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Backpacking Basics for Women

August 13-15, 2010 (with prepatory orientation and gear check with leaders on August 5th)

***REGISTRATION CLOSED***
 

This is a class for women interested in beginning backpacking.  No overnight backcountry experience is necessary as a pre-requisite and the hiking will be easy mostly on flat or moderately-inclined terrain.  The main goal of this program is to provide instruction on the overall basics of backpacking--food, cooking, clothing, backpack, overnight gear, safety and Leave No Trace principles.  Three women, with strong experience in backpacking and group leadership, will teach this program.


Leaders:
  Michele Wiens
Michele is a retired Secondary School teacher from Hope, BC.  With a keen understanding of the importance of youth experiencing the natural world, Michele has spent 20 years introducing students to backpacking and other outdoor activities.  Michele is currently involved as Board Chair of Hope Mountain Centre.


  Connie Davis
Connie is an avid backpacker and outdoor enthusiast.  She has been backpacking for 16 years and has enjoyed leading groups of youth and adults since 2000.  In 2005 she completed a five and a half month backpacking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada.  Connie is a volunteer master educator for Leave No Trace, an organization that promotes low impact camping skills.  She is certified in mountaineering-oriented first aid and is a nurse practitioner in her professional life.


  Kim Tiessen
Kim lives in Upper Fraser Valley where she and her husband are involved in Christian Camping Ministry and Outdoor Education. She is the mother of three and has planned and led several backpacking trips with groups of all ages.  Kim has a Bachelor's Degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and loves hiking because it is such a rewarding form of exercise both physically, mentally and spiritually.


Schedule:

A pre-trip session is scheduled August 5th to review gear, some basic backpacking information, answer questions and review Leave No Trace (low impact camping skills).  Location for the pre-trip session will be determined depending on where registered participants are coming from.


 

Aug 3 - REGISTRATION CLOSES 


Aug 5 - 7:00 PM: Pre-trip Session

Aug 13 - 7:00 PM:  Meet at Camp Squeah (10 mins. north of Hope on Highway 1).  There will be a short evening session at Camp Squeah on Friday for a final review of gear, food and overall preparedness for the weekend's backpack.  We will "car camp" at our host facility, Camp Squeah.


Aug 14 - On Saturday morning a bus will take you north up the Fraser Valley on Highway 1 to the trailhead of the Stein Valley.  The hike will follow the Stein River westward approximately 5 km to our campground.  This is a beautiful valley with important First Nations cultural points of interest along the way.  You will have an opportunity to explore the area with short hikes from the campground. 


Aug 15 - Hike back to the trailhead and return to Camp Squeah to pick up your vehicle early evening.


Cost:

$150 covers: knowledgeable guidance, wilderness first aid expertise, instructional time from three experienced leaders and round trip transportation from Hope to the Stein Valley trailhead. 

You can pay by credit card via this web site (click the “Register Now” button on the top right side of this page) or by mailing us a cheque.  Either way, please pre-register with us online by August 3rd.  Contact us at 604-869-1274 or by email at info@hopemountain.org if you have questions or need help registering.


Cancellations:

If a registration is cancelled 14 days or more before a program starts, we will refund the tuition minus a registration fee of $20.  Cancellations received less than 14 days before the start of a program will not receive a refund.  If we are forced to cancel a program, participants will receive a full refund.


A note about liability:

Hope Mountain Centre carries liability insurance and maintains an excellent safety record.  Due to the nature of our outdoor programs, these trips do involve some personal risk.  Hope Mountain Centre assumes no responsibility for personal injury or damage to personal property.  We will require each participant to sign a liability release and assumption of risk form. 

While we love dogs, we ask that you please leave yours at home.


Reserve a spot now by clicking the Register Now button and following the simple steps!

Sep 06, 2010