Advanced Montana Backpacking Expedition

Expedition Overview

Dates: July 21 – August 3, 2022
Age: 16–18 years old
Group size: max 10 students/2 instructors
Length: 14 days
Tuition: $2,880

14-day adventure through remote area of the Montana wilderness, developing leadership, outdoor skills in navigation, camping, backcountry cooking and teamwork.

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MWS Essential Eligibility Criteria 

Packing List 
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Expedition Highlights

Backpacking in remote wilderness areas
Navigation, orienteering, and wilderness travel skills
Wilderness decision-making and communication skills
Experiencing abundant wildlife and ecosystems

Expedition Description

The Alpine Backpacking Expedition will take backpacking skills up into the high country, challenging 16-18 year old students to navigate and manage risks off trail in alpine terrain. This 14-Day adventure will involve a particular emphasis on route finding with map and compass and sound decision-making as an expedition team. While on course, students will engage in lessons about Leave No Trace® land stewardship principles, as well as foundational skills in backcountry cooking and campcraft. Additionally, participants will learn about alpine ecology, land history, and the high-level leadership and facilitation skills necessary to solve common goals and limit risk exposure in the mountains. Each student will have opportunities to lead the group as Expedition Leader of the Day to gain experience with these newly acquired leadership skills. For more information about MWS core curriculum and expedition progression see Expedition Life.

Expedition Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Teamwork and communication skills

Learn positive communication skills with diverse group members to create a healthy community, build trust, and make sound decisions in the backcountry together
Develop an expedition philosophy, apply it to the course, and understand how it can transfer back to the student’s home environment

Safety and wilderness based decision making

Backcountry hazard evaluation and risk reduction guidelines and tools
First aid awareness for backcountry settings: identification and treatment of common backcountry illness and injuries
Learn to collaboratively make decisions in remote environments that prioritizes individual and group safety

Conservation Ethic

Use basic observational and interpretive skills to demonstrate an understanding and respect for the natural environment
Discuss the history, facts and potential solutions to pertinent environmental and social issues affecting the wilderness in the expedition area
Reflect upon and discuss the conveyance of wilderness conservation ethics into personal life and build a capacity for commitment and stewardship to wild places

Backcountry camping and navigation skills

Use safe backcountry kitchen practices to cook nutritious meals on a camp stove or fire
Demonstrate an ability to select an appropriate campsite and set up a shelter while minimizing the impact on the ecosystem
Understand and demonstrate how to stay healthy, warm, and comfortable in the backcountry
Understand and demonstrate techniques for camping and traveling in bear habitat
Use various navigation and route-finding tools and methods for on and off trail travel
Travel efficiently in the alpine environment using map and compass skills

Technical Skills

Backpacking

Learn to properly pack and adjust a backpack
Become competent in backpacking in alpine environments
Travel off trail and discover unpopulated areas of the Montana wilderness

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Alpine Backpacking

expedition