KNSFHP 1139.03 (1 credit)
Description:
This introductory backpacking course is a hands-on, field-based backcountry excursion focusing on the basic skills necessary to prepare for and embark on short-stay overnight trips to wilderness locations. Safe travel, camping skills, equipment selection and operation, Leave No Trace minimum impact principles, and sound decision-making are all introduced as foundational skills for safe and responsible backcountry travel in this course. Students will carry everything they need in a 30-40 lb. backpack up to eight miles a day over the rocky, forested terrain. Fresh air, group development, supportive leaders, and breath-taking vistas are all part of the learning experience.
Pre-requisite:
- No Experience Required! Backpacking 1 is for the individual with little to no backpacking experience. We will cover everything you need to know to select and use the proper equipment for an average weekend backpacking trip.
Equipment (students must purchase for class):
- Students are expected to have hiking boots and personal clothing good at wicking away moisture (think Dri-Fit or Under Armour type clothing). More details will be provided via a packing list and boots can be provided in some situations.
- Backpacking specific equipment (backpack, stoves, tents, sleeping bags, etc) are all provided with the course fee.
What you will learn:
- Selection and use of primary backpacking equipment
- Basic food requirements and menu planning
- Camp set-up and safety
- Water treatment procedures
- Proper backcountry environmental issues, use, and procedures
- Trail selection
What to expect:
- This course involves one classroom session and 2.5 full days of off-campus backpacking. This is a backcountry trip: Participants on this trip will sleep in tents and there will be no access to showers, running water, or other modern amenities.
- You select which weekend works best for you based on the section you enroll in. Transportation is provided. Trips depart Friday afternoon and institutional excuses for missed classes Friday are not provided. Most trips return to campus by 8 pm on Sunday at the latest. Some trips occur during holidays and academic breaks and may last more than a weekend.
- Experienced trip leaders, with specialized wilderness first aid training, will support you while in the field and actively teach how to thrive in a backcountry setting. For example, instructors will teach you how to cook and set up a tent; they will not do everything for you. It is expected that students work together as a group and be supportive of each other while following instructions from instructors.
- Food is provided and all meals can accommodate any special needs (allergies, vegan, etc). Food is healthy and hearty and typically exceeds expectations (you won’t be eating Pop Tarts and PB&J).
- Backpacking is ranked Difficulty Level: 3 out of 5. For details & tips for preparing for the trip please reference OAC Physical Challenge Scale. Accommodations can be made for all abilities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to contact the instructor for specific opportunities to participate.
Potential benefits:
- It is great exercise.
- You can develop a deeper sense of nature and its beauty.
- There are health benefits when backpacking/hiking in nature, both physical and mental.
- It’s a travel experience that lets you see things from a perspective that is different than other modes of travel.
- Your social skills can improve because you might be meeting new people during your travels or on the trail.
- It can be a much more economical way to travel.
Fun facts:
- Backpacks have many different names, including rucksacks and knapsacks.
- 9 million Americans went backpacking in 2013, up from 7 million in 2006.
- More than 21,800 volunteers participated in 439 trail projects on National Trails Day in 2014.
- Since the National Trails System was established in 1965, the total mileage of trails on federal lands has increased from 88,000 miles to 193,500 miles. On state lands, the number has increased from 15,000 miles to 42,500 miles.
- Volunteers put in 1.2 million hours of trail maintenance and management for the Forest Service in 2012, estimated to be worth about $26 million. In 2014, more than 1 million hours were donated to maintaining National Scenic and Historic Trails, valued at $24 million
Source(s):
https://www.essentialtravel.co.uk/blog/backpacker-facts-2012.html