The Community of Lightweight Hiking and Backcountry Travel

Backpacking Light's Wilderness Trekking School

Joe J. surveys from high Montana divide during a WT1-LWB course.

Backpacking Light Wilderness Trekking School

Advanced and comprehensive instruction in lightweight philosophy, skills, and gear.

The Backpacking Light Wilderness Trekking School teaches lightweight camping, hiking, backpacking, trekking, packrafting, long distance hiking, thru-hiking, winter camping, and other wilderness travel skills. We take great pride in offering high quality education and hands-on instruction in advanced ultralight skills. Our wilderness venue includes the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of Montana and Wyoming. The Wilderness Trekking School strives to be the world's premier outdoor education provider focusing on lightweight wilderness travel philosophy, techniques, and gear.

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Our Courses

Backpacking Light offers a variety of courses for a diverse audience. Whether your season of choice is summer or winter, your mode of travel is foot, packraft, snowshoes, or skis, or you're interested in spending a few days or a few weeks with us, you should find a course that fits your needs.

Course Catalog » Compare All Courses » Course Calendar / Enroll Now

Course Catalog

DurationDifficultyInfo
Lightweight Backpacking (WS1-LWB)

WS1-LWB provides an introduction to lightweight backpacking and camping gear and techniques. Learn more »

3 Days Learn More
Introduction to Packrafting (WS1-IPR)

WS1-IPR provides an introduction to both flatwater and Class I-II river packrafting gear and techniques. Learn more »

3 Days Learn More
Summer Backpacking (WT1-SBP)

WT1-SBP provides a comprehensive framework of both introductory and intermediate skills for safe, comfortable, and enjoyable backpacking using lightweight gear and techniques. Learn more »

7 Days Learn More
Winter Backpacking & Camping (WS1-WBC)

WS1-WBC provides an introduction to hiking and camping during the deep snows of mid-winter. Learn More »

3 Days Learn More
Winter Backpacking (WT2-WBP)

WT2-WBP provides comprehensive instruction for lightweight mid-winter backpacking, including avalanche safety, deep snow ski and snowshoe trekking, winter camping, and staying comfortable in extreme cold. Learn more »

7 Days Learn More
Long Distance Backpacking (WT2-LDB)

WT2-LDB provides comprehensive instruction in intermediate and advanced techniques and gear for longer ultralight, long distance, and thru-hiking expeditions. Learn more »

14 Days Learn More
Long Distance Packrafting (WT2-LDP)

WT2-LDP provides comprehensive instruction in intermediate and advanced techniques for longer packraft trekking expeditions. Learn more »

14 Days Learn More
Expedition Traverse (WT3-EXT)

WT3-EXT tests everything you've learned and provides opportunities for you to stretch those limits in the context of a long traverse over vast, remote wilderness during the off-season, in a bold, ultralight style. Learn more »

7 Days Learn More

Compare Courses »

Difficulty Rating

EASIEST. Reasonable fitness recommended, no previous experience necessary.
EASIER. Good fitness and some previous outdoor/camping experience are recommended.
INTERMEDIATE. Good fitness, skills, and previous experience (backpacking or packrafting) are recommended.
MORE DIFFICULT. Good fitness, skills and previous experience (backpacking or packrafting) are required.
MOST DIFFICULT. Excellent fitness, skills and previous experience required to ensure your safety.

Have Questions?

Please peruse the pages relating to Backpacking Light's Wilderness Trekking School on this Web site. Note the links located to the top-right of this page, which you will find on all the WTS pages. If you do not find the information you need, or you would like a personal phone consultation regarding the school, please send an e-mail to school@backpackinglight.com, and we’ll reply to set up a time to chat.