NOLS Blog
Knee Injury While Cross-Country Skiing
The Setting You are cross-country skiing with four of your friends on a beautiful December day. The sun is shining, the temperature is a balmy 25℉, and you’re enjoying feeling the wind against your cheeks as you ski. You are roughly 3 miles into your 6-mile loop. Your moment of enjoyment is broken when, out…
Epistaxis on a Llama Packing Trip
Photo by Nick Springer The Setting It’s day two of a guided family llama packing trip deep in ...
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)
Here are the top six reasons why one NOLS Wilderness Medicine grad recommends taking a Wilderness EMT course.
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…
Alumni Trips: If You Build it, They Will Come: Planning the Inside Passage Expedition
Learn more about the team behind NOLS Alumni Trips.
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Costa Rica Horsepacking
This story tells of the journey of two NOLS instructors and three horses who traveled coast to coast along the Camino De Costa Rica, and learned how community, uncertainty, and laughter became their trusted teachers.
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Patagonia Northern Icefield Expedition
A mountaineering adventure on the Patagonia northern icefield brought four friends together to explore, share, and get challenged in a complex expedition in this remote part of the world.
Case Study: An Abandoned Patient High in the Alpine
After a strenuous hike, you and your team find a tent just off the trail at 11,300 ft. You call out, “Hello, is anyone in the tent? This is search and rescue. We have a report of someone who needs assistance?” See what happens next in this case study.
Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa
Lhakpa Sherpa has grit, determination, and goals. As the first woman to summit Mt. Everest ten times and under adverse life circumstances, she prevailed to meet her goals despite the odds by turning challenging situations into opportunities.
Instructor Profile: Susan Brame
Alumni Trips instructor Susan Brame talks about the impetus behind the new Portugal trips.
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Mount Hooker Expedition
An expedition to climb Mount Hooker in the Wind River Range via “The Optimist.” The trip provided ample learning, an opportunity to scout a new route at Hailey Pass, and a mountain birthday celebration.
Case Study: Shortness of Breath While Fishing
Test your wilderness medicine skills to see how you would respond to this first-aid scenario.
Case Study: A Slip on a Slope
Your hiking partner slips on a snowy slope and slides head-first into a tree. What do you do next?
NOLS Alumni Skiing Under Sweden’s Northern Lights: Trip Report with Dirk Kramer
In March 2024, two groups of NOLS alumni ventured into Sweden's Arctic winter. Although they faced the cold, the kind hospitality of Sweden's locals, hard-earned days skiing, and several sauna sessions left them returning home warm and happy with new memories.
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Climbing Alaska’s Mount Fairweather
Thanks to the Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund for NOLS Instructors, John Sims and Brian Sarge set out in the spring of 2023 to climb Mt. Fairweather's Carpe Ridge in Alaska.
Packrafting Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to Essential Packrafting Skills
This beginner’s guide to packrafting basics covers everything from essential gear to paddling and self-rescue skills. Prepare for your next packrafting adventure with NOLS.
