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Ask OWA |
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We try to give you all the information that we can on our site, but sometimes that information leads to more questions. We thought that it would be a good idea to include a Q&A feature for the questions that come our way.
If you have a question, please feel free to ask our expert staff. We may not know what the meaning of life is, but we do know a thing or two about adventure!
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Fly Fishing |
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| Question: | DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON FLY FISHING. |
| Asked By: | JUSTIN |
| Answer: | We would assume you mean do we have any fly fishing in our programs and as a matter of fact we do. For 2003 check out either of the Adventure Skills programs or the Ultimate Wind River. Each offers instruction, fly tying and rod building with plenty of time on the rivers and streams. |
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Miscellaneous |
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| Question: | When I search the web for Copper Canyon Information I get a whole lot of entries called New Copper Canyon Information that originated with OWA. Is that a message board, and if so how can I find it? |
| Asked By: | Keith Ramsay |
| Answer: | We don't really know. We do have this format and did formerly operate a more traditional looking forum that had quite a few entries about Copper Canyon before it crashed about a year ago. Hopefully we will develop some good and ever current info here on this new forum. Stay tuned. We may even go ahead and set up a section specifically on CC. Also, do check out our tips for travelers. We do update it and in fact are heading down there mid November and will have some good updates before Thanksgiving. |
| Question: | What kind of training is necessary for successfully participating in an expedition race? |
| Answer: | Lot's of pain and sleep deprivation with plenty of night travel, aerobic conditioning, hard skills, and the ability to tolerate all kinds of people in all kinds of conditions. |
| Question: | how can I open my mail box on outlook , it's on halliburton network |
| Answer: | This is certainly the first time we've run across this problem. Remember what we learned recently from our friends at sixsigma "Lean Flow is about creating a series of value added processes in plain view of the complete supply chain." If that doesn't help, then maybe you should consider that optimized flow comes from having the right data and knowing how to use it. Hope that helps. |
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Mountain Biking |
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| Question: | My cousin and i are planning a short trip to creel next Thursday thru Sunday and are interested in biking the canyon. Are there any rides we shuould definitely not pass up? We are intermediate riders not too afraid of tackling new challenges. Thanks |
| Asked By: | Real Ransom |
| Answer: | Since you only have a very few days, I would focus on riding on the best of the most rideable trails in the canyons-- all located close to Creel. Most are located on the mesa to the east of town in the Ejido San Ignacio. You'll find just about whatever kind of riding you'd like including dirt meandering roads, forest single track, slick rock, hair raising descents, technical problems, great views, etc. etc. |
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OWA Specific |
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| Question: | How long is the camp already in session |
| Answer: | I'm not completely clear what the question is. But to answer in several ways.... OWA is entering it's 23rd year of operation, summer program lengths range from 1-4 weeks and typically our backcountry groups go out on the trail for 5-9 days at a time. |
| Question: | What does a camper bring to the program "Base Camp"? |
| Answer: | A complete equipment list is sent to each participant during the spring. Generally, though we try and limit the amount of personal technical and camping gear that each person has to bring. OWA supplies climbing gear, fishing gear, mountain bikes/helmets, tents, backpacks, cooking gear and other backcountry equipment. Each person typically needs their own clothing (shorts, fleece jacket/pants, t-shirts, long underwear, raingear), footware, and sleeping bag/pad. We do rent sleeping bags/pads since in many cases folks don't have access to a good lightweight 20 degree bag. |
| Question: | IS THE WHOLE WEEK SPENT CAMPING IN TENTS? DO YOU CAMP IN DIFFERENT SPOTS DURING THE WEEK? WHERE WOULD I FLY MY SON INTO? DENVER? DO YOU USUALLY GET ALL 10 PEOPLE FOR THE FLY FISHING CAMP? WILL HE NEED A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR FLY FISHING CAMP? THIS IS NEW TO ME, WHO USUALLY WRITES A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION? TEACHER? PRIEST? PARENT? FAMILY MEMBER? WHO PREPARES THE MEALS? IS THERE ANY CONTACT WITH HOME ONCE HE ARRIVES? |
| Asked By: | TERRI SILVESTER |
| Answer: | Lot's of great questions! Accommodations depend on the particular program. Resident Colorado programs include accommodations in the bunkhouse or 4 person yurts with built-in bunks. Backcountry trips obviously require staying on the trail in small 3 person tents. Road trips like Rock or Bike Trip typically involve car type camping with tents available for inclement weather. We provide transportation to and from the Colorado Springs airport for most OWA programs. Fly Fishing Camp does always seem to be full. Recommendations are required from new participants either from a teacher, coach, minister or OWA vet parent--- nothing too involved. Our Base Camp meals are prepared by our professional chef and kitchen staff. While on the trail or road, the group all pitches in to help with meals. We do provide incoming emails to participants and they are free to write regular letter home. |
| Question: | What kind of jobs do you have available for a Parks, Recreation and Tourism graduate? |
| Answer: | None |
| Question: | Do you offer training in tracking? Wildlife spotting and photography? Am especially interested in recognizing tracks/signs of porcupine, raccoon, beaver, fox, as well as bird nests/calls. |
| Asked By: | Susie |
| Answer: | We do offer some information in wildlife and photography, but probably not to the extent that you're looking for--- nothing that specifically deals with those topics. You might go to gorp.com and see what you can find. |
| Question: | what is the owner that owns OWA |
| Answer: | Ah, you can't stump us--- the answer is "Human". |
| Question: | Does OWA have a brochure that I can request or have sent to my home for me to look at? |
| Answer: | Yes. |
| Question: | how would I go about getting into the work program or intern program, I am very interested in this type of work and don't really know how to get into it being from the midwest, anything would help thanks |
| Answer: | 2 choices-- Come and work hard at doing all of the stuff nobody else wants to do and for no pay (but good food and a tent) and maybe something will work out sometime down the road.......... or........ Join the OWA Guide Training Program (see details elsewhere on the web site. |
| Question: | how old do i need to be, to be on work crew? thanks |
| Answer: | Work Crew minimum age is 16. The program is actually all full as of December 2001. |
| Question: | WHAT DO YOU DO THE FIRST YEAR FOR 11 YEAR OLDS? I SENT YOU MY NAME AND ADDRESS EARLIER TODAY ARE YOU GOING TO SEND ME A BROCHURE SO I CAN SEE WHAT THE CAMP IS LIKE. SINCE IT IS MY FIRST YEAR, HOW LONG IS CAMP? MY MAILING ADDRESS IS P. O. BOX 538, DECATUR, TEXAS 76234. THANKS |
| Answer: | The only program we offer for 11 year olds is Base Camp. The two week program combines just about everything we offer in our other programs including rock climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, whitewater and fly fishing. |
| Question: | On your alpine program, do you teach use of crampons? Also, on the mountains this program climbs, are the routes technical climbs? |
| Answer: | We do teach crampon use during the Alpine Rock & Ice program and put them to good use on a variety of ascents-- that are all technical to some extent. Plan on steep snow, some alpine ice, mountaineering and even some pure rock climbing-- all the stuff you find in alpine climbing. |
| Question: | For the rock/mountain biking camp, what type of experience is neccessary, and do you sleep in tents. Also, how long ahead of time should I sign up if i'm interested in the program for summer of 2002. |
| Answer: | No real previous experience is required for Mt Bike/Rock Camp 1. Nights are all spent at Base Camp in real bunks. Our programs will begin filling up in January 2002. |
| Question: | This is about travel. Do my perents have to pay for airfare or is it included in the cost for the camp? if it isn't in the the camp cost how much is it? |
| Answer: | Travel fees are normally not included in OWA camp fees. We do supply transportation to and from the Colorado Springs airport. Airfare to and from Colorado is a function of all kinds of variables............... |
| Question: | is airfare included in the cost for camp |
| Answer: | Airfare is not included in the fees for most OWA programs. We do provide free transportation to and from the Colorado Springs airport for programs that originate at our Colorado Base Camp. |
| Question: | Where can i find the cost for your programs? I can not locate that information on the site- what am I doing wrong? thanks |
| Answer: | You should be able to find it at http://www.owa.com/youthschedule.cfm |
| Question: | What does one need to bring to this camp? Also, what are the extra rod building materials? |
| Answer: | The equipment needed for the OWA Fly Fishing Camp are relatively limited-- shorts, t-shirts, raingear, sleeping bag, lightweight fleece jacket. OWA can provide all the fishing gear you need. Rod building supplies are optional-- just for those interested in building their own high quality fly rod. Cost is about $175- $200 for a really nice rod. Flies are tied daily and all fly-tying supplies is supplied. |
| Question: | Do yall have a bear problem around base camp? I have heard stories. :) |
| Answer: | Well, there are Black Bears all over the mountains (even some non-mountain areas) of Colorado and encounters with bears have been a common occurrence ever since man moved in. We do periodically have bears that meander through our Base Camp area scavenging for food and during the past few years it has become increasingly prevalent all over the state due to dry conditions. We had a yearling bear last summer that appeared about once a week for 5 or 6 weeks. Once we made a really serious effort to remove all the snack food from the yurts and secured our trash, he ultimately got bored with us a was last seen in late July. So, to make a complicated story short, we have the same bear problems that everyone has in the mountains and have avoided any real problems by keeping our place clean and secure. |
| Question: | I am calculating cost estimates for enrolling my son in next summers mountain biking camp. I have obtained much information from your web site to assist my calculations. I am unable to locate any information concerning gasoline cost. Are gasoline costs for the mountain bikes included in the tuition? |
| Asked By: | Dr. Edmund Fitzgerald Phd. |
| Answer: | We're pleased to announce that OWA will no longer charge for the use of gasoline on our mountain bikes. |
| Question: | what are three stages of being a wizard in th movie Merlin? |
| Answer: | This is obviously a trick question of some sort that has something to do with one of the Winnetka Merlins that also work with OWA. My answer is thrown rod, water pump and tire problems. |
| Question: | how do you sign up for work crew? |
| Asked By: | harley hutchins |
| Answer: | A good question that we continue to ponder for 2003. Stay tuned to information coming up on the web site and next newsletter later in the fall.........hopefully we'll get the work crew thing figured out by that time! |
| Question: | What is the age span for youth groups? How old do you have to be? |
| Answer: | There are options in our summer programs for 11 year olds up through 18 as well as some family programs. Visit www.owa.com/youthschedule.cfm for all the specifics. |
| Question: | How has the Hayman Fire effected the Outpost, aesthetically or otherwise? |
| Answer: | There was no affect on the facility or on any of the Tarryall Valley within view of Base Camp. You can check out all the specifics on our news page. The Hayman and the wildfires from 2002 did affect the way we operated and did send us into some new areas that were further away from immediate danger. We were basically inconvenienced while hundreds of others were directly impacted. |
| Question: | If someone were doing the rod building in the ultimate WInd River trip, do they also need to bring an additional rod and reel? |
| Asked By: | |
| Answer: | The rods your build will be completed in time to take it with you on the trail in the Winds. You will need your own reel-- so you should bring one of those.....or you can borrow an OWA reel if you prefer. |
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Rock Climbing |
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| Question: | I just saw "Vertical Limit." How does the climbing in the movie compare with the climbing I'll be doing at OWA? Should I practice my mountain to mountain leaping before I come? |
| Answer: | We just saw Vertical Limit ourselves and while it is full of action and did have some realistic climbing scenes, as Climbing Magazine described it-- "it's more a movie about falling than climbing"..... To add to the excitement of the movie, there were several enhancements like the blind leap across thousands of feet worth of air with waving ice tools that stick to the rock on the other side. We'll take things a little easier during Base Camp and in fact during all of our programs. We prefer belays, anchors, and all the stuff normally associated with real climbing in the real world. |
| Question: | I was wondering if you would be able to send me an e-mail about rockclimbing. The information that I would like has to do with the following: A history of rockclimbing Skills that are involved What safety considerations are there to take. Thank you |
| Asked By: | Daniel Marsh |
| Answer: | We would normally be happy to write your paper for you, but are kinda busy right now. You might try getting a copy of "Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills". It's a pretty definitive text on the subject. |
| Question: | i am signed up for the advanced rock camp and on the gear list one of the things is a day pack. If i have all of my own climbing gear does that need to be carried in the day pack? What all needs to be carried in the pack? I have one that holds 2100 cubic inches, would that be big enough? I also had anpther question--is there a place to cash a travelers check? and also i was wondering if for the advanced rock trip (june 1 -- june 9) do we ever camp out in tents or is it all at base camp.
thank u for your time and i hope that you can answer my questions. |
| Asked By: | bryan mcvey |
| Answer: | Brian, The day pack is used to carry everything needed for a day of climbing including harness, helmet, belay device, shoes, raingear, water, snacks, sunblock, fleece. Normally you won't need any additional climbing gear (pro, etc) although you will often also need to help carry other climbing gear like a rope. Some things like shoes/helmet can be carried on the outside of the pack. You won't have to carry this great distances, so it can be kind of stuffed. Your 2100 cube pack will probalby be large enough. All nights during Adv Rock Camp are spent around the lodge in the bunkhouse or yurts. We can cash a travellers check after arrival. |
| Question: | How do you know when boots are worn out? |
| Answer: | Your boots are normally worn out when the duct tape no longer sticks. |
| Question: | ARE THERE ANY CAMPS CLOSE TO BIG LAKE, TX? |
| Answer: | There are camps without a doubt, but not any Outpost Wilderness Adventure programs or camps. |
| Question: | ok..I'll be up at the OWA-B/C on sunday but i was wondering about the bikes and the helmets you offer..should i bring my own helmet or am I guarantied a proper fiting helmet? and the bikes you have, what are the pedels like? Rat traps(toe staps), plain flat pedals, or do u have and SPD(clip in to shoes) pedels that i could use my bike shoes with |
| Answer: | We do have Specialized clipless pedals and shoes for those interested in going clipless. Specialized pedals will work with Shimano cleats pretty well, but not with Richey or other SPD type cleats. We have helmets, but recommend that you brings your own along with gloves-- just because they are sure to fit and be comfortable. |
| Question: | el jefe, is he human? |
| Asked By: | crinny dean |
| Answer: | In some ways...... |
| Question: | ive been trying to red point my local v12 boulder problem,i keep getting squirted off at the crux,i need HELPPPP.should i pinch the crimper then heel hook and throw for the jug? or should i smear on the right foot and figure 4 out to the bomber under cling until i can throw for the slop ?please write back soon as i dont know how long i can hold on thank you shannas dad |
| Answer: | About all we can really say is to not throw for the slop, cause it is sure to make your hands pretty greasy. Of course if you're holding onto a V12 then a little slop shouldn't really be that big of a problem. |
| Question: | Are they going to be any pictures on your website from advanced rock camp this year? |
| Answer: | They are.......... |
| Question: | I saw this kid named Brett Merlin trying to do a V8 at the Gunks. Does he work for you, and if so, can i get his autograph? |
| Asked By: | Matt Morrow |
| Answer: | Was he tryin or was he doin? That will determine our answer.......... |
| Question: | I have done my Master's in Rock Climbing.Now I have to come over their for Rock Climbing? How "OWA" help/suggest me? |
| Asked By: | MITAL ACHARYA |
| Answer: | OWA suggest you come over and spend time working on your PhD in off-widths with Dr. Beardsley. |
| Question: | did jeff ever redpoint that really hard project at cromagnon dome? |
| Answer: | You know.............we don't know and will have to check on that........... |
| Question: | What is the size of Copper Canyon? I saw that it is a third the size of the largest state in Mexico, but nothing telling me the over all size of it. Also, is it bigger than the Grand Canyon? Please let me know when you can. Thank you for your time. |
| Asked By: | BJ Brown |
| Answer: | We can't really help with the exact size-- you can probably find varying figures in various atlas's and online. Part of the problem is determining where the canyons actually start and end. It is an immense area. It is said to be 4 or 5 times larger in scope than the Grand Canyon. In places it is as deep as the Grand Canyon (over 4000 feet vertical), but in general more protracted and less defined. Hope that helps. |
| Question: | what kind of gear do you use? |
| Asked By: | sarah |
| Answer: | Whatever it takes. |
| Question: | I am really trying to track down a Peterman, is there such a man working for your outfit? |
| Answer: | He never actually worked for us, but was more of a mentor to a number of our staff. Last we heard he was taking a break from his research and studies at Oxford to do a crossing of Antarctica via a wind driven snow shovel. If we hear from him we'll pass along your interest in tracking him down. |
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Ask Your Question |
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