WINTER SURVIVAL ADVENTURE HIKE

Colorado’s winter backcountry is as treacherous as it is breathtaking. For those who have completed our Basic Winter Survival Class, we now offer an advanced, immersive experience: a rugged, 3-day winter survival hike through untouched wilderness. This hike goes far beyond what you'd find on a mapped trail; we’ll be traversing about 9 miles of tough terrain, including old roads, animal paths, and off-trail bushwhacking, testing your navigation and survival skills to the fullest.

COURSE DESCRIPTION This adventure builds upon the skills learned in the Basic Winter Survival Class and challenges you to apply them in a true backcountry setting. While portions of the hike will follow remnants of roads and animal trails, much of it involves bushwhacking through rugged, uneven terrain that few have traveled before. You’ll be constantly confronted with the realities of navigating off-grid in winter conditions, far from the beaten paths. This is not your typical hike—there will be no groomed trails or easy shortcuts, just raw wilderness.

Throughout this trek, you will also refine and expand your winter survival skills, learning to adapt as you push your limits.

WHAT TO EXPECT Over the course of three days, we’ll cover roughly 9 miles of challenging terrain, with a heavy focus on hands-on survival skills and practical application. Each day brings new challenges, from difficult weather conditions to variable terrain, and you’ll rely on both your mental and physical stamina to succeed. Along the way, we'll practice essential winter skills that build on what you learned in the basic course, but now, in real-world scenarios.

Our main focus will be on thriving in unpredictable and rugged winter conditions, all while managing limited resources and exposure to the elements.

SKILLS TAUGHT AND REFINED

• Advanced Shelter Building: You’ll revisit the shelter-building techniques you learned in the basic course but will now apply them in tougher, more rugged terrain using natural resources found during the hike.
• Land Navigation: Master the use of a map and compass combined with terrain association to navigate through off-trail and rugged backcountry.
• Snow Navigation and Terrain Assessment: Learn to navigate the backcountry with minimal landmarks, assess snow conditions, and avoid dangerous areas such as avalanche zones.
• Advanced Fire Craft: You’ll practice fire-starting techniques in difficult winter conditions, focusing on creating long-lasting fires with minimal resources.
• Winter Foraging and Resource Management: Discover how to forage in the winter wilderness and manage your resources efficiently over the multi-day journey.
• Skills in Action: Throughout the hike, you’ll apply modern and primitive skills to tackle challenges you encounter.
• Emergency Situations: Learn how to manage real-world scenarios like minor injuries, navigation mistakes, and weather changes while deep in the wilderness.

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN This 3-day Winter Survival Adventure Hike is designed to push you to the next level in both physical endurance and winter survival skills. You will walk away with:

• A deeper understanding of how to move through and survive in rugged winter backcountry environments.
• Confidence in your ability to navigate, build shelter, and stay warm under harsh conditions.
• Practical bushcraft skills to rely on in off-trail and unpredictable terrains.

PREREQUISITES This course is open to those who have completed the Basic Winter Survival Class or have equivalent experience. This is a physically demanding hike and requires a high level of fitness, mental resilience, and winter preparedness.