Basic Snowshoeing - Jan 2021

Snowshoeing Course

Basic Snowshoeing

Basic Snowshoeing course. This course is full. Please feel free to join the waitlist.

This course provides a solid foundation in snowshoeing. Topics covered are snowshoe techniques and travel, winter clothing and gear selection and conditioning for winter activities. Successful completion will allow the student to participate in Easy snowshoe outings. It will also allow an interested student to continue on to the Intermediate Snowshoe course.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

This course will be conducted in accordance with The Mountaineers COVID-19 policies.


Lecture: Wednesday January 13, 2021 7:00PM to 9:00PM. This lecture is currently planned to be a virtual meeting.  Additional details will be shared in November.

FULL - Group 1 Field trip: Saturday January 30, 2021 at Paradise, Mt Rainier National Park.

FULL - Group 2 Field trip: Sunday January 31, 2021 at Paradise, Mt Rainier National Park.

Meeting place: South Hill Park & Ride, meeting time to be determined in class.

It is impossible for us to determine the weather far in the future so students should consider the field trip date tentative although we will try very hard to keep that date. We absolutely will not hold a field trip on dates where conditions are unsafe or where the conditions are not conducive to a good learning experience. In such a case students will be informed by Thursday of the week of the field trip that it has been postponed. The field trip will then be rescheduled for the following weekend with the same time and place as the original. That process will repeat until we are able to safely and successfully get you out.


Family Discount Information: Info

Graduation Requirements:

  • Attend basic snowshoe lecture,
  • Attend basic snowshoe field trip,
  • Participate in one Mountaineers snowshoe trip
  • Completion of avalanche awareness seminar
  • Completion of a conservation activity.

Please note:  Students must complete the lecture, online classroom, and field trip during the first year.  There will be a fee charged to second year students needing to make up lecture and field trip activities.  Students may take up to two years to complete the Avalanche Awareness, Mountaineers snowshoe trip, and conservation requirements. 

Link: Tacoma Snowshoeing Committee

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

There is some equipment that will be required to complete the course but we suggest that those new to snowshoeing refrain from purchasing new equipment until after the lecture. This will probably avoid a few of the missteps of over purchasing or purchasing inadequate gear. A sizable portion of the classroom evening is devoted to what gear to get, how/why to choose it and where it may be purchased or rented. Some of the things on the list are:

  • Parka/ hard shell jacket
  • Gloves
  • Trekking/Snow Poles
  • Boots
  • Pack
  • Outdoor Clothing (synthetic or wool)
  • Water Bottle with insulation
  • Hand warmers
  • Gaiters

Do note that many people with some hiking experience will probably have a great deal of this gear. Our purpose is to show what you'll need, what are nice extras and what's available.

Check out the gear rentals:  Snow Links

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.