Amid the turning leaves and October air, the Dartmouth Outing Club sponsored six day trips and two arduous overnight hikes this weekend during the annual DOC Fall Weekend event. All 160 participants rendezvoused for a dinner at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge Saturday evening.
"The purpose of the DOC weekends is to provide all of campus an opportunity to try all sorts of activities outside, for free," Vicki Allen '06 said.
Allen, the co-organizer of the 50-mile hike, said the Outing Club tries to offer a range of activities to get students to spend time outdoors.
"While there are crazy activities like the 50-mile hike, our purpose is really to give people the chance to get outside and try something for fun with their peers," she said.
Erika Sogge '08, the DOCTour director, said she was very happy with levels of participation and enthusiasm this weekend.
The weekend schedule included six beginner day trips, all of which filled up in just two hours. Sogge, who led a road biking trip that was over 50 miles long, stressed the need not to be overwhelmed by the distances.
"It wasn't that bad. I'm not even sore," she said.
The beginner climbing trip was particularly popular.
"There has been this weird surge in demand for climbing with the '09s," Outing Club member Tom Glazer '08 said. "A spot opened up for the trip last weekend and we got 40 or 50 blitzes for it."
In addition to the day trips, the Outing Club sponsored two strenuous hikes: the "Moose," a 35-mile, triple ascent of Mt. Moosilauke to be completed in about 14 hours and the infamous "50," a 20-to-30 hour, 52.5 mile hike along the Appalachian trail from Hanover to the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge.
Twenty-nine Dartmouth students attempted the 50-mile challenge and received food, medical attention and songs of encouragement every 10 miles at aid stations run by the Outing Club. Hiking continuously through the night, their paths were lit only by head lamps and flashlights during the hours before sunrise.
"Usually around two-thirds actually finish [the 50]," Cabin and Trail co-chair Ali Crocker '06 said.
This year, however, 26 of 29 participants completed the hike.
"It was by far the most difficult thing I've ever done -- mentally especially," Cary Telander '06 said. "Really the only two reasons I made it were the amazing members of the support stations and my own incredibly positive, caring teammates."
The first team that reached the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge arrived Saturday at 9:45 a.m., while the final participants arrived at 7:30 p.m., having hiked about 21 and 32 hours, respectively, according to Whitney MacFadyen'07, who co-organized the 50.
"They looked alright. They were really happy to be in the lodge. There was a lot of grunting as they were walking up the stairs. Basically their first activity was to fall asleep" Sogge said.
Sam Haynor '08, who hiked the 50, thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was glad to return to the lodge on Saturday.
"The 50 really made me fall in love with Dartmouth again," Haynor said. "We were all raving and laughing and hallucinating, and came into the loud lodge. Seeing people there was comforting."
The weekend culminated with a dinner of chili, cornbread, salad and cake at the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge for the 160 trip participants and 60 additional attendees. The Fogey Mountain Boys, a New England bluegrass band, provided entertainment during dinner.
"Dinner was so full that the first people who ate had to get their plates cleaned before the last people could eat," Glazer said.
