NOLS Blog
Epistaxis on a Llama Packing Trip
The Setting It’s day two of a guided family llama packing trip deep in the Andes of South America. The scenery is stunning—glacial valleys, high alpine meadows, and dramatic peaks. You’re one of the trip guides, certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). The group includes several families, and this morning’s plan is to trek…
Medicine in Orbit
Space, some say, is the final frontier. For N. Stuart Harris, M.D., M.F.A., Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Department ...
6 Reasons Why You Should Take A WEMT Course (And Tips for How to Prepare)
Practicing patient care during a scenario. Photo by Angelica Rydelius Bergman. During the first multiple casualty scenario of ...
Paul Petzold, the U.S. Army, and NOLS
Paul Petzoldt was 36 years old in 1943 when he joined the U.S. Army’s prestigious 10th Mountain Division, an elite group of soldiers who were trained for alpine warfare. Already decades into his career, the future founder of NOLS had worked a slew of jobs, including farmer, waiter, and used car salesman. He was best…
How to Make Hash Browns with Cheese
Hash browns have a well-deserved reputation as a delicious breakfast treat, but this cheesy version is great for lunch or dinner too—and that’s before you add nuggets of ham or bacon and a few shakes of hot sauce into the mix! This recipe requires a little forethought—both the hash browns and dried onions benefit from…
NOLS Picante Sauce
Picante perks up almost any savory recipe—try it on eggs, beans, in soups and coupled with anything on a tortilla. This, our favorite picante recipe, can be made with a little tomato base and a well-stocked spice kit, but don’t shy away from adding your own favorites! NOLS Picante Sauce (makes about 1 cup) 1…
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…
Outdoors for All: Why Diversity Matters to the Outdoor Industry
Author of The Adventure Gap, James Mills offers insights as to why it's vitally important to add more color to the natural world and five things you can do to grow diversity.
NOLS Attends Conference on Bear Research
At the 24th International Conference on Bear Research and Management, NOLS joined other bear experts from around the world to share their knowledge last week.
NOLS Goes to Mars
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has been running courses for NASA Astronauts since 1999, through NOLS Professional Training.
New Zealand Outdoors Drawcard for International Students
They've left behind regular lives elsewhere in the world and have headed to the New Zealand campus of American-based National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
The school provides an education some of the students say they'd never get from a regular classroom.
Their accommodation before heading into the wilderness is a small village of tents on a grassy flat above the river in Aniseed Valley, named for the spice which once grew there.
NOLS Given Heritage Award
The Wyoming Business Alliance and Wyoming Heritage Foundation presented the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) with the heritage award Nov. 17.
NOLS River Rescue Guide Wins National Book Award
The NOLS River Rescue Guide earned a national book award from NOBA for instructional books.
MtnMeister: Five Star Camping Cuisine
National Outdoor Leadership School - NOLS grad talks about camping cuisine on MtnMeister
WRMC presents Risk Management Award to Johnson
The Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC) presented the seventh annual Charles (Reb) Gregg Wilderness Risk Management last week in Portland, Ore.
NOLS Stewardship Award Presented to Ratcliffe, Chief of NPS Division of Conservation & Outdoor Recreation
NOLS Stewardship Award presented to Bob Ratcliffe, Chief of the NPS Division of Conservation and Outdoor Recreation
NOLS Presents Alumni Achievement Award to Metcalf
NOLS Presents Alumni Achievement Award to Peter Metcalf
