The Basic Navigation course fee is $35 for members and non-members.

Want to learn how not to get lost in the woods? Need to navigate better because you'll be going off trail? Need a Navigation Card for your Seattle class in Basic Climbing, Snowshoe or Alpine Scrambling? Then the Basic Navigation course for you.

We teach basic map and compass skills -- making navigation easy to learn, and having fun in the process.

Who should take the Basic Navigation course and when

The course is open to both Mountaineer members and non-members who are in reasonable physical condition with an interest in navigation. Note that members may get registration preference in some circumstances. The course is REQUIRED for Seattle basic climbing, Seattle alpine scrambling, and Seattle snowshoe students.

It is also expected to be required for the Seattle intermediate climbing course. The course is strongly recommended for all hike leaders, as well as for anyone who is a graduate of a snowshoe, climbing, scramble or backcountry ski course who would like to improve or brush up on their navigation skills. Leaders in climbing, snowshoe, scramble and back-country ski programs are welcome, either as students or instructors.

The course is now offered as a single course occuring in November, February and March -- one course with 6 evening workshops and 6 field trip days. Students should sign up for 1 workshop and 1 field trip. Snowshoe, climbing and ski students can take the course at any time, though November or February are recommended (March is too late for skiers, and both February and March are a very busy time for basic climbing students). Scramble students can take the course when they choose, but the March timeframe works best for most students.

Graduates of the Basic Navigation course will receive a "Navigation Card", similar to a MOFA card, which will be good for three years. To renew currency in navigation, Navigation Card holders must teach at one workshop and one field trip, and apply for a renewal. Alternatively, Navigation Card holders may take the course again.

Experienced navigators may acquire a Navigation Card by teaching at one navigation workshop and one Heybrook Ridge navigation field trip. New instructors are paired with an experienced instructor, in a variation of the apprentice system. Even if you know your navigation better than anyone, you will be unfamiliar with our teaching methods and the flow of the course. For more information, or to sign up as an instructor (new or repeating), search for Navigation events on the new Mountaineers website database.

It is expected that a current Navigation Card will be required for all new Seattle leader applicants in climbing, snowshoe, and scrambling.

Past graduates and leaders in the Seattle climbing, snowshoe, alpine scrambling and backcountry ski programs are not required to take the navigation course or to hold a current Navigation Card, unless they enroll in another course or apply for new leadership status.

Each committee will decide independently whether or not to require a current Navigation Card, and under what circumstances (already required by Seattle snowshoe, Seattle alpine scrambling and Seattle basic climbing). The standards for navigation certification which lead to receipt of the Navigation Card are the responsibility of the Navigation Committee.

The Navigation Committee resides within the Seattle Branch of The Mountaineers, but attempts to serve all Mountaineers from any branch.

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