This is apparently from the Fall of 1990. I have to admit that I've lost track of most of the folks named in this article. What isn't clearly mentioned is this was the year that the RPI Union van bringing up all the gear, including my and Amir's backpack and sleeping gear broke down. Somehow in the confusion our gear never showed up Friday night. I slept in the Supertent with my feet in a plastic garbage bag and a jacket tossed over me. I gave Amir the one extra sleeping bag. He also unfortunately apparently got sick from the 67 mile bike ride.
I have yet to hike to FLG, but one of these years I still might.
Well, I sit here at my computer geeking away when I think to myself, I should write something. So, here is my attempt at writing something you might enjoy.
First topic. Fall Lake George. This is my 6th consecutive Fall Lake George, my first one being my freshman year in 1985. I am not sure how I first heard about it, but it sounded like fun, a nice break from the school. So, I decided to go. I had a lot of fun that year. Of course it rained. My first experience was rain. But I think ironically that is what endeared FLG to my heart. I recall getting to the island on Saturday (I was a niave freshman who volunteered to stay on the mainland to do registration overnight. I learned quickly!) It rained on the way to the island. I sat in the 'Super Tent' eating cookies and talking, making friends. It was fun. I knew next year I'd have to go again. And sure enough, I did. But, next year I knew about something called IOCA, the Inter-Collegiate Outing Club Association. They helped get other clubs to FLG. That was the year too that we didn't have any canoes as of Friday morning. But as usual, we managed to somehow not lose money and get everyone to the island. I think it rained that year too.
The next year was different. We were leaving from a different side of the lake, and I was in charge of food. I made sure we had enough food! This year it rained also. But, thanks to a prediction by the club pessimist, it also SNOWED. We did not leave the island on Sunday, we evacuated it. (This being after my leaving the island on Saturday to race home for family reunion and then back to the island in time for dinner. Some relatives thought I was nuts as I ran through the living room in my long underwear.) That year was interesting, to say the least. We called it snowFall Lake George.
The year after that, my 4th year, I think it rained also. Nothing about it really stands out in my mind. Though I think we nicknamed it Fall-in Lake George due to the number of people falling into the lake.
My fifth year, last year, the weather was PERFECT! It could not have been any better. It was incredible. For once it did NOT rain. I don't know what Kim and Ken did, but they got the weather right!
And finally this year... My 6th year at FLG, my first as an alumnus. I had to do something different. And I vowed to not do any work if I could help it, having helped out in all the previous 5 years. I figured as an alumnus I could rest. Well, I was partly correct in my vows. I did do something different, this year I biked to the lake. A GREAT ride I will recommend to anyone next year. Unfortunately, I might not do it. Why? because my sick little mind is thinking of a two day LONG hike up to Lake George...
As for not working, well, that vow fell along the wayside sometime friday. And it meant not getting out to the island until 11:30pm with no gear. BUT, you know what, while at the time it was not the most pleasant thing I've done, it wasn't the worst either. Why? well, people like Beth from Springfield, Dave and Dave from WPI and the nameless person who donated Amir his sleeping bag that night.
That is what FLG is to me: People. It may rain, it may snow, I may fall in the lake, have no sleeping bag, etc, but I will still enjoy it. It's not a difficult trip, or a technically challenging one. But I don't go to it for that, I go to meet people. There are always people from other colleges, some I know, some I don't know. Every year without fail I manage to make new friends at other colleges, and to often plan trips together. So, next time you hear about FLG or any other trip like it, don't just judge it based whether or not it is challenging, or if your friends from RPI are coming, think about the people from OTHER colleges you can meet. You might like them! I do. And you can ask me how Bruce Hooke's (from friend from Welsylan) parent's met, or several other outing club members parents met.
I mentioned above IOCA. And you may have heard about it before during meetings, but what exactly is it? Well, it stands for the Inter-Collegiate Outing Club Association. What does this mean? Well, it is simply an association of Outing Clubs. Technically individuals can't join IOCA, but the club they are a member of can join IOCA.
But what does IOCA do? Well, they usually help sponsor events like Fall Lake George, they've worked with clubs helping them get started, they sponsor Spring Conference, and many other trips throughout the year that involve more than one outing club. At least in the Northeast, if two or more clubs get together for an event, it is often are result of IOCA. IOCA maintains a mailing list with the names of over 100 clubs on it and works with a small budget to cover some office costs. (Such as putting out a newsletter.) IOCA also has t-shirts you can buy, and patches that can be earned.
Why should you do anything with IOCA? Well, to meet other people, learn new skills, etc. ROC is unique in that it can do most activities and has access to lots of equipment. Other clubs are not so fortunate. So, clubs help each other. For example, last fall ROC sponsored a caving weekend where other clubs came and went caving with us. They didn't have the equipment, skill or caves, so we helped them out. Our club doesn't have a cabin, but other clubs do, and are willing to rent them in some cases. So, IOCA allows a club to use it's equipment more effeciently and to help other clubs. And of course, meeting people.
You probably know most of the people in this club, but don't know other clubs. Meet them, who knows, you might just meet your future spouse. Ask Stacy Smyth. He did.
Well, I've said a little about IOCA. I said I found out about it my second year at FLG. Well, in the spring of the next year, I went to the Spring Conference held at the NorthEastern cabin (100 yards from the Maine Border, right in the Whites!) and through no fault of my own, got drafted into the Executive Secretary position. I've since held this position 3 times since then. I love it. It gives me an opportunity to meet many other people at other colleges. So, I would suggest that you take advantage of ROC's involvement in IOCA and meet people from other colleges! You'll probably like it at least half as much as I do.
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