NOLS Blog
6 Reasons Why You Should Take A WEMT Course (And Tips for How to Prepare)
Here are the top six reasons why one NOLS Wilderness Medicine grad recommends taking a Wilderness EMT course.
How to Make Hash Browns with Cheese
Photo by Karly Gutermuth Hash browns have a well-deserved reputation as a delicious breakfast treat, but this cheesy ...
NOLS Picante Sauce
Picante perks up almost any savory recipe—try it on eggs, beans, in soups and coupled with anything on ...
Backpacking Among Giants: A Trip Report from Norway’s Jotunheimen Mountains
In August of 2025, the inaugural NOLS Alumni Norway Backpacking Trip ventured into the Jotunheimen Mountains for ten days of challenging hiking amongst stunning scenery. Our group first met in Oslo before traveling about five hours by bus to the Jotunheimen region in western Norway. The bus conveniently dropped us off at our first hut of the trip and…
Case Study: Altitude Illness While Trekking
The Setting You are on the trip of a lifetime hiking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal with one of your best friends. This trip has been in the works for over a year. You’ve spent countless hours training, reviewing maps, and daydreaming about being in the mountains. You can’t believe you’re finally here! You flew…
What a NOLS Risk Review Really Looks Like: A Case Study with NatureBridge
In the same year as NOLS’ 60th anniversary, we are celebrating 20 years since the formation of NOLS Risk Services. For 60 years, NOLS has operated in remote locations all over the world, and in 2005, NOLS Risk Services was formed to share what NOLS has learned about operational risk management in the process. NOLS…
Case Study: Dental Emergency while Rafting
A member of your rafting party loses a tooth partway through a 4-day trip. How do you respond?
Where Play Meets Purpose: A Journey Through the Canyons
Since 2022, NOLS and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business have collaborated on a yearly weeklong expedition to the canyons in southeastern Utah. This expedition is the culmination of a semester-long leadership course for Ross undergraduate students. It combines concepts and learnings from the classroom course with the NOLS leadership curriculum in a…
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Expedition to the Peruvian Andes
In the spring of 2025, we set out on an Alpine and ski mountaineering expedition to Peru’s Cordillera Blanca. As outdoor educators with experience leading students on NOLS courses, our team shares a deep commitment to learning through challenge and a connection to wild places. Our goals: explore new terrain, attempt several high peaks, and…
TDA Cyclist Reflects on Expedition Behavior
Inspired by NASA astronauts who’ve completed NOLS leadership training, TDA cyclist Henry Gold reflects on how expedition behavior taught on NOLS courses applies to cycling tours.
Lessons from an Executive Leadership Expedition
Alison Wright, founder of The Cairn Project, reflects on the lessons she learned on a recent NOLS Executive Leadership Expedition in the Wind River Range.
Finding a Sense of Possibility in the Adirondacks
In the summer 2018 edition of LOCALadk Magazine, NOLS Northeast Manager and senior instructor Lindsay Yost reflects on the transformative power of a wilderness experience, especially for teenage students.
Riding into the Heart of Patagonia
In her 2018 book Riding into the Heart of Patagonia, former NOLS instructor Nancy Pfeiffer chronicles her adventures exploring the Patagonian backcountry on horseback over the past two decades.
An American Ascent at the Wild Center
On Sunday, July 29, 2018, in Tupper Lake, NY, The Wild Center will host a screening of An American Ascent in conjunction with NOLS Northeast, followed by a Q&A session with Expedition Denali member James Kagambi.
How to Deal with Mosquitoes on Camping Trips
Senior NOLS instructor Marco Johnson gives Men’s Journal readers some tips on how to deal with mosquitoes while camping.
Tips for Camping Responsibly during Fire Season
Senior NOLS Instructor Marco Johnson offers Outside Online’s “Gear Guy” some tips on how to camp responsibly during fire season.
What to Look Forward to—and Watch Out for—When Camping Alone
In a June 2018 Wall Street Journal article, senior NOLS instructor Marco Johnson offers readers some tips on how to prepare for a solo camping expedition.
One Grad’s Journey from Denali to Emergency Room Medicine
Taking wilderness medicine courses inspired Andy Elsberg, NOLS grad and former instructor, to pursue a medical degree. Today, he works in the emergency room at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.
Adventure Sports Network Recognizes NOLS Instructor Jorge Moreno
The Adventure Sports Network recently recognized Jorge Moreno, NOLS instructor and ambassador for the nonprofit Latino Outdoors, for his efforts to make the outdoor community more inclusive.
The Best Ways to Treat Water in the Backcountry
In an article for The Casper Star Tribune, senior NOLS instructor Marco Johnson explains the top four methods for water purification in the backcountry and when to use them.
Sleeping in a Tent: A Lifelong Love Affair
In a recent Washington Post article, senior NOLS instructor Marco Johnson explains that sleeping in a tent sparks appreciation for a simpler way of life as well as a stronger connection to nature and other people.
