Wilderness Survival

As low as:

$465.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio) Next Trip: Jul 25 - 26, 2026

STRENUOUSNESS
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Upcoming Trips

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Jul 25 - 26, 2026
Book Trip

6 spots available. $465.00

Location: Forbidden Plateau Area (near Mount Washington)
Dec 12 - 13, 2026
Book Trip

6 spots available. $465.00

Includes fire building lessons! Location: TBD (Comox Valley area)

Add-ons

IAG Cancellation Coverage $24.00

As per our Cancellation Policy, your trip or course is 100% non-refundable as of 30 days prior to the trip/course start date. Purchasing this add-on will allow you to cancel your trip/course within that 30 day time period for reasons of injury, illness or family emergency, and will provide you with a credit for the full value of your trip/course fee which can be used on any Island Alpine Guides or Hike Vancouver Island trip or course for up to one year from the start date of the trip/course originally booked. If needed, credits can be transferred to another person of your choice. We charge a $25 admin fee in these cases.

About

Gain the confidence to handle most Wilderness Survival situations. Over two days, learn a variety of fundamental outdoor skills, including building (and spending the night in) a minimal gear shelter.

These Wilderness Survival Courses, which take place entirely in the field, are highly practical and provide excellent knowledge for backcountry users travelling in Southwest British Columbia.

Sample Curriculum *content may vary depending on the instructor and/or weather conditions.

Shelter systems: Tarp setups, Natural shelter use, Insulation strategies
Thermal management: Staying dry > getting warm, Layering, movement, microclimates
Water: Sourcing + treatment without boiling
Signaling & communication: Mirrors, whistles, ground-to-air signals, Trip planning + emergency comms (InReach, etc.)
Decision making: When to stay vs go, Risk management

Included in the price

2 days of instruction with an ACMG-certified guide
Group gear

Not included in the price

Travel (to and from meeting point)
Accommodation (before and after course)
Food
Personal clothing and gear (some items available for rent - see gear list for details)

Questions? Check out our FAQ page for details about our booking and cancellation policy, and other commonly asked questions.

Logistics

Location

This course is delivered in the forested area that surrounds Forbidden Plateau, and takes place at an elevation of approximately 1000m.

Exact meeting details will be provided in a pre-trip email sent one-week prior.

Sample Itinerary *content may vary depending on the instructor and/or weather conditions.

Day 1

09:00 - Meet your instructor at Old Forbidden Plateau Ski Area. Here you will make introductions and sign waivers before you begin your hike to the training site (1-2 hours).

You will spend the rest of the day practicing site selection, shelter building, learning about emergency response, mental preparedness and incident management along the way.

You will spend the night in the shelter you’ve built.

Day 2

09:00 – After breakfast, you’ll head out on a hike to practice navigational skills, route-finding, and emergency communication skills like signalling.

16:00 - Return to the trailhead and complete a course debrief.

Exact meeting details will be provided in a pre-trip email sent one-week prior.

Questions? Check out our FAQ page, or send us an email.

Requirements

This course is great for beginners, newcomers to Southwest British Columbia, and those who are looking to further hone fundamental skills.

While there are no prerequisites for this course, participants should be prepared to:

Spend the night outside in a minimal-gear shelter
Hike approximately 3-5 km over rough terrain (including bush and possibly snow) with a pack
Spend two days and one night outside in variable conditions (our courses run in all weather – rain, snow and heat)

Questions? Check out our FAQ page, or send us an email. We are always happy to help you find a suitable course and are happy to offer custom or private courses whenever possible.

Gear List

Temperatures encountered on this trip could range from freezing at night to the twenties by day. The list below should work for these conditions.

Please ensure that all clothing and equipment is in good working order before the course begins, and feel free to reach out with any gear related questions!

Footwear

Solid hiking boots (waterproof, sturdy enough to carry a pack)
Gaiters (in spring or late fall)

Clothing

Please note that bushwacking may be a part of this course, clothing should be durable (to prevent pulled/ripped fabric) and long sleeve shirts/pants should be packed (even if it's hot out) to prevent scratched skin.

Warm socks, 2 pairs
Base layers (top and bottom)
T-shirt or long-sleeve for hiking in (will depend on time of year)
Hiking pants (nylon or similar)
Mid-weight insulation layer
Waterproof jacket and pants
Warm outer jacket (down or synthetic)
Warm toque
Light gloves (if wet conditions, bring an extra warmer pair)

Overnight gear

Backpack (40-60L, big enough to carry your gear) - limited number available for rent
Pack liner and/or stuff sacks (line sacks with garbage bag to keep everything dry)
Sleeping bag (synthetic or down, warm to -5 C)
Sleeping pad (Therma-rest style inflatable, or closed cell Ensolite)
Survival Blanket or Bivy (SOL Escape Lite recommended – breathable is nice for the West Coast Climate)
Tarp (2m x 3m)
15m of cord (no bigger than 5mm)
Ground sheet (1m x 2m, can be lightweight plastic)
Stove, fuel, pot and lighter
Eating vessel and utensil
1x breakfast, 2x lunches (lunches must be prepared ahead and ready to eat on the go), 1x dinner, and as many snacks as you require. For tasty, nutritous and locally pre-made dinners check out https://wildedgeketo.com/

Other

Compass with sighting mirror (rental included with course)
92F/11 Forbidden Plateau Map (rental included with course)
Knife: a full blade or folding style that locks
Hat with sun visor
Sunglasses: 100% UV blockage
Sunscreen for body, face and lips: 30 SPF min
Mosquito/Fly Head Net/Suit
Personal toiletries (keep to a minimum)
Toilet paper, ziplock bags to pack out toilet paper, and hand sanitizer
Small first aid kit (medication, Advil, blister kit, etc.)
Water bottles or hydration system: 1 litre minimum, 2 litres preferred
Water purification: Pristine drops, Aquatabs, UV pen, Handpump, etc.
Headlamp

Optional

Small wilderness hand saw: folding saw, wire saw, etc
Notebook and pencil
Camera
Insect Repellant
Hiking pole(s): for the ascent and descent and for increased variety in your emergency shelter set up

Questions? Check out our FAQ page and blog for commonly asked questions, or send us an email!

Testimonials

The survival course exceeded my expectations. Brianna was brilliant as the instructor and trip guide. Learning was well paced throughout the weekend focussing on navigation, shelter building, fire making and survival techniques. Her scenarios and camp and sunday hiking location choices were well executed and thoughtful. I will recommend this course to friends and family. 5 star rating!! Lisa Booth, Esquimalt, BC

This course was very informative on navigation and shelter building and starting/maintaining fires, as well as useful tips on who to call in an emergency, how to assess any risks, and necessary steps to help someone if they are injured or missing. Our instructor was extremely knowledgeable and engaging! Naia Patterson, Forbidden Plateau

I absolutely loved the course. The instructor was outstanding. Thanks again and I look forward to taking more courses through you. Roslyn Van der wal,

I really liked how the course was structured around what we wanted to learn, Rob was a great instructor who was really accommodating, patient and kind. He was genuinely interested in why we wanted to take the course and how to best support us in our learning. Lucy Rohatynchuk,