From canoe trips and backpacking excursions in the fall, to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter, Outing Club members explore the country through wilderness excursions.
The Hoofer Outing Club is an outdoors education and recreation club with a diverse membership of students, faculty, staff, and community members. Members plan and lead trips in Wisconsin and around the country, instruct lessons, oversee purchase and upkeep of club equipment, and coordinate all aspects of club operations.
When you join the Outing Club, lessons are free and most equipment use is included; trip costs are usually only gas, food, and camping expenses. You can join in on a trip or lead one yourself! Trips are announced on the website calendar, through our email list, or at one of our weekly meetings at the trip leader’s discretion.
How to Join
1. Create your Account!
When you're ready to join, head over to our member site at https://members.hoofers.org to create your account! You must be a Union Member to join. Note that UW-Madison students are automatically granted Union membership.
2. Sign Up for Events!
Once you've joined the club, you can search for events and sign up from the member site. Pick your favorite event, sign up, and get ready for an adventure!
For more information, click the button below!
Contact Us
Hoofer Outing Club
Memorial Union, Lower Level
800 Langdon St.
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-1630
info@hooferouting.org
Contact Us
News
Hey Hoofers! Come join Isabel Rojas-Viada and your fellow Hoofers in sparking a dialouge about big mountain climbing. She will be showing photos and telling stories of her climbing experiences on Aconcagua - the highest summit in South America! Bring your most adventurous self!
Upcoming Events
President Office Hours
Come and chat with me in the Leader Lounge about questions, ideas, or concerns you have about the club. If you would like to schedule a meeting outside of these hours, email me at outingpresident@hoofers.org.
Lake Lesson/SK0 Lesson
** A Swim Test is required for this event**
** If any other Sea Kayak intructor is interested in helping out or if you are interested in co-leading for the first time, reach out to me so I can open the lesson up to more people. **
The What
We will meet at the Union at 5:00pm, but if you can arrive a bit before to start getting gear out, we'll get on the water that much faster.
In this lesson we will be going over all the necessary skills for an SK0 rating. Topics covered will include:
* Weather considerations when going kayaking
* How sea kayaks differ from short little whitewater and recreational kayaks
* What to do when the inevitable flip and swim happens (What? We're gonna get wet??)
* Assisted Rescues (Re-entering a swamped boat with the help of a fellow paddler -- T Rescue)
* Important information when checking a sea kayak out to paddle on Mendota with your friends
* A thorough and rigorous understanding of how to have an absolute blast on the water.
What to bring
* Swimsuit
* Thermal top if it looks chilly out. (I wear an under armour styled shirt for these situations)
* Water Shoes (Preferable close-toed)
* Dry clothes and towel (Optional, but I sure as heck am doing this)
If this event doesn't work for you but you would like a Lake Lesson, SK0, or SK1, email me and we can try to figure a time out! Lowry3@wisc.edu
SK1 Lesson
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** If any other Sea Kayak intructor is interested in helping out or if you are interested in co-leading for the first time, reach out to me so I can open the lesson up to more people. **
The What
We will meet at the Union at 5:00pm, but if you can arrive a bit before to start getting gear out, we'll get on the water that much faster.
In this lesson we will be going over all the necessary skills for an SK1 rating. Skills covered will include:
* Intermediate Boat control
* Bracing to maintain an upright position
* The inevitable flip and swim (What? We're gonna get wet??)
* Self Rescues (Re-entering a swamped boat without assistance)
* A theoretical understanding of when certain rescues should be performed (Advantages and disadvantages)
* A thorough and rigorous understanding of how to have an absolute blast on the water.
What to bring
* Swimsuit
* Thermal top if it looks chilly out. (I wear an under armour styled shirt for these situations)
* Water Shoes (Preferable close-toed)
* Dry clothes and towel (Optional, but I sure as heck am doing this)
If this event doesn't work for you but you would like a Lake Lesson, SK0, or SK1, email me and we can try to figure a time out! Lowry3@wisc.edu
Canoe Lake Lesson
Ansley and I would like to lead a canoe lake lesson. This is the rating you need to take club boats out on the lake and to go on some club quietwater trips.
First we get into the parts of the boat and paddle, getting and signing out gear, and then learn some basic strokes followed by some practice on the water.
The land part will follow, and we’ll review the safety rules of Lake Mendota plus more.
It's getting dark early so be on time. During the lesson we can stow your things in the club gear cage but we’ll show you where you can rent lockers to stash your things when you come down on your own.
if the lesson is full, sign up on the waitlist. Members on the main list- if your schedule changes and you can’t make the lesson, remove your name from the list so someone else’s name moves up from the waitlist. It helps a ton so we can get as many people on the water before the water gets too cold to paddle.
See you Thursday
Ice Age Trail Building Bohn Lake Waushara County
Notice the time change!
A favorite hike in Central Wisconsin grows to new lengths. We're adding nearly three quarters of a mile of new trail, extending a loop trail at the well loved Bohn Lake Segment, and improving access to the Mecan River Segment.
No experience is necessary; training is provided by certified volunteer crew leaders. There will be roles for all ages and abilities. The Ice Age Trail Alliance provides food, tools, and campsites free to all who volunteer. The cost for gas is $8.00.
Bohn Lake is 1 1/2 hour drive north of Madison. We will be departing from the Park Street Circle at the Memorial Union, at 5:00 pm on Friday, September 20th, and returning to the Memorial Union on Saturday, September 21st, by 9:00 pm. (The Park Street Circle is located at the end of Park Street, next to the Memorial Union.)
To reserve your spot, please see either Brett Follett or Chris Jacobsen, and pay $8.00 cash, for gas. One of us will be at the General Meeting on Tuesday evenings at 7:00. The General Meeting is held in Mendota Lodge in the Memorial Union.
Chris Jacobsen
JacobsenChris@msn.com
608-873-2016 (voice only)
SK One Night Lake Mendota
One nighter Sea Kayaking Camping Trip on Lake Mendota!
What: We (3 trip leaders and 3 participants) will take Sea Kayaks across the lake to Mendota Park, a place where there is camping allowed. We'll break out the backcountry kitchen, maybe do some baking, we'll learn how to properly play Tetris with a Sea Kayak and tips and tricks to keeping your stuff dry. Of course, we'll learn how to set up a tent. We'll play some games too, both on and off the water. We'll have a campfire as well.
When: Meet outside of the Outdoor UW Office in the Memorial Union at 9:00 am on Saturday, September 21. We will return to the around noon on Sunday and we'll do some gear clean up.
Who: People with an SK0 rating. If you want your SK1, we can do an SK1 lesson along the way.
Cost: $30, covers the cost of food and campsite permits. Please sign up for the waitlist and send $30 via venmo to @Ryan-Stowe-1. When I receive payment I will manually move you from the waitlist to the participant list. If you do not have Venmo, you can pay me in person at the weekly Hoofer Outing Club Meeting - see the event calendar.
If you have food allergies, please tell me.
What to bring: Here is a list of what to bring - it categorizes items as either required, suggested or optional and it also says if it can be used as Hoofer Outing Club equipment or if you need to bring your own --> https://docs.google.com/document/d/18iRiZiG2fq_yMaNx04eLx-JcMYlA8K5janQPpjAsEdE/edit?usp=sharing
If you have questions, send me an email. Thanks!
SK Lake Mendota One Night
One nighter Sea Kayaking Camping Trip on Lake Mendota!
What: We will take Sea Kayaks across the lake to Mendota Park, a place where there is camping allowed. We'll break out the backcountry kitchen, maybe do some baking, we'll learn how to properly play Tetris with a Sea Kayak and tips and tricks to keeping your stuff dry. Of course, we'll learn how to set up a tent. We'll play some games too, both on and off the water. We'll have a campfire as well.
When: Meet outside of the Outdoor UW Office in the Memorial Union at 9:00 am on Saturday, September 21. We will return to the around noon on Sunday and we'll do some gear clean up.
Who: People with an SK0 rating. If you want your SK1, we can do an SK1 lesson along the way.
Cost: $30, covers the cost of food and campsite permits.
If you have food allergies, please tell me.
What to bring: Here is a list of what to bring - it categorizes items as either required, suggested or optional and it also says if it can be used as Hoofer Outing Club equipment or if you need to bring your own --> https://docs.google.com/document/d/18iRiZiG2fq_yMaNx04eLx-JcMYlA8K5janQPpjAsEdE/edit?usp=sharing
If you have questions, send me an email. Thanks!
Overnight Paddling/Hiking at Waupaca
Robert and I will be leading an overnight trip to the Waupaca area. We’ll plan to paddle on the Waupaca Chain of Lakes Saturday afternoon, camp at Hartman Creek State Park, then get in a hike before heading back to Madison Sunday afternoon. The Waupaca Chain of Lakes has beautiful clear spring-fed lakes. Crystal clear water. I have been there many times before. There are about 21 small connected lakes. We will do about 10 or so. All but 4 are slow no-wake great for paddling. Most are very small lakes. This trip is a beginner-friendly quite water paddle. The Waupaca / King chain is about 2 hours north of Madison.
You will need a Lake lesson rating to participate. Cost will be $25 per person - $10 for gas, $5 for the campsite, $2 for the boat use/maintenance, and $8 for food. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions in the comments.
We’ll plan to provide lunch both days, and prepare a hot dinner and breakfast. In addition to sea kayaks and PFDs, you will need:
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Plate, bowl, eating utensil
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Snacks
- Hiking boots and water shoes
- Warm layers
Please let us know if you need to borrow any gear by noon Friday!
Club Leader Meeting
Hi folks!
We will be having a meeting on Monday 9/23 at 6-7 pm in the Mendota Lodge for all current club leaders.
Agenda:
1. Updates
2. LIT expectations for leaders and LITs
3. Demo on running trip payments through Club Manager (we will be fully transitioning to this in the future)
Exec board members and activity chairs are encouraged to come, all general trip/lesson leaders and LITs: please join!
General Meeting
Hey y'all,
Join us every Tuesday night for our general club meeting! These are free to the public, and we meet from 7 to around 7:30 pm in the Mendota Lodge. We will be discussing upcoming trips, telling stories of recent trips, and will have 10-minute fun time at the end of each meeting which will be anything from a mini lesson on knots to a bio on a groudnbreaking outdoor enthustiast. Our meetings are open to all who wish to be involved in the outdoors! See you there!
NEW MEMBER MEETING
Are you a new member? Are you a prospective member? Join us for an info session about the different activities our club offers, how to become a trip leader, and how to get more involved in different club roles! Come with questions, friends, adventure ideas! The beauty of the Outing Club is that it is for you all as members to make it what you want it to be.
Come for food, stay for good company and outdoor excitement. Hope to see y'all there!
Sea Kayak Activity Group Meeting - Rivers, Lakes, Oceans, and Beyond!!
Sea Kayak Activity Group Meeting - Rivers, Lakes, Oceans, and Beyond!!
Question: What is a pirate's favorite alphabet letter and favorite type of kayak?
Answer: No - it's not the "rrrrrrrrrr..." It's the "sea"!
New members are welcome!!! Everyone, please sign up here!!!
The Sea Kayak Activity Group of Hoofers will meet on Tuesday September 24 in the Mendota Lodge of the Memorial Union - We will gather at 7:30pm until about 8:30pm.. (after the general meeting)
If you are (or wish to be) an active participant in our club sea kayaking activities, if you are simply curious about those long boats in the boathouse, if you wish to learn more about the places you can go on rivers, lakes, oceans, and beyond - please join our meeting!
My goals for this preliminary meeting are as follows:
(a) Brief recap of activities during the past year and summer.
(b) Identify trips, lessons, ideas, and opportunities for the coming semester and year. Examples Below:
*Does someone want to lead an Upper Wisconsin Dells Trip - perhaps in November? Please email me.
*More affordable access for club members to attend the 2020 Door County Sea Kayak Symposium.
*Upcoming trip ideas such as the Apostle Islands, Pictured Rocks, and the Coastal United States.
*Day trips and weekend trips near Madison - such as the upcoming Devil's Lake trip and the Lake Mendota camping trip.
(c) Continuing to Increase the community of paddlers who can lead and teach.
(d) Begin to identify someone to be mentored to eventually become a new sea kayak chair. (or co-chair) If you're interested, please email me directly.
(e) Improved boat care, each boat use for designed purposes, upcoming boat maintenance plans, and possible dates for boat repair gathering.
We have a strong fleet of sea kayaks. I'd like to discuss suggestions to reduce unnecessary damage to boats, and how to prioritize boat use based on trip type.
*I welcome additional agenda items for consideration. Please just let me know by email.
See you there!
-Michael
President Office Hours
Come and chat with me in the Leader Lounge about questions, ideas, or concerns you have about the club. If you would like to schedule a meeting outside of these hours, email me at outingpresident@hoofers.org.
Sea Kayak Rough Water Training & ACA Instructor Development - Lake Superior
Sea Kayak Rough Water Training & ACA Instructor Development - Lake Superior
Dates September (26) 27-30, 2019
(The training begins on Friday morning September 27 and concludes on Monday afternoon on September 30. Travel to arrive in Ironwood MI on Thursday night. Return to Madison on Monday evening.)
Leaders: I will be co-leading this training trip with an ACA Instructor Trainer.
My goal is to develop skilled paddlers, instructors, and leaders.
Please sign up on the wait list if you are sincerely interested. Final participant list will be at the leader's discretion. Space is limited by class size & lodging/campsite capacity and by leadership safety considerations.
This rough water sea kayaking event is for capable paddlers looking to advance their knowledge/skills of navigation, weather, wind, and waves to safely develop in more challenging coastal and open water environments. Points of emphasis will include adapting paddling skills to rough water conditions, safety/rescue skills, group leadership, and risk management.
Paddlers will benefit from expert ACA training on Lake Superior between the Bayfield Peninsula of Wisconsin and the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan. Venues include the Apostle Islands National Shoreline (including the Meyer's Beach Sea Caves), Porcupine Mountain State Park, and Black River Harbor. Each day will include an integration of classroom didactic instruction with on water training in conditions on Lake Superior.
Who: SK2p/SK2 rating, recent paddling in rough conditions, and standard swim test required. A strong SK1 with whitewater experience may also be possible. If you are sincerely interested, available for the specific dates, and are aware of the rough/cold conditions involved, feel free to contact me. (If you are solidly moving towards the SK2/SK3 and are interested (but not quite there yet), we can discuss on a case by case basis. I would be happy to discuss my previous experiences with you.)
Boats/Gear: Most of the needed boats and gear can be made available through the club. Please email me directly to make arrangements. Wetsuits with synthetic underlayers (your own), paddling jacket, helmet, and other essential personal paddling gear of pfd, spray skirt are required.
Personal Gear: Synthetic under-layers (no cotton), paddling gloves/pogies, thermal cap. A drysuit is strongly recommended. For a drysuit, I would highly recommend that you contact Kayak Academy and arrange to have a rental dry suit. (Details below.)
https://www.kayakacademy.com/p
https://www.kayakacademy.com/p
Future: I am hoping this type of training event provides an incentive for each of us to increase/improve our paddling and leadership skills.
Participants will have an opportunity to earn:
(A) ACA Sea Kayak L4 Skills Assessment.
(B) Training Leading to L4 Instructor Certification.
The American Canoe Association (ACA) is the industry standard for paddle sports in North America and is a recognized standard worldwide.
Why: ACA training/certification in paddling, teaching, safety, and leadership skills is essential and highly valued for those who intend to work and/or play in the outdoors.
Here is your opportunity close to home in one of our favorite Great Lakes.
------------------------------
Please sign up on the wait list if you are sincerely interested. Final participant list will be at the leader's discretion. Space is limited by class size & lodging/campsite capacity and by leadership safety considerations.
Costs: Will be determined based on number of participants. I expect those who participate will also commit to teach and lead others in the club. You must demonstrate a commitment to lead and serve others.
This is a terrific opportunity to learn and earn in one of the sea kayaking national treasures. Let's go!
General Meeting
Hey y'all,
Join us every Tuesday night for our general club meeting! These are free to the public, and we meet from 7 to around 7:30 pm in the Mendota Lodge. We will be discussing upcoming trips, telling stories of recent trips, and will have 10-minute fun time at the end of each meeting which will be anything from a mini lesson on knots to a bio on a groudnbreaking outdoor enthustiast. Our meetings are open to all who wish to be involved in the outdoors! See you there!
President Office Hours
Come and chat with me in the Leader Lounge about questions, ideas, or concerns you have about the club. If you would like to schedule a meeting outside of these hours, email me at outingpresident@hoofers.org.
Pictured Rocks Backpacking Keyswap
Drumroll please... This is the trip you have all been waiting for: PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE KEY SWAP!
We will be doing a key swap with one group led by Ryan Stowe and Forrest Ahrens and the other led by Jacob Ng and Angela Arnholt. Jessica and Otto will be our Leaders in Training. We have spots for 8 participants.
The trip deposit is $65 and must be paid for through Club Manager or at the Outdoor UW Office.
This is a beginner trip (BP2) and no prior ratings or backpacking experience is necessary, but we will be hiking about 12 miles with full packs so participants must be physically capable. If you have any interest in joining the more advanced Hoofer Spring break backpacking trips, this weekend trip is a great place to start.
Please fill out the survey as well as registering for the trip below:
https://forms.gle/97sMGnkUVhsrzrai6
Itinerary:
Friday: Meet at 2:00 pm at Mendota Lodge with fully packed bags ready to go. The drive is about 5 hours and we will stop for fast food (Culvers) along the way. We will arrive and park and then hike in about 2 miles to the first campsite. One group will start at the Mosquito River Group site and the other group will start at the Little Beaver Lake Camp Ground.
Saturday: Each group will hike in opposite directions (toward each other). Meet around Chapel Rock, swap keys and maybe have lunch together. Continue hiking. Reach respective campsites. Total mileage: 11 miles.
Sunday: Wake up and hike back out to vehicles and then meet up for the drive back down to Madison at the Falling Rock Cafe in Munising. We will stop for lunch somewhere on the way back and will be back in Madison around 5:00 pm. Then we will put gear away and disperse. (Note: On the calendar, it states that the trip will go until 6, this is just to account for unforeseen circumstances such as traffic on the way home. We should be done before then.)
We will be having a mandatory pre-trip meeting to discuss packing and further trip details. Date and location TBD.
If the trip is full, feel free to signup on the waitlist (here) in case someone drops out, you will have first dibs.
Here is a participant gear list of what to bring: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r6pzvqG9IQ5VywvGr3RpUo2xkPkmT6UBCVj5E4sWZvs/edit?usp=sharing
If you have any questions feel free to contact us at rstowe16@gmail.com or Jacobng6@gmail.com
Pictured Rocks Backpacking Keyswap - Waitlist
Since the waitlist function isn't working for the main event (https://events.hooferouting.org/event/72024), feel free to sign up here. The leaders should be able to manually move you to the main event if someone drops out.
Please still fill out the Google form if you're interested: https://forms.gle/97sMGnkUVhsrzrai6
Day at the Lake!!!
Day at the Lake 2019!!!
This is an annual day trip to Devils Lake on Saturday October 5th. A must see if you’ve never been to this park
We have White Oak Shelter Researved as our base. We’ll bring boats to paddle. We’ll have a cookout. People can hike one of the States most beautiful parks.
The cost will be $10.00 per person I’ll collect this on the day of the event This will cover the cost of food, gas, and shelter rental. Let me or Jonathan know if you have any special dietary needs Bring water, snacks, and something easy to share for dessert if you would like.
When you sign up. Let us know if you can drive. Can you carry a canoe or a kayak?
Canoe users will need the canoe lake lesson. SKO rating for sea kayak users. All need the swim test rating to paddle Stay tuned for updates
No ratings needed for hiking, swimming or eating
Fall colors in the bluffs is awesome.
We’ll be able to expand the trip if we get enough drivers.
General Meeting
Hey y'all,
Join us every Tuesday night for our general club meeting! These are free to the public, and we meet from 7 to around 7:30 pm in the Mendota Lodge. We will be discussing upcoming trips, telling stories of recent trips, and will have 10-minute fun time at the end of each meeting which will be anything from a mini lesson on knots to a bio on a groudnbreaking outdoor enthustiast. Our meetings are open to all who wish to be involved in the outdoors! See you there!