Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where do I find all the information about the Club's activities?
In many places!
First place would be here, our website www.alpineclubottawa.ca, under the Activities Section. You can check out the activities – climbing, indoor climbing, hiking, learning and socializing – that you are interested in. The Section Calendar of Events contains the most up-to-date information – when, where and trip leader - for scheduled events.
The ACC Ottawa e-letter is a weekly update of Ottawa Section activities and announcements of interest to our members. It is usually sent out each Monday. If you don’t already receive the e-letter, simply e-mail the editor, Elfrieda Bock: e-letter@alpineclubottawa.ca and ask to be added to the list.
With every season comes the The Leader, the Ottawa Section newsletter. The e-letter and the website will let you know when the next issue is available for downloading. And there’s the newsletter archive for past issues where you can check out some great trip reports.
Finally, if you have the soul of a climber, you may want to subscribe to the Gatineau Climbing Yahoo Group at GatineauClimbing-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. This a discussion group for local climbers to help find climbing partners and to find out who is climbing where and when.
There is also an ACC Ottawa Section Yahoo Group at ACC_Ottawa_Section-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Q: I'm going away for a few months. Is it possible to put my membership on hold? What happens if I move?
Unfortunately, we cannot put your membership on hold.
If you are moving permanently, we can transfer your membership to the local ACC Section (where you are moving to).
Q: I am not an ACC member. Can I still participate in ACC Ottawa Section outings?
In general, everyone who wishes to participate in Club outdoor activities must be an ACC member - due to insurance, safety and security concerns.
If you want to register for an ACC Ottawa course, you must be an ACC member before your registration can be accepted.
Q: Most of the local activities seem to be in the Gatineau Park. Is it possible to carpool with someone?
We always try to carpool for our trips – both local and out-of-town.
For our activities in Gatineau Park, we have an in-town accessible meeting point and, from there, take as few cars as possible to the Park.
Q: I am new at this and I don't have any equipment. Do I need to buy the equipment or can it be rented?
Summer Activities: Hiking day trips require appropriate clothing, such as good boots, rain gear and a daypack. For weekend trips, you would need some camping gear. Hiking and camping gear can be purchased or rented at local outdoor stores - Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC), Bushtukah, Trailhead and The Expedition Shop.
Winter Activities: Skis and snowshoes can be purchased or rented at MEC, Bushtukah, Trailhead, The Expedition Shop and Fresh Air Experience.
Rock and Ice Climbing: Gear can be purchased or rented at MEC. If you are new to climbing, it is suggested that you take one of the Section’s introductory climbing courses prior to buying gear. This will give you the opportunity to find out what gear you need, why you need it and what features are important. The Ottawa Section offers an Introduction to Rock Climbing course every spring and an Introduction to Ice Climbing course every winter. For these courses, some gear can be borrowed from the Club while the rest can be rented at outdoor stores.
Indoor Climbing: If you are new to this, gear can be rented at the indoor gyms – Coyote and Virtual Reality. Climbing gear can be purchased at MEC.
The Section e-letter also runs want-ads – when members have gear for sale.
Q. How do I update my membership/contact info?
A. Membership administration is done by the national office. You can update your membership info online by visiting https://admin.alpineclubofcanada.ca/my_profile on the national website.
Q. What is the ACC Ottawa Section e-letter?
A. An e-mail bulletin outlining Section activities and interests. The e-letter is sent once a week - on Mondays. Special notices will also be
forwarded to our members using the e-letter mailing list.
Q. How do I subscribe to the Ottawa Section weekly e-letter?
A. Send an e-mail to e-letter@alpineclubottawa.ca with your name and the e-mail address you want to use to receive the e-letter.
Q. What is the ACC NewsNet?
A. An e-mail bulletin - sent from ACC National - outlining issues and activities that are of interest to all ACC members across Canada.
Q. How do I subscribe to ACC NewsNet?
A. Go to ttp://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/news/newsnet.html and follow the steps outlined.
Q. How do I subscribe to the ACC NewsNet e-bulletin?
You can subscribe to the ACC NewsNet e-bulleting by visiting the membership admin section of the national website.