Training to Go Wild in Wilderness

Once upon a time, there was BMTC, the Sierra Club’s Basic Mountaineering Training Course. Over the years, it taught thousands of people (including many in Orange County) mountain skills ranging from rock climbing to snow travel.

When liability insurance costs went out of control in the mid-’80s, the club had to drop the course. A few years ago, however, it came back in a new form--as WTC, the Wilderness Travel Course. Gone are a few of the things that worried insurers the most, namely technical rock climbing and ice ax practice, but in essence the course is much the same.

New sessions of the 10-week class begin in January. For the first time, it’s being offered in Orange County, but both sections (beginning Jan. 12 at REI in Santa Ana) are already booked. Five sections of the class are being offered in Long Beach, however, beginning Jan. 20.

The class is designed to give participants the skills for mountain travel that goes beyond simple hiking and backpacking.

“For many of us who would like to go in the outdoors more often and farther in, and really enjoy the wilderness, this provides some information on how to do it safely and enjoyably, and go back for more,” explained Harry Freimanis, Orange County area chairman for WTC.

Ten weekly class lectures cover a wide range of topics: physical conditioning, equipment, field navigation with map and compass, non-technical rock climbing, wilderness ethics, mountaineering medicine, snow travel, winter camping, food planning and preparation, and safety and rescue.

Each lecture is taught by a different instructor with a particular expertise in the topic.

Four weekend field trips are part of the class. The first is a day hike of 12 to 15 miles that serves as a conditioning test--those who can’t finish the hike may be asked to drop the course. A weekend at Joshua Tree includes one day of elementary rock-climbing instruction and one day of navigation practice.

A one-day trip in the local mountains will serve as an introduction to snow travel techniques. The final trip takes participants into the Sierra Nevada for a weekend snow camp in which they will test the skills they have learned in the course under winter conditions.

Cost of the WTC course is $125 for Sierra Club members and $135 for non-members. A textbook (“Mountaineering, Freedom of the Hills”) is required. It can be purchased through the club for $18 with registration or $21 on the first night of class. There is the additional cost of equipment, most of which can be rented.

To register in advance, pick up a registration form from one of the local outdoor shops, such as REI in Santa Ana or A16 in Costa Mesa. Also, for the Long Beach sessions, Freimanis said, it will be possible to register on the first night of class, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

What: Sierra Club Wilderness Travel Course.

When: Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 20, plus four field trips to be announced.

Where: Stanford Junior High School Auditorium, 5871 Los Arcos St., Long Beach.

Whereabouts: From the northbound San Diego (I-405) Freeway, take the Palo Verde Avenue off-ramp. Head north to Willow Street and turn left. Turn left again on Woodruff Avenue, go under the freeway and merge into the right lane, then follow a sign indicating a U-turn to the right onto Los Arcos Street. Turn right on Albury Avenue between the two schools and park.

Wherewithal: $125 for Sierra Club members and $135 for non-members.

Where to call: (714) 496-3972.