Iowa Mountaineers. The club membership remained over 1,000 despite an increase in membership dues. The club once again experienced a very active year. Many of the courses and mountain camps were again offered for two hours of credit by the University of Iowa. Under the instruction of Jim and John Ebert, 112 members completed the six concentrated one-week basic rock-climbing courses held at Devils Lake State Park, Wisconsin. Sixty members completed the three-day weekend rock climbing classes. Two general weekend outings were held at popular Devils Lake, with an average attendance of 40 members.

During January 38 members participated on a nine-day cross-country skiing and winter survival course held at 10,500 feet in the Collegiate Range in Colorado. Members slept in igloos, snow shelters, and tents and learned everything that five instructors could teach them. A winter backpack trip to Arizona’s Grand Canyon involved two groups of 15. The professional film-lecture series had an average of 450 people for seven programs, while the annual banquet in April attracted 135 members.

The club sponsored two major foreign expeditions and an in-state mountaineering camp. During January and February, John Ebert led a group of 32 members to New Zealand. Mount Cook and other major peaks on the South Island were not attempted owing to the worst weather and snow conditions in over 14 years. Six peaks were ascended on North and South Islands, and 14 of the group hiked the Routeburn Trek. During June and July, John Ebert led 25 to the Alps. Again, as in New Zealand, members were to experience the cloudiest and rainiest weather that Europe has had since 1907. The group headed for Italy and found the weather a bit more stable. Ascents were made of Marmolada, the Grosse Zinne, Patternkofl, Cima Tosa, and two of the Geisler Peaks,all located in the Dolomites. Then the group headed to France to climb Mont Blanc.

In August the club sponsored an 11-day mountaineering camp in the Sawtooths in Idaho, directed by Jim Ebert. Fifty-eight members participated, and they made over 108-man summit ascents on eight peaks including Warbonnet by 15 members and Finger of Fate by six. The weather was perfect for the entire 11 days.

The 1981 foreign expedition will be to Peru June 27-July 18, or the 25th. Base Camp will be in the Quebrada Rurec. Following the Base Camp, members will have the choice of ascending Huascarán (22,334 feet) or Nevado Copa (20,351 feet). A summer camp will be held in the Purcells in British Columbia August 4-14.

Jim Ebert, Vice President