ITW Wilderness Skills Course
Empower Your Next Adventure
Ready to trade the noise of everyday life for the wild beauty of the backcountry? The ITW Wilderness Skills Course is your gateway to confident, capable, and safe wilderness travel.
Whether you’re new to backpacking or looking to reinforce your foundational skills, this one-day immersive training delivers practical, hands-on experience designed to prepare you for real-world adventures in the North Cascades and beyond.
More Than a Backpacking Course : Skills for the Real World
Our Wilderness Skills Courses aren’t just about backcountry adventures, they’re about building real-world confidence. Whether you’re navigating a multi-day hike or facing an unexpected power outage, earthquake, or natural emergency, the skills you learn with ITW are practical, adaptable, and grounded in common sense. These courses strengthen your mindset preparing you not just for the trail, but for life when things don’t go as planned.
Led by seasoned instructors, you’ll dive into the essential skills of backcountry life: from setting up your tent and reading a map, to preparing for emergencies and navigating wildlife encounters. But this course goes deeper than a checklist it’s about building the mindset and awareness that make you a self-sufficient hiker and a trusted trail partner.
Come curious, leave capable and inspired to keep going deeper.
This is your starting point. Let’s go Into the Wilderness.
What You'll learn
This course teaches more than just skills, it gives you the confidence to explore with purpose and awareness.
Backcountry Basics
Pack smart. Set up camp. Cook in the wild. Learn how to select and organize your gear, follow a pre-departure checklist, set up your tent, regulate your body temperature, and cook with a backcountry stove. We’ll also cover essential fire safety and how to stay comfortable in the elements.
Navigation & Safety
Find your way and stay safe doing it. Master map reading and compass use, understand how to operate an emergency beacon, and learn what to do if you get lost. We’ll guide you through reading weather patterns, planning your route, and handling unexpected situations with confidence including basic first aid.
Wilderness Awareness
Read the land. Respect the wild. Explore how to identify terrain, prepare for animal encounters, and make sound decisions in unpredictable outdoor environments. It’s about staying alert, calm, and in sync with nature.
Trail Confidence
Move with purpose. Be a great trail partner. Learn how to set a sustainable hiking pace, estimate arrival times, and maintain group safety on the trail. You’ll gain the confidence to lead or follow with awareness and teamwork.
Leave No Trace
Explore responsibly. We’ll guide you through the principles of Leave No Trace, including how to dispose of trash properly, manage human waste, and minimize your impact on the land so you can leave nature as wild as you found it.
course details
Duration: 9.5 hours
Time: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Location: North Cascades (exact meeting point provided after registration)
Minimum Age: No minimum age. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult or guardian.
Prerequisites: None
Preparation: None
Prices include
Expert Instruction
Learn from a trained and experienced ITW instructor who brings real-world wilderness knowledge and a passion for helping others grow their skills.
Complete Training Day Syllabus
Want to see the full course schedule? Download the PDF to review everything you’ll learn during the day, before, during or after the course.
Backcountry Meal
Snack and lunch provided, balanced and energy packed to keep you fueled throughout the day.
Emergency Contact Form Template
A ready-to-use emergency form to help you plan your future trips safely and responsibly.
Suggested Gear List
We’ll send you a clear list of recommended gear with explanations and helpful answers to common beginner questions.
15% Discount on Future Trips
Graduates of this course receive an exclusive 15% discount on any self-guided ITW overnight adventure.
What to bring?
Pen and paper for taking note.
Curiosity, openness, and a sense of adventure.
Appropriate clothes for an outdoor course.
Into the Wilderness offers self-guided, fully equipped wilderness expeditions that combine hands-on training, professional-grade gear, and real-time support.
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