Lecture Dates: Tuesdays, September 10 and 17; October 1, 8, and 15 @ 6:30 pm, Foss Auditorium, AMC Golden
Field Dates: Your Choice of all Thursdays, Saturdays, or Sundays; September 19, 26, October 3, 17, November 21; or September 21, 28, October 5, 19, November 23; or September 22, 29, October 6, 20, November 24.
Enrollment fee: $100 Denver Group Members; $110 non DG members, until September 3, then $120, $130 until September 10.
Hiking in Colorado’s mountains is fabulous recreation! Wilderness Trekking School (WTS) is for all – whether you want to bag a few 14ers – OR – just want to enjoy the scenery. WTS is a great introduction to the Colorado Mountain Club and a place to meet new friends. WTS is Colorado Mountain Club’s largest school, a comprehensive course on mountain hiking. Students are all ages, from 18 to 80. If you’re new to hiking, WTS gives you the opportunity to learn how to travel safely – and with confidence – in the backcountry. If you’re an experienced hiker, WTS gives you a chance to review, to enhance your skills, and possibly to fill in some gaps. WTS also fulfills one of the requirements to obtain a Denver Group C hiker classification and to attend Basic Mountaineering School.
Topics covered include:
• Essential gear, helping you decide what you need to buy and carry
• Off-trail travel techniques, from boulders and talus to tundra
• Map & compass skills, figuring out where you are, navigation and route-finding
• Weather, how to anticipate and handle wind, rain, lightning, and snow
• Nutrition, helping you choose what food to carry
• Handling an unexpected night in the backcountry and a backcountry emergency
• Snow travel and avalanche awareness, handling unexpected snow on the trail
• Leave No Trace practices
The course consists of five Tuesday night lectures, four field days, a group hike, and some homework (yes, really!). Students are divided into groups of 10-12 people, based on hiking pace, conditioning, and prior experience. Instructor teams consist of a senior instructor and two assistant instructors. Students have the opportunity to learn techniques of safe backcountry travel and to practice in a non-competitive, non-confrontational setting. Students plan and complete a hike with their field group. WTS is a great place to learn and practice new skills, make new friends, and become a safe backcountry traveler.
“I thought I knew a lot about hiking. Was I wrong! WTS taught me so much more than I imagined.” –WTS Student
