Winter Camping

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This course offers beginners an introduction to safely and comfortably camping in snow during the winter. It is designed for people who have winter travel experience (snowshoeing, skiing, splitboarding, etc) and want to extend their wintertime backcountry snow adventures to multiple days.

Topics of instruction include winter tent camping, non-emergency snow shelters, strategies for staying warm, clothing, sleep systems, stoves/fuel/cooking, melting snow, campsite selection, setting up camp, and constructing a camp kitchen. We’ll cover how to select and properly use winter-capable equipment as well as gear rental options.

This hybrid course includes:

• Online classroom self-study and assignments, covering the foundations of successful winter camping.
• A full-day in-person Demo Day at the Mountaineers Tacoma Program Center, where experienced instructors demonstrate the strategies and equipment they use when winter camping. We’ll have tents, sleep systems, stoves/fuel, and clothing layers on display, and we’ll demo their proper setup and use. There will be ample opportunity for you to ask questions and get personalized advice during this session.
• A weekend overnight field trip in the backcountry where you’ll put your new winter camping skills to use with the support of a team of experienced instructors. We’ll snowshoe from our cars into the backcountry, select a campsite, set up camp, construct our camp kitchen, and then review our setups. We’ll then build non-emergency snow shelters, prepare dinner, and call it a night. The next morning we’ll cook breakfast, break up camp, and snowshoe back to our cars.

Course graduates will be eligible to participate in winter overnights with the confidence that they’ll stay safe, stay comfortable, and have fun.

This course requires previous winter travel experience (snowshoeing, skiing, splitboarding, etc). It is recommended that students have prior backpacking experience and highly recommended that students have taken a Mountaineers backpacking course.

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE COURSE

1. Register for this Winter Camping course and pay the course fee.
2. Register for the Demo Day. This is a full-day, in-person lecture on a Sunday at the Tacoma Program Center. Completion of the online classroom self-study and assignments is mandatory in order for students to participate in the Demo Day. There are NO exceptions or make-up dates.
3. Register for the Field Trip. This is a 2-day, 1-night weekend field trip, typically in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park. Attendance at the Demo Day is mandatory in order for students to participate in the Field Trip. There are NO exceptions or make-up dates.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• Complete online classroom self-study and assignments
• Attend the course's Demo Day 
• Attend the course's field trip
• Hold a Low Impact Recreation Badge
• Hold an Avalanche Awareness Badge
• Hold a Stewardship Badge

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE SIGNING UP 

1. Winter camping trips, including the field trip for this course, are usually held at locations near mountain passes that require driving in winter conditions (rain, snow, ice, wind, darkness) on roads and in parking lots that may not be fully plowed or de-iced. Before signing up for this course please be sure you have access to a winter-capable vehicle. An AWD or 4WD vehicle is best, but a 2WD vehicle with reasonable ground clearance and snow chains can work in benign-to-moderate conditions. Lack of access to adequate transportation will not be considered a sufficient reason to refund the course fee.
2. Moderate physical fitness is necessary. The field trip involves up to 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 1200 feet elevation gain if wearing hiking boots on a trail.
3. If you are new to backpacking, winter camping and the Ten Essentials, expect a moderate level of investment in equipment ($500-$1000 for new or mostly new equipment). We highly recommend waiting until after Demo Day to make gear choices, as Demo Day will be dedicated to gear choices and recommendations. Used but quality gear and clothing is a good way to start building your backcountry camping kit. Renting or borrowing gear before purchasing is a good way to learn what you like / don’t like and what works / doesn’t work for you. Check the Required Equipment list in advance to begin budgeting for the items you will need for this course.
4. There will be a $50 administrative fee charged to second year students needing to make up Demo Day or field trip activities. Students may take up to two years to complete the Low Impact Recreation, Avalanche Awareness, and Stewardship requirements.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Mountaineers strive to serve everyone, regardless of ability to pay. We are committed to providing access to outdoor recreation, education, and conservation opportunities for all members and youth in the communities we serve. If you would like to take this course and are experiencing financial hardship or limitations, please apply for financial assistance. Here is more information about the Mountaineers Financial Assistance Program.

For additional questions, please email the course leader.