If you are an experienced backpacker and fly-fisherman, you may find the course content fairly elementary, but the experience will still be pretty remarkable.

NOLS courses are typically designed for novices to becomes competent wilderness wilderness travellers. Those with more experience often focus on opportunities for added leadership. And the wilderness areas are usually truly breathtaking.

Packs will likely be pretty heavy, but the school is working to lighten this up as well, and typically the 2-week courses only require you to carry 7 days of food at a time, instead of the normal 10-12 days, all of which will contribute to a lighter pack. Still, plan on at least 50 pounds. Possibly more if you are a bigger guy. They tend to base pack weight on %age of body weight, so you may wind up with more group gear.