Communication & Navigation

Backcountry Navigation

About course

Unlock the full potential of your outdoor adventures with our Backcountry Navigation course. This comprehensive training is designed to equip you with essential navigation skills—from reading traditional maps and using a compass to mastering modern digital navigation tools.

Whether you’re an experienced explorer or new to backcountry travel, this course provides the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate safely through any terrain. We also cover the latest technology for route planning, trip tracking, and building effective contingency plans.

All enrolled students receive a 6-month Premium membership to Gaia GPS, giving you access to powerful mapping tools and offline navigation capabilities to reinforce your training in the field.

What Will You Learn?

  • Map Reading & Topographic Interpretation
  • Compass Navigation & Orienteering
  • GPS & Digital Mapping Tools
  • Route Planning & Wayfinding Strategies
  • Dead Reckoning & Pace Counting
  • Wilderness Navigation in Poor Visibility
  • Emergency Navigation & Lost-Person Strategies
  • Backcountry Safety & Decision-Making

Course Content

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Additional Course Details

  • Duration: 1 Day

  • Skill Level: All Experience Levels

  • Topics Covered: Map, Compass, GPS

  • Digital Tools: Includes Gaia GPS Premium (6 Months)

  • Hands-On: Route Planning & Field Navigation

  • Kit Included: LMNT Electrolytes

  • Setting: Outdoor—Bring Weather-Ready Gear

Included in the course:

6 Months of Gaia GPS Premium

Access detailed offline maps with layers for trails, terrain, weather, public land, and more—even without cell service

Plan, track, and navigate your routes with precision using real-time GPS, waypoints, and elevation tools

Sync across devices—seamlessly use Gaia GPS on your phone, tablet, and desktop

Stay informed and safe with weather overlays, hunting zones, and wildfire boundaries built into the map layers

Upcoming Courses

Upcoming classes are in the works! Contact us to request training dates or private group sessions.

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BOLDLY GO * BOLDLY GO * BOLDLY GO * BOLDLY GO * BOLDLY GO * BOLDLY GO *

What Our Clients Say

SOS’s Wilderness First Responder class has been critical to me being able to BOLDLY GO

While first aid classes are certainly valuable in life, I knew that if I wanted to not only survive, but safely THRIVE WITH CONFIDENCE in the backcountry, then I would need School of Survival to guide my planning to ensure I could get home. I had zero awareness of how much misinformation the internet’s “experts” had fed me about practical skills and supplies. School of Survival actually lives the life of being in the backcountry and puts their ideas to test.

Matt Thomason

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