Basic Backpacking Course 2026

Safe, Enjoyable, and Responsible Wilderness Travel

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 25; and local outings May 2-3/May 9-10; Sierra outings TBA in June

UPDATE FEBRUARY 1, 2026: This course is tentatively full and we are creating a waiting list. Please use the registration form to join the wait list. We have several registrants who have yet to confirm by paying their course fees. We will prioritize waiting list members who pay their course fee to confirm their intent to join the course. After joining the wait list, you will receive an email from the course coordinator with further information; pay promptly to move yourself into the course.

Join the wait list!

Join the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club for our 2026 Basic Backpacking Course. The course is offered as a four-part online symposium followed by a day of outdoor instruction, demonstration, and hiking. You’ll learn the essentials of backcountry travel that make it safe and enjoyable for you, and sustainable for the places you visit. We will place special emphasis on the gear, skills, and planning required to be responsible stewards of our precious wilderness ecosystems.

Each evening installment will cover several related topics followed by an open discussion and question session. We will then convene at Huddart Park in Woodside, CA for a Saturday of additional instruction, skills demonstration, and a day hike in our backpacking gear. The course will culminate in overnight backpacking trips in Henry Coe State Park in Morgan Hill, CA in May and Sierra trips in June (space limited; dates may be affected by the snowpack).

The Basic Backpacking Course has been offered by the Loma Prieta Chapter for over five decades.

Class Format

The course consists of four online sessions, an in-person Saturday demonstration and group day hike, and overnight class trips. The online portion will be given via Zoom each Wednesday evening in April. The in-person demonstration and day hike will take place on Saturday, April 25 at Huddart Park near Woodside, CA. The course trip options are Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3 and Saturday-Sunday, May 9-10, both at Henry Coe State Park near Morgan Hill, CA. We currently plan to offer several options for Sierra trips in June. Additional trips may be offered depending on interest, weather, and instructor availability.

Course Schedule

• Wednesday, April 1, 7pm (Online)
  Topics: Welcome and the Ten Essentials; Backpacks; Shelter; Sleep Systems
   
• Wednesday, April 8, 7pm (Online)
  Topics: Clothing Systems; Footwear and Hiking Poles; Food and Cooking; Hydration and Water Treatment
   
• Wednesday, April 15, 7pm (Online)
  Topics: Leave No Trace, Sanitation, Waste, and Garbage; Navigation
   
• Wednesday, April 22, 7pm  (Online)
  Topics: Backcountry Hazards, Emergencies, and First Aid; Trip Planning
   
• Saturday, April 25, 9am (in-person)
  Skills Instruction, Demonstrations, Gear Check, and Day Hike in Your Gear
  Werder Shelter, Huddart Park, Woodside, CA
   
• Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3
  Class Overnight Trip, Option 1
  Henry Coe State Park
   
• Saturday-Sunday, May 9-10
  Class Overnight Trip, Option 2
  Henry Coe State Park
   
• Thursday-Sunday, May 28-31 (pending)
  Sierra Trip, Option 1
  Kaiser Wilderness
   
• Thursday-Sunday, June 4-7 (pending)
  Sierra Trip, Option 2
  Kaiser Wilderness
   

• Thursday-Sunday, June 11-14 (pending)
  Sierra Trip, Option 3
  Kaiser Wilderness

   

Important Note: Participation in course overnight outings requires sufficient attendance at the online sessions; mandatory attendance at the April 25 demonstration and day hike; and a local overnight in order to qualify for a Sierra trip. (Example: you must attend April 25 to go to Coe, and you must go to Coe to go to the Sierra.) No exceptions will be made.

The private Zoom link will be provided to registered students prior to the first class.

Instructors are volunteers from the Backpack Section and receive no compensation.

Registration

Use the button below to register for the course. Space is limited. The course usually fills up!

Register Now!

Meetup Members Register Here!

Questions? Use the form below to contact the course coordinator!

Requested Registration Fee

$200 via Venmo or PayPal, collected separately from the online registration, unless registering with Meetup where you can pay while registering.

COVID Protocols

While proof of vaccination or negative test is not required for the in-person events, full vaccination is nevertheless strongly recommended. If you are experiencing any COVID symptoms or have been recently exposed to COVID-19, please do not attend the in-person events. Class size will be limited in order to allow ample physical distancing among participants.

Waivers

Hiking and backpacking are strenuous physical activities, often far from medical care and facilities. Signed health and safety waivers will be required in order to participate in the in-person day and the class trip.