NOLS Blog
Epistaxis on a Llama Packing Trip
The Setting It’s day two of a guided family llama packing trip deep in the Andes of South America. The scenery is stunning—glacial valleys, high alpine meadows, and dramatic peaks. You’re one of the trip guides, certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). The group includes several families, and this morning’s plan is to trek…
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)
Practicing patient care during a scenario. Photo by Angelica Rydelius Bergman. During the first multiple casualty scenario of ...
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…
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…
How to Choose a Camera for Camping (That’s not your phone)
Here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing what kind of camera to bring on your next outdoor trip.
Growing Confidence through Solo Canoeing
NOLS instructor Rumi Kodama reflects on a canoeing seminar in Canada—and the intersections between growing her whitewater skills and confidence.
When You Should Wear Cotton in the Outdoors
Get ready for some myth busting! Despite its bad reputation, there are actually times when it makes sense to wear cotton on an outdoor adventure.
Rhode Island: The Final Frontier
In 2017, NOLS finally taught its first course in the nation's smallest state: a Wilderness First Aid course on Rhode Island's Save the Bay campus.
Prepare for the Unexpected with a Solid Trip Plan
'I’m out of layers,' I thought as I searched my pack looking for something to make a splint. A broken femur wasn't a part of our trip plan...
Reaffirming Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future
In 1965, Paul Petzoldt founded a wilderness school built on the principles of environmental stewardship, values that continue to guide NOLS today.
Tolerance for Adversity and Uncertainty in the Southern Andes
A NOLS instructor recounts adventures from a rock climbing trip in Chile and Argentina that highlighted the importance of positivity in the face of adversity.
How to Hunker in Your Tent Without Getting Bored
Here are some ways to stay happy and occupied while you wait out a storm on a backpacking trip.
A First Responder Changes the Conversation about Mental Health
NOLS Wilderness Medicine instructor discusses the mental challenges of emergency medicine and raises awareness of PTSD for first responders.
The 5 Components of Psychological First Aid
Wilderness First Responders need to know how to treat physical wounds. But it's also important to keep a patient's mental health in mind.
Improve Your Appetite for Uncertainty
Instructor Molly Herber shares her learnings about tolerance for adversity and uncertainty, one of the key leadership skills students learn on NOLS courses.
Rescue at Goblin Valley State Park
On a family trip in Utah, NOLS grad Shelli Johnson suddenly found herself using her Wilderness First Responder skills at the scene of a serious accident.
