Outdoor Program

Winter 20052006 Indoor Climbing Class

The 2005-2006 indoor climbing class, comprised of 15 enthusiastic students, attacked the wall-climbing routes. Students have learned and refined various climbing techniques on full wall routes and on bouldering problems. Multiple students have also taken on the challenge of setting their own routes and problems–ones with names like "Bruise" or "Milton Colors." We look forward to hosting the 8th annual rock climbing competition and climbing with students from schools all over New England!
[View Photos]

Wilderness First Aid

In November, 17 students and faculty participated in a weekend-long course on Wilderness First Aid. Taught by the masters of wilderness emergency medicine from New Hampshire-based SOLO, the course taught the group how to evaluate and treat injuries substained in the woods and conditions brought on by weather and fatigue. Students also learned how to build splints from extra clothes and supplies carried in backpacks. In the back country, one must improvise since the ambulance can be hours upon hours away–and these students did a great job working with limited supplies!

Fall 2005 Sea Kayak Trip

The fall sea kayaking group braved less than ideal weather (it was cold and drizzling) to have their overnight trip on the Westport River. Though it did get a bit chilly, paddling into a sunset and sleeping on a island were well worth the trip. The group saw some fun things too: birds, bridges, and a house boat. After the overnight, the class moved indoors to refine paddle strokes, learn how to roll a kayak, and play a game of bumper-boats. Students in the course included: Brian Wu, Genieve Chow, Vicky Stutz, Irene Li, Yelena Tsilker, Bernardo Schuhmacher, and Andrew Larson.

Student Tells Tale of Sea Kayaking Trip
Megan Smith '06

As the storm broke ahead of the five tents, nine of us retreated to our tents and implemented the drill used during lightning storms. My tent-mate and I sat in silence as both of us worried about the storm. Yet as the thunder rumbled and the lighting lit our tents, under the dramatic sounds we heard singing.

    “We all live in the Yellow Submarine,
    The Yellow Submarine
    We all live in the Yellow Submarine…”

And as the songs progressed from pop to oldies, we eventually became eased and hummed along. “We all live in the Yellow Submarine…”
[Full Story]

Spring Climbing Trips 2005
To culminate our season spent rock climbing and hiking, the Milton Outdoor Program Spring Climbing and Backpacking Class took two overnight weekend trips. The first adventure, a backpacking trip in Crawford Notch, NH, proved to test the groups’ endurance, as rainy weather dampened our gear but not our spirits.
[Get the details here]

Outdoor Program Spring Vacation Trip 2004
March 12 - March 14, 2004
Sea-kayaking the Sea of Cortez
Baja, Mexico
The Sea of Cortez in Baja, Mexico is one of the premier sea-kayaking destinations in the world. Rugged mountains sweep down to meet the blue sea, giving adventurers a mountain, ocean, and desert experience, all in one trip. While the trip focuses on sea-kayaking, this mode of transportation is also a way to access remote desert hikes, isolated islands, and the vast world under the sea. Expert guides, as well as the Milton Academy chaperones, will instruct students in kayaking skills (no experience is necessary). The kayaking will be punctuated with snorkeling stops and hiking opportunities on the islands and the coastline. [Get the details here]

Outdoor Program Spring Break Trip: Costa Rica
This spring break a group of 12 Milton Academy students, faculty member Michael Edgar and his wife, Christine Hong, traveled to Costa Rica for an Outward Bound course. The course was sponsored by the Milton Academy Outdoor Program and run through the Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School (www.crrobs.org). [Full Story]

Outdoor Program’s sea-kayaking course completes final expedition
The Outdoor Program’s spring sea-kayaking course ended Memorial Day weekend with a final expedition. The kayaking course was new to Milton’s Outdoor Program this year. Students began their training in the UMASS pool in March. Taught by Matt Bingham, Outdoor Program director, and instructor Kim Walker of the English department, students were introduced to the basic kayak maneuvering strokes and important rescue procedures. [Full Story]

Climbing Glossary

There are many forms of climbing: traditional, sport climbing, ice climbing, bouldering and indoor climbing are among them. As your interest in climbing grows, it’s worthwhile to learn the language of climbing. Here are some terms to get you started:

Anchor: Any piece of protection used to secure climbers to a cliff face for belaying or rappelling. “Fixed anchors” are left in place for all climbers to use.

Belay: To safeguard another climber with the rope. Also used as a noun, as in “the belay was solid.” Most climbers today use friction-creating “belay devices” that attach to their harnesses and allow small climbers to stop the fall of much larger climbers.

Carabiner: Aluminum ovals with spring-loaded gates, used to clip two pieces of gear to a rope. Sometimes called “snaplinks.”

Harness: A nylon harness, buckled around the waist and thighs, providing a safe, comfortable way to tie into the rope for climbing, rappelling and belaying.

Lead: Going first on the rope. Because the leader climbs above the protection, and therefore risks a fall of at least twice the distance to the last piece of protection beneath him, leading is more risky and demanding than seconding.

Scrambler: A person who is not a trained climber and is not using climbing protection on a cliff.