Wilderness Basics Course

The Outings
2010 outings are being added as soon as they are finalized ...

The North County version of Wilderness Basics Course consists of 4 weekend trips, plus a "fitness/evaluation" hike, and a re-union. To help get you in shape for the weekend outings, we also offer a series of optional conditioning day hikes.  These get more difficult as the course goes on in order to build up your abilities, and may last from a couple of hours to all day long.  These day hikes are completely for your benefit, and are not a required part of the course.  But if you haven't done much hiking, or haven't done it lately, they are a real good way to get yourself in shape.  The complete list can be found under "Course Goodies".

The main course outings occur every other weekend to let you take care of life and stuff when you can't be out hiking. You'll leave your house fairly early on Saturday, and be back by mid to late afternoon on Sunday (in desperate need of a bath). In every case, hikes with a range of difficulties will be offered so you can find something that matches your physical condition. Usually, you'll have several choices at each difficulty level so you can pick the one that has features which sound the most interesting to you. Descriptions will be passed out in class the week before you select your outing (and may be posted here even earlier if my spies come through).

Sometimes, a make up trip will be offered the weekend after the main trip in case you really, really have something you can't get out of. Weddings don't count, unless they're your own, and then, maybe.

1. Evaluation day hike, January 23rd or 24th (pick one). This is a short but steep timed hike. The idea is to give you an idea of where your fitness level fits in relative to the rest of the class so that you can pick hikes of the right intensity level for you.  You'll need to meet a minimum time to be able to go on the Snow Camp.

2. Desert Car Camp, January 30 - 31. No back packing, just day hikes. This means you can bring the big cooler, the hibachi and steaks, the 15 pound Coleman cabin tent - what ever you can fit in your car (that doesn't violate the "no sound generating devices" rule). During the day hikes you get a good chance to practice you map and compass navigation skills. This is also a good chance to have the leaders look over your equipment, if you have any question about how it will work for backpacking.

3. Desert Back Pack, February 13 - 14.  You carry everything this time, so think twice about that change of underwear.  And, you'll be carrying all your water - 12 to 16 pounds of it. Most of these trips take place in our own Anza-Borrego State Park. You'll see more stars than you ever knew existed.

4. Mountain Back Pack, February 27 - 28.  Now we'll be in the high desert or in the Laguna mountains. Water is usually available, so you'll get to see some different methods of water treatment. Dress warm - last year it snowed on Mountain Back Pack (no extra charge).

5. Snow Camp, March 13 - 14. You get up really early for this one, drive to Palm Springs, then take a tram car almost 6000 feet up to the base of San Jacinto. From there we'll all hike in a couple miles, make camp, and try to survive the night (heh, heh, just kidding, no really). You'll need 4 coffee can lids to make snow stakes to keep your tent earth-bound, so start collecting them now! This trip can be variable. You could be hiking in your shorts, or be moving through a snow storm. At this point, you'll be ready for anything.

6. Reunion and awards ceremony, April 10 - 11. An optional re-union that takes place at the Sierra Club's Foster Lodge in the Laguna Mountains. Receive your certificate and patch, watch slides from the class, and enjoy the mountain air, day hikes, food, and general carrying on.