Moondance Leadership FAQ

Where does my trip start?

Moondance Leadership begins in the city on the water -- Seattle. You'll meet your leaders and other Moondancers at the airport before embarking on your first backpacking section in Olympic National Park!

What happens in a typical day?

That depends on whether you are backpacking, climbing, or preparing for a Mt. Rainier summit, but you can expect to laugh, see a beautiful part of the country, and learn a couple of things about each activity. Each morning, one cook group will prepare a feast for everyone to enjoy and then your group will start a day of climbing, or pack packs and start hiking to the next destination! After a morning and afternoon of telling stories, learning how to belay, or hiking along the rocky coastline, your group will pick a great campsite, and, after setting up camp for the evening, enjoy a warm meal and a hot drink. Each night ends with 'moon-up;' a chance to debrief the day, talk about upcoming adventures and challenges, and just hang out.

Where is Olympic National Park?

Olympic National Park sits in the northwestern peninsula of Washington State, with the Pacific Ocean forming its borders to the west, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north. The Olympic National Park coastline is the second longest, wildest stretch of beach in North America, rivaled only by that of British Columbia. We will spend our two backpacking sections exploring this coastline, as well as the rainforest canopy within the park.

Do I need any special gear for rock climbing? What about experience?

There is no extra gear required for any climbing section on Moondance. It's great if you have your own climbing shoes-bring them!-but our professional guides will supply us with everything we need including ropes, harnesses, shoes when necessary, and helmets. Absolutely no experience is required to have fun on the rock. Once you try it, you'll realize that the learning curve is high! For beginners as well as for our more experienced climbers, there will always be opportunities to stretch beyond pre-conceived limits with particular routes.

Do I need to break in my boots for the backpacking section?

Absolutely! The most common medical injury we face in the backcountry is blisters. Though that may not seem like a big deal, blisters can turn a 6-mile hike into a nightmare if not properly attended. If you are buying new boots, be sure to begin wearing them 1-2 months before your trip begins, with a bit of weight on your back if possible. Leather boots can take some time to mold to your feet, so start early! Synthetic layers on boots tend to adjust more easily, but be sure they are mid-weight boots with plenty of traction. Give us a call with any questions you have regarding particular gear for your trip!

How many miles do we backpack in a given day?

Itineraries while in the backcountry can change often since poor weather is possible at any given time. Therefore, your instructors may decide that it is safer to set up camp early rather than continue hiking. Your group will begin to read weather patterns and will start to make these kinds of decisions too, with your instructor's help. Your group may also decide to stop early in order to take advantage of an excellent campsite, or to layover in one place to allow for day hiking. In any case, this may mean that some days you only hike a couple of miles, while on other days when the weather is perfect, and your group feels strong, you knock out 7-8 miles.

What else do we do during our backpacking section?

You'll hone your route-finding skills as you learn to read topographical maps deep within the rainforest of Olympic National Park and you'll perfect your backcountry culinary skills at breakfast and dinner. There will be plenty of opportunities to photograph wildlife and to climb high on the cliffs for a spectacular view of the Pacific. Most of all, you'll laugh harder than you have in a long time, the art of packing a pack will be second nature, and the simplicity of life while carrying your home on your back will never be forgotten.

Will we rock climb while on Mt. Rainier?

We will be using mountaineering skills learned in "snow school" during our climb on Rainier, rather than the rock climbing skills we practiced on our previous section. Mountaineering requires crampons (metal prongs attached to our boot) for extra traction on ice, as well as an ice axe and ropes.

Do we climb Rainier in our hiking boots?

We will trade in our hiking boots for plastic mountaineering boots. These boots are more durable, completely waterproof, and perfect for glacier travel. You'll find they're pretty comfortable too, since they're all lined with soft padding! Moondance and Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. will provide you with all of the technical gear needed for mountaineering such as crampons, axes, and boots!

What's the weather like in Washington?

Coastline temperatures in Washington State are moderated by the Pacific Ocean so they tend to stay close to 70-75 degrees during the summer months. As we move east into the rainforest, we can expect to have light and brief rain showers and warm weather patterns. As we climb higher and higher to the 14,411 summit of Mt. Rainier, temperatures will drop, but we'll hope for sunshine for spectacular views of the Cascades!

What will I learn by the end of my trip?

By the end of your Moondance experience, you may learn how to cook a great meal, how to find your way using topographical maps and a compass, or how to belay your friend who is climbing above you. Most of all, you'll learn that life's lessons are often camouflaged as a brilliant rainbow that follows a storm, a challenging climb on Rainier, or strangers that become family at the end of 21 days. The self-confidence that you can gain by exploring the unknown will provide a constant foundation for your life adventures down the road.