Event Details

Email Leaders  Glenn Barr  at gjb2000@gmail.com and Joe Preiss at  zmqjwp@gmail.com to discuss any questions or concerns.

PPG Wilderness Trekking School (WTS) - Intro to Backpacking

Backpacking is another way to experience the outdoors - whether as a means to get to a distant location from the trailhead to enjoy an activity (summit attempt, alpine lake fishing, etc.) or as the main goal itself (hiking a long trail like the Colorado Trail).  Carrying all  the gear you need to travel, eat, sleep, stay dry, treat injuries, stay found, cook food, treat water, and enjoy yourself may be intimidating - but taken one step at a time - is very manageble. This class focuses on the basics in a lecture/discussion format and concludes with an overnight backpacking trip to put our new knowledge into action.  Safety and fun are key elements of this class.

**Pre-Requisites: PPG CMC Wilderness Fundamentals  Completion or equivilant**  The "Wild Fun" class covers concepts that will be expected knowledge for this course and we will reference the text provided from that class (Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 9th ed.).

NOTE: There is NO CMC gear to loan out for this class - you will need to provide your own. We will team up for crew gear where possible (stoves, water treatment, tents, etc.)

There are 2 class lectures that we will host online via Zoom. Our discussions include finding the right backpack, systems review (sleeping systems, cooking systems, clothing systems), ultra-light techniques, tents, trip planning, team composition, group dynamics, and site selection.

There is a required CMC Rating Trip (overnight) that is designed to reinforce principals and techniques discussed in class. This will be planned with class particpants during the 2nd classroom session. Trip participants must follow current CMC COVID Safety Protocols for the entire trip.

Successfully completing at least one CMC Backpacking Trip in addition to attending the two classroom sessions is a requirement to complete this training.

Field Trip

- 1 night in the field focused on fieldcraft - using our gear correctly and successfully 

- Details and planning discussed during class sessions

• Pikes Peak Group (PPG) of the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) is centered around Colorado Springs
• This course is part of the Pikes Peak Group's Wilderness Trekking School (BMS).  The program may be a pre-requisite for PPG trips or other schools.  If you have any questions, please contact the instructor for this course.
• If the course is full, please sign up for the waitlist. Student cancellations often happen.
• REFUND POLICY. Refunds are issued for cancellations made up to two weeks prior to the start of the classroom session. There is a $10.00 cancellation fee

*** THERE ARE NO REFUNDS FOR CANCELLATIONS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE CLASS START DATE OR FOR NO SHOWS ***