered with the AMGA logo so that is clearly visible when worn.  These garments would make a great addition to any outdoor enthusiasts wardrobe.  Save 10% when you purchase two or more items.

Please visit our webiste for more inforamtion at AMGA / Mammut Merchandise  To order, contact the AMGA office at 303.271.0984 or email [email protected].  
All items will be shipped via Priority Mail.  Shipping and handling will be charged appropiately.



~ AMGA T-shirts

Treat yourself to a new organic AMGA t-shirts.  They are available through the AMGA costing the gentleman $20/shirt (Blue or grey) and the ladies $18/shirt (grey or green).  If interested, please contact the AMGA at 303.2710984.

2008 T-Shirts
 
Wish you well on all your endeavors this Spring!
 
Best,
 

Katie Kelly
American Mountain Guides Association