Shoulder Season Backpacking: Trip Planning and Execution

Covid-19:   This course requires an in-person, two-night, field trip  All participants need to fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and provide/email a copy of their CDC card to the leader when registering.

This course is intended for current and future Mountaineers backpacking trip leaders who are interested in leading trips during the “shoulder-season” (primarily trips during the months of March, April and October).  All current Mountaineers Backpacking Leaders can register.   Those that are in the process of becoming a Mountaineers Backpack Leader can contact the course leader about registering.

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.

About the Course

This course will be a two-hour Zoom lecture on a Wednesday evening, March 16. Two or more field trips will be offered in March and April following the lecture. Students will be required to attend the lecture and one of the field trips to complete the course.

About the Field Trips

Two field trips will be offered:

April 8-10, 2022 Black Canyon/Yakima Skyline Loop

March 25-27, 2022 Gingko Petrified State Park/Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area

Both of these trips are moderately difficult and include significant off-trail travel on open sagebrush terrain.  The most challenging day in each trip will be about 11 miles and 2000-2500' of gain. Participants need to sign up for one of the two trips with their registration for the course. 

REGISTRATION

Until February 15 registration is open only to current backpacking trip leaders, after which non-leaders may register also.  Seattle Backpacking leaders and leader candidates are eligible for a discounted course fee and may register in advance of the general registration opening date.  Contact the course leader for details.

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?

About the Presenter

Rob Erickson has completed a lot of shoulder-season trips and has been a pioneer in researching and leading these types of trips for the Mountaineers.  He is excited to share this special backpacking focus with others and see these trips flourish club-wide. Come catch this vision, learn new skills, and go new places.