The Kootenay Mountaineering Club

Your Membership

Your Member Account

Each KMC member has their own account on the website. You create your own username when you sign up as a member and can change your password anytime. Select the “Login” link in the top right corner of the website to do the following things:

• View the Members Area page. This page provides access to restricted documents like board minutes and hiking camp procedures.
• Update your membership information on the Members Area page. You can change your phone number, mail address, etc.
• Post a trip from the Members Area page. For more information, see Leading a Trip.
• View trip leader information on the Trip Schedule. The information is hidden unless you’re logged in.

Adding Family Members

If you signed up for a Couple or Family membership, then your family member(s) will be sent an email with instructions to set up their own account for the website. Their membership fee was included with your registration. If you need to make changes to your membership level at renewal to remove or add family members, contact the Website Director.

Mailing List

The KMC uses TopicBox as our main communication tool for sharing trips and news. New members will be added to the TopicBox list every week by the Membership Director.

Store Discounts

On the 1st of every month, we share our updated membership list with selected stores so you can get a discount.

Renew Membership

All memberships expire on December 31st.

• To renew your membership, log in to the website and select your membership option. All of your previous member information will be saved and you can make a new payment through Paypal.
• You’ll receive an automatic reminder email 7 days before your membership expires.
• Once your membership expires, you will no longer be able to view the Members Area and other restricted information on the website. However, you can still log in to the website to renew!

If you joined the club between October 1st and December 31st, then your membership includes the end of the current year as well as the 12 months of the follow year. Your expiry date will be automatically adjusted.

Cancel Membership

• If you wish to cancel your membership, you can simply let it expire without renewing the following year. There are no refunds for cancelled memberships.
• If you wish to be removed from our mailing list right away, contact the Membership Director.

Volunteering with the Club

The KMC is a volunteer-driven organization! Here are some of the way you can get involved:

• Hut Maintenance
• Trail Maintenance
• Trip Leading
• Hiking Camp Committee
• Executive Committee

Communication

Mailing List

The KMC maintains a mailing list on Topicbox that members can use to broadcast announcements and trips. When you email this list, your email is forwarded to all 400+ KMC members so there are guidelines in place.

• To send an email to the list, address it to [email protected]
• Only KMC members can email this list.

The KMC Membership email list is intended for club communication and functions. It should be used for the following occasions:

• By Trip Leader
  • initial invitation for KMC trip, usually circulated 7-10 days in advance.
  • announcements of rescheduling or cancellation.
• By members
  • if significant access issues are discovered on trails or access to trails.
  • if, after expressing a concern to the executive, you feel that a community discussion is appropriate.
  • Note: if you wish to send questions to the trip leader or make final trip arrangements among participants, please do that via private email.
• By Executive
  • to advise of KMC functions.
  • to request membership response to club positions/projects/proposals.
  • to advise on issues/concerns it deems sufficiently important that all members be informed.

Please consider whether or not there is an urgent reason to inform all members in response to any of the above. Otherwise ‘reply’ rather than ‘reply all’. If a member believes an issue/concern warrants email distribution to the membership, ask the executive or make use of other available social media.

Newsletter

We send out a quarterly newsletter by email with trip reports and club updates.

Social Media

Joining A Trip

The trip schedule is posted on our website. There are two versions:

1. Public version for non-members which hides names and contact info. Located on the main site under Trip Schedule.
2. Members version with all the trip leader details. Located under Member Area > Trip Schedule

There are all kinds of trips and you should be prepared with the right gear, experience, and fitness to join. Use the Trip Grading Scale to determine which trips are a good fit for you, or contact the trip leader for more information.

• View the Member Trip Schedule
• View the Trip Grading Scale
• View the Trip Participant Responsibilities

How to join a trip

Trip leaders will send an invite out on the mailing list usually 7-10 days before the trip. Reply to the trip leader to join. Let them know where you’re coming from and if you’re bringing any other members or guests with you.

• Trip leaders may limit the number of participants on a trip. If this is the case, the trip leader may take participants as first-come-first-served or run a lottery.
• Trip leaders may screen participants to ensure they are experienced enough for advanced trips.
• Trip leaders may allow guests (non-members) to join the trip. Check with the leader first to see if it’s okay and bring a completed liability waiver for your guest.

What to bring

You must come prepared with the right gear for the activity and essentials to deal with an emergency situation. Trip leaders will indicate when specialized gear is required.

Check out AdventureSmart for a list of essential gear for different activities.

Trip Plan

Whenever you go adventuring, you should leave behind a detailed Trip Plan with a home contact.

Carpooling Guidelines

Trip leaders will often coordinate carpooling for participants. Use the Carpooling Guidelines to calculate how much gas to chip in.

Leading a Trip

Thanks for volunteering to lead a trip! Check out this link for everything you need to know before, during, and after your trip:

• View the Trip Leader Responsibilities 

How to post a trip to the schedule

The Winter and Summer Directors will do a call out for volunteers are the beginning of each season to build the schedule. Contact one of the Winter or Summer Directors to have your trip added to the schedule.

• Summer: [email protected]
• Winter: [email protected]

When you’re ready to lead your trip, email the membership at [email protected] . To invite members to sign up.

Leaders Guidelines & Forms

• View the Trip Registration/Sign-In Form
• View the KMC Emergency Event Guidelines
• View the FMCBC Incident Report Form
• View the Winter Safety Checklist

Signing up for Hiking Camp

The Hiking Camp Registrar will send information by email with the process to apply for hiking camp in the spring. Members need to be in good standing as of January 31st each year to be eligible.

Signing up for Ski Week

The Winter Trips Director will send out information by email with the process to apply for Kokanee Cabin Ski Week.

Signing up for Mountain School Courses

Mountain School courses are typically organized in the spring and winter. The Mountain School Director will send out information by email when new courses are available.

• View Mountain School information.

Booking Huts

Go to the Huts section of our website to make a hut booking. Be sure to read all of the guidelines and hut rules.