Backcountry Fly Fishing

September 10-12, 2010
$610

Get ‘reel’ in the high country! Cast and relax in the high-alpine lake terrain of Wyoming’s Snowy Range. After a short backpack in, you’ll establish a basecamp and visit several trout-filled backcountry lakes. You’ll learn all the basics of the equipment, casting, knots, wading and fishing from the shore, plus some advanced skills like selecting flies and different kinds of casting. The hike in is relatively gentle which also makes this course a good introduction to backpacking. No experience necessary. Includes fly fishing gear.

What Should I Expect on a Women’s Wilderness Course?Our courses are real-life adventures, and the excitingly unpredictable nature of a real expedition makes every course different. Unlike a guided, “adventure travel vacation”, this is YOUR adventure, and our intention is to teach you the skills to gradually assume the responsibilities of the course, and to be a full participant in the many decisions and judgments that an expedition entails. This includes cooking meals, navigating, setting up camp, and meeting as a group to plan and organize each day. You can expect some “down-time” for hanging out and talking, or journal writing time, but mostly you will be actively learning, doing, and moving.

What Do I Need to Bring?Not much! After you have enrolled you will be sent a packet that will include a list of things to bring. Women’s Wilderness can supply all backpacking and fishing gear, including backpacks, rods & reels, tents, sleeping bags, and stoves. In most cases we can loan you clothing if needed, including raingear and fleece clothes. We suggest that you bring well-water proofed, hiking boots. We do have a selection of leather boots to loan, if needed. If you need to borrow hiking boots please let us know so you can come in ahead of time to try them on. We’ll be stopping in Laramie on the way to the trailhead to purchase your Wyoming Fishing License, so please make sure you have cash/credit/check on hand. The cost of a license is $14 per day or $92 annually. Thanks to our generous 2009 sponsors, we invite you to demo a Sierra Designs women's specific sleeping bag or Kelty backpack; we also have some GoLite packs to try. Just email us to arrange.

Where Are We Going? The Snowy Range, named after the striking white granite that forms its high peaks, is a well-protected secret of the Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 9,000 feet to 12,000 feet, with Medicine Bow Peak rising to 12,013 feet above steep rocky walls and dozens of high alpine lakes. Much of the area is above timberline, with rolling alpine tundra, silvery granite boulders and beautiful wildflowers. Summer is typically warm during the days and cool at night, with brief afternoon thunderstorms. The Snowy Range is located fifty miles west of Laramie in southern Wyoming, approximately a 3-hour drive from Boulder.

Itinerary

What Will We Eat? We carefully plan the menu to make sure that participants aren’t carrying more weight than necessary, and all meals are included in course cost. There is always plenty to eat, and we pack snacks for munching throughout the day. However, if you have your favorite snack items, feel free to bring them along as well.
Meals are designed to accommodate a full range of preferences – from vegetarian to full meat protein-loving divas! We can accommodate some common food allergies and dietary needs, so if you have dietary restrictions please let us know at least one week before your course.

How Will I Get to the Course Site? You will meet at 8:00 am at The Women’s Wilderness Institute office at 5723 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 1B, in Boulder. We will carpool from the office to the Snowys. There is ample parking at the Boulder office if you choose to ride with someone else.

What About Fitness?This course is a gentle introduction to backpacking, but it is important that you be in good health and reasonably fit. Packs will weigh 35-40 lbs, and hiking will include some short uphill sections. Day hiking may involve travel off trails and over rough terrain. As a rough guideline, we suggest that you be able to hike uphill at a good pace for an hour at a time.

If you’re coming from a lower elevation, we strongly recommend you spend two or three days in Denver or Boulder prior to the course start. This course takes place at elevations of 10,000 feet, and gradual acclimatization is very important for your health and safety.

Payment Schedule & Cancellation PolicyA $60 application fee will hold your spot on the course for two weeks while you receive and return your completed enrollment packet. This fee is non-refundable, unless for some reason we cannot accept you on the course. Half of the remaining course fee is due with registration, and the rest of the fee is due two months before the course start. Payment plans may be able to be arranged - please contact us if this would help you pay for the course.

CANCELLATION POLICY - PLEASE READ!Our cancellation/refund policy is based on our investment in staff time, course planning, and food and equipment purchases before your course. Course tuition includes a $60 nonrefundable application fee.

Cancellation refunds will be given according to the following schedule:

Days prior to course start:

More than 60 days: 100% of full tuition minus $60 application fee.
21-59 days: 50% minus $60 application fee.
8-20 days: No refunds, however 50% minus the $60 application fee may be transferred to another course in 2010.
Less than 7 days: No refunds or transfers.

If we cancel a trip: TWWI reserves the right to cancel a trip if sign-up is inadequate to make the trip economically feasible for us to operate. If this happens, we will fully refund the stated cost including the application fee. However, TWWI is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by you in preparing for the trip, e.g. transportation costs, gear, etc.

Trip InsuranceSafeguard your adventure! Plans can change without warning, which is why we recommend securing your course by investing in trip insurance, for example with:
Travelguard.com 1.800.826.4919 Insuremytrip.com 1.800.487.4722