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I am looking for two intermediate-level backpackers to join me on a 2-day/1-night Advanced Navigation Course in Rocky Mountain National Park, Thursday-Friday August 9-10. The primary focus of this trip is very narrow: navigation. Navigation is one of the most valuable skills that a backpacker can learn, as it allows you to safely and confidently…
Update (June 26, 5:15pm). The Yosemite C trip is now full. The only 2012 trip with open spots is in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains (4 hrs from Minneapolis) over Labor Day Weekend. If you would like to be notified when registration for 2013 trips is opened, please submit your information. I am looking for one person…
Update, 11:10am MT. I have received a lot of inquiries about this project and I’m confident that within the pile we will find a suitable fill-in. If you have not contacted me, please don’t — I’m overwhelmed by those who have contacted me already…thanks for understanding. Also, thanks to everyone who passed along this post…
Update, 7:15pm MT. The two remaining spots on this trip have been filled. If you were interested in this trip, please contact me anyway so that I can notify you when my 2013 guiding schedule is finalized. Also note that I may soon offer a similar trip in Rocky Mountain National Park, in addition to…
Update, 6:45pm MT. The final spot on Yosemite A has been filled. If you were interested in this trip, please contact me anyway so that I can notify you when my 2013 guiding schedule is finalized; I will probably offer this 7-day trip again in Yosemite next year too. There are openings still on some…
Be Prepared? Absolutely. But against what? Why and how to assess environmental and route conditions.
On every backpacking trip, I have three primary goals. In order of importance, they are to: Survive, Maintain a realistic level of comfort, and Have “fun,” the definition of which is subject to personal interpretation. When I embark on a trip, I always try to abide by the Boy Scout motto — “Be prepared” —…
Below I have included the Environmental and Route Condition Assessment that I assembled for a Backpacking Fundamentals course in Yosemite. It is a good template to use in assessing the likely environmental and route conditions for upcoming trips of your own. Read this post for or an explanation of why and how to assess environmental and route conditions. You…
The inaugural Ultimate Hiking Course was held last weekend in Yosemite National Park. If you missed this one, don’t worry: I’m offering this same course in five other locations this year: Pisgah National Forest (June 2-4) Shenandoah National Park (June 9-11) Rocky Mountain National Park (August 17-19) White Mountain National Forest (August 24-26) Porcupine Mountains…
This weekend Amanda and I are driving north for events on Sheridan and Buffalo, Wyoming, presented by the Wyoming Wilderness Association. On Friday May 25 I will be giving my “Circling Alaska & Yukon” slideshow at the WYO Theater, and on Saturday May 26 I will be giving the “Ultimate Hiking Gear & Skills Clinic”…
My relationship with GoLite — and specifically with its founders and owners, Kim and Demetri Coupounas (“Coup”) — goes back nine years, to the summer of 2003 when GoLite welcomed me to Boulder, Colo. as a summer intern. We have both grown a lot since then. During my speaking and book tour earlier this Spring…