AKA... The Irish Overnight
Before camping in the snow, we will head out to the Mountaineers property near Mount Rainier's Carbon River entrance. During this overnight activity, we will cover the basics of establishing camp in snow. While we typically do not have snow at this location, we will have the cold temperatures to allow students to try out their cold weather sleep systems.
The day is spent on equipment, sleep systems, proper tent setup in snow, stoves, meal preparation and proper food storage. We will also cover the unique aspects of Leave No Trace when in snow environments.
Students will have an opportunity to hear a wide variety of tips and tricks from the instructors, learn from our mistakes and offer ideas that you may have previously learned in the past.
This overnight is a great opportunity to gain confidence in cold weather and learn to trust your gear.
Sunday morning is an opportunity to prepare and enjoy that morning coffee from the comfort of our camp. Students will prepare breakfast, breakdown camp and rehearse repacking to simulate a return to a trailhead.
For students enrolled in our Basic Navigation Course, Sunday will be our Field Trip to complete all of the Basic Navigation activities.
By Sunday afternoon, most students will have completed a First Aid Course, Basic Navigation Course and be ready to head out to the Bean Basic for an overnight where all of the course skills will be applied.
Preparing For The Irish Overnight
The Experience Field Trip should be considered as an actual, overnight scramble activity. Students should bring each of the items below.
What to bring:
In Your Pack/On Your Body
50+ Liter Pack
Three or Four Season Tent
0-20 Degree Sleeping Bag
Inflatable Air Mattress
Closed Cell Pad
Proper Clothing/Layers
Gloves (Insulating and Waterproof - Multiple Pair)
Helmet
Ice Ax
Shovel (Optional)
Sunglasses
Headlamp
Boots
Ten Essentials
Harness Kit
Food
Water
Cook System (Stove, Fuel, Utensils)
Hygiene Kit
Notes from lecture and a pen
In Your Vehicle
Extra clothing
Blanket (Optional)
Camp Chair (Optional but highly recommended)
Firewood (Appreciated)
Food/Treats to share (Optional)
Time & Location
This activity will start at the Tacoma Branch Program Center on May 3rd. We will begin the day at 8:00a on Saturday and recommend that students arrive by 7:30a.
Our training location is marked below with a red pin.
Reference Media