Mountain Navigation – Breckenridge/Vail
$275
Location - Colorado, Breckenridge
Dates
January 20, 2023 - January 20, 2023 February 17, 2023 - February 17, 2023 March 10, 2023 - March 10, 2023
Overview
Knowing where you are and where you’re going is an essential skill and safety component when traveling in the backcountry. In this course we’ll focus on all things navigation including reading diverse maps, compass use, UTM coordinates, tour planning and various GPS platforms. This course includes a complimentary 3 month trial GAIA subscription, a popular app for backcountry travel.
This course begins with an introductory online evening session followed by a day in the field with your instructor. Backcountry Babes guides and educators have years of backcountry skiing experience, ranging from professional ski patrollers, AIARE avalanche course instructors, cat ski guides, and AMGA Ski Guides. We love teaching Backcountry Babes courses so we can help more women access the backcountry and do so in a supportive, fun, and encouraging learning environment.
If you are eager to expand your knowledge and familiarity with backcountry navigation, this course is for you.
Duration: 1 Online Evening Session, 1 Full Tour Day
Activity Level: Moderate
Required Skill Level: An Introductory course or experience backcountry skiing is important for this course. We’ll cover valuable navigation skills including map, compass and GPS. Basics map familiarity is helpful for this course and will maximize your learning outcomes but is not essential. Due to winter conditions, participants must have skis, splitboard or snowshoes for this course. Basic downhill techniques and an adequate fitness level are required.
Course Dates:
Jan 18 Online Session and Jan 20 Field Day
Feb 15 Online Session and Feb 17 Field Day
March 8st Online Session and March 10 Field Day
About the Mountain Navigation Course
Schedule
Evening Online Classroom Session
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Tonight’s session is focused on the basics including an introduction to USGS maps, compass use and digital mapping apps. There is so much to cover with maps so be sure to bring your notebook and ask questions.
All Day Field Day
8:30am - 3:30pm
Meeting at the trailhead, the day will begin with revisiting the online sessions components and expand from there. Your instructor will continue building complexity as the day progresses reserving ample time for student practice and leading.
What to Expect
- Gain an introduction to digital and non-digital navigation tools
- Deepen understanding of how to use all the features of navigation apps
- Practice route planning
- Travel off the skin track in the backcountry
- Gain confidence micro route finding through terrain
- Tips and tricks for route-finding in poor visibility
- Build an understanding of what avalanche problems might be found in certain terrain
- Comfortable and fun learning atmosphere
- Attentive, experienced, & professionally-certified instructors
- Engaging online classroom and field session
- Edifying practical experience to build confidence
- Complimentary 3 month GAIA app subscription
- A great preparatory course for AIARE Level 2 and beyond
- We’ll be skiing downhill on ungroomed snow. Must be comfortable avoiding unmarked obstacles and skiing in control on uneven snow. Your skiing doesn’t need to look good, but we do want you to have downhill skiing skills and survival ski skills (side slipping, wedging, traversing, etc.)
Gear Needed
- Compass
- Smartphone & online mapping tool(s) — your instructor will advise
- Backcountry skis or splitboard
- Ski poles
- Ski or snowboard boots
- Climbing skins
- Avalanche beacon, avalanche probe, avalanche shovel in good working order
- Backpack/daypack
- Outerwear and warm layers (hand warmers can be nice)
- Appropriate food & drink for the day
Field Time
Classroom Time
Getting There
FLY: To Denver and take a shuttle or rental car to Summit County.
DRIVE: To our trailheads in the Vail/Breckenridge area. Our field day location is typically Mt Baldy but it’s possible to meet at any of our other USFS permitted locations. If you are looking to book lodging, Dillon, Frisco, and Breck are all fairly central for this course. Exact field day location is weather and condition dependent. You will receive specific field day location information during our online evening session.
Backcountry Babes is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. Backcountry Babes operates under special use permit from the USDA Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest Ranger District and Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District.