If you've ever struggled to decide between embarking on an extensive hike or whitewater kayaking, if you've ever come across a river or lake during a hike and wished for a way to explore your surroundings from on the water, or if you've begrudgingly planned your backpacking trip to avoid the land's natural waterways, packrafting might be for you ..read more

Photo by Manya Gordon The smell of the morning coffee your co-instructor is brewing wakes you from a great sleep. This is immediately followed by a loud scream from one of the student camps. It’s a spring morning in the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico, and you’re about to earn your pay ..read more

Navigating rugged terrain isn't the only challenge when venturing into the mountains—long periods of cold temperatures and unpredictable mountain weather can pose dangers for the unprepared ..read more

Photo by Eryn Pierce While walking a trail to a local rock climbing area you notice a person in the group just ahead collapse. Quickly, someone is kneeling at the patient’s side, fingers on the carotid pulse while they yell at him. Even from a distance you can see the patient is gray in color with blue lips. The rescuer aggressively removed the patient’s pack and began chest compressions. You estimate less than 30 seconds passed before CPR was started ..read more

So you want to get wilderness medicine training. The two most common wilderness medicine courses are Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Wilderness First Responder (WFR).  Since you’ll be investing both your time and money in obtaining your certification, it’s helpful to be familiar with each course in order to choose the one that is best for you.   This article will dive into the Wilderness First Aid vs Wilderness First Responder question and, hopefully, steer you in the right direction ..read more

Photo by Nikole Wohlmacher. Editor’s Note: This case study is based on a real-life incident from the early 1980’s. This study was updated in 2024 to include more information about treating hypothermia. You and three friends are on an early winter ski trip. To shorten the route, the group decides to cut across a lake, despite previously agreeing to avoid the lakes due to thin ice. About 20 yards from shore you warn the others of “funny ice,” and suggest the group turn around. As you stop to talk it over with your companions, you break through the ice and sink up to your chest. Fortunately, the ..read more

Imagine the gravity-defying thrill of shredding down slopes on a snowboard combined with the versatility and uphill mobility of skiing. With a splitboard, backcountry travelers can carve through untouched powder on descents and climb diverse backcountry terrain ..read more

Whether clipping into a board for the first time or getting ready to embark on your first backcountry expedition with NOLS, having a solid foundation of snowboard basics can benefit even the most experienced snowboarders ..read more

NOLS had the opportunity to chat with Roberto Canessa, one of the survivors of the Andes plane crash in 1978. Netflix released a movie, Society of the Snow, about the crash, its impacts on the team that took that fateful flight, and how they endured and survived in harsh and adverse conditions. Roberto shared his life-changing experiences and what those teachings can mean for everybody's life ..read more

Whether you're strapping on skis for the first time or have already tackled a few runs on the slopes, ensuring you have a solid foundation of the basics of skiing is essential before you trek out for your first backcountry expedition. Beginner skiers, in particular, can benefit a ton from starting with the fundamentals of ski gear, terminology, and technique, even before the first ride up the ski lift ..read more