Wilderness Navigation Course - Winter

The 2015 course is FULL. You may register for the 2016 course HERE.
Note that the course name has changed to "Wilderness Navigation" 

Would you like to learn how to avoid getting lost? Are you planning to go off trail where good navigation skills are needed? If so then this in-depth navigation course is for you. It's offered multiple times a year between October and March, and it's available to Mountaineers members and non-members.

This course is a graduation requirement for other Mountaineers courses including Basic Alpine Climbing, Alpine Scrambling, Backcountry Snowshoeing, and other courses. People who complete this course will receive a Navigation card valid for 3 years.

Sign Up Procedure:
Important note: To fully register and graduate from this course you need to sign up for these 3 separate components...
1) Register for this Basic Navigation Course and pay the course fee.
2) Sign up for one of the available workshops listed below. This is a 2.5 hour Workshop on a weekday evening at the Seattle Mountaineers Program Center. You'll be sitting at a table using your compass and maps to solve a complex series of navigation story problems.
3) Sign up for an available Field Trip (need to attend after the Workshop). This is a full day Field Trip on a Saturday or Sunday in the mountains near Index, WA. You'll be off trail in the woods using your compass to taking bearings and follow bearings. Carpooling is strongly encouraged because we'll be parking on private land with very limited space, so please specify your carpool preferences when signing up (or edit them later). Then you can use the "email" link below on the roster tab to view other students' carpool preferences so that you can organize your own carpooling arrangements.

Compass:
You'll need a "Mountaineers approved" compass which you need to purchase before attending the Workshop. Unfortunately you can't share a map or compass with a friend of family member during the course. Some local stores might run out of the model you want so it's recommended you buy a compass well in advance. Only specific compasses will be accepted, so before purchasing a compass make sure to read our compass requirements. Please note that the blue "Brunton O.S.S." compasses are not acceptable.

Reading Assignment (before attending the Workshop):
Prior to attending the Workshop you need to read chapters 1-5 of the Burns & Burns book "Wilderness Navigation". Mountaineers members get an additional 20% discount when ordering it online from Mountaineers Books as well as purchasing it in person at the Mountaineers Bookstore located in the Seattle Mountaineers Program Center. Please support the Mountaineers by purchasing it directly from the Mountaineers.

If you still want more to read after reading "Wilderness Navigation", see chapter 5 on Navigation in "Freedom of the Hills."

Website:
Click here to download information about how to select a good compass.