Winter Orientation
Prescott College offers a three-week backpacking trip for orientation. What to expect in the Grand Canyon and Superstition Wilderness.
Some other important and fun things
- What is Winter Wilderness Orientation?
- Who will be your Instructors/Leaders?
- A large map overview
- The Drive to the Grand Canyon and the Superstition Wilderness.
- Ecological regions
- Map of the Grand Canyon and the Superstition Wilderness.
What is Winter Wilderness Orientation
The college has been putting on Wilderness Orientation for 50 years. Winter Wilderness Orientation is the only orientation offered for incoming students.
You might have many questions about Winter Wilderness Orientation. Links provide a Q&A sheet, along with a winter packing list .
You will be moving through numerous landscapes of Arizona.
Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Saguaro Cactus in the Superstitions.
Who will be your Instructors / Leaders?
Prescott College has many alumni who return to instructor Winter Wilderness Orientation. Sometimes students will co-instruct Winter Wilderness Orientation as well, for a graduation requirement. There will always be two instructors, sometimes there can be three instructors.
You will be in a group of 6-10 incoming students. Fewer incoming students during winter makes for a smaller group size.
Large Map Overview of Prescott
Prescott's Location in The United States
Note this is for Fall Wilderness Orientation. Prescott College Wilderness Orientation: Gear Basics.
The Drive to the Grand Canyon
01 / 04
1
Traveling on Indigenous lands
Winter Wilderness Orientation Grand Canyon section happens on the unceded lands of the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe and Havasupai.
2
Prescott
Prescott is the starting and ending place. Along with a new beginning when you return from Winter Wilderness Orientation. The roads you will take: 89 N. through Chino Valley towards Ash Fork AZ-64 E towards Grand Canyon S. Entrance Desert View Drive to Tanner Trailhead
3
South Entrance of the Grand Canyon
The South Entrance of the Grand Canyon sits at 7,000 ft with tall Ponderosa forests.
4
Lipan Point where Tanner TH starts
Tanner trailhead is at 7,350ft; there might be snow. You will be walking down into the Grand Canyon, which is warmer and tends to have less snow at 2,700ft.
Ecological Regions
Driving to the Grand Canyon
- Prescott - Madrean Lower Montane Woodlands
- Chino Valley - Chino/Coconino Grasslands and Shrub-Steppe
- Willams - Conifer Woodlands and Savannas
- Grand Canyon entrance area - Northern Woodlands, Sagebrush, and Montane Conifer Forests.
- Backpacking - Grand Canyon
Driving to the Superstation Wilderness
- Prescott - Madrean Lower Montane Woodlands
- Prescott Valley - Chino/Coconino Grasslands and Shrub-Steppe
- Descending into Phoenix - Lower Mogollon Transition, Arizona Upland/Eastern Sonoran Mountains, Arizona Upland/Eastern Sonoran Basins, and Gila/Salt Intermediate Basins.
Map of The Grand Canyon
First half of Winter Wilderness Orientation
The Beginning
Leaving the Snow
Meeting the Colorado River
Established trails to hike on
Camp
Canyon within The Grand Canyon
Papago Creek
Drying out
Observing Elevation
Cooking at Night
Immersed in all times of day
Crossing Paths with Wildlife
The Beginning
Sometimes there is snow depending on the year. All students are equipped with the gear they need to be backpacking in the winter.
Leaving the Snow
You will be moving into the canyon. This part of the trail has little water so you will carry lots of water.
Meeting the Colorado River
The Colorado River is the source of water for many states in the United States. The river used to empty into the Gulf of California, but now nearly all the water is used for human consumption. The river becomes dry shortly after it crosses into Mexico, in the desert.
Established trails to hike on
Due to the high use of Grand Canyon National Park there are trails you will be following along your journey.
Camp
Tents are used for Winter Wilderness Orientation. They will keep you warmer than open-air tarps.
Canyon within The Grand Canyon
This Seventy-Five Mile Creek Canyon. This type of tight canyon is called a slot canyon, it is a constricted and narrow canyon.
Papago Creek
Hiking up and down. Hiking polls are very handy to have for balancing and keeping your knees feeling well.
Drying out
You may come across rain, snow, and sun. Take the time to take care of your sleeping bags and clothing.
Observing Elevation
Your instructors will be giving lessons on the place you are traveling within to support your growing deeper sense of place.
You as a student will also be creating short lessons to present to your group. It's good practice, as you will likely do this in many other courses you take at Prescott College.
Cooking at Night
There is little daylight in the winter. You spend time awake during the dark hours. Plenty of cooking, eating, learning, and hanging out will occur in the dark. Bring extra headlamp batteries!
Immersed in all times of day
The Grand Canyon is a beautiful place that is only 2 1/2 hours from Prescott!
Crossing Paths with Wildlife
Bighorn Sheep live here. You might see one, make sure you give it space and respect when you cross paths.
Traveling to Re-supply and the Superstition Wilderness!
Winter Wilderness Orientation is in two locations. The Grand Canyon and The Superstition Wilderness
Map of The Superstition Wilderness
Second half of Winter Wilderness Orientation
Superstition Wilderness
New Terrain
Students becoming Leaders of the Day
Learning in the Field
Questions?
Desert Weather
Solo
A Cave as Your Class Room!
Safety
Student Teaching
Where are we?
Community
Superstition Wilderness
This part of Winter Wilderness Orientation is in the Sonoran Desert.
New Terrain
Hiking amongst Saguaro cacti. You will be hiking on trails and in washes. Washes are places where water runs only seasonally and after precipitation events.
Students becoming Leaders of the Day
Students will be paired with other students to be the Leaders of the Day (LOD). The instructors will provide essential information to the LODs so they can lead the group for the day.
Other areas students may participate in are Navigator, Time Keeper (trust me you will need a timekeeper), and Naturalist.
You will have support from your instructors in all of these positions. Having students become involved in group functioning and learning is a large part of Prescott College's philosophy.
Learning in the Field
As a student, you will have homework. Throughout orientation, your instructor will be giving you lessons throughout the course.
You will be required to give a five-minute lesson and a thirty-minute lesson.
Balancing backpacking and homework can be challenging. Your instructors are there to support you in any way they can.
Questions?
Some can be answered! Some questions can not be answered due to the variability of weather, people, pace, gear, cool things to stop and look at, etc. Wilderness Orientation is different for every group.
Desert Weather
You might get rain in the desert. This means you might see washes with water in them. It is a magical thing to witness.
Solo
Students have the opportunity to participate in a Solo camping experience. It is a good time to reflect, do school work, journal, sleep, or whatever you need; it is your time.
There is a safety protocol in place regarding solo.
A Cave as Your Class Room!
Geology is cool!
Safety
Instructors are certified Wilderness First Responders. They carry satellite communication and check-in with the college frequently.
Student Teaching
This student has chosen a nice wash to give their lesson in. You will get plenty of practice preparing lessons and speaking in front of the group.
Where are we?
Sometimes you just need to rest on a rock and look back on all you have done.
Community
Your orientation group is a great way to meet people and have friends or folks you know when entering back into campus life.
Somewhere in the Grand Canyon
Hope this helped in understanding Winter Wilderness Orientation in The Grand Canyon and The Superstition Wilderness.
Your education will lead you to places and experiences to be remembered.
Helpful Links
- Prescott College Orientation
- Winter Wilderness Orientation gear list
