Snow Camping Skill Builder

Our skill builder classes designed to teach, in one evening (or day) of lecture and one day of field practice, some of the essential skills needed to take your climbing to the next level.  (If you’d like to assist in teaching any of these classes, call the Mazamas office and we’ll set you up.)

Snow Camping Weekend

Lecture: Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 7:00 pm, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4, 2012, Mount Hood
Cost: $50 members, $75 non-members
Registration: Fill out the application to reserve your spot.

Cancellation Policy:
60 days prior – Full refund minus 10%
30-60 days prior – Full refund minus 25%
Less than 30 days prior – No refund*
*If you cancel within 30 days of the event and we can fill your spot from the waiting list, we will refund the event fee minus 50%.  If no alternate is available and you cancel within 30 days of the event, the event fee is non-refundable.

Overview
If you’ve been exploring the Pacific Northwest without camping on snow, you’re missing out.  Whether a multi-day climb on a glaciated peak in July or a back country ski trip in January, camping in and on snow opens up a world of new experiences.

With a straightforward, simple format (one lecture, one weekend field session) the snow camping skill-builder teaches the fundamental skills of snow camping, including:

• Safe snow travel and avalanche awareness (see also Crevasse Rescue and Avalanche skill builders)
• Snow/cold weather gear and preparation
• Site selection and preparation
• Pitching and protecting a tent on snow (no poles!)
• Building kitchen areas on snow
• Caching food
• Cooking and obtaining water while snow camping
• Building latrine areas and waste disposal
• Building snow caves and other snow shelters
• Sleeping comfortably and having fun
• Practicing leave no trace ethics

The weekend field session will be hands-on, real-world snow camping, putting into practice all the above skills.

Feel free to contact the Mazamas office if you have any more questions about this class.