Earth Day Festivities

For Earth Day, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) was delighted to have Tom Reed, from Trout Unlimited, and Jen Lamb, NOLS Public Policy Director, speak about protecting the Wyoming Range.  Tom Reed, who was a previous NOLS Instructor and worked in the Admissions Department, discussed the Wyoming Range Legacy Act, which is currently working through Congress.  The Act is attempting to protect 44,000 acres in the Wyoming Range, which includes some NOLS operating areas. The event was held at the Noble Hotel and open to the public. 

In addition, Tom was representing the Sportsman for the Wyoming Range, which is a coalition of outfitters, guides, and conservation groups. NOLS is proud to be a member of this organization. They are on the forefront of protecting natural areas and strive to prevent oil drilling in these lands. Kevin Bergstom stated, “It was great to see community members come together for this important conservation effort.” 

After the speech the floor was open to ask questions, discuss the future of Wyoming’s namesake mountains, and make individual comments directed to the Forest Service.  It was a great Earth Day turnout and fantastic to see the community devotion to protecting our beautiful landscape!   

Share |

River Rats

Spring Semester in the Rockies – 3 (SSR-3) returned from Vernal Utah Base yesterday after several weeks on their river section.  They were able to get the full spectrum of water sport experience, traveling down river through they canyons in white water kayaks and in a paddle raft/ oar rigged vessel.  They were able to learn vital skills as they paddled through class three rapids. A good amount of the students were able to learn and master their rolls and some were even able to learn play boating moves such as stern squirting, cart-wheeling, and stalling.

The students of SSR-3 are currently gearing up here at NOLS Rocky Mountain for their final component of their semester: climbing.  They will be first heading to the Needles and then to Devil’s Tower.  They leave with high expectations of learning new skills, having yet another awesome experience, and continuing to have “lots of man time” and bonding.

Share |

Canyon Star Gazing

The OES students just returned to NOLS Rocky Mountain (RM) from their canyon section.  As their hair and beards continue to grow so do the students.  They seem closer than the “Brady Bunch”.  On their canyon section they had the opportunity to test out recipes from the NOLS Cookery, master the fine art of the twiggy fire, and work on rappelling! A favorite recipe was baking bread, in more than one way and a highlight was “swimming and not swimming in Gravel Canyon”. 

As they made another appearance in the Gulch Food Store, they found this time would be unlike the previous ration processes.  Being an OES semester it is a vital learning component of their course.  The “Brady Bunch” did the math, figured out pounds per day, and made sure they would maintain the proper daily nutrient values.  Also, they are very excited to begin their rock climbing section where they will be at Split Rock and Sinks Canyon.  At Split Rock they will go over top roping and multi-pitching.  Then, they transfer to Sinks Canyon to learn how to sport climb, rescue methods, and lead climbing progression.  With spring weather finally on the way, their climbing classroom will be beautiful!      

Share |

NOLS Reunions: We're Coming to You

Here in the alumni department, we can feel it in the air – the smell of fresh posters, the sight of thousands of labels waiting to be stuck on reminder cards, the sound of RSVPs coming in from all over the country – it’s NOLS reunion time in Seattle, Minneapolis, Boston, Denver, and San Francisco.

What exactly happens at a NOLS reunion?  Glad you asked.  Not only does each reunion promise food, drinks, and a chance to network with other NOLS alums (New to the area and looking for someone to climb/hike/ski/whatever with?), they each feature a presentation about a NOLS grad’s recent expedition.

Want to get a friend hooked on NOLS?  Trying to convince Mom to go on an alumni family trip with you?  Bring them to a reunion to hear about the amazing expeditions NOLS grads and instructors are doing in Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and India. See amazing photos, hear their stories, and get psyched for your next outdoor adventure.

             

But first - What is the best way to brush up on your wilderness first aid skills before that adventure and score some sweet WMI gear at the same time? Playing Wilderness Medicine Jeopardy with us for an hour before most reunions! Think you know the right way to tie a tourniquet?  Or how to warm up a hypothermic friend?  But can you answer in the form of a question?  Never taken a WMI class?  Come anyway and find out what they’re all about! What a concept— medical education and fun at the same time.

See the alumni reunions page for the full schedule of reunions and WMI Jeopardy.  And don’t forget – remember your expedition behavior and RSVP.

- Lauren Wetherbee
  NOLS Alumni Intern

(Photos: Alumni Archives, Dave Anderson, Brian Eustis)

Share |

Feature Film

NOLS Rocky Mountain (RM) has been steadily working on filming the new clip for the RM’s site about the issue room and the outfitting process. NOLS production assistant, Virginia Moore, followed the given direction and has been editing and finalizing the project before venturing off to NOLS Southwest to begin another filming project on her course. 

Between the experience of the outfitting staff and course instructors, and the wide range of new and top quality gear in stock in the issue room, prospective and incoming students should feel confident and assured that they can get everything they need for their course.  The goal was to create a clip that was short, informative, and entertaining.  It should be posted soon, so keep an eye out for it on the NOLS Rocky Mountain webpage.  Also, coming soon should be an extraordinary once in a lifetime clip of a dance scene that you may or may not have heard about.  Keep your eyes and ears open, for it should be a mind blowing experience!

Share |

A Glimplse from the Field

This week at NOLS Rocky Mountain (RM) instructors returned from the Spring Semester in the Rockies (SSR) canyon section.  Tanned, toned, and beaming with excitement, we were able to hear a few of their stories and highlights from their excursions in the field. 

SSR-3/4 B was instructed by Muthoni Muriithi, Drew Seitz, and Silas Schrader.  Muthoni has instructed many backpacking trips for the RM and lead other courses out of several of NOLS’ international bases.      Drew has been instructing courses for sometime now and was more recently part of the Teton Valley staff.  Silas Schrader completed his Outdoor Educator Semester in the fall and was a first time instructor for this canyon section.

Highlights included the passing through and by of Robber’s Roost, Blue John Canyon, and the exact location at which Aaron Ralston amputated his arm from a boulder using his pocketknife.  The group traveled a total distance of ninety-seven miles, experienced a forty-eight hour solo, and endured a four-night small group expedition.  One reoccurring theme on the course was cutting hair with trauma sheers.  The range of style included a Mohawk and a “skullet” (the combination of a shaved head and a mullet).   

Share |

Discount Bay

As NOLS Rocky Mountain (RM) tradition continues, the annual yard sale is coming up this weekend.  The issue room gurus and Rocky Mountain interns have been working hard all week setting up elaborate displays, tweaking gear, all while keeping it behind close doors.  The yard sale will be held on Saturday, April 5th, from 8 am to 12 pm.  Also, during the yard sale the Gourmet Gulch food store will be open.  So come on down, get some killer deals, and bring your own food bag to receive a 15% discount on food.      

Share |

Top Tips From NOLS Pros

Featured in the March issue of Backpacker magazine, “33 Top Tips From Trail Pros” highlights five NOLS instructors and NOLS founder Paul Petzoldt who share their personal pointers about what they would never leave without before hitting the trail.

Adventure sports photographer and former NOLS instructor Jimmy Chin says he would never go without his Leatherman Wave, which helps him do everything from opening wine bottles to carving “sea urchin spines out of [his] heel.”

WMI grad and adventure photographer Tyler Stableford says that his backcountry tool of choice is a Lens Pen to clean his camera lens because “like most hikers, [he] doesn’t have a single stitch of cotton,” without which makes it hard to clean a camera lens.

Buck Tilton, co-founder of the Wilderness Medicine Institute and instructor, says a key component of his personal first-aid kid is a Kotex pad to press against bleeding wounds. “It’s a lot cheaper than real medicine supplies.”

Mark Harvey, former NOLS instructor and author of the NOLS Wilderness Guide, says that camp shoes capable of climbing boulders, a 5-mile day hike, and fetching water should be on your packing list.

And while cooking may not seem like a risky outdoor endeavor, Annie Aggens, former NOLS instructor, recommends cotton, wool, or silk gloves when lighting a campfire and handling hot cooking pots because “synthetic gloves can melt and leave nasty burns on your hands.”

And finally, Paul Petzoldt, the NOLS godfather, in the original Wilderness Handbook states, “For shear warmth and protection, nothing surpasses an old-fashioned wool stocking cap that can be pulled down over the ears.” 

For more tips from the pros pick up an issue of Backpacker or visit the NOLS website to get your copy of the NOLS Wilderness Guide.

Wilderness Guide

Paul Petzoldt 's Wilderness Handbook

Share |