Outdoor Adventure Workshops Scheduled!
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Patrick Mostyn scales Hurricane Mountain on an Adirondack High Peaks Adventure hike led by Craig Rice.
Now that we're getting our 2011 programming in order, check back regularly on Better Farm's workshops page for new courses being offered in everything from yoga to timber frame construction. Kicking us off this year are a series of outdoor adventures led by our friend, neighbor, and survivalism and outdoors expert, Craig Rice:
June 10-12
BACKWOODS 101: Introduction to wild edible plants & primitive camping
This course will focus on the importance of properly identifying plants, leaf structures, different parts of plants, harvesting and preparing, as well as positive recognition of poisonous plants. Students will will canoe or kayak down Black Creek looking for edible plants and a good camping area to build a primitive campsite overnight. In the instance of inclement weather the group may elect to use the outfitter’s tent. Participants should bring a bedroll, netting, flashlight, poncho, and water bottle. A daypack for hauling your gear will be beneficial. Pack light! Better Farm will provide food to take along and bug spray. Group will meet at Better Farm the evening of Friday, June 10 for dinner and orientation, heading out for Black Creek Saturday morning and returning Sunday.
Cost: $160
ADIRONDACK HIGH PEAKS ADVENTURE
Experience two or more nights in the wilderness on one of four mountains:
,
,
, or
. We will either camp primitively at a site chosen in the field or ruck out in a lean-to if one is available. All summits are open with tremendous views of the surrounding mountains from New York’s Mt. Marcy and Champlain Valley to the Green Mts. of Vermont. These trips are strenuous and require that you are in good physical condition. Proper attire is mandatory, good hiking/backpacking boots a must. You will be expected to carry a pack weighing 25 pounds or more and partake in setting up and breaking camp. Awesome trips for those tough enough. Trip planning is dynamic, the abilities and desires of your group will form our goals. Outfitting for four people: packs, sleeping bags, pads, Gortex outerwear, and more is available, please contact info@betterfarm.org with your needs. Group will meet at Better Farm Thursday evening for dinner and orientation, and leave from there Friday morning. Group will return to Better Farm Sunday.
Hurricane Mountain:
June 23-26, Oct 7-9, Moderate, $400, group size limited to 6
Note: Hurricane is the least strenuous mountain to climb and provides perhaps some of the best views as well as a lean-to. An excellent mountain to consider.
Whiteface Mountain:
July 28-31 Strenuous, $450, group size 4
Giant Mountain:
Aug 25-28 Moderate, $400, group size 3-6
Dix & Noonmark Mountain:
Sept 29- Oct 3 Very Strenuous, $500, group size 4
July 15-17; Aug. 12-14; Sept. 9-11; Oct. 14-16
ADIRONDACK ADVENTURE
Travel to Wanakena, N.Y. in the beautiful Adirondack foothills and put down an afternoon hike to the summit of Cat Mountain with spectacular views of endless Adirondack wilds, a few more miles of hiking, and overnight in an authentic Adirondack lean-to. Go swimming or canoeing while your guides prepare an outdoor banquet that is sure to bring the bears running! The next morning after breakfast, we’ll have a pleasant woods walk along a mostly flat trail back to the trailhead and civilization. Sleeping bag, proper attire, extra socks, hiking boots, and backpack along with a camera will do you well. We’re happy to make our extra gear available if needed. Each group will meet at Better Farm Thursday evening for dinner and orientation, and leave from there Friday morning. Group will return to Better Farm Sunday.
Cost: $320 includes transportation, three meals and drinks, kayaks and canoes rentals, two guides, and a good time. Please specify in a note on Paypal which dates you are signing up for.
Aug. 19-21
BUSHWHACKING 101: Intro to orienteering & primitive camping
In "Bushwhacking 101" we will discuss map symbols, contour lines, gradient and route finding, as well as plotting a course, recognizing and using natural features, and establishing a backup plan. We will learn skills to navigate with a compass, variation, declination, taking bearings, following headings, triangulation, dead reckoning, getting lost, and getting out. Students will also learn backup methods for navigating such as wind direction, the sunshine, the stars, etc. We will follow up some classroom time, practice and planning with a bushwhack through trailless woods to our primitive campsite and return the following day. Each student will receive a quality magnetic compass and topographic maps of the surrounding area for this course. Participants should bring a bedroll, netting, flashlight, poncho, and waterbottle. A daypack for hauling your gear will be beneficial, pack light! Better Farm will provide food to take along and bugspray. Group will meet at Better Farm the evening of Friday, Aug. 19 for dinner and orientation, heading into the woods Saturday morning and returning Sunday.
Cost: $160
Click
for a full listing of Better Farm workshops and to sign up.
