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The Hamilton Outing Club (HOC) hosted a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course for around 30 of its leaders on Oct. 25 and 26. In order to become a HOC leader and be eligible to take students out on trips, candidates must take part in a leader-training weekend that covers skills such as trip planning, wilderness cooking, group management and more, and hold a certification in Wilderness Medicine, WFA or higher.

Professional climber and author Majka Burhardt visited Hamilton on Oct. 21. She met with students around campus and at the climbing wall and delivered a lecture on her experiences as a professional outdoor athlete and expedition leader.

Hamilton’s Outing Club runs trips during most weekends and even on some weekdays. These trips are very popular, but limited by the short amount of time available. However, fall break provides a special window of time that allows for longer trips to exciting destinations throughout the Northeast. This fall, three trips took advantage of this time to explore beyond the Adirondacks while doing a variety of exciting activities.

Every fall for the past 19 years, Hamilton students have flocked to the Adirondacks for 46 Peaks Weekend. Their goal – to have a Hamilton student summit every peak above 4,000 feet in the Adirondacks in the span of a weekend. From September 26-28, beautiful weather aligned with a talented group of leaders and scores of strong participants and for the first time ever, they succeeded – a Hamilton student stood atop every one of the 46 over the course of the weekend.

In early September a group of students from Hamilton’s Marathon Canoe Racing Team (HCMCRT) raced in the Adirondack Classic 90-Miler Canoe Race. This past weekend several of those students were back at it, racing in the Long Lake Long Boat Regatta on Sept. 20.

Hamilton’s climbing wall is well-known among students and many climb there frequently. Less recognized is the excellent outdoor climbing that can be found just a short drive from campus in the town of Little Falls. Situated on an island in the Erie Canal, these cliffs offer everything from exciting routes perfect for introducing beginners to the sport to harder climbs that challenge even the most seasoned veteran.