Master Essential Outdoor Skills for Any Adventure
Master Essential Outdoor Skills: Navigation, Survival & Mountaineering
Outdoor Skills Courses
Enhance your outdoor adventures with our comprehensive Outdoor Skills courses. Learn essential wilderness navigation, outdoor survival techniques, and mountaineering skills, including glacier travel and crevasse rescue. These hands-on courses are designed for all skill levels, providing practical knowledge to help you confidently navigate the wilderness, stay safe, and tackle challenging terrain. Whether you're hiking, camping, or climbing, our expert-led courses will ensure you're prepared for any outdoor challenge.
Led by Certified Instructors
All Outdoor Skills programs are taught by professional guides who hold AMGA certifications appropriate for the terrain they guide in, along with Wilderness First Responder or higher medical training. With years of experience across alpine, rock, and mixed environments, our team emphasizes safety, sound judgment, and the technical proficiency that forms the foundation of every great mountain day—from self-rescue rock climbing and mountain rappelling to emergency preparedness and backcountry survival.
Wilderness Navigation
Master the art of route-finding in our wilderness navigation course, designed to teach map and compass skills, GPS for hiking, and outdoor navigation training techniques for real-world travel. Participants practice backcountry navigation, reading terrain, triangulating their position, and using both analog and digital tools to stay oriented on any trail. This course reinforces essential mountain safety and complements our bushcraft skills and survival training sessions.
Learn to travel confidently off-trail with our Wilderness Navigation Course. Build your map, compass, and GPS skills, and practice backcountry navigation in realistic field settings.
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Wilderness Survival / Outdoor Recreation
Our survival modules provide hands-on instruction in basic survival skills, wilderness first aid, and self-rescue for climbers. Learn to build shelter, create fire in challenging conditions, and maintain composure during emergencies. Students develop situational awareness, decision-making, and emergency preparedness strategies for backcountry conditions.
Develop basic survival skills and emergency preparedness strategies for any environment. This hands-on course covers shelter building, fire starting, water purification, and risk management—ideal for all experience levels.
Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue / Mountaineering 101
For those pursuing alpine objectives, our glacier travel training introduces snow and ice skills, alpine rope systems, and mountaineering glacier techniques used by professionals. You’ll practice movement on snow, rope team travel, and crevasse rescue course systems—learning how to protect yourself and your team while navigating complex glacier terrain. The course builds confidence for future mountaineering or expedition-style climbing.
Advance your mountaineering glacier skills with training in rope team travel, snow and ice techniques, and crevasse rescue. Perfect for climbers preparing for alpine ascents or glacier expeditions.
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Why Train with Gunks Guides
Experience: Decades of guiding and instruction across North America’s top climbing and mountaineering destinations.
Expertise: Guides who hold AMGA certifications relevant to the terrain they guide in, ensuring instruction that meets or exceeds recognized industry standards.
Authority: Recognized regional leaders in outdoor skills education, working closely with climbing schools and rescue professionals.
Trust: Fully insured, safety-driven, and highly rated for professional instruction.
Outdoor Skills FAQs
Do I need experience before joining a wilderness navigation course?
No prior experience is required. The course covers the essentials—map and compass skills, GPS for hiking, and outdoor navigation training—so both beginners and experienced hikers can sharpen their backcountry navigation abilities.
How is the glacier travel and crevasse rescue course structured?
The glacier travel training and crevasse rescue course introduce alpine rope skills, snow and ice travel, and glacier climbing techniques. You’ll learn roped travel, self-arrest, and partner rescue systems used by professional guides.
Who teaches the Outdoor Skills courses?
All courses are led by guides who hold AMGA certifications relevant to the terrain they guide in and Wilderness First Responder training. Their credentials ensure accurate instruction, risk management, and up-to-date techniques grounded in industry standards.
What equipment should I bring?
We provide most technical gear, including ropes, harnesses, and safety equipment. A personal gear list will be sent before your course; items may include hiking boots, layers for weather, and navigation tools if you have them.
Are the courses suitable for beginners?
Yes. Each program—whether outdoor survival, navigation, or mountaineering—is designed for all ability levels. Instructors adjust lessons and terrain to match your experience and comfort.