Advanced Backpacking – E.C Manning Park

2025 dates:

August 11-13, 2025 (Evening Zoom pre-planning session held on Thursday, August 7th from 6-8 pm)

Please contact our office at info@themountainschool.com, or by phone at 1-888-892-2266 to receive updates and more information on this program!

The Advanced Backpacking course will allow you to build on your previous knowledge and experience, developing your skills as a wilderness backpacker and trip leader! The emphasis is placed on making sure that everyone will be comfortable planning and leading their own multi-day, wilderness backpacking trip by the end of the course, while enjoying the annual Perseid’s Meteor shower each night!

This trip will be held in E.C. Manning Provincial Park, which is a dark sky sanctuary and has the least light pollution in SW BC, while still close to the lower mainland. The trip dates coincide with the annual Perseid Meteor Shower in August, known as the best of the year; at its peak it can produce 60 meteors per hour! This year there will be a 1st quarter moon that will set at midnight, providing optimal nighttime viewing.

When not stargazing, the course is designed to help you build on the backpacking skills either learned in previous courses or from other personal backpacking and hiking experience. Students who have been out for a 1-night trip on our Intro to Backpacking or Wilderness Survival courses, will learn how to plan, prepare and safely enjoy longer 3-day/2-night trips into the backcountry. In addition, a portion of the course will occur away from established backcountry campgrounds where you will be using ‘Leave No Trace’ practices in remote wilderness areas.

The trip is student led, giving everyone a chance to practice their leadership and navigation skills. The team will travel off-trail and traverse through mountainous terrain, allowing you to develop advanced hiking and backpacking skills while under the supervision of one of our lead ACMG Backpacking Guides.

Underlying all of the many skills to learn is the main objective of having fun (because why else do we do this stuff?) Simply put, it’s 3 engaging days in the backcountry with similarly minded people – like a summer camp for adults!

Key topics include:

• wilderness trip preparation
• off trail and advanced navigation techniques
• map, compass & GPS use
• camp-craft tips and techniques
• route planning for on-trail and off-trail travel
• hazard awareness for hikers and backpackers
• equipment selection and proper clothing

Pre-Planning:
A pre-trip live Zoom evening seminar is held one week in advance of the field sessions, giving participants an opportunity to plan the trip with their Instructor and the rest of the Team; learn about the equipment needed; and, ask questions. For a positive learning experience, your three days in the field focus on skill development rather than distance travelled.

The Advanced Wilderness Backpacking Course includes instruction on Mountain Navigation skills, after you register you will be enrolled in our Virtual Classroom “Online Backpacking Course” and “Online Navigation Course” in order to help prepare for the weekend course.

Maps and compasses are supplied, but if you are interested in getting your own compass here is a link to our online tutorial “Compass Essentials”. This tutorial will help you to choose a compass if you wish to bring your own.

All skills during the overnight field session are covered in a hands-on, practical approach that will keep you busy and learning while still having fun! This advanced level course gives you the confidence to go further!

The first planning and logistics session for the Advanced Backpacking course will be held online via a Live Zoom class. Students can participate from a location of their choice

Required for the Zoom session:

• location with the ability to access the internet for 2+ hours
• ideally a location with few distractions or background noise
• device with camera and audio; laptop or desktop computers are preferred, but mobile devices will work as well
• ensure your device is fully charged and/or plugged in
• check audio and video before you join
• If your “screen name” is a nickname or you are using someone else’s computer, please identify yourself to the instructor
• If you are a group of 2 or more people on the same computer, please let your instructor know who is on your call.
• be ready to take some notes
• have any questions prepared and ready to discuss

Overnight Practical Field sessions
The 3-day/2-overnight practical field session is usually conducted in the E.C Manning Provincial Park. However, the final location will depend on the weather, fire and smoke conditions,  and other factors so the location may vary.

The final decision on a location for the field session will be made with the group, during the evening Live Zoom theory session.

• Zoom Session,Thursday evening, Aug 7th: The group will meet for 1-2 hours to get to know each other, review logistics, discuss pre-trip planning details, and answer any questions.
• Day-1: You will start the trip with meeting in E.C. Manning Park with the team and your Instructor. The specific location to be decided during the Zoom planning session. After a review of the trip plan, gear check, and conditions update, you will head out to the trail-head and start your adventure! Your specific camp location will be decided based on current conditions and group objectives, but plan on being near treeline with a great view of the night sky!
• Day-2: After breakfast, your team starts the day travelling on easier trails before venturing off the main trail and into the true backcountry wilderness of this amazing region. You will camp this night above treeline near the ridge crests, soaking in the breathtaking views and of course, another night viewing the meteor showers.
• Day-3: Your final day will be spent route finding your way back to the trail-head, with sections of off-trail travel. This day will allow everyone an opportunity to “put it all together” as a team while travelling back to the trail-head.

Gear List for Advanced Wilderness Backpacking Course (note that the gear list will open as a PDF file in another window)

• Multi-day backpacking Gear List

Waiver & Medical Disclosure

Complete the required Waiver and Medical disclosure form in advance of your program. Click on the link and navigate to the specific program and date that you are registered for:
• Canada West Mountain School Waiver and Medical disclosure form

Cancellation & Transfer policy

Review the CWMS cancellation and transfer policy:
• Canada West Mountain School Refund/transfer Policy