Basic Snowshoeing Course

The Basic Snowshoeing Course offers an introduction to safe and enjoyable winter travel for the beginner. It is designed for people who want to get a taste of snowshoeing and pick up solid foundational skills.  Topics of instruction will touch on all foundational elements of winter travel, including introductions to the selection, use, and care of proper equipment (shoes, poles, packs, etc.); clothing and boots; conditioning and nutrition; ten essentials and safety; snow conditions and avalanche awareness; winter travel tips and techniques; weather conditions; and choosing an outing.  We’ll have recommendations for where to go, what to rent, what to buy.  Students will be eligible to participate in Easy and Easy+ rated snowshoe trips with the confidence of having a foundation in winter travel.

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 Snowshoe Course and pay the course fee. 2) Sign up for an available Lecture. This is a 2.5 hour Lecture on a weekday evening at the Seattle Program Center. Also note that attendance at the lecture is mandatory in order for you to take the Field Trip. There are NO exceptions. 3) Sign up for an available Field Trip (need to attend after the Lecture). This is a full day Field Trip on a Saturday or Sunday at the Grace Lakes area at Stevens Pass.

Space at the lectures and on the field trips is limited, so please sign up early to ensure you get the dates that work for you.

Things to consider before signing up: 1) While this is a foundational course, a moderate physical conditioning level is necessary. The field trip involves approximately 3-4 miles of travel round-trip and up to 600 feet total elevation gain on snowshoes. This is the equivalent of approximately 6-8 miles and up to 1,200 feet elevation gain if wearing hiking boots in non-snow conditions. 

2) If you are new to the outdoors and the Ten Essentials, expect a moderate level of investment in equipment and clothing ($200-600 for new or mostly new items). Used but quality gear and clothing is a good way to begin building your inventory. It is also always wise to rent or borrow snowshoes before investing in them. Check the Required Equipment list in advance to begin preparing for the items you will need for this course and for snowshoeing in general. (We will also cover clothing and gear in detail during the lecture.)

Graduates of this course are eligible to join Easy and Easy+ snowshoe trips. Those desiring to join Moderate and/or Strenuous snowshoe trips, which require additional skills and backcountry knowledge, must take the Backcountry Snowshoe Skills course offered in late January/early February in addition to this course.