I know you’ve been wondering: what chance do I have to go along with Steve “Wildebeat” Sergeant on one of his outdoor adventures? Well, you could join the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club, or you could do what I’ve done: sign up for one of his classes. Steve’s the co-leader of a snow-camping course being taught early in 2007. Among the details:
Participants must be experienced summer backpackers as this course will give you winter information and tips but doesn’t teach basic backpacking. Three evening classes, held in the Stanford area, on Thurs. 1/18, Tues. 1/23 and Thurs. 1/25. One weekend field trip on Feb. 3-4, 2007. Limited to 40 participants for the evening sessions, and 25 participants on the outing.
$40 cost includes books, instruction, and some common equipment used on field trip.
The rest of the details are here.
I missed the classroom part last year and probably will have to miss it again this year (lousy stinking need for a paycheck, alas), but I did make it out in the deep snow last winter with Steve. Here’s a picture of him decked out for a night in the woods:
My account of this adventure is here.
Steve’s an excellent camping guide and a gifted camp cook. I highly recommend taking the course.
Wow Tom.
I missed your original post on the trip with Steve. Thanks for referring back to it.
(I really need to do more winter camping.)
His podcasts are certainly the most professional in the backpacking field.
Wish I could join you in taking one of his courses.
Rick in Canada
You almost implied that I would be cooking for this class. But I wouldn’t want to deprive the first-time snow-campers of the experience of doing it themselves.
It’s a fun class, and the group always has a better time than most of them go out expecting. I like this quote from a past participant, “I was afraid that it was going to be cold, and it was, but I thought I’d be miserable, but it was O.K.”