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The Vulgarian Ramblers are a small band of climbers loosely associated with the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house at MIT. Our unofficial leader is Mike Bromberg, a.k.a. Foo'ball. We get together each year to climb in the Sierra, Cascades, Rocky Mountains, or elsewhere in the West. However, the club was founded and is still active in New England's beautiful Appalachian mountain range. Most of us could be characterized as "peak baggers". However, the Vulgarian summit aesthetic probably comes closer to defining the club than anything else. Look for us sprawled across the summit blocks enjoying gourmet delicacies ranging from marinated artichoke hearts to mandarin oranges in light syrup.
No, but one night at Cabot Lodge (c. 1973) Mike Martinek suggested the name "Vulgarian Ramblers" in admiration of that renegade Shawagunks (NY) climbing group's "damn the torpoedos" style. The original "Vulgarians" (c. 1960s) got a brief mention in the August 1996 issue of the Smithsonian, including a picture of one of their members (no pun intended).
Pictures of our (clothed) founders
Mike Bromberg (aka Foo'ball) has compiled the official VRMC 13,800-Footers of the Contiguous USA List comprising all peaks in the contiguous U.S. (i.e., those in states other than Hawaii or Alaska) above 13,800 feet which also rise at least 300 feet above any saddle connecting them with a higher summit (updated 2007-09-24). After incorporating a few peaks that were inadvertently omitted in the previous version of the list (D'OH!), Foo'ball is apparently one peak away from finishing atop 14,112' Liberty Cap (summer 2008?)
Chris Schneider (aka Schmed) has compiled the official VRMC California Thirteeners List comprising all California peaks above 13,000 feet which also rise at least 300 feet above any saddle connecting them with a higher summit (updated 2007-01-01). He's also the current VRMC leader with 66 of 147 peaks.
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The 2007 tour included climbs in Colorado and California, plus yet another climb of Mt. Rainier in Washington.
When I reached Denver, I had no trouble starting the Jeep. I climbed 13,783' Rinker Peak near Independence Pass solo. I met Tom Houghtby '84 in Durango, and we Jeeped into a scenic campsite on Cascade Creek for a climb of 13,738' Grizzly Peak that actually did turn out to be a good warmup.
We took the narrow-gauge railroad to Needleton and hiked into scenic Ruby Basin to a fine shady campsite at Ruby Lake. We climbed 13,835' Turret Peak and split up; Tom headed back to Ruby Lake to fish, and I moved a bivy around to the base of the climb for 13,700' Peak Fifteen, but found to my dismay that the guidebook severely underestimated the difficulty of the climb (rope needed). I climbed insignificant 13,500' Peak Sixteen instead and returned to camp empty-handed, to find that Tom hadn't caught any fish either. So we took the train out a day early, and went for an enjoyable Jeep camp and climb of 13,693' Rolling Mtn.
I dropped off Hoboy in Durango, and now solo, I packed into Lower Ice Lake Basin for a climb of 13,767' U.S. Grant Peak. I then drove to a Jeep camp on the Little Cimarron River, and went for a 19-mile 15-hour loop day hike over 13,714' Silver Mtn. and UN13681.
After the Golden Fleece Run, I drove to Westcliffe and four-wheeled into a remote trailhead, then backpacked high up into Upper Sand Creek Basin. I climbed 13,611' Pico Asilado by the 16-mile-long easier route. On the return, I was hit with a 20-minute hailstorm in the basin and had to sit it out under my pack; a baseball cap is no protection for a bald paté when the hailstones reach marble size! The next day I climbed 13,604' Tijeras Peak, involving one interesting move up a narrow slot in the rock, then I packed out and Jeeped out for the ride west.
- Mike Bromberg
Doug Virtue and I walked up 13,748' Mt. Morgan via Francis Lake; a long, easy, sunny day. We sighted four bighorn sheep on the climb, and returned to the same campground to meet Jeff Muss '83 and Dan Blodgett '71. We packed into Dade Lake, found a fine campsite in the scrub, and climbed over a pass to 13,734' Bear Creek Spire which involved roping up for the final pitch (except for Muff, who scrambled up the route unprotected then had to learn how to rappel to get down). We had to rope up separately to climb the summit boulder. Doug and Muff headed out, and Dan and I went up over the pass again for a lengthy attempt on 13,741' Mt. Gabb. Once again the guidebook misled us; we were blocked by a technical pitch on the route, and we also punted an attempt on 13,704' Mt. Abbot. So I still have five 13,7ers to go in California, not really in a hurry to finish that list.
- Mike Bromberg
Randy Schweickart '83 and I picked up Chris Schneider '83 at the airport and drove to Rainier. We hiked in to Glacier Basin campsite on a badly washed-out trail, then climbed to Camp Schurman for our high camp. With a relatively early start, we climbed the well-beaten trail with the intent of leaving the route in the Rainier-Liberty Cap col to go for 14,112' Liberty Cap. But, alas, this year the beaten trail went nowhere near that col because of deep crevasses enroute; instead, it headed up over the bergschrund directly for the summit. By the time we would have been able to cross safely to Liberty Cap, we were almost on the summit of Rainier. So we reluctantly postponed Liberty Cap to a future year and re-bagged 14,410' Mt. Rainier instead, Schmed's first ascent. We had a great glissade on the hike out.
- Mike Bromberg
Although not technically a VRMC event, I led a couple of my colleagues from Krugle, Inc. (Stefan Groschupf and Grant Glouser) up to Dade Lake (see the Bear Creek Spire trip description above). We climbed Pyramid Peak, then met up with Ken Krugler '83 as he and Dave White came over Cox Col. After another night at Dade Lake, I headed over Treasure Saddle for a few more days of solo climbing. My trip was cut short, though, after I slid out of the North Couloir on Mt. Abbot and lost a bunch of skin to a high speed self arrest down the hard ice. Zero progress this year on the California Thirteeners for me!
- Chris Schneider
Pictures from the Summer 2007 Tour
Summer 2006 Tour
The 2006 tour included trips to the Palisades and Kaweahs in California and a couple peaks in Colorado.
Summer 2005 Tour
The 2005 tour (sans Foo'ball) included trips to Russell/Whitney, Sabrina/Evolution Basin, and Mt. Conness.
Summer 2004 Tour
The 2004 tour was focused on Colorado, with climbs around the Wham Ridge, Chicago/Ruby Basins, Mt. Jackson, and Holy Cross Ridge.
Summer 2003 Tour
The 2003 tour included a climb of Rainier and Mt. St. Helens in Washington, plus two segments in Colorado.
Summer 2002 Tour
The 2002 tour had five segments, the first was a climb of some peaks near Mt. Julius Caesar with a couple recent graduates from Bitney Springs High School (where Schmed teaches). Foo'ball did a couple of trips in Colorado, before joining Doug & Kathy for a climb of Mt. Humphreys. Meanwhile, Schmed, Leslie & Kirsten headed into the Evolution region. Foo'ball, Tad & Jim hiked in after us, while Ken crossed the Sierra to join the group. The trip was capped atop the summit of Mt. Darwin.
Summer 2001 Tour
The 2001 tour had four segments, the first a continuation of Muss, Ken, Tayls, and Schmed's 40th birthday party, with a twelve attendees. Foo'ball and Schmed continued with the following three segments, escaping back to Bishop after each for a night in a motel before the next one began.
Summer 2000 Tour
The 2000 tour had two major segments, both focusing on the high California Thirteeners, as Schmed eventually wants them all, and Foo'ball was closing in on his U.S. Hundred Highest.
Summer 1999 Tour
The 1999 tour to the high peaks of Colorado and Washington was marked by the highest participation of Vulgarians in the 15 years for which records exist. 11 friends joined Foo'ball for the hikes and climbs (including 8 Delt alumni, 5 from the class of '83), and 3 others met the group in town for dinner and such.
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Last updated 25 November 2007.