The Ducks Are in the Nest

Through rain, sleet, snow, and hail, FSW-2 will prevail.
Back at the branch after spending several frozen and snowy days in Texas at the end of their Rio Grande River section, FSW-2 now prepares for the Independent Small Group Travel section in the Galiuros Mountains where they will put all their risk management and leadership training to the test by hiking without instructors for up to a week. Right now, the Southwest Branch has three groups in the Galiuros, including a group of NASA astronauts on a NOLS Pro course.
Be sure to keep reading the blog for updates on the student groups as the fall season comes to a close.
And now, MORE PICTURES FROM THE FIELD!!!

FSW-2 students backpacking in the Gila Wilderness Range

FSW-2 Rock Ladies at Cochise Stronghold (pictured from left to right: Ashley Costantino, Nora Shaughnessy, Allison Bechtel, Althea Brown, and Diana Hall)

Virabhadrasana III

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Sonoran Year in the field

When the Sonoran Year students returned to the branch for their Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course two weeks ago, I collected over 530 pictures from ONE student. Despite the carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand and permanent numbness in my "posterior", I managed to sort through all the pictures and compile the best ones into a photo album. Here are a few of my favorites:

Easy does it.

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A fond farewell

. . .to Corey and Tom!  They arrived in September to begin their internships at NOLS Rocky Mountain and in a blink, the end is already here.  During their time, they helped a tremendous amount on their individual projects as well as issuing students, bagging rations, embellishing parts of the RM base and being an integral, active part of this community.  They will be missed.  We wish them well on their next endeavors.

Thank you Corey and Tom!

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Happy Thanksgiving

Pictured here are the students from FSR 2 who returned to NOLS Rocky Mountain yesterday.  Just in time for a nice Thanksgiving meal.  The students and staff just got out of the canyons.  Everyone seemed to be in good spirits as they returned to Lander.  Happy to be home for the holidays.  Great job to everyone involved in making the fall semester a success. 

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Sonoran Year De-Issues

The Sonoran Year, fresh off their rock climbing section at Cochise Stronghold, returned to the Southwest branch this past Friday to de-issue gear and begin their nine-day Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training. We, the in-town staff, are very excited about hosting the SY's WFR because it's the first time the Southwest branch has offered a WFR course as a part of a semester course.
Liam Downey and Jen Hunt from WMI will provide students with the necessary tools for making critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote settings.
For anyone looking to work in outdoor education or in guiding, the WFR is a very essential and practical certification to have. (click here to read more about the WFR course)

SY student Brendan Kelly hosin' down Casper, our friendly Ford van.

SY student Teddy Borg scrubbin' and a cleanin', splishin and a splashin' ...

Groover duty

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John Fitzgerald Gets Spooked

Here is a snapshot of one of NOLS Rocky Mountain's finest instructors, John Fitzgerald.  He was very excited about taking FSR 2 into the canyons of Utah, until he was told that there would be scorpions, and coyotes out there with him.  We took this photo just after he heard the news.  Good luck John, hope you're doing alright.

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Wind River Mountaineering Course - NOLS Trip Report

Link: Wind River Mountaineering Course - NOLS Trip Report.
Today NOLS grad, Louie Dawson posted a guest blog about his NOLS course on the Lou Dawson's Backcountry Skiing Blog. Check it out!

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Forty Pounds or Bust!

In conjunction with spice kit alterations, the Gulch (at NOLS Rocky Mountain) is looking for more ways in which we can contribute to the 40 lb. initiative.  One such effort is the miniaturized version of the Cookery.  The first edition of the lightweight Cookery was printed on “waterproof” paper but did not hold up as expected.  This new edition is a laminated version of the slimmed-down Cookery and is hoped to be more durable.  This version weighs in at a scant .11 lbs.  40 lbs here we come!

    *The 40 lb initiative is a push by NOLS to have the start pack weight for the Wind River Wilderness courses down to a consistent 40 lbs.

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WMI's Instructor Training Course

We’re training 18 new WMI Instructors this week in our annual Instructor Training Course.  These folks are NOLS field instructors, ski patrollers, raft guides, environmental educators and wildland firefighters.  We can hear Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Australian in the classroom.

For the past two days we’ve been working on our skills as educators.  Sessions on setting up your classroom, teaching adult learners, the variety of learning styles and how to teach through lecture, demonstration and scenarios fill our days along with classes on how to use a white board, handle questions, the pitfalls of a/v technology, and the specifics of the content of our curriculum.  We talk about the difference between content and style in education, the what and the how, and the power of intentionally choosing how to best deliver a topic.   This afternoon the participants begin student teaching the curriculum.   We hear, from this cadre of experienced instructors, how effective this course is in developing the skills of an educator.

This morning we listened to Melissa Gray deliver the state of the school speech.  She inspired us by describing our educational environment as one that engages the students and teaches a systematic way to apply their skills.  They leave our programs competent, empowered to act and feeling confident in their ability to make decisions and care for others in remote environments.   This is the 'WMI Way".

Right now we’re watching Gates Richards build a peanut butter and jelly sandwich following the instructions of the students.   It’s an exercise to demonstrate the precise and intentional use of language when we teach.   Unfortunately, when we told Gates to open the jelly, we forgot to tell him to hold the jar upright.  Jelly, jelly everywhere except the bread…….

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The Stronghold Café

Students on a NOLS Semester in the Southwest are treated to some amazing backcountry climbing at Cochise Stronghold. Once the home and base of operations for the famed Chiricahua Apache Chief, Cochise, the Stronghold is now a sanctuary for climbers looking to push the limits on multi-pitch routes up sheer cliffs and domes of grainy granite.
Serving up cold dishes of exposed, slabby climbing is the Stronghold's specialty. Those who can't digest the smearing and slab can scan down the multifarious climbing menu of the Stronghold and go with the slow roasted crack climbing, baked boulders with wild cactus, or the crispy multi-pitch confit with a "chickenhead" chutney. Taking your order this season is a top-notch staff of rock instructors who are eager to cater to your every gastronomical whim.

These instructors rock! (pictured left to right: Josh Beckner, Anna Lundgren, Rachel Nelson, and Ben Venter)

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