Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Newton, MA,
Massachusetts, Boston Area,
MA
Are you a Winter day hiker who wants to take the next step and explore Winter camping and backpacking, or have you tried Winter camping/backpacking and want to learn more. In either case, this program is for you. If you're new to the activity, the program will teach you how to safely and comfortably camp and backpack in Winter, and if you have some experience, the program will provide a deep dive to help you advance your skills. The program involves lectures and demonstrations led by Winter backpacking leaders from the Boston Chapter. The training covers a comprehensive set of Winter camping/backpacking topics, and includes demonstrations of Winter camping gear, including stoves, tents, sleeping bags and pads, and hands-on opportunities to observe and learn about gear and skills. The program is intended for people who have a basic level of knowledge and experience hiking in Winter (the Boston Chapter's Winter Hiking Program is a great introduction), and prior experience with three-season camping/backpacking. Feel free to bring any gear that you currently possess to check out what may work in Winter and what will not. Following the class session, there will be several Winter camping and backpacking trips offered preferentially to participants in this program. Many of the trips are suitable for beginner Winter campers/backpackers and some of the trips are designed to allow you to use much of your existing 3-season backpacking gear (supplemented with borrowed or rented or newly acquired gear where needed). There will also be moderate difficulty backpacks to expand your skills. The requirements for the trips, including gear, will vary. We will provide an overview of the trips (and their requirements) during the session.
