Introduction

For the field trip at Heybrook Ridge, we have a sequence of activities designed to give students and instructors alike, practical compass experience, then map & compass experience, and finally off-trail navigation experience. We teach inexperienced instructors using the apprenticeship system -- there are many things to learn, some of them navigation, most about how the field trip functions. Instructor trainees will be paired with experienced instructors. At the field trip we will teach

Review of the10 essentials & basic backcountry gear (a safety check, and an opportunity to share your experience)
Taking bearings
Taking bearings in a problem on a simplified map
Following a bearing cross-country
Triangulation to locate your position
An extended cross-country navigation exercise through rugged terrain

Experienced instructors include those who have taught Seattle scramble navigation before, and some very expereinced navigators who may not have participated in this program, but have considerable teaching experience in other programs, such as basic climbing or professional guiding. Experienced instructors are the core of the program.

Instructor Information


There are many reasons to instruct, ranging from the opportunity to support the program, to teaching students, to learning navigation better yourself - there is no better way to learn than by teaching. We welcome graduates of the climbing, snowshoe, scramble and backcountry ski programs to participate as instructors, as well as any graduates of this course, or highly experienced navigators with no formal Mountaineers experience. First time instructors will learn by being apprenticed to an experienced instructor. We will show you: what we are trying to teach; how we teach it; the flow of the course (what to do when).

After the initial training and orientation, you will act as an assistant instructor you will get practical help on the flow of the workshop or field trip; you will have a buddy; you will develop the confidence needed to teach the workshop or field trip. Be aware that the problem set used in the workshop is not straight forward, deliberately not, and you will get a chance to become intimately familiar with its quirks and trouble spots. The problem set has been time tested for many years, and the methodology works -- so our challenge is to get you up to speed on how it works.


	For the field trip at Heybrook Ridge, we have a sequence of activities designed to give students and instructors alike, practical compass experience, then map & compass experience, and finally off-trail navigation experience. We teach inexperienced instructors using the apprenticeship system -- there are many things to learn, some of them navigation, most about how the field trip functions. Instructor trainees will be paired with experienced instructors. At the field trip we will teach Review of the10 essentials & basic backcountry gear (a safety check, and an opportunity to share your experience) Taking bearings Taking bearings in a problem on a simplified map Following a bearing cross-country Triangulation to locate your position An extended cross-country navigation exercise through rugged terrain Experienced instructors include those who have taught Seattle scramble navigation before, and some very expereinced navigators who may not have participated in this program, but have considerable teaching experience in other programs, such as basic climbing or professional guiding. Experienced instructors are the core of the program.

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