I am pleased to announce the first of a series of Backcountry Skills workshops. This program is designed with the backpack hunter in mind, but will also cover many aspects of lightweight backcountry travel.

Successful businesses rely on a series of systems to run at maximum efficiency. Backcountry travel is no different; to achieve the maximum efficiency, a series of systems must be enacted. This workshop will explore the following systems:

Clothing Systems

Packing Systems

Shelter Systems

Sleeping Systems

Food & Cooking Systems

In addition, the following basic essential skills will be taught:

Fire Building in any conditions

Safe Water Acquisition

Basic Navigation

Camp Site Selection

Bear Country Camping and Travel

This workshop will give you the tools necessary to truly live well in the backcountry, not merely survive. There will be strong emphasis on ultra light/light weight gear and techniques as well as wood heated shelter systems.

The workshop will run Thursday evening to Sunday noon.
There will be ample time to discuss many facets of backpack hunting not specifically part of the workshop curriculum. Some of these topics include optics, small game harvesting, photography and more.

The location of the workshop will be on remote mountain property near the Scapegoat Wilderness that my wife & I own. A meeting place and time in Helena, Montana will be arranged for a camp briefing prior to travel to the camp site.

Breakfast, snacks and supper are included Friday and Saturday while Sunday will include breakfast. All meals will involve class participants cooking in the field using a variety of provided foods.


A limited number of shelters will be available but participants need to bring sleeping pads, sleeping bags and basic cooking gear as well as suitable clothing. A list of recommended clothing and gear will be provided to registered participants. It is recommended participants bring as much of there own gear as possible to become more familiar with its use.

First camp will be June 16th � June 19th 2011.
Cost for the workshop is $425/person with Campfire & Kifaru MB members offered a discounted rate of $375/person. Class size is limited so sign up soon.

For more information and registration contact me at:
[email protected]

Sounds like a very cool idea Ed, and I'm guessing it will be a great success!!! I may have to look at the calendar and keep an eye on it!

I've been studying this craft heavily in the last two years, and you were one of my primary inspirations ....



I was going to try and hook up with you some day and pick your brain anyways and put exactly that bug up your ass....

What I'm trying to say is HELL YEAH, BOOK ME!!! I don't care if I have to call in sick that Thursday.

Ed T:

I just can't let go of the debate. So be sure to include a minority report on the benefits of double-wall tents with floors and no stoves for heat.

KC

KC, I did enjoy the hell out of the time we spent together in Wyoming.

I never knew that about kanicknick...

Great Problem, i really hope that i can be there and join.
But i live another side of the earth. far far away.

wolfmen

Dan,

You are on the list.

I have been kicking this idea around for a couple years and finally got it put together.

It should be fun.

KC,

I'll be sure to include double wall tents!

Dan:

Yeah. That was fun, even with the rain/snow. Are you going to be able to make it again this year?

I decided not to include a tutorial on the benefits of kinnickinnick.

KC

If Dan's in, so am I.

I'm in, PM and e-mail sent earlier...

I have no doubt that given 10 more years of doing what we've been doing we could teach a similar class.


Or we could shave 10 years off the learning curve

Ed T, you don't have a spare stove jack around the shop do you? And Connies info again?



KC, you just have to love multi use gear

Dan
Not trying to be commercial but
We have some stove jacks if you need one. KC, ours can be outfitted both ways, floor less or floored, double wall or single.

In the winter, I understand frost and a single wall shelter, "dribblers" as I've heard them called.

Kevin

Dan,

I don't have any jack material. Kevin would be your best bet.

I'll get Connie's info for you.

Thank you both... Kevin I'll PM you.


Sorry for the derail. Think of it as a "Free Bump"

Ed T, please tell me this doesn't mean your posts are going to pay-per-view!

Anyone who can attend this is going to learn a LOT.

Chris,

Thanks for the kind words.

And, I will continue to post here & on Kifaru

Ed

Please consider this... for those of us that are far away and don't have spare time to get off and go( I'd love to but that would be my only vacation etc....) consider having someone video the important parts. And then sell videos or DVD basically of it. I don't think anyone would demand a high quality video IE a handycam would be sufficient to get the points across too.

Thanks for the consideration!

Jeff

Dont worry ED, I got this one!!

I thought the same thing and sent ED a PM, this was part of his reply

I am planning to have a lot of the information available as a book/pamphlet and possibly some instructional DVD's as well.

Sent you an email Ed.

Sounds like a great time Ed. If you have one in Iowa, let me know.

Jeff,

They all are important parts

No, seriously, i am looking to do some DVD's as well as written documents as part of the follow-up.

[Bump]
Looks like a real good program for a guy who wants to feel more self reliant in the wilderness

Probably a bunch of guys on AT interested in something like this....

Should you need a photographer that is an artist through the lens http://www.hillbilly-photo.com is a close friend of mine. Let me know if you need his services, I'm sure I can get you two together

He and I have been talking about doing a coffee table book about short track racing in the PNW for a couple years...

had done enough lt. wt. backpacking before joining this board that i would be surprised that someone could teach this old dog many if any new tricks


what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be

ed's advice on gear has been spot on and has helped me either lighten my load or be more comfortable or sometimes both in my mountain pursuits


honestly wish i'd have had the workshop he's offering when i was gettin into this gig so many moons ago

at $425 i'd have saved myself a couple of thousand vs. inventing the wheel on my own nickel



no rookie when I ran across ed here

Dan,

Awesome photos from your friend. I think I have any photography covered but will let you know otherwise.

Randy,

Thanks for the kind words. Means a lot coming from you.

Who else on here is going to the camp? I am, anybody going from WA that wants to carpool? Although I might take a week or more and combo this trip up with some spring bear hunting in ID or MT.

Not in Montana you're not... Spring Bear ends May 31st.

Fly fishing on the other hand.

Big W I plan on going and will be bear hunting in ID and Montana this year

PM sent

I'm in. Will probably have to pick the brains of someone local as we get closer in reference to a hotel room. Plane tickets have me getting in sometime mid-day Wed. and leaving early Monday. Will probably be trying to beg a ride or two when the time comes. Can't see myself renting a car for little I'll be in town.

you guy are gonna be ahead of the power curve and money ahead in the long run


if we weren't so busy and me one armed i'd be tempted to go as well


bet i'd learn even more and have a blast, while meeting some good new folks to boot

I'm leaving Kalispell right after work Wednsday at 1AM and driving down in the dark (prolly hit Helena about 5AM) then sleep in the back of the truck for an hour or two. If that fits into your schedule, let me know....

Or see if tickets are cheaper into Glacier International Airport in Kalispell. I could use the company on the ride down

What,

I can't ride down with you? I guess I'm not cute enough.

Just home from the camp, :-)

What a success, pictorial essay to follow. What a great crew on this trip, and the food was fantastic.

The honor of meeting Mr. Smith was a true pleasure & surprise, think of it as icing on the cake.

Kudos Ed_t




Ed

Photo essay on Arfcom.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=647777&page=1

To anyone who is considering this camp it's a must attend for anyone serious about backcountry living and hunting! Hell the food alone was more then worth the price of admission. I don't think I've ever eaten so much or so well and the scales here are showing a 5 lbs. weight gain on the trip. I'll be holding Deb responsible for that!

I was very nervous about being a first timer going into the woods with the pros, but quickly figured out I was with some of the best folks on Earth and they took care of me like family.

The trip home was more scary then the camp. I thought I was going to get arrested in Helena, had an emergency plane landing, and got bumped from a flight. But in the end the $400 voucher just left me trying to figure out how I'm going to get back to Montana and the new friends I had to leave behind!

Brad