Wilderness Course - WhitneyZone Message Board

I saw this link on another hiking message board and thought it would be worthwhile to post here.

The Sierra Club has a 10 week "Wilderness Travel Course" . Depending on your budget, it might be a little pricey at over $400 for the course, books, and compass. But there are 4 hikes and the 2 overnight hikes include transportation along with weekly "classroom" instruction.

Topics covered:
Map & Compass Navigation
Off trail navigation
Basic rock scrambling
Traveling in snow
How to stay safe in extreme weather situations
High Altitude acclimatization
and much more.

I haven't taken the course so can't give a first hand review, but it does offer an opportunity for the people in the So Cal area to gain some knowledge in how to be safe in the wilderness, including winter conditions. The classes start in mid-Jan 2014.

Thanks for posting, wazzu. Looking at the web page, wbtravis would be proud:

Quote:

2012 WTC West LA student Joe Robinson completed his 169 day hike of the Pacific Crest Trail on October 13, 2012, logging 2655 miles from the Mexican to Canadian borders to raise money for the National Muscular Sclerosis Society. One of Joe’s statements, “I’m happy to report that I was one of the few hikers on trail not to use a GPS or phone to navigate but rather to use a map and compass the whole time. Thanks for giving me the confidence to go into the backcountry relying only on myself and not technology. It made the trip a much better adventure”. WTC prepares you for life’s big adventures!

Originally Posted By: Steve C

Thanks for posting, wazzu. Looking at the web page, wbtravis would be proud:

Quote:

2012 WTC West LA student Joe Robinson completed his 169 day hike of the Pacific Crest Trail on October 13, 2012, logging 2655 miles from the Mexican to Canadian borders to raise money for the National Muscular Sclerosis Society. One of Joe’s statements, “I’m happy to report that I was one of the few hikers on trail not to use a GPS or phone to navigate but rather to use a map and compass the whole time. Thanks for giving me the confidence to go into the backcountry relying only on myself and not technology. It made the trip a much better adventure”. WTC prepares you for life’s big adventures!

And SaltyDog. About the only person I met on the JMT without a gps didn't have a map, either.

Originally Posted By: saltydog

About the only person I met on the JMT without a gps didn't have a map, either.

Was that person a lost soul, or extremely familiar with the JMT, or did they just have a lotta guts?

Speaking the PCT...

About too many years ago, I was walked up to a guy on near junction for the seasonal ranger station near Lower Rock Creek Crossing. He was looking at his new and hardly used Tom Harrison Cartography Map. He asked me, "Where is the PCT"? I said, "You are standing on it". His reply, "No, I'm not. Really, where is the PCT?". Then, I showed him exactly where he was on his map...and he still did not believe me. At that point, I figured is was best to head back to my tent just off the PCT on Rock Creek.

Steve,

I've never taken the WTC but I find it be a worthwhile investment. I just hung around a lot of folks who have taken it and remember just enough from my Boy Scout and Army days to be a danger to myself. ;-) I also believe anyone who goes out in winter should take the SMI Basic Snow Skill Course or equal.

I've seen some of the snow travel course of the WTC while out and about. Because of liability concerns, this part has been watered down...no more ice axe and fangs.

WTC the last time I looked, offered an optional, more robust, snow travel course.

I believe it is taught by SMI.

That's good, Ken. I got tired of seeing WTC folks postholing up the bottom of Ice House Canyon.

West LA Group 2 2007 Graduate.

I've made a point of setting aside a weekend to camp out with "my" group each year at snow camp since then, save last year, when there wasn't any snow at North Lake.

It's a great investment, and amazing that they keep the cost as low as they do for what they offer. No, they don't cover pons/axe skillz, but the most important part, navigation, is the best.