Alpine Backpacking Adventure

Expedition Overview

Dates: August 3 – 12th, 2019
Age: 14–16 years old
Group size: max 10 students/2 instructors
Length: 10 days
Tuition: $2,100

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

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Packing List 
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Expedition Highlights

Backpacking in remote wilderness areas
Adventurous alpine experiences
Possibility for Non-Technical Peak Ascents
Navigation, orienteering, and wilderness travel skills
Wilderness decision-making and communication skills
Experiencing abundant wildlife and ecosystems

Expedition Description

The Montana Alpine Adventure is our introductory expedition, specifically designed for 14 - 16 year old students. This multi-week adventure focuses on teaching students to be competent in fundamental outdoor skills such as cooking, camping and navigation while developing leadership skills as an individual and as a member of an expeditionary group. Students will be challenged physically, at appropriate levels, and will hike most days with heavy packs in a changing alpine environment. While navigating through mountain terrain, students will engage in lessons about Leave No Trace® camping principles and learn how to work as a team to accomplish common expedition goals. Each student will have an opportunity to be the expedition leader of the day and to use his or her 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
Develop comprehensive understanding of Leave No Trace© ethics and apply them during the expedition

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

Snow Travel (If conditions allow)

Safely travel on snow covered slopes
Participate in a group snow school class learning about safe ice axe use, self arresting, and glissading
Effectively conduct self arrests with a mountaineering ice axe in various situations including while wearing a backpack
Basic awareness of avalanches and avalanche risk mitigation

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Alpine Backpacking

ADVENTURE