Backcountry Snowshoeing

This course will take snowshoeing to the next level.

Topics include the proper use of an ice axe, avalanche beacon, probe and shovel. Avalanche awareness including terrain and snow pack evaluation, and winter survival.

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

There will be a discount for people who want to take all three snowshoe modules (Basic Snowshoeing, Backcountry Snowshoeing, Winter Camping) and sign up at one time. If you wish to take advantage of this option, see Winter Travels - Tacoma and sign up for that instead of the three modules individually.

* Basic Snowshoe course or equivalent is a prerequisite for Backcountry Snowshoeing.

Please Note:  You must attend the basic lecture and field trip to be in attendance for this course, when registering as student.  No exceptions to this policy.  

Family Discount Information: Info

Course Dates:

Lecture: Tuesday January 29, 2019 6:00PM - 9:00PM at Tacoma Mountaineers Program Center.

Field trip: tentatively Saturday February 9, 2019, Bullion Basin area - Crystal Mountain 

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

We try really hard to get out on the given field trip date but conditions that are unsafe or not conducive to practicing the required skills may force us to reschedule. Rescheduled trips will be set for the following week with all the other details remaining the same. Should that one need to be rescheduled, we will repeat the process until the field trip can be held. As more advanced students, we will be more likely to do the field trip even if weather itself is less than wonderful. Please be as flexible as possible.

Graduation Requirements:

• Attend Backcountry Snowshoeing lecture,
• Attend Backcountry Snowshoeing field trip
• Complete two Mountaineers snowshoe trips (moderate or above),
• Completion of AIARE Level 1 Avalanche course,
• Completion of Wilderness Navigation course,
• Completion of Wilderness First Aid course,
• Completion of a conservation activity.

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

Link: Tacoma Snowshoeing Committee