Basic Snowshoeing - Tacoma 2018/19

Snowshoeing Course

Basic Snowshoeing

Basic Snowshoeing - Tacoma Dec 2018 & Jan 2019

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

There are no pre-requisites for this course.

There will be a discount for people who want to take all three snowshoe modules (Basic Snowshoeing, Backcountry Snowshoeing and Winter Camping) and sign up at one time. If you wish to take advantage of this option, see Winter Travels - Tacoma and sign up for that instead of the three modules individually.

Family Discount Information: Info

Course Dates:

Lecture: Thursday December 6, 2018 6:00PM to 9:00PM at Tacoma Mountaineers Program Center.

Field Trip: Saturday December 15, 2018 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 recur until we are able to safely and successfully get you out.


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.

Link: Tacoma Snowshoeing Committee

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Additional badges needed to graduate

Completed

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 classroom session. This will probably avoid a few of the mis-steps 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
  • Treking/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.

Course Materials

There are no materials for this course.