Wilderness Navigation Course - Winter

This Wilderness Navigation Course has four parts. For credit you must complete all four. Take them IN-ORDER, Activity #1, #2. Then the In-Person Workshop, Activity #3, and the Field Trip, Activity #4 must be IN-ORDER.

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Current course status

Published.

SIGN UP PROCEDURE

1. Register for this Wilderness Navigation Course and pay the course fee.
2. Register for one Online Map and Compass course (activity #1)
3. Register for one Online Introduction to Digital Navigation course (activity #2)
4. Register for one In-Person Workshop (activity #3) - scheduled AFTER the two online sections
5. Register for one Field Trip (activity #4) Carkeek or Discovery Park Option- scheduled AFTER the In-Person Workshop
6. Buy your Wilderness Navigation Book, Index/Baring Topographic map, and Baseplate Compass. Note: Do not buy the Prosight Map Compass from Sun Company, it does not meet our declination adjustable standards.
7. Subscribe to and setup the Gaia GPS app on your smartphone (per Required Equipment and Course Materials tabs). 
8. Read the FAQ: Link provided in the class materials tab

KEEP YOUR DATES. Once you sign up for a particular activity, please try to keep that date. If you move to a later date, do so very early so others have time to fill your spot or be pulled in from the waitlist. If you make changes at the last minute, it affects everyone.

BADGES

This course earns the Basic Navigation badge, a requirement for Basic Alpine Climbing, Alpine Scrambling, Backcountry Snowshoeing, and other courses and activities. The badge is valid for 3 years.

This course also earns the Basic GPS Badge, as content from our "Digital Mapping" seminar is included in this course.

NOTE: This is not a beginner's course. This course prepares you for the rigors of back country and off trail navigation. Although it is suitable for students with little or no experience in navigation, you may want an on trail course (Staying Found or On-Trail Navigation) or Zoom seminar with field trip (Introduction to Map & Compass) prior to embarking on this more rigorous Wilderness Navigation course. However, those options don't meet the navigation requirements for Climbing, Scrambling, Snowshoeing, etc. This one does.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The four main class activities build upon each other, with these ultimate learning goals:

1. Skilled in travel thru varied terrain & conditions, on and off trail.
2. Navigation tasks can be shared among the entire team.
3. Able to maintain high level of situational awareness – all team members can determine point position & return to your Camp/Trailhead
4. Skilled in using the full tool set – map, altimeter, compass, GPS, and awareness of emergency procedures and devices.

COURSE COMPONENTS AND TIME COMMITMENT

• DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE TIME COMMITMENT FOR THE ONLINE ACTIVITIES. THEY TAKE TIME. 

• The Online Map and Compass eLearning  (activity #1) is online at your own pace over a 10-day period. It will take you 5 to 8 hours to complete. You must finish this activity before the In-Person Workshop. It covers the basics of map and compass, coordinate systems, plotting and taking bearings and coordinates, altimeter and GPS system basics, and an introduction to trip planning. It includes readings from the book and practical exercises at home with map and compass.
• The Online Introduction to Digital Navigation (activity #2) is also done at your own pace over a 10-day period and must be finished before the In-Person Workshop. It will take you 3-6 hours of online work and practical exercises. It expands upon the eLearning activity further into GPS and the use of digital tools for trip planning. You will set up Gaia GPS on your smartphone and use CalTopo for trip planning.
•  The In-Person Workshop (activity #3) is about 3 hours on a weeknight at the Seattle Program Center.  You'll do more practical exercises with Map, Compass, and GPS to prepare for the field trip.
• The Field Trip (activity #4) is a half-day event at a Seattle City Park:  Carkeek Park (3 miles, 600’ elevation gain), or Discovery Park (5 miles, 600’ elevation gain). You'll tie together different ways to use all four tools in your navigation toolkit - map, altimeter, compass with clinometer, and GPS, along with how and when to use emergency communication devices such as locator beacons and satellite messengers. The committee will provide color CalTopo park maps for the Field Trip.

Required Equipment

• Baseplate declination adjustable Compass with clinometer. Note: Do not buy the Prosight Map Compass from Sun Company, it does not meet our declination adjustable standards.
• Wilderness Navigation Book, Index/Baring Topographic Map (21.75 x 27”, NAD27), Altimeter, Smartphone, and GaiaGPS (with a paid or first-year free subscription). See the Required Equipment and Course Materials tab for details and links.

Required Reading Assignments

• During the Online Map and Compass course, you'll have readings from the Burns & Burns book "Wilderness Navigation", 3rd Edition, 7^th Printing. Mountaineers members get a 20% discount when ordering it online from Mountaineers Books as well as purchasing it in person at the Mountaineers Bookstore located in the Seattle Mountaineers Program Center. Please support the Mountaineers by purchasing it directly from the Mountaineers. 
• Additional reading is available in "Freedom of the Hills.", 9^th Edition, Chapter 5.

FIELD TRIP CARPOOLING

Carpooling, public transport and cycling or walking to the Field Trip are encouraged to reduce our carbon footprint and minimize parking congestion so please specify your carpool preferences in your personal profile. You can view other students' carpool preferences by viewing the roster on the field trip activity page. (The activity page can be found after sign-up under "My Activities" when you click your name on the Mountaineers website). You can set up your own carpool using groupcarpool.com.

For More Information and Other Courses

For more info about this course, about equivalency options, about renewing your badge that has or is about to expire, or other navigation courses, please see the Seattle Navigation Committee Page.