NOLS Blog

River running between mountains, group of four on right and large cairn on right.

Backpacking Among Giants: A Trip Report from Norway’s Jotunheimen Mountains

September 30, 2025

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…

Cobalt-blue lake, called Lunch Lake, surrounded mountains and pines in Olympic National Park

What a NOLS Risk Review Really Looks Like: A Case Study with NatureBridge

September 29, 2025

In the same year as NOLS’ 60th anniversary, we are celebrating 20 years since the formation of NOLS ...

Case Study: Dental Emergency while Rafting

September 8, 2025

Photo by Anvesh Thapa The Setting You are on day three of a 4-day rafting trip on the ...

Case Study: Sea Kayaking Slip

August 11, 2025

A fall partway through a sea kayak trip deep in the wilderness poses unique issues. How do you apply your wilderness medicine skills to this incident?

Gap Year Pros and Cons: Solo vs. Group

July 16, 2025

Explore the gap year pros and cons of solo vs. group programs to find the right balance for you between independence and shared experiences.

Trip Report: Inaugural NOLS Alumni Climbing Trip In Greece

July 16, 2025

In May of 2025, the Inaugural NOLS Alumni Greece Climbing Trip traveled to the Greek island of Kalymnos, one of the most famous climbing destinations in the world. Our small but mighty group of alumni and NOLS instructors climbed, swam, staged breathtaking photo shoots, practiced climbing skills, visited nearby islands, sampled the best spinach pies…

Exploring the World and Finding Yourself: The Power of a Gap Year After High School

July 14, 2025

Discover the power of taking a gap year after high school—adventure, cultural immersion, and self-reflection highlight this transformative experience.

Case Study: Embedded Tick while Backpacking

July 9, 2025

In the Appalachian Mountains of New York you friend notices that they have an engorged tick on their leg. How would you apply your wilderness medicine skills in this scenario?

Instructor Spotlight: Caeden Greene

June 23, 2025

A NOLS experience can truly be a transformative experience for a young person’s life, and that was certainly the case for field instructor Caeden Greene. In high school, Caeden embarked on a 30-day Waddington Range Mountaineering Expedition (WAD), long known as one of NOLS’ most rigorous courses. The WAD expedition had such a profound effect…