NOLS Blog

Three young women sitting on rocks, eating.

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…

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Young woman showing plate with bread and picante sauce on it.
NOLS Picante Sauce
Picante perks up almost any savory recipe—try it on eggs, beans, in soups and coupled with anything on ...
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
Photo by Amanda Klein In August of 2025, the inaugural NOLS Alumni Norway Backpacking Trip ventured into the Jotunheimen Mountains ...
Scenic shot of Ananpurna with prayer flags in foreground lower left
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…
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
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…
How to Make Oat Scones in the Backcountry
Oat scones taste delicious plain or with honey, peanut butter, wild berry jam, or cheese. They are also excellent with soups or casseroles and make good trail food. Oat Scones ½ cup butter 2 cups oatmeal 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder Pinch of salt (allows recipe to use less sweetener) ¼ cup honey or brown sugar…
NOLS Awards BLM Manager with 2008 Stewardship Award
NOLS Awards BLM Manager with 2008 Stewardship Award
NOLS Alaska Receives Rasmuson Grant to Upgrade Historic Berry House
NOLS Alaska Receives Rasmuson Grant to Upgrade Historic Berry House
NOLS Risk Management Training to Be Held October 2-3 Adjacent to the ATTA’s at Adventure Travel World Summit 2007
NOLS Risk Management Training to Be Held October 2-3 Adjacent to the ATTA's at Adventure Travel World Summit 2007
NOLS Awarded Kresge Foundation Grant
NOLS Awarded Kresge Foundation Grant
NOLS Objects to New Oil and Gas Leasing Package in the Bridger-Teton National Forest
NOLS Objects to New Oil and Gas Leasing Package in the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Outfitters, Hunters and Anglers Support IBLA Decision to Delay Wyoming Range Lease
Outfitters, Hunters and Anglers Support IBLA Decision to Delay Wyoming Range Lease
Win a Walk on the Wild Side
Win a Walk on the Wild Side
NOLS Honors Exemplary Land Manager from Idaho
NOLS Honors Exemplary Land Manager from Idaho
BzzAgent Fills Word-of-Mouth Holes for NOLS
BzzAgent Fills Word-of-Mouth Holes for NOLS
NOLS Website Update
NOLS Website Update
The Cookbook for the Backcountry
The Cookbook for the Backcountry
Peter Roy Named Chairman of the National Outdoor Leadership School
Peter Roy Named Chairman of the National Outdoor Leadership School