PEO 351-Backpacking - spring and fall terms

This is a two-credit course designed for students with little or no backpacking experience. The course consists of classroom sessions and a three-day backpacking outing to the Oregon Coast. Classroom topics include clothing and equipment requirements, a map and compass review, backpacking risks and hazards, leave no trace travel and camping ethics, fitness requirements, and trip planning and preparation.

Students are required to complete a map and compass worksheet and an in-class fitness test (2-mile run in less than 20 minutes) prior to participating in the outing.

The focus of the outing is on learning the basics of backpacking, with an emphasis on thefollowing skills andtechniques: Packing a pack; improving hiking efficiency and preventing injuries, using a backpacking stove and cooking basic meals; erecting a tarp and/or tent shelter; camping and traveling using Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics specific to the coastal environment; reading a map and using a map and compass to navigate from point to point.

course documents course description course schedule - fall course schedule - spring outing agenda outing equipment requirements outing map north outing map south worksheet

PEO 356-Backcountry Navigation fall term

This is a two-credit course consisting of classroom sessions and a three-day backpacking outing to the Oregon Cascades. Classroom topics include clothing and equipment requirements, navigation (map and compass review and introduction to GPS use), backcountry safety practices and protocols, LNT travel and camping ethics, fitness requirements, and trip planning and preparation. Students are required to complete a map and compass worksheet, and pass an in-class fitness test (2-mile run in less than 18 minutes) prior to participating in the outing.

The outing is geared towards developing efficient backcountry navigation skills. We follow an exciting and challenging route in rugged country that requires the use of intermediate and advanced GPS and map and compass skills. The route is mostly off trail, in the southern portion of the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. This outing can be physically demanding, especially in foul weather.

course documents course syllabus equipment & clothing requirements worksheet online map outing agenda

PEO 392-Backcountry Survival spring term

This one-credit survival course is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who venture into backcountry areas during the cooler months of the year, or travel to areas that have winter-like conditions (e.g. higher elevations) at any time of the year.

The course provides the knowledge, skills and practice essential to surviving in the cool, wet, and windy climate of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the obvious safety advantages, the skills and knowledgegained in this course is integral to increasing personal comfort in conventional outdoor activities. The course consists of classroom sessions and a three-day outing.

course documents course syllabus outing agenda gear and clothing requirements survival exercise gear requirements and conduct final exam_takehome

PEO 353-Backcountry Cuisine fall term

There's nothing quite like eating a gourmet meal after a long day of backpacking. Backcountry Cuisine is a one-credit course designed to teach people how to prepare, pack, and cook lightweight, nutritious and delicious tasting meals while hiking in the backcountry.

The course consists of six classroom sessions and a one-day cooking outing to a campground near Eugene. Classroom topics include:

• meal planning and rationing,
• using a variety of backpacking stoves,
• cooking one pot meals,
• advanced techniques such as baking,
• environmental considerations (fire safety and waste disposal).

View course syllabus

View Backcountry Cuisine text by D. Dawson