North County Backpacking Fundamentals Class
Details
North County Backpacking Fundamentals Course
Sponsored by the Los Padres Forest Association & Santa Maria Valley Open Space
What is the Backpacking Fundamentals Course?
The Backpacking Fundamentals Course is a comprehensive classroom and outdoor training program designed to introduce you to backpacking, familiarize you with current backpacking gear, prepare you for a wilderness or urban backpacking experience, and introduce you to the backcountry trails and camps in the Los Padres National Forest in preparation for even bigger and better backpacking adventures.
Who should attend?
Anyone interested in an introduction or re-introduction to backpacking. If you have all or part of one of the big bucket list wilderness hikes in mind, John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, or if you’re considering an urban walk like the Camino de Santiago in Spain or the California Mission Trail (El Camino Real), you will learn valuable skills and information that will allow you to more confidently move forward with your goal. And even if all you want to do is enjoy weekend trips in our beautiful local backcountry, you will come away with a level of confidence and the right gear decisions to enhance your outdoor experiences.
What will I learn?
This course will take you through all of the steps required to make you a proficient and safety conscious backpacker. Our trainers are all experienced backpackers and many are also Volunteer Wilderness Rangers. You will learn how to select and purchase properly fitted backpacking gear, wilderness preparedness skills, route finding and navigation, packing and camp set up skills, camp cooking and meal selection, water treatment methods, basic wilderness first aid and many other useful trail skills that will allow you to become a confident hiker and backpacker.
What does it cost?
This 5 week classroom course and a one day outdoor navigation session is only $150.00 per person. There will also be three optional outdoor experiences where you can try out what you’ve learned. We can almost guarantee you that you will save that much in well made gear and equipment selections alone. That’s money you may have spent making the wrong decisions without the benefit of this training program. Better yet, all of our trainers are volunteers which means that after printing expenses, all proceeds go toward maintaining and improving our local trails through the Los Padres Forest Associations Volunteer Wilderness Ranger program.
Where will the classes take place?
The Pad Climbing Gym has generously offered to allow us to use their yoga room for our classroom training sessions. We will announce the locations of the outdoor experiences once the class has started. Address for Pad Climbing Gym 2399 A St, Santa Maria, CA 93455
What is the “Los Padres Forest Association” (LPFA)?
Founded in 1979, the LPFA is the official non-profit 501(c)(3) of the Los Padres National Forest. Our mission is to care for the Los Padres Forest, ensuring it thrives and remains safe and open for the people to use and enjoy. The LPFA shares the Forest Service motto of “Caring for the Land and Serving the People.” We love nothing more than to help people enjoy their time in the Los Padres in a sustainable and respectful manner. http://lpforest.org/
Class Outline & Schedule
Classroom Session #1, Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Class overview and introduction of attendees and instructors
Class schedule and field trip review
Hiking and Backpacking Conditioning
Hiking and Backpacking Meetup Groups
Fear and Gear
Overview--Packing for our Fears versus Packing for Reality
What are we afraid of in the wilderness? Animals, cold, lost, injured, unprepared
Los Padres National Forest, Our Backcountry Backyard
Overview of the Los Padres National Forest Trails, Camps and Cabins
Where to go in our local wilderness
Sespe, Dick Smith, San Rafael, Silver Peak, Ventana
Reference Materials, Maps and Books
Conant Maps
Harrison Map
Carey Book
Ford books and front country map
Vintage and out of print books
Classroom Session #2, October 20, 2015
Backpacking Gear
The Benefits of Being “Light”--Lightweight and Ultralight Gear
The ultralight ethos
Understanding pack and gear weights
Big Four Gear Basics:
Backpacks
Size versus Volume
Proper Fitting--measuring techniques
Sleep Systems
Sleeping Bags and Quilts
Temperature ratings and sizing
Sleeping Pads and Pillows
Pad styles and R Values
Shelters
Tents, Tarps, Hammocks, and Bivy’s
Cooking Systems & Camp Kitchen
Cooking System versus a Stove
Everything including the kitchen sink
The Ten Essentials--the “Systems” approach
How to Stay Light and Where to Buy Gear
Sample Gear Lists and Weights
Online sources for creating your own lists
Weigh everything--buy a postal or gram scale
Purchasing and Trying Out Gear
Where and How to Buy Gear
Ordering online versus in a store
Understanding Return Policies
Bargain shopping and understanding retail mark ups
Optional Field Trip to REI and/or Mountain Air Sports to look at gear--Weekend date TBD
Classroom Session # 3 , October 27, 2015
Feet, Clothing and First Aid
Unit 5 Footwear, Sock, and Insole Selection
Foot care and Blister Treatment and Prevention
Unit 6 Clothing Layering Principles from Head to Toe
Selecting and Purchasing Backpacking Clothing
Unit 7 Wilderness First Aid Basics
Building your personal first aid and toiletry kit
Sample first aid, toiletry and repair kit lists
Classroom Session #4 Camp Cooking, November 3, 2015
Water Filtration and Cooking
Water Filtration and Purification
Camp Kitchen and Cooking
Where to cook, where to eat
Food Selection and Options
Boil Bag Camp Cooking and Cozies
Pre-packaged Freeze Dried Meals
Make your own ingredients
Make your own dehydrated meals
Grocery aisle options
Packing and Preparing Food for Backpacking
Bear Cans and Food Storage
Nutrition and Electrolyte Replacement
Leave No Trace Principles
How to Poop in the Woods
Pack it In Pack it Out
Field Program Saturday, October 24, 2015--Location TBD
Unit 10 Map Reading, Navigation & Rescue Devices
GPS, Compass and Apps
Rescue Devices-- inReach, SPOT, PLB
Optional Outdoor Session #1
Overnight campout--potluck dinner and fun!
Objectives:
Set-up and use of your gear
Campsite selection principles discussion
Camp cooking and stove use
Navigation and Map Reading Practice
Classroom Session #5--Bring your Gear to Class, November 10, 2015
Packing and Loading your Backpack
Setting up your Shelter and Camp
Gear Checklist Review
Getting Out and Giving Back--Volunteer Opportunities
Review of Upcoming Backpacking Trips
Optional Outdoor Session #2 Date TBD
Overnight backpacking trip to a backcountry campsite 12-14 miles round trip. Location TBD
Objectives:
Learn what it feels like to hike with a loaded backpack
Campsite selection and gear set-up and shakedown
Water filtration experience
Camp cooking and stove experience
Building a campfire (if campfires are permitted)
Identify any foot, shoe or sock issues
Optional Outdoor Session #3 Date TBD
Three day/Two night backpacking trip (Friday-Sunday) 20-25 miles round trip
Objectives:
Experience a longer hike with a loaded backpack
Experience what it’s like to spend two nights outdoors
Campsite selection and gear set up
Camp cooking and stove experience
Identify any foot, shoe or sock issues
More questions? Contact Curt Cragg sbhikers@gmail.com
North County Backpacking Fundamentals Class