Wilderness Skills - Olympia Mountaineers

Open to all - Mountaineer members and the general public
Wilderness Skills is designed to prepare area outdoor enthusiasts for hiking
or backpacking in the forests, mountains and trails of the Pacific Northwest.
This course is also the foundation or first Module for the Alpine Scrambling
Course and the Basic Climbing Courses.
The Wilderness Skills Course consists of three evening presentations and
one Navigation and Outdoor Skills Workshop (field trip) to a local park site
for practice of the new skill.
Tuesday, January 20
Lecture 1: Knowing the essentials, clothing and equipment
10 Essentials, clothing, boots and equipment for day hikes or
overnight trips - Examine traditional clothing and equipment and the
latest high-tech gear and low-tech alternatives
Tuesday, January 27
Lecture 2: Knowing how to prepare for the Wilderness
Wilderness Ethics/Leave No Trace – Nutrition – Physical
Conditioning – Intro to First Aid – Preventing Injuries and Handling
Emergencies
Tuesday, February 3
Lecture 3: Knowing the Wilderness environment.
Avoiding hazards and understanding weather for safe, enjoyable
travel - Where to Go and how to get to the "Great Places to Go" in
the Pacific Northwest
Tuesday, February 10
Lecture 4: Navigation (Map and Compass)
Introduction to Backcountry Navigation provides hands-on instruction
in map reading, using a compass, navigating in the backcountry,
terrain association, what to do if lost and how, when and where to
use GPS
Saturday, February 14
Outdoor Workshop - Learn and practice new skills
This field trip takes the students to a park to learn and practice
their new skills on an outdoor challenge course where they
learn using the guided Discovery instructional method while
becoming proficient with the 10 essential.
To earn a course completion certificate, students will also
accompany Mountaineer leaders on a hike or backpacking trip
of their choosing.
Wilderness Skills Module Page 2 of 73
Olympia Mountaineers - Hiking, Alpine Scrambling and Basic Climbing