Southwest Send Off

Today, Tuesday February 27, 2007, the Spring Southwest semester left for their cave camp in Carlsbad, New Mexico.  The Southwest staff, above, gave them a stylin’send off full of glitz and glamour for our traditional NOLS Southwest wave. 
After the wave, Janeen and John couldn’t keep their appetites under control and began eating Dave, our rations manager.  Below is photographic evidence of his demise.   

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BEST OF LUCK Semester on the Borders!!

Sunday afternoon, the Southwest/Northwest semester left the branch for their first section: hiking in the Galiuros.  Spirits were soaring and they got on their way with out any trials or tribulations.  Good Luck to them with the start of their semester!!

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NOLS Grad McCartney Third in Cycling's Tour of California

Link: Sprinters have their day as Leipheimer cruises to Tour of California title.

Semester in the Rockies grad Jason McCartney finished third overall in the biggest race in the U.S., the Tour of California. His teammate Levi Leipheimer was the Tour winner.

This was Jason's best finish as a professional. Congrats, Jason!

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Rolling out the Rations

Rationing went without a hitch for Spring Semester in the Rockies courses 1 and 2 (SSR 1 or 2), thanks to the fantastic organization and expertise of Rations Manager Claudia Pearson.   Students eat gourmet meals on their wilderness expeditions, boasting such menu masteries as pepperoni pizza, gado gado (check out the NOLS Cookery for that recipe), and backcountry cinnamon rolls.  Just wait mom and dad, your student may emerge from his/her course a budding baker or culinarian!

Rolling out the rations – SSR 2 student Emily Pierson makes sure her course receives the full allotment of cracker rations.  Seems like that trail food disappears all too quickly…

Whitney Annicelli of SSR2 digs into the rice bin, dreaming of bean burritos in the canyon.

Rations jedi masters Jason Bartschi (intern), Claudia Pearson (rations manager), and Mary Ann Baron (rations assistant) relish in the excellent student food-bagging work. 

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NOLS partner NativeEnergy and Ahhnold

Link: The 2007 Fast 50 - NativeEnergy.

Both California Governor, Arnold Schwarznegger, and NOLS carbon offset partner, Native Energy, have been named to Fast Company magazine's Fast 50, recognizing people and organizations providing solutions for our ailing planet.

The planet says: Ah'll be baaack!

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Semester on the Borders Arrives!

The Southwest/Northwest Semester students arrived at NOLS Southwest on Wednesday, February 21st.  They have been getting acclimatized to the desert while completing their WFA certifications here at the branch.  They are scheduled to head for the Galiuros to begin their semester on Sunday.  Below, WMI instructor Chris Mader, teaches how to bandage an ankle in the backcountry.  Bonnie Johnson, member of the course, is the mock patient.

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Goodbye Pearl 1995-2004

Pearl, the oldest member of our transpo fleet will be leaving us today.  Pearl is a 1995, Ford F-350 pick up truck.  Otherwise known as the Clydesdale with a motor.  He will be retiring to California for an easier life of road driving.  Pearl states, “ I will surely miss the grueling drives deep into the desert, and I will also miss being abused by NOLS Southwest, rookie drivers, learning to drive my manual transmission.”  Pearl will certainly be missed and his life at NOLS will always be remembered.      

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Wyoming Public Radio Interviews NOLS

On Friday, February 9th, Wyoming Public Radio (WPR) reporter Kristin Espeland trekked up to Togwotee Pass with NOLS instructors Matt Lloyd and Brendan Madden to ask some questions about avalanche awareness. The spot aired on WPR’s Open Spaces and the title Avalanche Fatalities reflected the spot’s focus on the rise in deaths as a result of avalanches over the last decade.

Matt and Brendan were called upon as local voices of authority in the field of snow science and they happily dug test pits, analyzed slope angles, and discussed the potential for slab avalanches to threaten skiers on steep slopes. In the spot you hear Brendan suggest ways to manage the risks posed by avalanches in the same way instructors consistently teach students to manage those risks on NOLS winter courses.

To hear the show as streamed from the WPR website click here. For info on NOLS winter courses click here.

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WMI of NOLS Partners with Landmark Learning

In January 2007, Landmark Learning in Cullowhee, North Carolina entered into partnership with the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS (WMI of NOLS) to offer courses in the Southeastern United States. Landmark is an established multicertification training center for outdoor educators and emergency medical personnel. This partnership represents a big step for WMI of NOLS and will expand our course offerings into a region of the US where we have traditionally been underrepresented. The courses will be administered through Landmark Learning's office in the southeast utilizing WMI instructors, curriculum, and materials.

When WMI of NOLS staff visited Landmark in 2006, they quickly realized that Landmark's mission, as well as, its teaching style, was an excellent match for WMI of NOLS. We are excited about this development and look forward to working closely with Landmark. To learn more about WMI of NOLS click here. For information about Landmark Learning click here to visit their website.

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Bon Voyage SSW!!!

Thursday, February 8, the Southwest Semester left for the field, at last, after successfully completing their Wilderness First Aid Certifications.  They will be trekking through the Galiuros for the first section of their semester.  Best of luck and safe travels SSW!!

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