I entertained the idea of registering for the Mountain Education Snow Basics Course last December but didn’t; then five weeks before the course, as I sat in bed with a respiratory infection I’d had for a month, a friend asked me to join her. Not sure I could be physically ready as I had been inactive for a month, I reluctantly submitted my application. A few days later I began gathering my gear, borrowed a four season tent, purchased some smaller ticket items, including snow anchors for the tent, and began training for a new kind of adventure – backpacking and camping on snow. The week of departure, I gathered up alot of anxiety in anticipation of experiencing things I feared – being cold, performing self-arrest on a steep snowy slope and lacking the strength and stamina needed to snowshoe with a heavy load.
Packed up and ready to set foot on the snow at Carson Pass, I was loaded with 36-37 pounds of weight on my back – more than the maximum weight I normally carry when simply backpacking. What was extra….an avalanche rescue snow shovel (the lighter, recommended version I had ordered, which would have saved me a half pound, arrived a day too late), a whippet (as opposed to an ice axe), my 0 degree down sleeping bag instead of my 10 degree quilt, an extra sleeping pad (Thermarest Zlite) to go with my Thermarest Neoair, parts of the four season tent (poles and vestibule), an extra cannister of fuel and several reservoirs for collecting water (96 and 48 oz Nalgene cantene, 1 Liter Platy – the 6L collection reservoir I ordered didn’t arrive). Although I’d purchased a new Katadyn Hiker Pro filter weighing only 11 ounces, I took Aqua Mira drops instead of filtering to save some weight. Extra clothing was required too – two pair of waterproof winter gloves (mittens and fingered gloves), one pair of liners and one pair of fleece-lined neoprene gloves, down beanie and fleece lined ball cap with ear flaps, Feathered Friends 700 fill down jacket, fleece shirt, light fleece long johns, Montbell down pants, and Feathered Friends down booties. I wore an expedition weight polyester long johns with gortex ski pants with internal gaitors, a long-sleeved wicking polyester shirt and a windshirt. Finally, because snowshoeing with a fully loaded backpack expends a large amount of calories, calories equal warmth, and because we carried an extra day’s worth of food, I had 7 pounds of consumables, not including the 1.5 liters of water!
Once you are approved to attend the course, Ned Tibbits stays in frequent contact with you, making recommendations, answering and, more importantly, inviting questions. Education begins before you gather in the parking lot, but once there, instruction begins with a lesson about footwear and traction devices (microspikes vs hiking crampons). While we used snowshoes on this trek, the intention of the course if to teach you how to hike in snowy conditions primarily during the late spring and early summer during the freeze-thaw transition to the Sierra summer. I learned, while I have microspikes, I definitely will be using hiking crampons for travel across the snowy slopes of the Sierra. Another takeaway for me was when hiking I will be using a Black Diamond whippet – it’s a hiking pole with an adze and axe to be used as a self-arrest tool while hiking – it will always be in my hand ready to use should I have a misstep and fall. An ice axe is appropriate for peak climbs, but more likely to be secured to your backpack while hiking, and difficult, if impossible, to access if you fall.
One thing I enjoyed most about the course was the pace – as we hiked toward our intended camp, Ned stopped often and shared a mountain-load of information about leave no trace which differs some in the snow, navigation, paying close attention to the environment -noting the depth of snow around the tree trunks, how the branches grow on the trees, the landscape – ridges, mountains, rock outcroppings, creeks, slopes and the sky and clouds for looming weather. We set out on an overcast day knowing a cold winter storm front was moving in; always watching the clouds to determine our plan – pitch camp now, or pitch later; although we had bypassed Frog Lake, we decided to turn back and pitch at Frog Lake as the . Another takeaway, pitch BEFORE the moisture begins so you don’t risk developing hypothermia.
We learned how to collect water from a frozen lake or a stream and how to cook in a tent. I learned if cooking outside not to set the fuel canister directly on the snow as it will chill the canister and the electronic igniter won’t work unless using a lighter.
I slept cold the first night – I had forgotten that I had used my extra insulation on top of my Neoair after my first cold night on Mt Shasta; finally after two hours of restlessness and shivering, I recalled that experience, reversed the order of my pads and put on my down beanie. I’d wished I’d thought to also bring a mylar sheet as it was very effective on Shasta wrapped around the entire pad and it’s weight is insignificant. My second night, which was the colder of the two nights, I added a layer to my sleepwear – down pants over lightweight fleece. My take-aways: have a warm sleep system – wash your down gear so it has the greatest loft possible and think carefully about what clothes to bring, warmer and more is better than sleeping cold.
If the weather turns foul, and it did, be prepared to spend a significant amount of time in your tent. For me this meant, having a way to eliminate without having to go out in the weather, having enough water collected (I filled with nearly 7 liters Fri eve), being able to cook in your tent or vestibule, having a large enough tent for you and any partners to move about comfortably and having dry, warm clothing/footwear to wear and again, a cozy, warm sleep system
While we spent Saturday inside the tent, that didn’t stop the course of learning – Ned simply invited us into his roomy 5 person tent and lectured through the day about snow pits, snow caves, avalanche awareness; we learned and practiced reading maps in three dimension, breaking for snacks, lunch, hot drinks, snow measuring and shoveling, and outdoor mini-excursions.
With a break in the weather on our final day, we had a leisurely morning of breakfast and packing up camp. The rest of the day was spent on a hillside, learning and practicing how to walk on steep slopes, how to glissade and how to self-arrest in several different ways, because no fall is ever going to be perfect! I surprised myself here – this was one of my greatest fears. Ned is an excellent instructor; he is extremely skilled, patient, and he really listens to his students. I was not much inclined to slide down, head first on my back, with my whippet in hand and said so, “not really wanting to do that” – just imagine! When he said “most of my students do this”, that was a challenge I had to accept, but we eased into it gently – he knew exactly what I needed to be able to perform that movement – it worked and it turned out to be really fun! And, when I went out snowhiking last weekend, my confidence was measurably improved hiking with the whippet and knowing I would be able to self-arrest if necessary.
To express all that was taught and all that I learned isn’t possible, or even desirable, because living and experiencing it, with a caring, competent instructor is of far more benefit than reading about my experience could ever be. I highly recommend this course if you desire to extend your hiking and backpacking season beyond the snow-free summer months, learn how to travel and camp in the wilderness safely and confidently and to be as comfortable and warm as possible so that you will fully enjoy your wilderness experience, or as Mountain Education states, “To minimize wilderness accidents, injury, and illness in order to maximize wilderness enjoyment, safety, and personal growth, all through experiential education and risk awareness training”.
If you’re interested, check out this website for more information: www.mountaineducation.org
Altitude, Aspens & Alpenglow 