Backcountry navigation with map, compass and GPS

TRADITIONAL MOUNTAINEERING ™
www.TraditionalMountaineering.org ™ and also www.AlpineMountaineering.org ™

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companionship of the Climb ™

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Staying Found in the Backcountry with Map, Compass and GPS
With Robert Speik of www.TraditionalMountaineering.org:

Saturday morning, August 19, 2006, 9AM to about noon at The Environmental Center in downtown Bend Oregon
Full, with a great group of 22 people - we all learned lots of good stuff. Thanks Folks!

Class Description:
Students will learn about 1. Topographic and other maps used with the compass and GPS, their topo contours, scales, and UTM location grids, 2. About inexpensive modern base plate compass/protractors required with maps and GPS receivers, their important Central Oregon magnetic declination correction, compass and GPS bearings to define desired directions of travel and use them on the ground, and 3. About inexpensive hand held GPS receivers, their usefulness, accuracy, required basic individual setup changes, important features and simplified use in the field. Students will learn how to use the GPS receiver with map and compass, use of accurate altitude information in land navigation, tips and time savers, and how to minimize navigation errors caused by the effects of bad weather, darkness, fatigue and stress on the navigator.

Hands-on training for individual current GPS models includes: The required setup changes to GPS factory defaults that are necessary for the most basic use; simplifying the marking/saving/creating, finding of landmarks/waypoints in UTM position coordinates; setting up the inexpensive hand held baseplate compass to eliminate the large 17 degree Central Oregon magnetic declination error; using a simple route back to camp or truck; finding topographic maps and other maps of types used with the GPS; using the map, compass and GPS together for planning and in the backcountry; area familiarization and planning before the trip. We will practice all these skills at the Environmental Center classroom.

Robert Speik, your instructor,
Is an experienced backcountry leader/instructor and editor of student and leader handbooks. For six years, he taught popular Mountaineering, Alpine Rambling, Backpacking and Wilderness Navigation classes and field seminars at Central Oregon Community College Adult Extension. Bob is the author of the popular world wide website www.TraditionalMountaineering.org .

Group dynamics -
The class includes time for Participants to plan an adventure with new classmates and others.

This basic to advanced training -
Can be completed in one interesting morning. Cost per participant is $35.00, a donation benefiting the not for profit website www.TraditionalMountaineering.org.
Handouts include an eleven page printed summary and a five page workbook. Use your compass and GPS or try ours.

Reserve your places! We may have a wait list!
We can accommodate 15 participants or so for this morning adventure. Call Bob at 541-385-0445 or send an email inquiry to info@TraditionalMountaineering.org.

See the current class Flyer!

WARNING - *DISCLAIMER!*
Mountain climbing has inherent dangers that can, only in part, be mitigated

Real Survival Strategies
FREE Clinic on Real Survival Strategies and Staying Found with Map, Compass and GPS together
What do you carry in your winter day and summit pack?
Why are "Snow Caves" dangerous?
Why are "Space Blankets" dangerous?
Why are "Emergency Kits" dangerous?
How can you avoid Hypothermia?
Missing climbers on Mount Hood, one dies of exposure, two believed killed in fall
Missing California family found, dad dies from exposure and hypothermia
Missing man survives two weeks trapped in snow-covered car
Missing snowmobile riders found, Roger Rouse dies from hypothermia
Olympic Champion Rulon Gardner lost on snowmobile!
Lost Olympic hockey player looses feet to cold injury
Expert skier lost five days near resort in North Cascades without map, compass, gps or cell phone
Mount Hood - The Episcopal School Tragedy
Mount Hood - experienced climbers rescued from snow cave
How can you learn the skills of snow camping? Prospectus

About Alpine Mountaineering:
The Sport of Alpine Mountaineering
Climbing Together
Following the Leader
The Mountaineers' Rope
Basic Responsibilities Cuatro Responsabiliades Basicas de Quienes Salen al Campo
The Ten Essentials Los Diez Sistemas Esenciales

Our Leader's Guidelines:
Our Volunteer Leader Guidelines
Sign-in Agreements, Waivers and Prospectus     This pdf form will need to be signed by you at the trail head
Sample Prospectus    Make sure every leader tells you what the group is going to do; print a copy for your "responsible person"
Participant Information Form    This pdf form can be printed and mailed or handed to the Leader if requested or required
Emergency and Incident Report Form    Copy and print this form. Carry two copies with your Essentials
Participant and Group First Aid Kit    Print this form. Make up your own first aid essentials (kits)

About our World Wide Website:
Information
Mission