Virtual Hiking and Backpacking Planning with Caltopo

This virtual class is an introduction to using Caltopo, a website designed for planning hiking and backpacking trips.

During the class you will see how to plan a trip. If you like, you can plan your own trip after the class with what you learn.

Before the class starts, make sure to go to https://caltopo.com/account/signup and create an account so you can log in and create a map during the class.

Caltopo accounts are free, and it's free to use Caltopo as long as you're online. To use Caltopo offline, you'll need a premium subscription. You won't need a premium subscription for the class.

The class will cover the following topics:

1. Hike Planning and Safety
2. Showcasing Caltopo's features
3. Planning a Backpacking Trip
4. Planning two hikes at Shawnee Mission Park Hike
5. Time for Questions

If you aren't able to attend the class, a guide to plan the hike is available here:
Caltopo Hike Planning Guide

You can see the plan for the hike and walk that will be created in the class on Caltopo here:
https://caltopo.com/m/QNA4PTJ

You can download a copy of the map for the hike and walk here:
Hike and Walk Map

This will be on the Zoom platform, and you'll need to logged into a zoom account to attend. Don't wait until the last minute to test and configure your setup.

I will send out the meeting link and password a few days before the Zoom call. When you land in the meeting on game day, you'll first enter the waiting room for validation and then be in a listen-only mode until the class time - which helps assure that we are not Zoom-bombed! So be sure you have a Zoom account (create one here) and are logged in to it before trying to join the meeting!

This class only covers how to use Caltopo. If you would like to learn Wilderness Navigation, how to read a map, and how to use a compass, the Sierra Club is also doing a Wilderness Navigation Class, which you can see here:
https://www.meetup.com/kc-sierra-club-outings/events/311057253/

About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with over 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
Why America must protect 30x30 (w/ Sen. Tom Udall, Dr. Enric Sala)