Backcountry Snowshoeing

This course will take snowshoeing to the next level.

Topics include the proper use of an ice axe, avalanche awareness including terrain and snow pack evaluation, use of beacons and winter survival and weather.   

This is definitely a more aggressively approached course and destinations do matter, but as in the Basic Snowshoe Course, safety is ALWAYS paramount

Pre-requisites for registration

• You must complete Basic Snowshoe Lecture and Field Trip prior to the Backcountry Field Trip to be eligible to attend the field trip.

Basic Snowshoe course or equivalent

SIGN-up procedure

1. Register for this Backcountry Snowshoe Course and pay the course fee
2. You will be automatically enrolled in the classroom lecture.  This is a 3 hour lecture on a weekday evening at the Tacoma Program Center.  Also note that attendance at the lecture is mandatory in order for you to participate in the field trip.  There are NO exceptions
3. Due to difficulties forecasting weather this early, the field trip isn't posted.  It is scheduled for February 24, 2018 near Crystal Mountain Ski Area.  This is a full day Field trip.  It is impossible for us to determine the weather that far in the future so students should consider the field trip date tentative although we will try very hard to keep that date.  Weather and snow conditions will dictate if the conditions are conductive for a safe and good learning environment.  In such a case, students will be informed by Thursday of the week of the field trip that it has been postponed.  The field trip will then be rescheduled for the following weekend with the same time place as the originally scheduled trip.  That process will recur until we are able to safely and successfully get you out. 

Take the course as a family or combination of course

• Register for Basic Snowshoe, Backcountry Snowshoe and Winter Camping and receive 15% off each course rate.  Use promo code CO18TACWINTER 
  • NOTE: Please only use this code when signing up for all three of these courses together. Code is not valid for these courses individually.
• Register yourself plus a youth in the course: receive 25% off the youth's rate.  Use promo code CO18SNOWFAM1
• Register another adult, plus another youth in the course: receive 50% off the youth's rate.  Use promo code CO18SNOWFAM2

If you need help using these codes or registering more than one person, contact Member Services at (206) 521-6001 or info@mountaineers.org

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Attend the classroom lecture
• Attend the field trip
• Completion of AIARE Level 1 Avalanche course
• Completion of Wilderness First Aid
• Completion of Wilderness Navigation
• Completion of two (2) Mountaineers snowshoe outing (moderate or above)
• Completion of an conservation activity

Please note: students may take up to five years to complete all the requirements, if they choose.