BodyFix - Thousand Oaks, CA
If you’ve spent time researching backcountry hiking, you’ve probably noticed that information isn’t the problem. There’s no shortage of gear lists, packing guides, or video walkthroughs. And yet, after all of it, a lot of people still aren’t sure if they’re actually ready.
Most of what’s out there starts with solutions — gear, gadgets, checklists — before you have a clear picture of what you’re actually preparing for. Without that foundation, more information just creates more uncertainty.
This workshop starts from the other direction. We begin with the problems you can expect to encounter in the backcountry, and build your toolkit — including your gear list — from there. We’ll walk through the Five Miles Further Six Systems framework — our structured approach to wilderness readiness that covers fitness, nutrition and hydration, thermoregulation, navigation, basic emergency medicine, and mental fortitude.
Each system gets a clear explanation — what it covers, why it matters, and how it connects to the others. By the end, you’ll have a complete picture of what preparation actually looks like in the field, and a framework you can use to make confident decisions about your own readiness.
This event is for anyone who’s comfortable on a day trail and has been thinking about going further — but hasn’t had a clear, structured way to get there. No backcountry experience required. Bring your questions.
This is a free event.
Pre-Event Communication: After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email containing exact directions to the venue, parking details, and a brief outline of the topics we will be covering.
Capacity is strictly limited to ensure a high-quality experience. Complete the registration below to lock in your roster spot.
Registration Note: Registration secures your spot on a first-come, first-served basis. Successive registrants will be automatically placed on a waitlist. Our top priority is a safe, excellent experience for the entire team.
Subjective ratings like "Easy" or "Hard" mean different things to different people. Other systems require a calculator to understand. We value clarity and preparation.
The Crux Rule: Miles and Gain come from the trip's hardest single day, ranked by Gain tier first and Miles as the tiebreaker. Terrain is rated independently — whatever the hardest terrain is anywhere in the trip, regardless of which day it falls on.
Above 8,000 ft total elevation, limit ascent to 1,500 - 2,000 ft before resting at the new altitude.
Consider a standard training loop: 3 miles round-trip on a loose dirt trail with 1,800ft of elevation gain.