We admit that “Backpacking Introduction” would be far more telling than using the somewhat ambiguous “Camp Craft” but it is the same thing. Sort of. Our thinking is that while some people say backpacking is “roughing it,” the camping part of a backpacking trip should be anything but rough. In other words, one thing’s survival while the other’s living. Good food, comfort, cleanliness, fresh water, warmth (or coolness), and the other little things that count. For those who understand the priorities of life realize it doesn’t require much — especially if you have the right gear and know-how. That’s where we come in. We teach, advise, and suggest. We want the activity to be safe, fun, and comfortable. And we want our students to feel as if they are living, not just making it through the night. The bulk of class includes the how-to of major systems (selecting a site, filtering water, starting a fire, preparing meals, hanging a bear bag, etc.) but as we share our knowledge we begin delving into the minutia. What we wear, what we do around camp, our responsibilities (drying our boots for the next day, for example). Even silly little things like how to sit without a chair — relying on a deep squat to get the job done. We could go on and on, but that’s what the class is for. Spending the day with Redline Guide Arlette Laan, for example, is going to expose our students to a plethora of tips and tricks — many found through trial and error — as well as the foundational building blocks. This class was aone-on-one with Arlette and took place at our Basecamp and at Mountain Pond in Chatham. From our understanding, the class went very well.
