Winter Mountaineering School

If you're looking to expand your winter hiking, backpacking and mountaineering skills, or possibly looking for an alternative vacation this coming winter, you may want to note that the Adirondack Mountain Club has just published the dates for this years' Winter Mountaineering School.

For more than 50 years the Adirondack Mountain Club has hosted the annual Winter Mountaineering School near Lake Placid, New York. They typically cover the following areas of instruction:

* Winter backpacking skills
* Snowshoe, crampon and ice axe techniques
* Proper clothing and temperature management
* Steep snow and ice travel
* Safe above-treeline travel under winter conditions
* On- and off-trail navigation; map and compass review
* Trip planning
* How to pack a winter backpack
* Group gear review
* Hydration and nutrition
* Constructing snow shelters and a winter backcountry kitchen
* Wilderness first aid
* Avalanche awareness
* Decision making and risk management
* Winter "Leave No Trace" principals

Past participants have included three season hikers and backpackers looking to expand their winter skills, as well as more experienced skiers, trip leaders and winter mountaineers who are wishing to refine their skills or are looking for some excitement and adventure. The organization has an experienced, all-volunteer staff, with a low student-to-instructor ratio.

They offer weekend day hikes, weekend backpacking, and weeklong backpacking options from January 28 through February 3, 2011. The deadline for registration is January 15 , 2011. You may also want to note that space is limited, so it might be a good idea to register quickly.

For more information, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

New Outdoor Gear Partnerships

HikingintheSmokys.com is proud to announce a brand new partnership with Altrec Outdoors and Backcountry.com in order to provide you with all the latest and greatest hiking and outdoor gear.

I think you’ll find shopping for gear and clothing from HikingintheSmokys.com to be much easier now. In addition to far better navigation tools, you’ll find a much wider selection of the best gear from the top brands like The North Face, Patagonia, Black Diamond, Petzl, Mountain Hardwear, Arc'teryx, Nike, Outdoor Research and more – at very competitive prices.

Bargain shoppers should note that both sites have “Outlet Stores” that sell overstock, closeouts, and items from last year at even much lower prices.

In addition to hiking gear, you can find backpacking, mountaineering and camping equipment, as well as gear for a variety of other outdoor pursuits.

Of course you can still find a wide selection of books and maps related to the Smokies and the surrounding Southern Appalachian region from our Amazon Affiliate program.

Anything you purchase through this website helps support HikingintheSmokys.com so that we can continue to provide you with free trail information as well as the latest news on what’s going on in the Great Smoky Mountains and beyond.

You can visit our store by clicking here, or, to go directly to one of our new partners, you can just click on one of the following logos:






Thanks again!

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

How To Bake Cake...In An Orange

Yesterday I posted Backpacker Magazine's list of cocktails for the trail. Now they show you how to make a fresh cake - with an orange.

Here's the "Trail Chef" video to explain how this is done:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

Cocktails for the trail

If you're going to be backpacking over New Years, Backpacker Magazine has a list of cocktail recipes to help ring in the new year. Who says you can't join in with the rest of the world as 2009 fades into history.

Many of the drinks require fresh snow, and in one case, hailstones?!?!

1. Mountain Margarita
2. Watermelon Snowfield
3. Bikini Sunburn
4. Mountain Storm
5. Snake in the Grass
6. Blackberry Margarita
7. Backcountry Mai Tai
8. Goodnight Kiss
9. Wilderness White Russian
10. Under the Sleeping Bag

Please click here to see the recipes.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.