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Basic Snowshoeing - Dec 2019

Snowshoeing Course

Basic Snowshoeing

Basic Snowshoeing course. Lecture: December 3, Field Trip: December 14

Contacts

Eugene Keltgen
Eugene Keltgen
Instructor

This course provides students a solid foundation in snowshoeing. Topics covered are snowshoe techniques and travel, winter clothing and gear selection and conditioning for snowshoeing. Successful completion will allow the student to participate in Easy snowshoe outings. It will also allow an interested student to continue on to the next level course Backcountry Snowshoe.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Lecture: Tuesday December 3, 2019 7:00PM to 9:30PM at Tacoma Mountaineers Program Center.

Field trip: Saturday December 14, 2019 at Paradise, Mt Rainier National Park.

Meeting place: South Hill Park & Ride, meeting time to be determined in class.

It is impossible for us to determine the weather far in the future so students should consider the field trip date tentative although we will try very hard to keep that date. We absolutely will not hold a field trip on dates where conditions are unsafe or where the conditions are not conducive to a good learning experience. 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 and place as the original. That process will repeat until we are able to safely and successfully get you out.

Family Discount Information: Info

Graduation Requirements:

  • Attend basic snowshoe lecture,
  • Attend basic snowshoe field trip,
  • Participate in one Mountaineers snowshoe trip
  • Completion of avalanche awareness seminar
  • Completion of a conservation activity.

Link: Tacoma Snowshoeing Committee

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Additional badges needed to graduate

Completed

Roster
Required Equipment

There is some equipment that will be required to complete the course but we suggest that those new to snowshoeing refrain from purchasing new equipment until after the lecture. This will probably avoid a few of the missteps of over purchasing or purchasing inadequate gear. A sizable portion of the classroom evening is devoted to what gear to get, how/why to choose it and where it may be purchased or rented. Some of the things on the list are:

  • Parka/ hard shell jacket
  • Gloves
  • Trekking/Snow Poles
  • Boots
  • Pack
  • Outdoor Clothing (synthetic or wool)
  • Water Bottle with insulation
  • Hand warmers
  • Gaiters

Do note that many people with some hiking experience will probably have a great deal of this gear. Our purpose is to show what you'll need, what are nice extras and what's available.

Check out the gear rentals:  Snow Links

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.