[pct-l] Training in So. Cal.

[cmkudija at earthlink.net (Christine Kudija)]

In 1976 I took the Sierra Club's L.A. Chapter "BMTC", the "Basic
Mountaineering Training Course" which included all the aspects of the
current "WTC".  The BEST PART of the course, the absolute BEST, for me, was
the day spent doing self-arrest drills (climb the snowslope, start sliding
down either feet-first, headfirst, belly down, belly up, etc at the
instructor's direction, then arresting when instructor yells
"ARREST!!!!!!"), and the follow-up field trip snow-camping in the Palisades,
where we did more snow travel & ice axe practice.  It's a great class for
the opportunity for supervised experience - then get your ultralight
backpacking advice on line, here on the pct-list or backpacking-lite.

Christine "Ceanothus" Kudija

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, you can.  Boldness has a genius,
magic and power to it."
                                      Goethe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Lonetrail@aol.com>
To: <NlsScott@aol.com>; <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 10:38 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Training in So. Cal.


>
>
> I don't know
>
> I attended the WTC in S. Ca when I moved here from back east. I was a
novice
> backpacker then but I did attended a course in BP with the Sierra Club
back
> east.
> I felt the course back east was more advanced in Backpacking Lite. The
reason
> I wanted to go through WTC was to gain experience in higher elevation in
the
> mountains on the West coast.
>
> Although it was somewhat beneficial I found that most of the volunteers
were
> limited in actual experience except as week end warriors. The idea of
> backpacking Lite was not promoted in the classes. In fact there seem to be
a tie with
> REI to purchase their Bombproof Heavy Equipment by offering a discount
coupon.
> It was estimated that the average purchase at REI per student was $750.00.
>
> I gained most of my experience and knowledge by reading the Post on our
> wonderful pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net. I have never been merchandised to
purchase
> any equipment. My experience of the Post Listing is unsurpassable to
anything
> I witness or read. Keep Posting, and thank you all. Save your $200.00
>
> Lonetrail
>
>
> >
> > Dear folks,
> >     In some of the introductions, I've noticed a few:"I don't have much
> > backpacking experience...".  Well if you live in Southern California, I
can
> > recommend a great course that is put on by the Sierra Club called the
> > Wilderness
> > Travel Course.  It is a ten week classroom and several field
experiences.
> > They
> > spend a weekend at Joshua Tree doing navigation and a little rock
> > scrambling.
> > The highlight of the course is a snowcamping weekend in the Sierras.
It is
> >
> > run all by volunteers and only costs $200.
> >     The course starts in early January and ends in March.  It would be a
> > great way to prepare yourself for more ambitious hiking.  Here is a
link:
> > Wilderness Travel Course Home Page
> >     Scott Nelson
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> >
>
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