Bivouac -- an extremely lightweight alternative to traditional tent systems. Very popular among climbers and minimalist campers, a bivy sack at its barest is a thin waterproof fabric shell designed to slip over a sleeping bag, forming an effective barrier against wind and rain.

To really be sure you have to bivy for the night in the cold, shivering and cursing, you should do any of these things:

• go on any trip with Christian or Don
• decide that you will follow the "fast and light" philosophy, when you really belong to the "light and slow" group
• only bring 1 liter of water because "you'll only be out for a couple hours"
• leave the bivy sack and down jacket in camp to save weight
• overhear your rope mate ask "what route are we doing again?"

The Explorer's Club of Pittsburgh Mountaineering School is starting up next month. This is a great introduction to winter climbing in the mountains, and is a fantastic time! Put in the work, and you will definitely enjoy yourself. If you are interested, check out the mountaineering school website or download an application.

Class topics include:

• fitness and training
• medical topics
• navigation and cold weather camping
• glacier travel and crevasse rescue
• trip planning

Shameless plug: I took the school for two years as a student, spent last year as an instructor, and this year (with David Micklo) will be the director.

UPDATE: applications are no longer being accepted for this year's school, but there is always next year!