The ability to navigate accurately is the most important skill for anyone heading into the mountains. If you are an aspiring mountaineer, backcountry skier or just love to recreate outdoors, knowing how to use a map and compass is an essential skill.
This land navigation course is great for people of all experience levels. It is designed for those who have never used a map and compass to navigate in the wilderness as well as for folks that just want to brush up on their skillset.
On the course we’ll discuss the basics of land navigation utilizing an “Old School” map and compass.
You'll learn:
- Basic Route Planning
- Map Scales
- Grid System and Grid References
- Map Symbols
- Contour Lines and basic interpretation
- Use of the compass to take bearings from a map
- Walking on general compass bearings
- Identifying large features on a map and then finding them in the surrounding area
- Hand Railing large features
- Macro or large area navigation techniques
- How to re-orientate yourself if you do get lost
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this program.
Dates
Available Dates
Prices
See sidebar for prices.Itinerary
ItineraryEquipment
Shasta Ski Mountaineering Gear Guide
Gear Guide / Packing List
Backcountry Touring Gear
☐ Alpine Touring Skis or Splitboard - Light to Midweight Setup with “Tech Bindings”
☐ Alpine Touring Boots or Splitboard Compatible Boots; Scarpa F1
☐ Ski Poles - Lightweight, Adjustable Poles with Baskets; BD Expedition 3 Poles
☐ Climbing Skins - Mohair Mix is Best; Black Diamond GlideLite Mohair Mix,
☐ Ski Crampons - Specific to your Skis/Board;
☐ Ski Strap - Voile Ski Strap or Similar
Avalanche Gear
☐ Avalanche Beacon - Digital Avalanche Transceiver; Black Diamond Guide Recon BT
☐ Avalanche Shovel - Collapsible, Aluminum Shovel; Backcountry Access BT2 Shovel
☐ Avalanche Probe - Quickdraw Style Probe; Backcountry Access Stealth 300
Head and Neck Layers
☐ Sun Hat - A Baseball Hat; Blackbird Mountain Guides Logo Hat
☐Sunglasses - Dark Lens Glasses with Side Coverage; Julbo Shield
☐ Goggles - Ski Goggles with a Storm Lens; Julbo Aerospace Reactive
☐ Warm Hat - Lightweight Warm Hat that Fits Under Your Helmet;
☐ Neck Gaiter - Light to Midweight Neck Gaiters; Buff or your favorite Face Masks
***These Are Required as Covid-19 Face Coverings
Upper Body and Hand Layers
☐ Long Sleeve Base Layer - Lightweight, Synthetic/Wool; Patagonia SunHoody
☐ 2 Insulating Top Layers - Light to Midweight Insulation Layers; Patagonia R1 & NanoAir
☐ Puffy - Midweight Down or Synthetic with Hood; Patagonia Fitzroy or similar
☐ Hardshell Jacket, Hooded - Waterproof, Light, Gore-Tex, NOT insulated; Arc’Teryx Alpha FL
☐ Light Gloves - Light to Mid Weight for Warm Temps; Flylow John Henry Gloves, BD Tour
☐ Midweight Gloves - Mid to Heavy Weight for Cold Conditions; BD Legend
☐ Sports Bra - Wool/Synthetic
Lower Body and Foot Layers
☐ Socks - Midweight Wool/Synthetic; Darn Tough Via Ferrata
☐ Underwear - Wool/Synthetic
☐ Long Underwear - Wool/Synthetic “Long Johns”; Patagonia Capilene Air
☐ Softshell Ski Pants - Breathable, Weather Resistant Pants; OR Trailbreaker II
☐ Vented Hardshell Ski Pants - (Conditions dependent) Waterproof Pants for Extreme Weather
Food and Water
☐ Water - For a full day in the field
☐ Food - Snacks and Lunch food for a full day in the field
Other Essentials
☐ Sun Screen (SPF 30 minimum)
☐ Lip Balm (with SPF)
Optional
☐ First Aid/blister Kit
☐ Chemical Hand Warmers
☐ Hydration System - Flexible Water Bladder with Hose; Hydrapak, Camelback, Platypus
Group Gear
Blackbird Mountain Guides will supply all of the group gear for the trip, including:
✔ Guide’s First Aid Kits
✔ Wag Bags (Solid Human Waste Disposal Bags)