[pct-l] Backpacking courses in Southern CA

[mctrob at yahoo.com (Rob Langsdorf)]

If you are new to backpacking or want to gain more
experience and you live in Southern California, January is
the time to start learning. The San Diego and Angeles
Chapters of the Sierra Club put on courses to introduce you
to backpacking and to some of the basics of easy terrain
snow travel. (The average person who has through hike the
PCT have already gained most of these skills and then some.
But these courses can add even to their skills.)

For the San Diego Area you can check out their Wilderness
Basics Course at:

http://www.wildernessbasics.com/default.cfm

This course is a 10 week course with 4 campouts, conducted
from mid-January through the end of March. The first is a
car camp. The second is an easy backpack that is focused on
learning how to use Map and Compass. The third is usually a
bit more challenging backpack -- usually in the desert,
though some now go into the lower mountains. Their fourth
trip goes up to the Mammoth area via bus. There they
backpack in between 1/2 mile and 1-1/2 miles on skis or
snowshoes and practice snow camping skills.

For the Orange County/Los Angeles Country area there are
various Wilderness Travel Courses. Check out:

http://angeles.sierraclub.org/wtc/

You will have to check out the details of the Angeles
outings as their program has a different focus than San
Diego's. They do get you out snow camping for their final
training outing and they toss in a few extra experience
outings after the course.

Both the San Diego and Angeles courses are open for sign
ups at this time. You don?t have to be a Sierra Club member
to take these courses. They are only given during the
winter season as their instructors are off hiking the rest
of the year. These courses are an excellent way to get
acquainted with others who enjoy the backcountry.

    To learn about using rope, ice axe and crampons ask at
REI or A-16 about courses that they run or about other
groups that run such courses. 

             Rob



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