Mountain Readiness WEST 2026 Schedule | SWAN LAKE, MT
- Mountain Readiness Digital Team
- 16 hours ago
- 6 min read
The Mountain Readiness West 2026 schedule provides a complete breakdown of classes, instructors, demonstrations, and special events for all three days at Camp Ponderosa in Swan Lake, Montana.
Whether you are focused on wilderness survival, emergency medical training, homesteading, communications, self-defense, community building, or youth preparedness, this guide will help you plan your weekend and get the most out of Mountain Readiness West.
What You’ll Find Here
The complete Mountain Readiness West schedule by day
Class times, instructors, and training locations
Youth preparedness classes and activities
Hands-on training sessions and demonstrations
Friday and Saturday evening events
Additional paid courses before and after the expo
Key Takeaways
Mountain Readiness West takes place July 24–26, 2026.
Most daytime classes begin at 9:00 AM, with additional sessions at 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4:00 PM.
Multiple classes run simultaneously across six primary training areas.
A midday break is scheduled at 12:00 PM.
Youth classes are offered throughout the weekend in the Youth Corner.
Special events include a Thursday welcome dinner, Friday and Saturday evening social mixers, Saturday raffle drawings, and a Sunday morning church service.
Additional paid training courses are available before and after the main event.
Schedule notice: Class times, instructors, and locations may change. Check this page again before the event for the latest Mountain Readiness West schedule.
Mountain Readiness west 2026 Schedule
Pre-Event Welcome Dinner
Thursday, July 23, 2026
7:00 PM — Cajun Seafood Welcome Dinner
Join the Mountain Readiness West community at Camp Ponderosa for a Cajun seafood dinner before the official three-day event begins.
Friday, july 24, 2026
Mountain Readiness West | Camp Ponderosa | Swan Lake, Montana
Lodge Classroom
9:00 AM — Situational Awareness — Brian Duff
10:30 AM — Stop the Bleed — Gorilla Medical
12:00 PM — Break
2:30 PM — Building Natural Immunity — Jeff Adams
Field Tent 1
9:00 AM — Non-Lethal Weapons — Mountain Pass Safe
10:30 AM — Intro to Drones — The Watcher
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — The Importance of Community Building — Brent Weir
Primitive Skills Base Camp
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — How Wilderness Emergencies Actually Unfold — Bill Reese
Youth Corner
10:30 AM — Children’s Firecraft — Aaron Blaine
12:00 PM — Break
Dining Hall
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — Growing Sprouts — Millie Cooper
2:30 PM — Survival Origami — Mette Peter
Combatives Room
12:00 PM — Break
4:00 PM — Warrior Women — Mariah Prussia
Instructor Booth Classes and Demonstrations
1:00 PM — Elk Sausage Making Class — Rick “Yogi” Johnson
Located in the Butcher’s Room
1:00 PM — Bladesmithing Demonstrations — Gahagan Customs
Located at The Forge
Friday Evening Social Mixer
7:30 PM — Evening Social Mixer
Located in the courtyard
Camp Ponderosa and The Mission with Joe Dolio
saturday, july 25, 2026
Mountain Readiness West | Camp Ponderosa | Swan Lake, Montana
Lodge Classroom
9:00 AM — PTSD 101 — Brian Duff
10:30 AM — Splints and Improvised Splints — Gorilla Medical
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — Super Soil to Super Human — Pat and Doc Wil
2:30 PM — Digital Privacy — K, Combat Studies Group
Field Tent 1
10:30 AM — Crawfish Harvesting — The Watcher
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — Non-Lethal Weapons — Mountain Pass Safe
2:30 PM — HF Radio - Vigilante Engineering
Primitive Skills Base Camp
9:00 AM — Firecraft Essentials — Bill Reese
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — Primitive Shelter Building — Bill Reese
Youth Corner
10:30 AM — Youth First Aid — Aaron Blaine
12:00 PM — Break
2:30 PM — Land Navigation — Aaron Blaine
Dining Hall
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — Current Event Discussion — Scott McCollough
Combatives Room
12:00 PM — Break
4:00 PM — Hand-to-Hand Combat — Pat Miletich
Instructor Booth Classes and Demonstrations
1:00 PM — From Farm to Table: Hands-On Chicken Processing — T Toombs and The Watcher
Located in the Butcher’s Room
1:00 PM — Bladesmithing Demonstrations — Gahagan Customs
Located at The Forge
2:30 PM — Bug Out Bags: The Good, the Bad, and the Useless — Survival Gear BSO
Located at the Survival Gear booth
Bring your bug-out bag for a personalized review after the class.
Saturday Raffle Drawings
6:00 PM — Raffle Drawings
Located in the courtyard
Saturday Evening Social Mixer
8:00 PM — Evening Social Mixer
Live music by Earls Classic Vinyl
Located in the courtyard
Sunday, july 26, 2026
Mountain Readiness West | Camp Ponderosa | Swan Lake, Montana
Sunday Morning Church Service
8:00 AM — Morning Church Service
Located in the Commons
All are welcome.
Lodge Classroom
9:00 AM — Super Soil to Super Human — Pat and Doc Wil
10:30 AM — Casualty Movement — Gorilla Medical
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — Building Natural Immunity — Jeff Adams
Field Tent 1
9:00 AM — HF Radio — Vigilante Engineering
10:30 AM — Tactical Mobility — K, Combat Studies Group
12:00 PM — Break
2:30 PM — Intro to Drones — The Watcher
Primitive Skills Base Camp
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — Land Navigation — Joe Dolio
Youth Corner
10:30 AM — Archery Competition — Aaron Blaine
12:00 PM — Break
Dining Hall
12:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — Sourdough Bread — Millie Cooper
Combatives Room
12:00 PM — Break
2:30 PM — Family Self-Defense — Mariah Prussia and Pat Miletich
Instructor Booth Demonstrations
1:00 PM — Bladesmithing Demonstrations — Gahagan Customs
Located at The Forge
Additional Paid Courses
Additional training opportunities are available before and after the main Mountain Readiness West event. These courses require separate registration and are not included in the standard event schedule.
July 21-23, 2026 - Combat Studies Group - CQB/Home Defense - CSG
Monday, July 27, 2026 - Defensive Pistol - Joe Dolio - Tactical Wisdom
How to Plan Your Mountain Readiness West Schedule
Several classes take place at the same time, so reviewing the entire schedule before arriving will help you make the most of the weekend.
Identify your highest-priority classes before each day begins.
Arrive early for sessions that may draw larger crowds.
Leave enough time to walk between Camp Ponderosa training areas.
Alternate classroom sessions with hands-on outdoor training.
Use open periods to visit instructors, vendors, and demonstrations.
Review youth class times in advance when attending as a family.
Keep Friday and Saturday evening activities in mind when planning the rest of your day.
Download or save the schedule to your phone before arriving.
Because several classes are offered more than once, compare all three days before deciding which sessions to attend. For example, Non-Lethal Weapons, Intro to Drones, Building Natural Immunity, and Super Soil to Super Human appear at different times during the weekend.
📍 Where DOES the Mountain Readiness west Takes Place
Mountain Readiness West is held at Camp Ponderosa in Swan Lake, Montana.
Camp Ponderosa
31904 Forest Camp Loop
Swan Lake, Montana 59911
The veteran-owned venue encompasses more than 80 wooded acres and offers event facilities, RV camping, dry camping, and tent camping. Camping reservations must be arranged directly through Veterans Camp Ponderosa.
Visit the main Mountain Readiness West event page for ticket information, camping instructions, participating instructors, vendors, sponsors, and event updates.
❓ FAQ
What time does the Mountain Readiness west start each day?
Daytime classes begin at 9:00 AM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Sunday also includes a morning church service at 8:00 AM in the Commons. Friday’s evening social mixer begins at 7:30 PM, while Saturday’s raffle drawings begin at 6:00 PM and the evening social mixer begins at 8:00 PM.
Is seating available for all classes?
Seating is limited. Attendees are encouraged to bring a camp chair to help ensure they have a seat during the sessions they plan to attend.
Are classes first come, first served?
Most regular expo classes should be treated as first come, first served unless the event organizer or instructor states otherwise. Arrive early for high-demand sessions and hands-on classes with limited space.
Additional paid courses require separate registration.
Can I attend multiple sessions at the same time?
No. Several sessions run simultaneously in different areas of Camp Ponderosa. Review the schedule ahead of time and choose the classes that best fit your preparedness goals.
Are there classes for children and families?
Yes. The Youth Corner includes Children’s Firecraft, Youth First Aid, Land Navigation, and an Archery Competition. Families can also attend other appropriate sessions together, including Sunday’s Family Self-Defense class.
Are the evening events included in the Mountain Readiness West schedule?
Yes. Friday includes an evening social mixer at 7:30 PM. Saturday includes raffle drawings at 6:00 PM and an evening social mixer with live music at 8:00 PM.
Are the add-on courses included with a Mountain Readiness West ticket?
The CQB and Home Defense course and the Defensive Pistol course are separate paid training opportunities. They require additional registration and are not part of the standard three-day schedule.
Is the Mountain Readiness West schedule subject to change?
Yes. Class times, instructors, and locations may change because of weather, instructor availability, safety considerations, or other event conditions. Bookmark this page and check it again before traveling to Camp Ponderosa.
Mountain Readiness West brings practical preparedness training, experienced instructors, hands-on education, and a strong self-reliance community to the mountains of Montana.
Purchase your tickets, reserve your camping arrangements, and begin planning the classes you want to attend.
Bookmark the Mountain Readiness West 2026 schedule, share it with your group, and join us at Camp Ponderosa in Swan Lake, Montana, July 24–26, 2026.
Stay ready.