Backpacking & Wilderness Navigation Course Itinerary

Day 1: 6:30am orientation and gear check. We begin with a thorough gear check, food check and proper packing techniques. After packing our packs, we review map and compass skills then load the van. We take a scenic ferry ride across Puget Sound and drive to the trailhead and set our first camp. Camp techniques include: obtaining back-country permits, food preparation and storage, tent site construction and selection.

Days 2-3: Leave the campground and hike into the backcountry. We will spend two full days on the trail and set a different camp each night. We learn proper wilderness camping and survival techniques and apply this knowledge in a direct and immediate fashion. On the trail's varied terrain we encounter diverse flora and fauna. Weather conditions are taken into consideration as we pair correct technique with decision-making. We place emphasis on safety in the wilderness and discuss proper first-aid.

Day 4: Break camp and return to trailhead. The last day of the course provides the opportunity to utilize all the skills we have learned to this point. From the trailhead we depart for Seattle.