Shoulder-Season Backpacking

This course, sponsored by the Foothills Backpacking Committee, will help you learn how to envision, plan and lead rewarding backpacking trips with confidence during the "shoulder season".   To complete the course you must register for and complete the one lecture and one of the  available field trips.  The zoom lecture is Feb. 20th and field trips are in March and April--see below. 

what is the 'shoulder season'?

This term is generally used to refer to the early Spring and late Fall months of the year.

WHY SHOULDER-SEASON TRIPS?

There are many reasons to embrace shoulder-season trips, including:

• Expand the span of your backpacking season--why wait until June or July to start your backpacking year?
• Go to new places that are often only practical and best enjoyed during the shoulder months.
• Expand your exploration of the state--particularly the desert areas just east of the Cascades.
• Experience amazing Fall colors and have your pick of epic campsites.
• Expand your confidence backpacking in the colder or more rainy months.
• Discover and experience the outdoors in the different beauty of the Spring or Fall.  It will bring to life a new appreciation of nature and her varied eco-systems.
• Avoid all the hassles and frustrations of the fire closures and smoke issues of mid to late summer trips.

TOPICS COVERED

This course will cover a variety of material that is unique to planning and executing shoulder-season trips, including:

• Where can I go backpacking in the shoulder-season?
  • Desert trips
  • Lowland valley and river trips
  • Fall color trips
• What to look for and the unique experience of a shoulder-season trip?
• What is it like to do desert overnight trips--are they really very fun (oh yes they are)?

This course will highlight the special planning issues of shoulder-season trips, including:

• Permits and restrictions
• How does one deal with the issues of darkness, cold and rain/snow?
• How does a leader deal with the unpredictability of the weather in general and the real possibility of canceling and rescheduling trips?
• How does the leader assess and work with issues of lingering snow in the Spring and recent/pending snow in the Fall?

Registering for the Course

• First register for the whole course at the right side-bar.
• Second register for the required lecture on Feb. 20th, shown below.
• Third register for one of two field trips offered below.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER