But, Where Are the Students??

Instructors for the canyon sections of the Fall Outdoor Educator Semesters (OESF) have arrived in Lander and are making preparations for their upcoming forays into Utah’s canyons.  However, their students are conspicuously absent!  Have no fear, entire courses haven’t gone wandering off...  Rather, these sections’ instructors will be meeting up with their groups on the road prior to going into the canyons.  As a result the students from OESF, sections 1 and 2, are not returning to Lander until after more than four weeks in the canyons.  It’s certainly a different feel having preparations underway in-town without a group of students taking part, but for some courses meeting up outside of Lander works out better logistically.  Good luck Outdoor Educator Semesters, sections 1 and 2, in the upcoming days as you begin your time in the canyons!

Instructor Dan Vanden Heuvel prepares for an upcoming canyon section.

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Fall in the Southwest

The fall season at NOLS Southwest is well underway.  Our students have all begun their semesters with various skills section including Hiking in the Gila Mountains, Caving throughout the Southwest and climbing at Cochise Stronghold in South Eastern Arizona.  Students this fall are motivated and enthusiastic and have been raving about their experience thus far.  All three fall semesters have proctors who will be traveling with students throughout the semester, offering consistent mentorship and supervision for whole semester.

Meanwhile, back at the NOLS Southwest base, there has been a flurry of exciting projects being done between student transitions at the base.  The entire staff pitched in to build platforms for and erect three new 16' yurts for in-town staff housing.

We had the "upstairs" building, which houses our administrative offices and staff commons painted this fall, as well as updating the staff kitchen with a fresh new color.  We have had the pleasure of working with local contractors who have installed some much needed new electrical systems to our boat house, transportation and facilities areas, expanding our ability to work in those areas after dark and to provide for multiple uses including increased course prep areas. 

We can't believe that the fall is going by so fast and we are excited to see our students and staff everytime they come back to the base for a transition.

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NOLS Alumni Achievement Award 2008

Each year, NOLS presents its Alumni Achievement Award to an alumnus who has taken what they've learned at NOLS and become notably successful in the outdoor recreation, education or conservation industry.

Award-winning author James Tabor makes an interesting observation that sums up this year’s NOLS Achievement Award winner’s huge impact on mountaineering and climbing in Alaska. Tabor’s book, “Forever on the Mountain,” says: “…perhaps the most revealing indicator of change for the better (at Denali National Park) is that if you asked any international symposium to name the world’s top five mountaineering search-and-rescue experts, chances are good that South District Ranger (NOLS grad and 2008 Alumni Achievement award winner) Daryl Miller would make the list.”

Daryl Miller’s path to the pinnacle of North American mountaineering and park management included time in Viet Nam with the Marine Corps, three NOLS student courses and work as a NOLS instructor, management of several college and other outdoor programs, 14 expeditions to Denali, four expeditions to Anconcoqua, three Mexican volcano climbs, the first winter circumnavigation of Mt. McKinley, involvement in North America’s highest technical rescue (at 19,800’), over 60 mountaineering accident investigations and 80+ rescues, four National Park Service Achievement Awards, and the US Department of the Interior Valor Award.

Daryl is not only a mountaineer, as Denali National Park South District Ranger he is charged with managing a big chunk of that six million acre park and the 1200+ climbers who attempt its peaks every year. Daryl is well known for incorporating education and a strong emphasis on conservation into his management strategy—two elements that are key to success and undeniably key to NOLS.

NOLS Alaska Director Don Ford accepted the award for Daryl in Lander on October 11. Please join NOLS in congratulating Daryl Miller on his amazing accomplishments.

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NOLS Alumni Service Award 2008

This past weekend in Lander, NOLS held its annual State of the School meeting and awards ceremony. It's a time for us to look back at the successes and challenges of the past year, plan for the future, and recognize folks whose contributions have strengthened the school.

Each year, NOLS recognizes an outstanding alumnus who has served the school in exemplary ways as NOLS pursues its mission teaching leadership, conservation, and outdoor skills. The winner of this year's Alumni Service Award is Sarah Eustis (Alaska Sea Kayaking 2003). In 2005, Sarah stepped up to be chief stalwart and rabble-rouser for our NYC alumni group. She was a driving force in organizing record-setting reunions in 2006 and 2007.

Sarah also showcased her outdoor skills by recently organizing a 10-day bike trip for a group of non-outdoor students from the Bronx Lab School. Sarah organized this trip into a six-month learning adventure that taught her kids "teamwork, leadership, physical fitness and self-discovery"- that certainly sounds like taking the essence of the NOLS mission to a wider audience, in this case a group of urban kids who would have a hard time accessing a full NOLS course.

Sarah was in Lander over the snowy October 11 weekend to receive her award. Please join us in thanking her for her years of impressive and creative help making NOLS more accessible to people of all stripes in New York City. She recently relocated to Portland, Oregon, and we can only imagine that she'll be getting alumni fired up out there, as well!

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Congratulations Fall Semester Sections, 5 and 6!

Congratulations to members of Rocky Mountain Fall Semesters 5 and 6 (FSR) for ALL successfully completing their Wilderness First Responder course (WFR).  The WFR is intense medical training that prepares the student to handle back country emergencies, and while prevention and decision-making are key elements of the curriculum. Topics such as wound management, broken bones, long term care of patients, and many other scenarios that can occur in the wilderness are also covered.  All the students worked diligently over the past ten days, which lead to everyone passing both their written and practical examinations.  Now it is on to more fun and excitement as FSR 5 and 6 head off to the canyons, have a great time!

Nice Job!

Keeping organized after class.

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Credit Where It's Due

A recent study at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria has shown that the Bee Gees disco song "Stayin' Alive" provides an ideal beat to follow while performing CPR chest compressions. Big deal--Wilderness Medicine Institute instructors have been compressing chests to this beat this for years! Congratulations to these diligent doctors for proving what we already knew.

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Off to Lankin Dome Yeh haw!

Fall Semester students from Section 7 (FSR 7) have just come back to the Rocky Mountain (RM) from Sinks Canyon to grab some food and gear up for their time at Lankin Dome. After learning some great skills, top roping, lead climbing, and building anchors on the granite and sand stone surfaces of Sinks canyon, they will be furthering their rock climbing abilities at Lankin Dome. FSR 7 will have the chance to go multi-pitching, learn to place rock pro, and practice emergency vertical rescue techniques at Lankin Dome. Good luck, and have fun FSR 7 as you head out and face even more cool challenges.

Staying Warm, and eating Breakfast at the RM.

Loading up the truck, and grabbing gear for Lankin Dome

Lankin Dome

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Improvised Litters

A litter is a device for carrying someone, and in the context of wilderness medicine, it can be a lifesaver. Carrying a litter is painful, slow, backbreaking work, and that's the best case scenario, when you are using a commercially-designed litter for its intended purpose. When you must make your own, improvising with materials at hand, the difficulty grows.

In this video, see Wilderness EMT students testing some homemade litter designs in Sinks Canyon, outside of Lander WY.

Procession of the Litters from John Hovey on Vimeo.

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Wilderness Risk Management Conference Kicks Off

Today is the second day of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference, at Jackson Lake Lodge, outside of Jackson, WY.  This year’s attendance of 350 people is the largest in the conference’s fifteen year history.  The conference kicked off yesterday with a talk by Dr. Sara Newman, who spoke about her design for a public risk management program for the National Park Service.  Her comprehensive plan is the first of its kind, and has the goal of reducing visitor injuries across US National Parks.  The first session of presentations followed Dr. Newman’s speech, along with an evening reception, exhibitor thank you, and raffle. 

This morning the presentations continued, and carried on throughout the day.  An impressive variety of topics were covered, and ranged from legal issues to crisis management techniques to staff training recommendations, among many others. The sessions will continue tomorrow prior to the conference wrap up.   

The Grand Tetons provide a beautiful and sobering backdrop throughout the conference.  The scenery taunts many conference goers, who would rather be climbing the mountains than looking at them from behind a window.  However, the mountains also serve as a constant reminder of why so many have chosen to travel from around the country to attend: to engage in a dialogue about the risks faced in the outdoors, and, ultimately, to more safely and intelligently enjoy the wilderness.

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Week Three Madness

It is Week Three here on the Lander Wilderness EMT and everyone is feeling the strain. The stunning amount of information that the students must assimilate is one thing, but on top of the book knowledge they must master many practical skills as well. Right now, the students are practicing their spinal stabilization skills and learning about how to deal with trauma patients wearing helmets. Again, though, it is week three.

Week Three Madness from John Hovey on Vimeo.

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