Southwest Lightweight Backpacking
14 days
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Small Group Tour
Prepare yourself for a fast-moving, skills-oriented experience in the American Southwest. The course begins with you and your instructors carefully selecting and weighing your gear and food so that you start your course with only a 22- to 28-pound pack.
Then, you’ll head into the Gila National Forest. The Gila Wilderness was the first federally designated W...
From$3,655
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Overview
Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Highlights
- This is an outdoor leadership course designed for 23 years and older
- Explore the Gila Wilderness
- Learn travel skills including navigation, leadership, risk assessment, and decision-making
- Learn to use lightweight techniques and specialized lightweight gear
What's this trip about?
Prepare yourself for a fast-moving, skills-oriented experience in the American Southwest. The course begins with you and your instructors carefully selecting and weighing your gear and food so that you start your course with only a 22- to 28-pound pack.
Then, you’ll head into the Gila National Forest. The Gila Wilderness was the first federally designated Wilderness area in the United States, and the Gila National Forest is the largest National Forest in the lower 48 states. You can still see signs of some of its early civilizations, including the Mogollon, in the form of potsherds and rock art. The Gila was also inhabited by bands of Apaches at various times.
This course will challenge you with long hiking days, off-trail travel, and the opportunity to lead your peers. You’ll also learn essential skills like cooking one-pot meals on an alcohol stove, staying warm and dry with a minimum of gear, and backcountry navigation using a map, compass and GPS. You will leave this course with the skills and background necessary to plan and execute your own lightweight adventures.
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Details
Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 15 people
Age range18 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityTucson
End CityTucson
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Min Group Size
Max Group Size
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Itinerary
Leave your hiking boots and water bottles at home; trail shoes and hydration bladders are all the rage these days. We are proud to offer this cutting-edge course in the deserts of the Southwest. Your adventure starts in the equipment room as NOLS instructors inspect and weigh your lightweight gear and pull together a specialized ration for your expedition, helping you shave ounces for the lightest possible load without compromising functionality. Then, for the next two weeks, you'll explore the Gila Wilderness, one of the Southwest's most remote ranges, in a way you may never have thought possible: with only a 22-28 pound pack. The only thing we won't go light with on this course is our core curriculum. You'll still master the leadership and outdoor living skills that NOLS is built upon while learning the specific skills of lightweight backpacking. Expect to leave this course with the skills and background necessary to plan and execute your own future lightweight adventures.
Features
Duration: 14 days
Route length: 80-100 miles
Average group size: 10-13 students / 2-3 instructors
Average age: 29 / minimum age: 18
Average pack weight: 22-28 pounds
Elevation range: 6,000-10,770 feet
On and off-trail hiking
Emphasis on lightweight travel and camping techniques
Notable wildlife: elk, black bear, birds, coyote, mountain lions, deer, wolf, javelina
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Dates & Availability
Price From $3,655
Price per day$261
Last Updated: 7/16/2018
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with National Outdoor Leadership School.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
National Outdoor Leadership School Reviews & Ratings
Other National Outdoor Leadership School Reviews
L
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Great Wilderness courses!
Great Wilderness courses!
B
National Outdoor Leadership School Company Reviewsby National Outdoor Leadership School
Phenomenal
Wind River 1995 was phenomenal with Jason Buchovecky
A
National Outdoor Leadership School Company Reviewsby National Outdoor Leadership School
properly engage the class
I recently took the NOLS Wilderness First Aid course and was very please with not only the content, but the instructors as well. They were very knowledgeable and kne...
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Age Requirements
18 years and up
Average age: 29
Average age: 29
Additional Information
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Trip ID
nation1-SouLigNat
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