Intro to Extended Backpacking - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Seattle Program Center, room Goodman A, 6:30pm - 8:30pm.

Ready to move beyond being a weekend warrior? Curious about doing longer backpacking trips? Ready to tackle the Wonderland Trail, but confused about what to bring? This evening seminar helps to bridge the gap between weekend trips of 2-3 nights and longer trips of 5-8 nights and beyond.  Building on the fundamentals covered in basic backpacking, this class will focus on how long trips differ from overnighters and weekenders (as well as  ways in which they are much the same).

The instructors are veteran long-route backpackers whose trip experience includes the Wonderland Trail, the John Muir Trail, the Sierra High Route, the Vancouver Island West Coast Trail, and many extended routes in the Cascades, Olympics, and greater Pacific Northwest.

Topics covered include what gear to bring, how to balance pack weight and need, and considerations for meal planning and safety when you will be days away from the nearest trailhead.

The seminar will begin with a brief presentation followed by time in small groups with instructors who will share their packs, gear, and planning for long trips they have taken in the past. Small groups will be structured for lots of Q&A and students will have time to meet with multiple instructors to learn different approaches to extended backpacking. 

Registration

This seminar is for members with backpacking experience and therefore requires the Basic Backpacking Skills badge.  If you are an experienced backpacker who does not yet have the badge,  see Basic Backpacking Skills Equivalency.

We are charging a small fee to help cover admin costs.  The entirety of the fee is passed through to the larger Mountaineers organization to help pay for the website, Member Services, building overhead, and other shared resources.