This is our most popular fieldcourse designed to provide an overview of key wilderness skills in the areas of modern survival, food procurement, tracking skills, outdoor safety, and more.
Day 1 Wilderness Survival
This intensive session breaks down how to be more prepared for backcountry excursions and how to handle an unexpected night in the wilds. Topics covered include: lostproofing methods, survival kits for the pack and vehicle, signaling for rescue, water location and purification methods, improvised and natural shelters, firemaking methods for inclement weather, hypothermia and heat-related injuries, wilderness first-aid kits, and roadside survival concerns.
Day 2 Living Off the Land: Edible Plants, Hunting Tools, & Deadfalls
Learn what’s really involved in feeding yourself in the wilds using a variety of primitive and modern tools. We will delve into the top 10 edible plants in North America as well as carving deadfalls, and discussing zoonotic diseases, food preservation, caloric requirements, urban survival pantry suggestions, and an overview of survival firearms. This class is held in accordance with Colorado Parks & Wildlife Laws. All traps shown will be for demonstration purposes only and no animals will be trapped during the course.
Day 3 Man & Animal Tracking Fundamentals
The morning will be spent on how to identify and interpret the tracks of mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, deer, and other North American mammals. Gait patterns, scrapes, scat, and methods for trailing animals will also be covered. The afternoon session will delve into mantracking and focus on lost-person behavior, the use of stride and straddle for reading the stories, counter-tracking misconceptions, micro & macro tracking, and methods for picking up a lost trail. The day will culminate with a practical exercise with the students tracking the instructors using the methods previously covered.
Instructor: Tony Nester
Register for 1, 2, or all 3 days. Again, this is a popular course and fills quickly.
Cost: $150 per day or $400 for the entire weekend. Please indicate the dates you would are attending if you choose the 1 or 2 day payment option below.
***Each day runs from 9 am to 5 pm. The course is held in a county park in Denver. This is a non-overnight course and participants need to arrange for their own lodging or campsite. A detailed information packet will be emailed out upon registration which covers the recommended gear, weather considerations, directions, and suggestions for lodging/camping in the area.***
WAITING LIST ONLY AT THIS TIME. Please email us at info@apathways.com to be notified of openings.