Snow Tracking and Winter Wilderness Survival Skills
Snow Tracking and Winter Wilderness
Survival Skills
2011 course dates to be announced.
Join Wilderness Awareness School for a unique weekend of adventure, natural beauty, hands-on learning, and relaxation!
You will leave this course with practical tools for caring for your wellbeing in a winter landscape, and an ability to see the world around you in a new way through the eyes of a wildlife tracker. All this, while drinking in the beauty and comfort of Skalitude Retreat Center in the wild and remote Methow Valley!
Journey with us across the mountains from Duvall to this gem of the Northeast Cascades! The Lodge at Skalitude will be our base for the weekend. From there we will head out onto the land to seek the lessons wildlife leave for us in their tracks and other sign. A diversity of wildlife in the area should make this a varied and exciting experience! As we travel the landscape, we will maintain a high level of awareness of the potential hazards of winter wilderness travel, and will take this opportunity to discuss and practice techniques for staying safe and living well outdoors in winter, using what nature provides. Our evenings will be spent sharing a meal and telling stories, with further instruction on and discussion of wildlife tracking and survival skills. For those seeking a little bit of rustic luxury, the wood-fired sauna awaits...
Depending on current snow conditions, we will have the opportunity to build snow shelters on Saturday and have the option to sleep in them on Saturday night. Appropriate equipment will be necessary for those interested in participating in this option (such as a sleeping bag with low temperature-rating). Also dependent upon conditions, you may need snowshoes for our days in the field. You should plan on bringing them. These are available for rent at many outdoor gear and ski shops during the winter season. More information about equipment will be provided upon registration.
Please note that due to the variability and unpredictability of winter conditions, both the location and itinerary of this course are subject to change!
This course filled early last year, so be sure to reserve your space soon: 425-788-1301
Registration for Snow Tracking & Winter Survival Skills
| Add to Cart | 2011 course dates to be announced. |
Instructor Biographies
Dave Scott: As a child growing up in Austin Texas, Dave found a great love for the outdoors and immersed himself in the natural world through exploration and the close observation of wildlife. In his early 20's, Dave began to more formally study the natural world at nature and wilderness skills schools across the country, with a focus on ecology, tracking and wildlife behavior. Dave has studied under many great naturalists and trackers completing intensive study residential programs at the Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, Washington, and Past Skills Wilderness School, in Bozeman, Montana and is the co-author of Bird Feathers -A Guide to North American Species scheduled for publication in 2010. In 2006 Dave began working with troubled teens in Texas at a wilderness residential treatment center using his skills as a naturalist, survivalist and wildlife tracker to design new programs for the center. Through Dave's programs, which emphasized the interpretation of bird behavior and wildlife tracking as an avenue to promote the growth of internal and external awareness, many of his students succeeded in altering their behavior and changing the course of their lives. Dave currently instructs youth school and monthly programs and coordinates contract programs for Wilderness Awareness School.
Lindsay Huettman is an instructor with our Expeditions and Special Programs,
as well as a Youth Programs instructor. Her primary passion is connecting humans to wilderness through the use of native plants. This inspired her to complete a degree at WWU in Ethnobotany Stewardship Education. This can include anything from eating Hemlock cambium and discussing its nutritional benefits, to making baskets out of Cedar roots and dying them with lichens! Other passions include leading wilderness survival, whitewater rafting and kayaking expeditions; writing and playing music. She has a background in organic farming, landscaping, horse packing & training, and is an avid plant dork when it come to biochemistry.
During this course you can expect to:
- Discover the natural history of the Cascade Mountains first-hand and through discussion of what you see in the field.
- Study the ecology of winter wildlife by exploring the lessons that nature offers as you travel.
- Learn basic techniques for tracking and trailing wildlife in snow. Or, if you are more experienced, challenge and expand your knowledge with the assistance of experienced trackers.
- Acquire tips and tricks to safely and efficiently travel and navigate through the wilderness in winter conditions.
- Learn techniques of safe and effective snow shelter construction, putting your skills to the test as conditions allow!
- Enjoy adventuring and relaxing in the beautiful natural surroundings of the Methow Valley in winter!
