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: Thursday February 21, 2008, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field session: Saturday and Sunday February 23-24, 2008, Mount Hood
Cancellation/refunds: Cancellation fee is 50% of application fee if canceled 7 days or more prior to the lecture. No refund if canceled within 7 days of lecture.
Cost: $50 members, $75 non-members
To register: Call the Mazamas office at 503-227-2345 and give us your name and a credit card number to reserve your spot.

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 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.  For more information contact the MMC.