- Beginner
- Ages 16+
This course is designed to equip you with skills to navigate and execute during your own snowshoeing trip while experiencing the stunning view of the North Cascades.
Quick Details
Winter Camping Essentials Course
Develop essential winter camping skills to increase your comfort in a winter landscape. Receive hands-on experience traveling, navigating, camping, cooking, and sleeping in a winter environment.
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As a multi-day experience, participants will meet at a designated park and ride convenient for all participants. Meeting times vary, but will most likely be around 7:00 a.m. Please consider driving as a caravan and all driving will take place on plowed roads to the summit passes. Chains for your vehicle will be required.
Backcountry locations vary in Washington; plan on driving up to 2.5 hours to the location. A pre-trip route plan and avalanche assessment meeting will commence at a pre-established location. Once at the location, all participants will begin their snow camping experience.
Day 1:
- Will consist of an approach to establish a base camp. Hiking could last up to 3 hours and up to 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Once at the site, learn snow camping techniques and Leave No Trace practices. Camping in tents and/or snow shelters are an option. Food will be provided.
Day 2:
- You will learn winter ecology and survival techniques, practice navigation, and then travel home.
As an intermediate course, plan to ascend and descend up to 1,000 feet or more throughout the trip. Digging and working in the snow will be a big part of camp activities. Plan on standing in the snow for up to 30 minutes at a time as well as long periods of physical movement.
Plan on being home by 9 p.m. on Day 2.
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- 18+ for adult courses or 16+ with consent from a guardian and Kaf approval
- 12-18 for youth courses
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- Experience snowshoeing
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- Plan, organize, equip, and safely implement a multi-day winter camping trip
- How to stay warm and dry in a winter environment
- Winter navigation techniques
- Snow travel techniques
- Winter ecology and Leave No Trace practices
- Cooking in a winter environment
- Tent construction and/or snow caves
- Plan, organize, equip, and safely implement a multi-day winter camping trip
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- Group camping equipment: Shelter, stove, and cook wear
- Two days of professional instruction
- Breakfast and dinner while in the field
- Group camping equipment: Shelter, stove, and cook wear
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- Transportation
- Lunch
- Personal clothing and backpacking equipment
- Snowshoes
- Transportation
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We will provide you with a detailed equipment list with your pre-trip announcement email.
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Transportation and times will be coordinated by email when the pre-trip announcement is sent to all registrants.
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If you’re interested in more backcountry fun, check out our Mountaineering: Beginner and Mountaineering: Intermediate course.
“The date I want isn’t listed.” Please visit our Custom Courses page and contact us to book a private or custom course that fits your needs.
“I don’t see any dates.” Several of our courses run infrequently. We invite you to opt for a waitlist on our courses that do not have visible dates on the course calendar. When enough people sign up for that course, we will select a course date and invite you all to register then.