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…
Spend Your Bonus on Experiences, Not Things, This Year
The National Outdoor Leadership School offers trips, of all lengths and focuses, so you can ditch the suit and get in touch with mother nature.
Sierra Club’s Military Family & Veterans Initiative Supports Expedition Denali
Sierra Club's Military Family & Veterans Initiative Supports Expedition Denali
Oregon Native Returns from 75-day Alaska Expedition
After spending several days marooned in a whiteout atop a distant Alaskan mountain, 21-year-old Katiya Gombar ventured outside her tent and was immediately stunned by what she saw.
NOLS All-Women’s Expeditions Featured in The Oprah Magazine
In April 2019, The Oprah Magazine featured NOLS’ all-women’s expeditions as one of the top 15 best adult summer camps in the country.
NOLS Cookery Wins 2018 National Outdoor Book Award
The seventh edition of the iconic NOLS Cookery won the classic category of the 2018 National Outdoor Book Awards.
Recognizing Indigenous Leaders in the Outdoor Industry
In honor of 2018 Indigenous People’s Day, SNEWS recognized five indigenous leaders in the outdoor industry, including NOLS Instructor and Senior Marketing Representative Erica Nelson.
Outstanding High School Leader Happiest in the Wilderness
High school senior Eleanor Asma of Lake Bluff, Illinois, reflects on the importance of teamwork to her group’s success on a NOLS Wind River Wilderness course. Recognized for her leadership skills, Eleanor plans further her outdoor education with a Wilderness First Responder course this summer.
WRMC Presents Risk Management Award to Jay A. Satz
Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC) presented the eighth annual Charles (Reb) Gregg Wilderness Risk Management Award in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Idaho Rescue Training Brings NOLS Wilderness First Aid to Magic Valley
In May 2018, Idaho Rescue Training hosted a two-day NOLS Wilderness First Aid course for Magic Valley residents.
