Location: Outings

Outings

The Chicago Mountaineering Club organizes periodic outings as part of the Club’s activities. A number of the outings, from April through October, are open to non-member participation. Non-members of all climbing abilities (beginners to expert) are welcome. The majority of the outings are held at Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin. The dates and locations of the Club sponsored outings are listed in the Calendar of Events section of the site.

If you are interested in attending an outing (see campground rules) or you would like additional information, please contact the Outing Chairman. Outings held outdoors from November through March are sometimes limited to skiers and experienced climbers, mostly due to weather and climbing conditions. All participants in a Club outing are required to sign a Liability Waiver and must be prepared to accept personal responsibility for their own actions and safety.

Scheduled local outings are considered official Club Outings when at least three rope leaders are present. Both members and non-members are welcome to attend the open outings. There are also outings held with participation limited to members only. The Chicago Mountaineering Club does not conduct a "climbing school." The Chicago Mountaineering Club has designated a limited number of members as "Rope Leaders." The Safety Committee designates rope leaders as those climbers whose experience, ability, judgment and willingness qualifies them to lead climbing parties wisely and safely on local outings.

As a further consideration only those leaders are included on the active list that have served in this capacity for at least three outings during the past year. Qualified rope leaders not on the list because of this restriction will be assigned climbing parties whenever they are able to participate. These individuals are volunteer amateur climbers who have been approved by the Safety Committee to take out small groups to various climbing areas in the park. The Rope Leaders are aware of the accepted local safety practices. The Rope Leaders are not compensated for their time and effort. Small climbing parties enhance the prospects for enjoyment, training, and safety. Additional leaders are always in demand.

The Club encourages the use of climbing helmets, but does not supply any. If any question regarding safety arises during an outing, please feel free to talk with your rope leader or any other rope leader or safety committee member.

Campground Rules
The CMC has an arrangement with the Mountaineering Foundation of Chicago (MFC) under which the CMC manages a five acre campground at Devil's Lake State Park. The fees and regulations for use of this campground are:

On CMC outing weekends, only members, nonmembers over age 18 participating in CMC climbing activities, and guests accompanied by members may use the MFC campground. Minor children must be supervised by parents.
At times other than CMC outing weekends, only CMC members may use the campground. Nonmembers may use the campground only when accompanied by a CMC member. A CMC member must collect camping fees from nonmembers and members who did not pay an annual campground fee and then remit them to the outing Chair or other Board members.
Fees: members - $25 annual fee or $10 per person/per weekend, or any part thereof. Nonmembers - $10 per person per weekend. Spouses of members - same as members. Member's children under 18 years - free.
Note: Members have a responsibility to pay camping fees for themselves and their guests to the Outing Chair or any Board member in the campground at the earliest opportunity.
The CMC prohibits pets, the possession of firearms, and fireworks in the campground.
The possession, delivery or sale of controlled substances, as defined and prohibited by the State of Wisconsin, is likewise prohibited on all camping grounds and facilities controlled by the CMC.
All tent sites are first come, first choice. Tents must be moved every 3 days.
No camping at the group campfire area.
Park within 10 feet of the road, not at your tent site.
Dispose of all refuse in suitable containers outside the campground.
The CMC prohibits cutting and/or removing wood from the park campground and/or property.
No house or camping trailers.
Fires: (a) Use established fire pits - do not make new ones, (b) Cooking fires only - conserve fuel, (c) Social campfires at the group campfire site only, (d) Extinguish your cooking fires before leaving campground.
Member's children over age 18 are subject to the same rules as other nonmembers.
Members must present a current membership card upon request, if they wish to use the campground.
There is no extending camping allowed without prior written permission from the CMC Board of Directors.