Alpine Initiatives, Canary Club - Wy'East Indigenous Backcountry Introduction Experience
Alpine Initiatives is stoked to be back for our third year of the Portland // Wy'East Canary Club! With the help of some incredible partners, the Wy'East Canary Club focuses on getting Indigenous community members into the backcountry, affording them an experience and introduction they might not have otherwise. Partnering with Connor Ryan, Natives Outdoors, evo, TREW Gear, Smith Optics and Deuter Backpacks, the third season of the Wy'East Canary Club culminates with an overnight hut trip on Wy'East (Mt. Hood) April 23, 2024. 

Participants need to be available Monday, 4/22 through Wednesday, 4/24;
 - 4/22 gear set up + orientation in Portland/Hood River
      There will be a place to stay for the group night of 4/22 
 - 4/23 early morning meet at trailhead to get up to the Tilly Jane hut 
 - 4/24 come back down from the hut, trip concludes

With all logistics + gear needs dialed for our selected participants, we're ready to find up to six (6) well-deserving folks for this years’ experience!!

Selected Participants will receive:
From evo Portland
   - Ski or splitboard rental
   - Ski or snowboard boot rental
   - Avalanche safety/rescue equipment rental; includes beacon, probe, shovel
   - Backpack rental
   - Boot fitting + gear education session
   - Soft goods package to keep; includes base layers, socks, beanie & gloves
From TREW Gear
   - Outerwear kit to keep; includes bibs + jacket
   - Outerwear fitting + layering education session
From SMITH Optics
   - Helmet + goggles to keep

To learn more about our partners and the equipment + expertise they are providing to us, please check them out at:
   - alpineinitiatives.org and alpineinitiatives.org/canary-club
   - natives-outdoors.com
   - evo.com and evo.com/locations/portland/services/ski-snowboard-rentals
   - trewgear.com
   - smithoptics.com

Participants must be 18 years or older to apply. Previous backcountry experience is not required; however, participants should possess a baseline of skiing or snowboarding skills that allow them to travel through intermediate terrain in all snow/weather conditions. Participants should also possess the fitness level to travel by foot more than five miles for two days in a row, carrying all of their gear.

Participants applying should be able to travel to Portland for gear fitting + education session the day prior to the trip, as well as to Wy’East for the hut trip itself. Please indicate in your application if you have ability to get to Portland for sessions at evo, TREW Gear and Smith leading up to the trip – if transport help is needed, please alert us and we will see what we can do!

To apply for consideration, please fill out the form below and we will be in touch! Please also reach out to Alpine Initiatives local lead, Tucker Barney – tuckerpb7@gmail.com with any additional questions.
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What is your name? *
What is your age? *
If comfortable sharing, what are your pronouns? What is your gender identity?
Email? *
Phone? *
Are you also applying for another member(s) of your family? Name(s)? Age(s)?
Please list family member contact information (email, phone) if applying for them
Do you identify as Indigenous? *
What tribe(s) are you from? *
What excites you about being outside in the winter? *
About 500 words.
Why should you be selected for the Wy'East Canary Club? *
About 500 words.
Please select your level of ski and/or snowboard experience *
Please assess your fitness level - are you able to travel by foot more than five miles for two days in a row (10 miles total), carrying a pack with your gear? *
What is your distance in both time and mileage to the Portland evo Store?   *
200 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
What is your distance in both time and mileage to the Tilly Jane Sno Park on Wy'East? *
Perhaps most importantly, please tell us how STOKED are you about this opportunity?! *
Alpine Initiatives Founder, JP Auclair, “Unplug: go out in the mountains, cherish the moments and appreciate. Let the soul rejuvenate. It is much needed.”
What is your shirt/jacket size? *
What is your pant size? *
Pant inseam length desired *
Ski or board?  *
Goofy or regular (boarders only) 
Clear selection
Ski or board size (if you know it)  
What is your shoe size or boot sole length, if you know it? Or please indicate bringing own boots (ski boots must have tech toes for touring bindings)  *
Please provide your height (for ski/board set up)  *
Please provide your weight (for ski/board set up)  *
What is your glove size? *
What is your helmet size? *
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