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…
New Trustees Bring Diverse Expertise to Wilderness Education Nonprofit
NOLS is excited to welcome five new members to its Board of Trustees in 2019, including leaders in the tech, film, venture capital, and nonprofit sectors.
NOLS Introduces Seven Wilderness Expeditions for Affinity Group Members
NOLS will launch seven new affinity courses for a total of 20 offerings designed for People of Color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Start Dreaming: Summer 2020 Expeditions Now Online
Already dreading the end of summer? Don't despair—check out our 2020 summer expeditions and start dreaming about next year's adventures!
Wilderness Safety Training: Key for Any Risk Management Toolkit
How do you manage the inherent risks, like limited communication or distance from medical care, of exploring remote areas? Take a Wilderness Safety Training!
SOAR Act Introduction to the House of Representatives
NOLS and the outdoor recreation industry are rallying behind the Securing Outdoor Access for Recreation Act.
Case Study: When Heat Stress Hits an Entire Group
This case study tests how well you can adapt when you're responsible for not just one patient, but an entire group.
My Path to Outdoor Education from a Semester in Alaska
NOLS grad-turned-instructor Katiya Gombar says that not a single day goes by without thinking of her expedition in Alaska and the lessons she learned there.
Molly Hagbrand
Why We Leave Phones Behind on NOLS Courses (and Why You Should Do It More Often)
We're not saying you should never bring your phone camping. But here are some good reasons to consider a tech-free adventure.
5 Ways to Make Sure Your Next Hike is LNT-Approved
You're probably already familiar with the seven Leave No Trace principles—here are some additional tips to guarantee your next hike is low impact.
The Draw of the Wild
Drawing by Rachel Dranoff.
I Don’t Need to Be an Extrovert to Lead: Reflections on Backpacking in Alaska
In Alaska I realized I might not be the most extroverted human, but I didn’t have to be. Someone else could do that and there would still be space—a need—for me.
Nicolette Hilbrich
Case Study: Treating a Feverish Patient
Test your wilderness medicine knowledge with this case study about a patient with flu-like symptoms that may be related to a tick-borne illness.