Snow camp pre-test sample questions

We try, through this website, to teach people the things they need to know to be comfortable or just to survive on a winter camping trip.

But we still have had people who didn't know what they were supposed to, especially about good clothes, food storage, bears, raccoons, etc. So we devised a test everyone must take (pass) before they go on our annual winter trip to Yosemite.

Showing us (and getting our approval of) your rain gear, describing your tent, sleeping bag, pad, and boots are also required to go on the trip. (Members can rent really good tents, sleeping pads and much more from the club).

Info about the trip starts at Snow Camp

Some of the questions for the test are here:

1) T /F in past years there has always been snow at the Yosemite ski resort, but there might not be any (or it might be a couple of feet deep) where we will be camping

2) Headphone tape players or acoustic guitars are expected on this trip because:

A) Playing your car stereo with the doors open to hear it at the picnic table is too loud and bothers other campers

B) Other people really do expect the worst about noise and breaking rules from a large college-age group

C) A neighbor on a previous trip (when we were all being cool) thought another campsite of not-really-that-noisy, beer drinking college guys were with us and he wrote complaints to the college president and our local Congressperson. The college president had to answer to the Congressperson's office.

D) All of the above

5) People on this trip will: (choose any that apply)

A) Get together at the pre-trip meeting to plan group meals

B) Get together on their own to plan group meals

C) Eat out at the restaurants

D) Make meals by themselves

E) Have impromptu pot-luck meals

F) Someone will expect the club officers to provide food, cook it, serve it, clean up and give foot massages after each hike (but they won't)

(The answer is in the dinner section of Snow or rain camp must-haves)

11) Choose which things your payment to the club covers:

A) campsite

B) parking at the campsite IF you paid extra for it or form a three or more person carpool

C) a water purifying pump the faculty advisor will bring if hse joins a hike, and more IF someone brings them

D) a 10' x 10' dining canopy or two, if someone brings them

E) at least one club owned stove, lantern and propane tank for group use, IF someone brings it

F) lots of firewood, if people bring it

G) a first aid kit the faculty advisor will bring, and more of them if someone brings them

H) ski lift tickets

I) park entrance fee

J) one meal at a restaurant if the weather is bad or you burn your food when you try to cook it.

(The answer is in the snow camp section of Outdoor Club Coming Attractions)

13) We will probably have at least five or six campsites. How will you know which campsite to park in?

A) it will be announced at the pre-trip meeting

B) you can pick any one yourself, first come, first served

C) you can drive around the campground yelling "where's the Outdoor Club ? "

D) check in at the faculty advisor's campsite when you get there and see how many more sites we have, then find one you like

E) the sites and which one each car is assigned to will be posted on the bulletin board at the campground entrance

F) the sites will be posted on the bulletin board at the campground entrance, you pick which one you want

(The answer is near the bottom of Snow camp carpools and driving directions)

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First-timer's instructions, Snow camp weather, hike safety and first aid considerations were written to make the trip easier for everyone, highlighting mistakes others have made on previous trips so you don't have to make them.

Did you read Using a campsite food storage locker? Space in the food lockers must be shared by six people. If you bring too much stuff you will have to drive to a trailhead and leave stuff there or pay for an additional campsite.

Most people will take four, 4 1/2 or maybe five hours to drive to Yosemite. If you don't want to set a new record for taking too much time to get to Yosemite (currently the winter trip record is 13 hours by a guy who didn't use our directions and drove around the mountains all night), then read How to not collide with a deer, Safe driving in rain and fog, Prepare for winter driving Snow camp carpools and driving directions and/or Snow chain rentals.

For the answer to the question: How do I convince my parent(s)/guardian that I can go on this trip? or How do I convince them to pay for some gear for the trip? Go to: Snow camp FAQs