Women's Essential Backpacking Skills

• Fitness level 1 Relaxed
• Group size 8 people

Getting ready to spend the night out in a tent? Join REI'S professional instructors on this one day course to learn how to make a comfortable home for yourself in the wild. Whether backpacking or car camping, having a great day and getting a good night's rest in the outdoors comes down to having the right tent, sleeping system, stove, and gear storage. To learn the fundamentals, we'll hike with all of our gear to a mock campsite where we'll practice setting up camp. Our instructors will show you where to position your kitchen area, food storage, tent site, and bathroom facilities for maximum safety and comfort, all while following the Leave No Trace Principles.You'll learn how to tackle women's specific hygiene issues and other practical camping skills for use in every situation, from car camping to long-distance backpacking.

• Learn to identify and build a campsite using the principles of Leave No Trace
• Practice setting up a camp kitchen, tent, and critter-proofing your food storage
• Learn about the gear needed for backpacking and systems for carrying it effectively
• This course is not women's exclusive, but will go in-depth into women's specific backcountry challenges