Schools and Clinics: Backpacking School

School directors: and

The Spokane Mountaineers offers a yearly Backpack School, held in the spring, consisting of 8 weekly classes, outdoor sessions, training hikes, and shakedown campouts. Backpack School is designed to give the mountaineer the comprehensive knowledge and hands on experience needed to be safe, successful, and have a great time while backpacking. Whether you have never backpacked in your life or if you just need to refresh your skills while meeting others who share your love of backpacking this is the class for you! Backpack School instructors teach all the essentials of backpacking in a fun and informal setting. The course covers the selection of clothing and boots, major equipment, map and compass skills, wilderness first aid basics, meal planning and preparation and low impact backpacking. Also included throughout the formal curriculum is philosophy of Leave No Trace and stewardship practices. Backpack School is intended to not only prepare the mountaineer with skills and equipment, but also physical training and practice. Students are encouraged to begin and/or continue an exercise program long before the actual class begins. The best exercise for backpacking is anything aerobic such as hiking, biking, roller-blading, stair stepping or walking (activities should last for at least 30 to 60 minutes, three to four times each week). Remember: weight-bearing exercises not only increase strength but also simulate the weight carried in backpacking.Current CPR skills are also strongly recommended, as well as basic first aid training. Appropriate training may be obtained from NOLS (most relevant), the American Heart Association, American Red Cross or local fire departments.

Schedule information: The Backpack School meets for eight Friday evening class sessions, beginning in late March and ending the last Friday before Memorial Day Weekend (no class on Good Friday). There is also one mandatory half-day outdoor session for map and compass skills. Training hikes are conducted every weekend by class instructors. Our Graduation backpack is held over the three day Memorial weekend.

Registration information: Registration for Backpack School is held in the Spring of every year and is open to all Spokane Mountaineers. Junior members (ages15-17) must be accompanied by a parent who is also enrolled in the class.

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Backpack School 2010