Wilderness Navigation Course - Winter

This Wilderness Navigation Course has four parts: activities #1, #2, #3, #4. They MUST be completed in sequence. Successful completion of activity #1 is mandatory before you will be admitted to activity #2. Activities #1 and #2 must be completed to be eligible to attend activity #3. Activities #1, #2, and #3 must all be completed in order to qualify for activity #4.

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Current course status

There is currently a wait list, but cancellations are common and we have sessions in the fall. Click here to see how this course may still work for you.

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) - scheduled AFTER the In-Person Workshop.
6. Buy your USGS Baring Map, Book, and Compass, and setup the GaiaGPS app and subscribe to GaiaGPS on your smartphone (per Required Equipment and Course Materials tabs).  
7. 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 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, since the material from our "Intro to GPS and Trip Planning" is included in this course.

NOTE: This course prepares you for back country off-trail and on-trail navigation. Although it is suitable for students with little or no experience in navigation, you may want an Intro course or more of an "on-trail" course prior to embarking on this more rigorous Wilderness Navigation course. Two introductory courses are the "Introduction to Map and Compass" offered by the Seattle Branch, and "Staying Found", offered by the Foothills Branch. Note that these two latter courses 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

The entire course will take up to 30 hours to complete. Please obtain your map and compass ahead of time in order to meet the CONCRETE DEADLINES. MISSING A DEADLINE IS UNACCEPTABLE. PLEASE DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE TIME COMMITMENT FOR THE ONLINE ACTIVITIES. THEY TAKE TIME. 

• The Online Map and Compass course (activity #1) is online at your own pace over a 2-week period. It will take you a 7 to 8 hours to complete. It covers the basics of map and compass, coordinate systems, measuring and plotting bearings, altimeter and GPS system basics, and an introduction to trip planning. It includes readings from the Wilderness Navigation book, and practical exercises at home with map and compass.
• The Online Introduction to Digital Navigation course (activity #2) is also done at your own pace over a 2 week period. It will take you 4-6 hours of online work and practical exercises. It expands upon the eLearning Workshop further into GPS and the use of digital tools for trip planning. It has you 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 and prepare for the field trip.
• The Field Trip (activity #4) is held at Discovery Park, Seattle. You'll tie together different ways to use all the tools in your navigation toolkit - map, altimeter, compass, and GPS, along with how and when to use emergency communication devices such as locator beacons and satellite messengers.

Required Equipment

• Compass, Book, Map, Altimeter, Smartphone, and GaiaGPS (with a paid 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. 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."

FIELD TRIP CARPOOLING

Carpooling to the Field Trip is strongly encouraged 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). The Mountaineers does not coordinate carpooling. You can set up your own carpool using groupcarpool.com.

For More Information and Other Courses

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