Affinity Group Wilderness Experience Sample Itinerary: 

Day 1:

8:00 AM: Meet in Missoula, travel to Hungry Horse, Montana at the Hungry Horse Ranger Station

11:00 AM: Arrive at Hungry Horse Ranger Station
Day 1 Workshops:
- Wilderness Rules and Regulations by Wilderness Ranger Colter Pence
- History on the Wilderness Act and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex
- Bear behavior and safe practices in bear country by Wildlife Biologist
2:00 AM: Group heads to Challenge Cabin to front country (car) camp for two nights.
Afternoon Workshops:
- Basic camp set up: tents, kitchen, latrine, bear hang
- Basic camping gear use and maintenance: stoves, water filters, sleeping bags/pads, tents
- Leave No Trace principles and practices
- How to poop in the woods
- How to start a fire
4:00 PM: Break for the day; free time until dinner
5:00 PM: Dinner crew helps prepare dinner
6:00 PM: Dinner time! After, cleanup crew does dishes and picks up
Enjoy the evening around the fire

Day 2:

7:00 AM: Coffee’s on!
7:30 AM: Breakfast and cleanup
Morning Workshops:
- Wilderness travel and packing
- Map reading and basic navigation
- Basic First Aid
- River crossings
12:00 PM: Lunch break at camp
Afternoon Workshops:
- Native history of the area, Land Acknowledgments
- Forest bathing (nature therapy) with Ellen Horowitz
- Lesson topic chosen by group leader
4:00 PM: Break for the day; free time until dinner
5:00 PM: Dinner crew helps prepare dinner
6:00 PM: Dinner time! After, cleanup crew does dishes and picks up
Enjoy the evening around the fire

Day 3:

7:00 AM: Coffee’s on!
7:30 AM: Breakfast and cleanup
Morning workshop:
- Wilderness Mule Packing 101 with Master Packer Frank Vitale
10:00 AM: Load up gear and head into The Bob! Hike six miles to backcountry camp at Granite Creek.
12:00 PM: Lunch break on the trail
Afternoon Workshops:
- Backcountry camp set-up – tents, kitchen, latrine, water filters, bear hang (revisit and practice what we learned on Day 1)
- Lesson topic chosen by group leader
4:00 PM: Break for the day; free time until dinner
5:00 PM: Dinner crew helps prepare dinner
6:00 PM: Dinner time! After, cleanup crew does dishes and picks up
Enjoy the evening around the fire

Day 4:

Free day in the backcountry! Fish, hike, explore the area or just relax and read a book.

Day 5:

7:00 AM: Coffee’s on!
7:30 AM: Last breakfast with BMWF
Pack up camp and hike back to trailhead.
Back to trailhead by 4:30 PM. Closing remarks and head home.