Our Clubs
The Wisconsin Hoofers is the premier outdoors club at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With nearly 2,000 members, Hoofers is one of the oldest and largest student organization on campus. From sailing on Lake Mendota to climbing at Devil’s Lake, Hoofers is a place where people of all abilities can learn outdoor skills and enjoy outdoor activities. Hoofers is proud to be part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the student programming and leadership board for the Wisconsin Union. Get outside with us and hoof on!
Mountaineering
Rock OnFrom conquering the rock wall at Boulders Climbing Gym to traveling the country in search of the most challenging climbs in the country, Mountaineering Club members take trips that challenge climbers of all levels.
Outing
Get FoundFrom 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.
Riding
Change PaceFrom horseback riding lessons to schooling shows, Riding Club members are involved in all the ins and outs of riding and horsemanship.
Sailing
Set SailFrom learning how to sail a C-Scow to weekly Friday night socials, Sailing Club members spend time with fellow sailors on and off the water. The Sailing Club’s claim to fame: they have the second largest inland fleet of boats in the nation.
Scuba
Go DeeperFrom year-round trips and training sessions to socials with other divers, Scuba Club members (both certified and not) explore life beneath the surface.
Ski and Snowboard
ShredFrom weekly trips to Tyrol Basin to the Jackson Hole spring break excursion, Ski and Snowboard Club members know how to take advantage of winter.
Get Out and Get Active
How to Join
1. Pick a Club!
We offer six clubs: Mountaineering, Outing, Riding, Sailing, Scuba, and Ski & Snowboard. You can join as many clubs as you'd like! For more information, check out each club's site from the menu above, or head over to the Clubs page for an overview!
2. Create your Account!
When you're ready to join a club (or multiple clubs!), 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.
3. Sign Up for Events!
Once you've joined a 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!
Contact Us
Wisconsin Hoofers
Memorial Union, Lower Level
800 Langdon St.
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-1630
info@hoofers.org
Contact Us
News
A special winter seminar is being held on March 6th at 6:30 in the festival room. Members and racers from the MYC will be there for a meet-and-greet.
Agenda:
- Why race sailboats
- History of E Scows
- Why race and E Scow – A Love Letter
- Spinnaker work
- Mendota Yacht Club
- Racing terms and what to expect.
- Tips for crew
- How to get involved
Nominations for Commodore, Vice-Commodore, or Rear Commodore will open February 21st and close the 27th. Be sure to check the Elections page for updates and anything else you might need to know
HMC ventured down to Puerto Rico this Winter Break! Some beautiful weather and stellar sport climbing makes for a good couple weeks.
The club heads out to the Red Rocks area annually for some of the best sport climbing in the country. This year, the group stayed in the Las Vegas area. Two weeks of good times!
Annual Halloween weekend trip to the Red! HMC camps at the legendary Miguel's Pizza campground every year, and sport climbs some most legendary crags.
Upcoming Events
J-24 Sail Inspection Work Party
The J-fleet needs your help to sort through all of our J-24 sails. We will inspect every sail make sure each boat has at least one set of day & lesson sails and one set of better Race sails. This includes a few additional donated sails.
We will meet near the the sail room. It should only an hour or two.
Work hours will be assigned if you need them.
Gear Manager Office Hours
Gear Manager Office hours is a time to get gear and ratings from the gear managers. This even occurs every monday during the spring semester from 4-5pm.
Outdoor Explorer Series (Introductory Course): Exploring Wisconsin - Local Trips
Unleash the Explorer in You!
Join us for our new Outdoor Explorer Series: Exploring Local Trips class designed to elevate your outdoor exploration skills in the beautiful landscapes surrounding Madison, The State of Wisconsin, and throughout the Midwest. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a nature enthusiast eager to discover hidden gems, this class is your gateway to unlocking the wonders of the great outdoors.
Unleash the explorer within and join us for an hour of discovery, where every step is a journey and every moment is an opportunity to connect with the natural wonders of the Midwest.
------- Class is located in the Mendota Lodge located in Memorial Union (along the lakefront and across from the Outdoor UW office) -------
Water Safety Board Meeting
Note: please note the time and the location are not typical! This meeting is at 6:00pm and is meeting across the hall from the Mendota Lodge.
Before the general club meeting, we will hold a meeting of the Water Safety Board in the LEADER LOUNGE / OUTDOOR UW BACK OFFICE (across the hallway from Mendota Lodge) meeting room in Memorial Union. This meeting is hybrid; see Zoom link at the bottom for virtual attendance.
Anybody is welcome to attend the meeting! Board members may vote.
This meeting will discuss simplifying the lake checkout rules for Lake Mendota during warm water (>60 degree) conditions. Please see the meeting agenda here for details on the proposed change: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yErt1YqQ8s78bQwSMIILFnjWzXaU1dx4P6mbqZLWtEY/edit?usp=sharing
This meeting will be hybrid. For those in-person, meet in the Hoofer Leader Lounge in Memorial Union; for those who want to attend virtually, here is a Zoom invitation:
Caroline Rose is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Water Safety Board Mtg
Time: Apr 2, 2024 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/98951828918?pwd=THZUamRFVmZrUHBIQlZTUFBCZnhGUT09
Meeting ID: 989 5182 8918
Passcode: 200185
Hoofers Scuba Seminar with Robert Johnson
Join us for an enlightening seminar featuring Dr. Robert Johnson on April 2nd at 6:30 PM at Union South (Room TBD). Prepare to be captivated as Robert delves into his research on sea turtle and seagrass ecology, exploring intricate plant-herbivore interactions and the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystem ecology.
Mark your calendars and invite your friends to join us.
See you there!
Hoofers Scuba Seminar with Robert Johnson
Join us for an enlightening seminar featuring Dr. Robert Johnson on April 2nd at 6:30 PM at Union South (Room TBD). Prepare to be captivated as Robert delves into his research on sea turtle and seagrass ecology, exploring intricate plant-herbivore interactions and the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystem ecology.
Mark your calendars and invite your friends to join us.
See you there!
HOC General Meeting
Hey folks!
Join us every Tuesday night for our Hoofer Outing Club general meeting! These are free to the public, and we meet in the Mendota Lodge in Memorial Union at 7pm (near the Lakefront and Outdoor UW office). We will be telling stories of recent trips, discussing upcoming events, and getting to know each other. Our meetings are open to all who wish to be involved in the outdoors! See you there!
No registration is required!
How to get there:
The General Meetings are typically in the Mendota Lodge in Memorial Union. This room is across from the Outdoor UW desk in the basement of the Union. To find it I would recommend either using Union doors right by the 80 bus stop, walking down a full level to the Wheelhouse, then taking the long hallway that will start with brown wallpaper and transitions to blue; the Mendota Lodge will be the last room on your left. You can also access it from the terrace if you walk inside the doors to the Union right by the wood staircase that goes onto the lake; the Mendota lodge will be the first room on your right.
Look forward to seeing you all there!
HOC President Office Hours
Come and chat with me in the Hoofer office (across from the Mendota Lodge) about ideas, questions, or concerns you have about the club. Free coffee and tea if you email me ahead of time, just bring yourself and a mug! If you would like to schedule a meeting outside of these hours, email me at outingpresident@hoofers.org.
Winter Education - Keelboat - Navigation Rules and Lights - Social!
This is one of a weekly series of Winter education programs aimed at assisting people get items checked off on keelboat ratings sheets during the winter, with a social component. There will be an instruction/discussion period followed by a social period that will include a movie. Even if you do not need the subject being taught, feel free to sign up and join in. Invite your friends!
Prerequisites: None. Those who have taken Intro to Keelboat Sailing should bring their rating sheets so that things can be checked off. Those who have not taken that lesson are welcome to attend. This will be somewhat of a social gathering as well, feel free to attend even if you have no particular interest in the topic being offered (but please do not disrupt the instruction portion. We will be following it with videos or a movie.)
Location: Check the Today in the Union website or the digital signs in Memorial Union on the day of the lesson. It will show up as Keelboat Winter Education. If looking on the website, you may have to search for "Keelboat Winter Education" because the page can have too many items. If you need help with the web page, I prepared a guide: How to Search for Events on the Today in the Union Web Page
Preparation Materials: - to be added before session
Instruction period will be from 6:00 to 7-7:30 followed by a social period and and sailing movies or videos.
It is intended that this be akin to post-lesson briefing during the summer. A social chance to share experiences and get to know your fellow sailors and wish for water that was not so cold and hard.. Please come even if you do not need a refresher on crew overboard. Talk about sailing, get things checked off on keelboat rating sheets..
Other materials of interest:
Sailing Links: https://addbalance.com/Sail/Sailing Links.pdf
Sailor's Guide to Weather: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BywZ-rLn0R8hanNQRGJXTkJmV2FLQldONU1KRmRsTVNic3d3
Here is an overview of the ratings process for Heavy Keelboats:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BywZ-rLn0R8hc2ZUUGtCY2dDTC15a3I2bG9FNFhwVnJGWFEw/view
Sailing Standards for ratings and progress forms can be found here:
https://www.hoofersailing.org/manuals
Plan for this series:
11-Jan |
Marine VHF Radio Protocols |
18-Jan |
Tacking and Gybing |
25-Jan |
Required Safety Equipment, Hoofer Keelboat Policies |
1-Feb |
rescheduled |
8-Feb |
How a Sail Works, CE & CLR, Helm Balance |
15-Feb |
Weather |
22-Feb |
Preparing for Chartering - Sailing Resume |
29-Feb |
Conduct a Safety Briefing - Prepare a Sail Plan |
7-Mar |
Anchoring [CANCELLED] |
14-Mar |
Night Sailing and Off-Shore preparation [CANCELLED] |
21-Mar |
Proper Use of Winches, Dressing for Sailing, Dock Lines and Spring Lines [CANCELLED] |
28-Mar |
Crew Overboard Procedures |
4-Apr |
Navigation Rules and Lights |
11-Apr |
Aids to Navigation [CANCELLED] |
18-Apr |
Prepare for Lift-In [CANCELLED] |
The lessons marked CANCELLED above will not be offered because of a lack of participation in this series. Maybe next year. Sorry.
Post-Lesson Resources:
Bluegrass, Climbing, and an Eclipse in Southern IL
There is an awesome eclipse coming and the area of totality happens to go directly over a super rad climbing area--Jackson Falls. If you are interested in spending a cool weekend climbing, see an eclipse, and also go to a sweet bluegrass concert, then what are you waiting for? Sign up!
Schedule:
Friday:
12PM (Noon): Meet at Park Street Circle with gear and load up vehicle. Drive to New Berlin, IL. Stop for dinner on the road somewhere along the way.
7PM Arrive at Danenberger Family Vineyards to watch Bluegrass band The Way Down Wanderers. Tickets for the show are $30. You can buy them at the link here. https://wl.seetickets.us/event/the-way-down-wanderers-with-special-guest-john-till/587745?afflky=NTLProductions&nts_trk=f37f4a49-cacf-444b-a414-8834553c9f7a
10PM Drive the rest of the way to Jackson Falls and set up camp
Saturday and Sunday:
Climb and Camp all day
Monday:
Pack up camp, drive to observation hill nearby to watch the eclipse.
2PM Watch Eclipse. Recommend getting special glasses for this.
3PM Begin drive back to Madison
10PM Arrive back in Madison
Costs:
Vehicle rental is $110 per person, need a high-clearance to get down to the climbing area. If you have a personal 4wd vehicle that you would be willing to drive, this could bring costs down for everyone and you would be moved up the participant list.
Concert is $30. This is optional if you would prefer to hang out or wait somewhere during the concert.
Camping is free at Jackson Falls.
Food: Participants are responsible for their own food for the trip down and the duration of the weekend. Please pack and bring all food that you plan to eat during the weekend as Jackson falls is remote and does not have facilities nearby.
We will have a mandatory pre-trip meeting to go over more trip details 4/2 at 8PM.
Jackson Falls is an amazing sport climbing area. A sport climbing rating will be required for this trip.
P Marlinespike Seamanship P - Paracord Bracelets and other Paracord Projects
Prerequisites: Marlinespike A rating (but write to instructor for admission without this rating). Open to Hoofer Sailing Club Members.
If you want to sign up for this but are unable for any reason to sign up for this particular lesson, add your name to the sign-up. Interest Sign-Up Page
Location: This is currently scheduled to be in the Park View Room on the 4th floor of the Union across from Great Hall. -- Check the Today in the Union website or the digital signs in Memorial Union on the day of the lesson. It will show up as Marlinspike. If looking on the website, you may have to search for "Marlinspike" because the page can have too many items. If you need help with the web page, I prepared a guide: How to Search for Events on the Today in the Union Web Page
This lesson is about using and splicing UHMWPE (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethelene) lines including work with Soft Shackles. Samson Ropes defines Amsteel® as a “high-modulus polyethylene” rope. The high-modulus part means that Amsteel® has “low elasticity elongation,” or in other words, it doesn’t stretch much. However, this also means that this type of rope doesn’t like to be shock-loaded, so ease into the hammock! Safe working loads do not apply to shock loading.
This is an exploratory lesson - we are in the process of setting this up. We will look at a couple of different kinds of Paracord, making bracelets with and without buckles and other paracord projects.
Sailors have a history of practical and decorative rope work and Paracord projects fit right in with that history.
When you sign up, you can leave comments. Let us know what kinds of projects would interest you.
Here are a few Paracord links to give you some ideas.
10-Second Soft Shackles Interesting but nowhere near as strong – much easier to make, though |
|
Cobra and King Cobra Bracelet |
|
Mad Max Paracord Cobra Stitch Bracelet |
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Trilobite Jawbone Bracelet |
|
Use This Paracord Wrap on Hiking Staves and Canoe Paddle |
Here is a more complete list of links. If you see a project you would like to work on, please let me know in advance of the lesson and I will try to work it in.
We will start with a basic paracord soft shackle that can substitute for a carabiner and progress to bracelets and possibly other paracord projects. These can be fun and useful. We will cover in knots the Carrick Bend, the Ashley Stopper Knot, and the Diamond Knot, among others.
There is currently no Sailing Club rating for this.
Post-Lesson Resources:
D Marlinespike Seamanship D --- Dyneema®, Amsteel®, Soft Shackles and Hollow Braided Line UHMPE
Prerequisites: Marlinespike A rating (but write to instructor for admission without this rating). Open to Hoofer Sailing Club Members.
If you want to sign up for this but are unable for any reason to sign up for this particular lesson, add your name to the sign-up. Interest Sign-Up Page
Location: This is currently scheduled to be in the Park View Room on the 4th floor of the Union across from Great Hall. -- Check the Today in the Union website or the digital signs in Memorial Union on the day of the lesson. It will show up as Marlinspike. If looking on the website, you may have to search for "Marlinspike" because the page can have too many items. If you need help with the web page, I prepared a guide: How to Search for Events on the Today in the Union Web Page
This lesson is about using and splicing UHMWPE (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethelene) lines including work with Soft Shackles. Samson Ropes defines Amsteel® as a “high-modulus polyethylene” rope. The high-modulus part means that Amsteel® has “low elasticity elongation,” or in other words, it doesn’t stretch much. However, this also means that this type of rope doesn’t like to be shock-loaded, so ease into the hammock! Safe working loads do not apply to shock loading.
This is an exploratory lesson - we are in the process of setting this up. Hollow-braid rope is much easier to splice than even three-strand line. People are replacing standing rigging on boats with it. It requires different knots or knot strategies than other line.
We will start with a basic paracord soft shackle, then do some splices in hollow braid polyethelene, work on the following knots: Ashley Stopper Knot, Two-strand diamond knot, and Two-Strand button knot. Then we will do at least one 5-inch soft shackle in Dyneema® . You are welcome to bring your own line as well if you want to work on more than one or want to make a larger one..
Here is a link to my page on how to calculate the length of line needed for a Dyneema® soft shackle based on the diameter of the line used.
Here are a few links about HMPE rope and Soft Shackles that you should review before the lesson.
- The Amazing Lightweight Rope That Can Lift a Car!
- What is Dyneema® and Why is it Awesome?
- Working With High-Tech Ropes – Practical Sailor
- On Deck: Soft Shackles: Sail Magazine
- Brummel LockSingle Splice - video
- Splice Hollow Braid 12-Strand Rope - Locking & Mobius Brummel Splice - Thimble Eye - video
- How to tie a Two-Strand Diamond Knot – paracord video
- How to tie a Lanyard Knot (Diamond Knot) – Animated Knots
- Edwards Soft Shackle (Diamond Knot) – Animated Knots
- High-Strength Soft Shackles Using the “Brion Toss Button” Knot- Cruisers Forum
- 10-Second Soft Shackles – video – Interesting but nowhere near as strong – much easier to make, though
- Soft Shackles Diamond Knot vs. Button Knot (video with some fun sailing pics)
- How Important Is It To Taper Your Splices (article with videos)
There is no rating for this, at this time.
Post-Lesson Resources:
Gear Manager Office Hours
Gear Manager Office hours is a time to get gear and ratings from the gear managers. This even occurs every monday during the spring semester from 4-5pm.