Navigation Course

Wilderness Navigation Course - Winter

Wilderness Navigation Course - Seattle Winter/Spring 2023

Rolling Enrollment: Wed, Jan 4, 2023 - Thu, Apr 20, 2023
Committee: Seattle Navigation Committee
Members: $129.00 Guests: $155.00
Apply for a scholarship
Availability: FULL, 17 on waitlist (200 capacity)
Cancellation & Refund Policy

This Wilderness Navigation Course has four parts. For credit you must complete all four. Take them IN-ORDER, Activity #1, #2. Then the In-Person Workshop, Activity #3, and the Field Trip, Activity #4 must be IN-ORDER.

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Current course status

Published.

SIGN UP PROCEDURE

Register for this Wilderness Navigation Course and pay the course fee.
Register for one Online Map and Compass course (activity #1)
Register for one Online Introduction to Digital Navigation course (activity #2)
Register for one In-Person Workshop (activity #3) - scheduled AFTER the two online sections
Register for one Field Trip (activity #4) Carkeek or Discovery Park Option- scheduled AFTER the In-Person Workshop
Buy your Wilderness Navigation Book, Index/Baring Topographic map, and Baseplate Compass. Note: Do not buy the Prosight Map Compass from Sun Company, it does not meet our declination adjustable standards.
Subscribe to and setup the Gaia GPS app on your smartphone (per Required Equipment and Course Materials tabs).
Read the FAQ: Link provided in the class materials tab

KEEP YOUR DATES. Once you sign up for a particular activity, please try to keep that date. If you move to a later date, do so very early so others have time to fill your spot or be pulled in from the waitlist. If you make changes at the last minute, it affects everyone.

BADGES

This course earns the Basic Navigation badge, a requirement for Basic Alpine Climbing, Alpine Scrambling, Backcountry Snowshoeing, and other courses and activities. The badge is valid for 3 years.

This course also earns the Basic GPS Badge, as content from our "Digital Mapping" seminar is included in this course.

NOTE: This is not a beginner's course. This course prepares you for the rigors of back country and off trail navigation. Although it is suitable for students with little or no experience in navigation, you may want an on trail course (Staying Found or On-Trail Navigation) or Zoom seminar with field trip (Introduction to Map & Compass) prior to embarking on this more rigorous Wilderness Navigation course. However, those options don't meet the navigation requirements for Climbing, Scrambling, Snowshoeing, etc. This one does.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The four main class activities build upon each other, with these ultimate learning goals:

Skilled in travel thru varied terrain & conditions, on and off trail.
Navigation tasks can be shared among the entire team.
Able to maintain high level of situational awareness – all team members can determine point position & return to your Camp/Trailhead
Skilled in using the full tool set – map, altimeter, compass, GPS, and awareness of emergency procedures and devices.

COURSE COMPONENTS AND TIME COMMITMENT

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE TIME COMMITMENT FOR THE ONLINE ACTIVITIES. THEY TAKE TIME.
The Online Map and Compass eLearning (activity #1) is online at your own pace over a 10-day period. It will take you 5 to 8 hours to complete. You must finish this activity before the In-Person Workshop. It covers the basics of map and compass, coordinate systems, plotting and taking bearings and coordinates, altimeter and GPS system basics, and an introduction to trip planning. It includes readings from the book and practical exercises at home with map and compass.
The Online Introduction to Digital Navigation (activity #2) is also done at your own pace over a 10-day period and must be finished before the In-Person Workshop. It will take you 3-6 hours of online work and practical exercises. It expands upon the eLearning activity further into GPS and the use of digital tools for trip planning. You will set up Gaia GPS on your smartphone and use CalTopo for trip planning.
The In-Person Workshop (activity #3) is about 3 hours on a weeknight at the Seattle Program Center. You'll do more practical exercises with Map, Compass, and GPS to prepare for the field trip.
The Field Trip (activity #4) is a half-day event at a Seattle City Park: Carkeek Park (3 miles, 600’ elevation gain), or Discovery Park (5 miles, 600’ elevation gain). You'll tie together different ways to use all four tools in your navigation toolkit - map, altimeter, compass with clinometer, and GPS, along with how and when to use emergency communication devices such as locator beacons and satellite messengers. The committee will provide color CalTopo park maps for the Field Trip.

Required Equipment

Baseplate declination adjustable Compass with clinometer. Note: Do not buy the Prosight Map Compass from Sun Company, it does not meet our declination adjustable standards.
Wilderness Navigation Book, Index/Baring Topographic Map (21.75 x 27”, NAD27), Altimeter, Smartphone, and GaiaGPS (with a paid or first-year free subscription). See the Required Equipment and Course Materials tab for details and links.

Required Reading Assignments

During the Online Map and Compass course, you'll have readings from the Burns & Burns book "Wilderness Navigation", 3rd Edition, 7^th Printing. Mountaineers members get a 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.
Additional reading is available in "Freedom of the Hills.", 9^th Edition, Chapter 5.

FIELD TRIP CARPOOLING

Carpooling, public transport and cycling or walking to the Field Trip are encouraged to reduce our carbon footprint and minimize parking congestion so please specify your carpool preferences in your personal profile. You can view other students' carpool preferences by viewing the roster on the field trip activity page. (The activity page can be found after sign-up under "My Activities" when you click your name on the Mountaineers website). You can set up your own carpool using groupcarpool.com.

For More Information and Other Courses

For more info about this course, about equivalency options, about renewing your badge that has or is about to expire, or other navigation courses, please see the Seattle Navigation Committee Page.

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster

Required Equipment

10 essentials including rain gear for the field trip, and the following to complete the course:

Wilderness Navigation Book
Computer, laptop or tablet
Map
Declination-adjustable, 0-360 degree (2 degree increments) baseplate compass with clinometer. Note: Do not buy the Prosight Map Compass from Sun Company, it does not meet our declination adjustable standards.
Smartphone with GaiaGPS App (with a paid subscription)
Altimeter (most use GaiaGPS altimeter or a barometric altimeter app such as AltimeterPlus)
Optional Romer (optional as full featured compasses have Romer function)

=== BOOK =====

You will need Wilderness Navigation, 3rd edition, 7^th Printing by Burns & Burns.

=== Computer =====

A computer, laptop, and/or tablet is used for completion of the online learning activities.

=== Maps =====

You'll need to purchase one two-sided map: USGS Index/Baring. The best local source is the Mountaineers Books Online by clicking the link below, or visit the Mountaineers Bookstore at the Program Center. Note that supplies may be limited. Mountaineers members get a 20% members discount when purchasing from either Mountaineers source.

DO NOT DOWNLOAD THE BARING MAP FROM USGS. The USGS 7.5 minute (double sided) Baring-Index paper map that you are required to bring to the workshop must be 21.75 x 27 inches, and in the datum of NAD27. This is required for exercises in Module B. Purchasing this map from Mountaineers Books will insure that you have the correct map.

Please note that the USGS Index/Baring map is not required for the field trip. Local CalTopo maps will be provided.

Links to order from Mountaineers Online Warehouse:

USGS Index/Baring Map (link to 2-sided Index/Baring map)

=== Romer =====

Optional: A Romer is a tool used to measure coordinates. In our course, you may use a UTM Romer Tool, (or just use the 1:24000 km scale on the compass baseplate). For the Romer, you have two options to obtain and use one:

Print the UTM Corner Romers from the Course Materials tab. And, review the Quick Guide to UTM at Maptools.com regarding use of the "mini corner style tool".
"OR" Purchase a slot style UTM Romer from Maptools.com

When you are on the site, be sure to select the tab for "Mini Corner Style Tool" as shown below:

=== Compass =====

See the Course Materials tab for a Mountaineers-approved baseplate, adjustable declination compass which you need to purchase before the eLearning Workshop. Unfortunately, you can't share a map or compass with a friend of family member during the practical exercises. 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. Link

=== Smartphone with GAIAGPS App =====

You'll need an IOS or Android smartphone with the GaiaGPS App. You will be instructed on setting up Gaia GPS during the Online GPS Module.

You will need one of the paid subscription versions of Gaia to complete the course (see the course FAQ for information on subscriptions). GaiaGPS Premium level is available as a Mountaineers Member Benefit, at no cost for the first year. See the Member Benefits page to redeem this benefit. It works on IOS and Android phones and tablets, so long as you have a GPS chip in the device (US GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou systems.)

Smartphone Protection: Be sure you have good protection for your device, including drop protection, water protection, and loss-protection. Drop protection includes cases and such. Water protection can be as simple as a plastic bag. Loss-protection can be some kind of tether, as well as insurance, etc. We are not responsible for lost or damaged devices. We do however, practice navigation in a way that tends to keep the GPS secured in a pocket most of the time. Just know that our field trips are often in wet, rough terrain and we don't want you to damage or lose your phone.

=== Altimeter =====

There is an altitude cell tower plus satellite reading in the GaiaGPS App, and it will get you through the course. Inexpensive barometric apps are available for IPhone 6 or later. Many people prefer a wristwatch style altimeter or analog altimeter as they delve further into mountaineering. For reviews of inexpensive (and expensive) altimeters, see the Blog Entry on How to Pick an Altimeter.

Course Materials

Name/Description
WS5.01_D03_STDT_PACKET.pdf
Workshop Module B Photos Module B Photos 1-6 for the Workshop.
Workshop Program Center Gaia Exercise A link to the GPX file that contains the waypoints used for the In-Person Workshop (same file for both students and instructors).
WildNav GPS Setup Guide - Student Link to the GPS Setup Guide for Students to prepare your smartphones GaiaGPS with the data (tracks, waypoints, and maps) needed for the In-person Workshop (activity #3) and the Field Trip (activity #4). Follow this guide only after you have completed GPS Online Module (activity #2).
Field Trip GPX data file for students (Discovery Park) Student GPX file for Discovery Park
USGS Baring/Index Map Map required for eLearning (Activity #1), and In-Person Workshop (Activity #3). The Baring map is not required for the field trip, as Caltopo maps will be issued at the trailhead. Order the USGS Baring map early from Mountaineers Online, or stop in to the Mountaineers Program Center at Magnuson Park. Note: You will need only the Baring portion. The map available at Mountaineers Books is double-sided, with Baring on one side, and Index on the flip side. The map you bring to the workshop must be 21.75 x 27 inches, in the datum of NAD27.
Compass Requirements A link to the compass requirements for this course
UTM Corner Romers - Scales Printable UTM Coordinate Scales (Romers) to use in the eLearning Workshop
Field Trip Maps (Discovery Park) Contains a link to the Field Trip maps for Discovery Park ONLY for both students and instructors. You do not need to print these maps as they will be distributed at the trail head. These maps are for electronic review only.