Backpack Beginners Course

Saturday March 29 - indoor session, Marin Headlands Institute (Golden Gate National Recreation Area).

Take a course addressed towards people with little or no experience in backpacking but who want to explore backcountry trails and get away from the crowds.

Topics include:

• equipment (clothing, tents, sleeping bags, pads, backpacks, boots, stoves);
• water treatment;
• safe wilderness travel;
• trip planning;
• basic navigation skills;
• backcountry food and cuisine;
• common problems in the backcountry and how to avoid them;
• wilderness ethics and low-impact camping.

The course consists of a full-day indoor session plus a two-day overnight field trip one weekend in April or May, conducted in small groups led by experienced instructors. Three field-trip dates are available. During the field trip you will have the opportunity to try out your gear, learn how to set up a tent and operate a backpack stove, practice some basic navigation skills, and most important, experience how it feels to hike with a heavy pack on your back. Participation in the field trip requires attendance at the indoor session.

Families with children above the age of 13 are welcome.

For information and to sign up, visit the Backpack Section web site or contact