Navigation Activity #4 of 4 - Field Trip - Discovery Park

Field trip: Wilderness Navigation Course - Winter

Navigation Activity #4 of 4 - Field Trip - Discovery Park

The fourth of four activities to complete the Off-Trail Wilderness Navigation Winter Course - Discovery Park

  • Easy
  • Mileage: 4.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 350 ft

Arrive: 6:45-7:15am, Instructor Brief: 7:00-7:15am, Start Hike: 7:15am-7:30. The 6:45am arrival time ensures that we have adequate muster space to facilitate easy check-in and group assignments. Each group will vary slightly, but most finish between 12-1pm.

Location: Discovery Park, South Parking Lot, Entrance to parking lot at West Emerson St. + 43rd Ave West.

Coordinates: UTM WGS84, Zone 10T 544294E  5278093N, or 47.65472, -122.41014

Before you can sign up for this Field Trip, you need to first sign up and pay for the Off-Trail Navigation Course and schedule the prerequisite components -- the Online Map and Compass activity, the Online Introduction to Digital Navigation activity, and the In-Person Workshop. All three of those activities must be completed before the Field Trip. Instructors do not need to pay for the course.  

Field Trip Details:
This event is held on a Saturday or Sunday at Discovery Park, Seattle, WA. Carpooling is strongly encouraged so please specify your carpool preferences in your personal profile. The Mountaineers does not assist with carpools. Try using a resource such as groupcarpool.com. Public transit is also available at kingcounty.gov.

Checklist...

  1. Bring the Required Equipment. Come prepared as you would for a scramble or hike in varied weather, but please leave the technical gear (helmet, ice axe, etc) at home. Bring trail shoes or boots, a waterproof outer layer, warm clothes in layers, trail food, etc.
  2. Review the Field Trip packet. This is in the Course Materials tab of the Course listing. We will have copies at the trailhead.
  3. Bring your compass. Unfortunately you can't share a compass with someone during the Field Trip.  
  4. Bring a GPS (Smartphone with Gaia), Altimeter (or a barometric altimeter app for phone).
  5. Maps will be issued to you at the trailhead. You do not need to bring any maps.
  6. Bring a sharp pencil.
  7. Complete the pre-trip planning document from the eLearning Workshop and leave a copy at home.

As students leave the workshops, you should be prepared for the Field Trip with the following:

  • Know where and when to be at the field trip, and what to bring.
  • Current declination confirmed and set on the compass.
  • Altimeter use & limitations are understood. Ready to calibrate at trailhead.
  • Smartphone loaded with Gaia GPS, and loaded with Route/Track, Waypoints, Map.
  • Emergency communications procedures and devices are understood.
  • Emergency communications on hand (minimum whistle).
  • GPS device checked and ready (batteries, charge, screen display, weather proofing).
  • Instructors:

Come prepared to instruct students who likely have a wide range of experience:

  1. Instructor Field Trip packets with scenario notes and all necessary maps will be issued to you at the trailhead.  
  2. Bring your compass, GPS, Altimeter, and PLB if you have one (PLBs are for demonstration purposes).

Badges

Route/Place
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

See the Required Equipment tab on the Course Page, along with checklists included within the eLearning Workshop and in the Field Trip Student Packet.

Trip Reports