Notes from the Field: Phil is on the mend
After descending to base camp on Everest, NOLS senior faculty member and Rocky Mountain River Base Manager Phil Henderson writes from base camp about his condition.
I am now back at base camp and have been for several days. The khumbu cough got the best of me during my last rotation. A combination of being sick, coughing, elevation gain of 5,200 meters to 6,400 meters, and high temps in the Western Cwm took its toll and left me very weak. When I arrived at camp II, my O2 saturation levels were at a mere 55 percent without oxygen. I rested over the next several hours without the oxygen, but my O2 sats never got above 65 percent. We decided it would be a good idea for me to sleep with O's. I slept with a oxygen at 0.5 liters/minute and checked my sats throughout the night; they never went under 90 percent.
The next morning I was up, packed and read to hike back to base camp at 6 a.m. On the trail with the mask still on and the oxygen now at two liters/minute, I was quickly past camp I and back into the infamous Khumbu ice fall. I was back in base camp within three and a half to four hours. My cough continues to produce and keep me awake part of the night. My O2 sats here in base camp have improved to around 80 percent. I received some medication from the Everest Base Camp doctor, which has improved my condition over the past two days as I continue to rest and recover.
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on May 15, 2012 in the following categories: Instructor News, Rocky Mountain
Off-Campus Semester to Start with NOLS
In August, a group of incoming freshmen at Elon University will embark on a 22-day NOLS course in Wyoming’s Wind River Range. While this may not be reminiscent of the typical freshman orientation, it is actually the start of Elon’s inaugural Gap Semester Program, during which students spend their entire first semester of college off campus. At the conclusion of their NOLS course, the group will travel back to North Carolina, stopping in four distinct locations to perform service projects. After that, the students will travel to Costa Rica, where they will live in home-stays.
“Starting with NOLS, [we expect] the students will develop self-reliance, a stronger sense of who they are, as well as a cohesive group identity. [Additionally], the type of experience they will have with NOLS will provide them with a substantial foundation for the service projects and the international experience,” explained Rex Waters, associate dean of students.
This novel program reflects Elon’s dedication to launching “innovative pathways in undergraduate and graduate education,” as well as the school’s “ethos of engaged learning.”
“[Elon, is an] institution, that is always looking ahead at what is best for our students; [our programs are] proactive, not reactive,” said Waters.
Proactive thinking is exactly why the program begins with NOLS.
“The significance of the NOLS program can’t help but transform the students by making them more self aware and thus enabling them to look at the world more broadly,” Waters said. “This innovative transition experience will hopefully provide life experiences integrated with a curriculum that will serve as a launch pad in unleashing the potential of these students on the Elon campus when they return. I wish I could go!”
Permalink | Posted by Alison Hudson on May 9, 2012 in the following categories: Leadership, Professional Training, Rocky Mountain
Notes from the Field: Phil Henderson touches Camp III
Yes, things are very real up here. Some are unfortunate accidents; other things are risk of being in the mountains. The incident where the Sherpa fell into the crevasse was totally avoidable. I have gone through the Khumbu Icefall four times now, once completely alone. I clipped into almost every fixed rope, which are many, most so that I would not fall into a crevasse, others so that my body could be found at the next fixed anchor should anything cut loose.
There was a huge avalanche a few days ago between camp 1 and 2. It ran from high up on Nuptse completely across the glacier floor to the west shoulder of Everest. The smoke cloud went 300 meters high. One Sherpa was caught. A few minutes earlier and it would have taken out 30 to 40 people. We were at camp 2 when this occurred and sent a couple of people to help with the search.
The next day we headed to touch camp III, which is half way up the Lhotse Face, and return to camp II (climb high sleep low).
Phil Henderson poses in the cold sun below Everest.
At this time the Lhotse Face is steep blue ice. We have had very little precipitation since arriving April 1, and what little we have had has been blown away by high winds. Imagine a mile of fixed line and more than 20 people on up line and rappel line at all times, old blue ice with no new snow cover. The sun bakes the ice and exposes rocks of all sizes. Climbers, some with little ice climbing or fixed line experience, release rocks and ice of all sizes with poor crampon technique. The best place to be on the Lhotse Face is directly behind another climber or two so when you hear the yell “rock,” you can duck behind the person in front of you.
While going up, climbers must watch for what's coming down.
I was in this situation while ascending the fixed line a few days ago. I believe I ducked behind another climber more than five times; small rocks hit my helmet twice. During my descent, I knocked small rocks and shards of ice down with my hand several times, yelled rock for my partner many times, and was almost clocked by a melon sized rock that whizzed by, three meters away. Being on the fixed lined going up the Lhotse Face, you are at risk of being hit by whatever comes down.
That is what happened again two days ago. Two Sherpas were hit in different incidences. One was knocked unconscious, broke his jaw and was evacuated via helicopter later that day from just above camp II. The other was hit in the shoulder and was able to hike back to camp.
So, again I and others ask ourselves, “Is it worth the risk to climb this mountain?” We are still trying to find the answer. In the meantime, we keep climbing, use our technical, judgment and decision-making skills, and hope for the best.
The one thing I am very comfortable with are my skills. As a member of this expedition, I have used many of the NOLS core competencies/values: expedition behavior, communication, basic mountaineering and camping skills, repair skills, and tolerance for adversity just to name a few.
Phil puts his skills to use repairing a tent.
Having a solid foundation and understanding of these outdoor skills has allowed me to have fun, travel safely and be a positive contributing member of this expedition.
I've also notice people in the Khumbu are proud NOLS grads like myself:
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on May 6, 2012 in the following categories: Instructor News, Rocky Mountain
Building Gardens, Growing Community
Thank you to all those volunteers from NOLS who came out to Ft. Washakie last Friday to help out with the Earth Day Community Garden Outreach event! Battling through 40 mph winds which made earth moving all the more challenging, we worked alongside students from the local Charter School, Boces Green Construction and the Pathfinder High School, to build over 600 feet of perimeter fencing and 300 feet of raised beds. It was truly an incredible effort!
Fred Groenke, Director of the Wind River Native Science Field Center, and the mastermind behind the project, expects the gardens to be used and appreciated by the community, with the ultimate goal of raising awareness surrounding healthy diet and lifestyle. We were so pleased to be able to support this mission, and hope to see the fruits and vegetables of our labor come summertime!
We would like to give a special thanks to the following for their support: The Noble Kitchen, NOLS transportation, The Gourmet Gulch, Bread Board, The Cooking Crow, Apple Valley Market, Mr. D's and Safeway
Julie, Kay and Dave
Rocky Mountain and Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Interns
Permalink | Posted by Kay Sherwood on Apr 30, 2012 in the following categories: Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, In The News, Rocky Mountain
Excellent EB for the good of the river
Friday brought beautiful weather and buses full of eager Lander Middle School students to the banks of the Little Popo Agie River, where they practiced expedition behavior and developed their environmental ethic.
All afternoon the students, with direction from NOLS instructors, Popo Agie Anglers volunteers, Trout Unlimited representatives, Wyoming Game and Fish Department employees, and Popo Agie Conservation District members, planted 700 willow cuttings to stabilize the river’s banks. The willows will serve to stabilize the river banks and provide protection for the river’s fish populations.
The willows students helped plant will prevent erosion on corners like these in the future. Lindsay D'Addato photo
Friday’s community effort also included a number of educational facets for the young volunteers, ranging from fly fishing to GPS navigation, from aquatic biology to ways to prevent snakebites.The event took place at a Red Canyon Public Fishing Access fishing access adjacent to the Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus and was the second and final step in the Red Canyon River Bank Stabilization project. Read more about the first day of the undertaking here.
Students practice their fly-fishing technique near the river that will soon be a better home for fish. Lindsay D'Addato photo
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Apr 23, 2012 in the following categories: Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, Rocky Mountain, Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus
Check your map for Earth Day events
The mission of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has always been to be the source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. On Earth Day, NOLS locations will bring these backcountry practices to the frontcountry by taking part in events in their respective communities.
The staff of NOLS Alaska will be hitting the road this Earth Day, literally. The crew is planning to tackle their annual cleanup of Farm Loop road—a three-mile stretch of road that leads up to the Palmer headquarters.
The cleanup, which is a part of the annual staff orientation day, happens each spring once the snowmelt has progressed enough to allow for it. This year, the orientation day has been scheduled to coordinate with Earth Day.
“After our long winters, the receding snows offer any number of roadside ‘treasures,’” said Don Ford, NOLS Alaska director. “It is a great time to show our new staff what is able to be recycled at the Valley Recycling Center, to show our neighbors that we care, and to have a good time. The most unusual find of the day always gets a laugh!”
The NOLS Southwest staff will also be supporting Earth Day by getting involved in Let’s G.O! (Get Outside) on Saturday, April 21. Supported by other organizations such as 4-H, Sierra Club, and Parks in Focus, the event will have different outdoor activity stations (play-stations), for children and adults that focus on getting active in the outdoors and creating healthy communities.
The entire NOLS Southwest staff will participate in the event and will host several play-stations, including include learning to make bracelets and key chains using old webbing and cordelette and an orienteering/treasure hunt station, as well as assisting with set-up and breakdown of the event and serving lunch.
“NOLS Southwest is excited to be working with the other sponsors of this event to provide an opportunity for kids and families to get outside and celebrate Earth Day,” wrote Nick Cross, assistant director at NOLS Southwest. “We as a branch have been making an effort to get more involved in the Tucson community, finding ways to volunteer and make positive contributions to events/organizations that we identify with.”
NOLS Headquarters and NOLS Rocky Mountain, both located in Lander, Wyo., are teaming up and joining a number of invaluable community partners to make two projects happen over the weekend. NOLS is co-sponsoring a riverbank stabilization project in Red Canyon on April 20 and a community garden build at two locations on the Wind River Reservation on April 27. At both events, volunteers will be working with students from local schools in an effort to educate attendees about the environment while building stronger community ties.
On April 20 in Red Canyon, students and organizers will plant willow cuttings along the banks of the little Popo Agie with a group of students from Lander Middle School. Working with the Popo Agie Anglers, Trout Unlimited, Wyoming Game and Fish and the Popo Agie Conservation District the group not only be preventing erosion but also teaching a Red Canyon place-based curriculum. For more on this event, check out our recent blog post about the first step.
After students harvested willows early this month and soaked them for a few weeks, they are now ready to be planted along Wyoming river banks. Lindsay D'Addato photo.
On April 27, Lander NOLS folks and partners are fully psyched to get their hands dirty alongside students from the Fort Washakie Charter School to build raised beds and fencing for two new community gardens in Ft. Washakie. The project is the brainchild of Fred Groenke, an avid farmer, teacher, and director of the Wind River Native Science Field Center. The project was designed to create public awareness of the importance of preserving our natural environment and developing and maintaining sustainable growing practices that promote healthy lifestyles and connect us with the natural world. We at NOLS are providing volunteer support and organizing a nutritious lunch for volunteers. And on that note, we should give thanks where they are due to BOCES Green Construction, and the Wind River Diabetes Program for their support as well as Apple Valley Market and Mr. D’s Grocery for answering the food donation call.
So come on out to one of these amazing events in celebration and support of your local NOLS community and the larger, global community that you are a part of!
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Apr 17, 2012 in the following categories: Alaska, Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus
Rock Mountain Yard Sale
Are you in need of new gear? Do you love a good bargain? Are you gearing up for your summer adventures? Then you can’t miss the spring yard sale at the NOLS Rocky Mountain Branch this weekend!
The issue room will be selling all kinds of gear and clothing for highly discounted prices. Items will include backpacks, books, tents, cookware, the infamous NOLS windpants, and much more. Some of the clothing is overstock and brand new, while other items are used with varying repair needs.
Kevin McGowan, the branch’s Outfitting Manager, is excited to host the sale. According to him, “The yard sale is a highlight for members of the Lander community. People that haven’t seen each other for months over the winter are reunited at the event.”
The NOLS employee sale will be held on Friday the 13th from 12pm-3pm. The public sale will be held on Saturday the 14th from 8am-12pm. To learn more about NOLS Rocky Mountain Outfitting check out their website.
All of this great gear needs a new home. Come support the Rocky Mountain Branch’s efforts to reuse and recycle!
Permalink | Posted by Julie Stetson on Apr 12, 2012 in the following categories: Rocky Mountain
LMS Students Get Outside to Protect the Little Popo Agie
What do you get when you mix 120 middle schoolers, branch loppers, and a need for willow cuttings to stabilize cut-banks along the Little Popo Agie River? You might be thinking missing digits, but on a beautiful spring afternoon this week, the answer was 700 willow cuttings and a highly successful first installment of the Red Canyon River Bank Stabilization project.
One student trimming a willow cutting at Red Canyon. Photo credit: Lindsay D’Addato
We felt incredibly lucky to have such a positive and motivated group of students from the Lander Middle School come out to Red Canyon for the afternoon on Tuesday. Along with harvesting and trimming willows, students rotated through a series of classes, including: a macro-invertebrates class from the Popo Agie Conservation District’s Dave Morneau; a fly casting clinic; a geo-caching tutorial; and a Dangerous Flora and Fauna of Red Canyon class by WMI’s own Anna Gast. It was a great opportunity for students to explore the many ways that they can enjoy the amazing lands surrounding Lander.
Students eagerly participated in a class on Red Canyon flora and fauna Tuesday afternoon. Photo credit: Lindsay D’Addato.
It was smiles all around as volunteers from the Popo Agie Anglers and teachers and staff from school shuffled students through classes and willow cutting. We want to express thanks to Nan Slingerland, Donn Kesselheim, Gary Blackwelder, and The Nature Conservancy who gave us permission to harvest on their land.
An LMS student learning the ins and outs of the fly cast. Photo Credit: Lindsay D’Addato
The willow cuttings that were harvested at this event are going to soak for the next two weeks, and will be planted at the Red Canyon Public Fishing Access on April 20th from 12pm – 3pm with the help of the same group of all-stars from the middle school. We’re also planning to continue developing the Red Canyon-specific curriculum.
If you are interested in volunteering at the planting event on April 20th, please send an e-mail to David Clark-Barol, ES&S intern, at david_clark-barol@nols.edu.
Check out a video of all the action at the County 10 website.
Permalink | Posted by Dave Clark-Barol on Apr 4, 2012 in the following categories: Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, In The News, Rocky Mountain, Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus
Notes from the Field: Phil Henderson on Everest approach
NOLS senior field instructor and Rocky Mountain River Base Manager Phil Henderson is making his way through Nepal this week en route to climbing Mount Everest. He is working with a team of North Face athletes and researchers, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first American ascent to the peak. Learn more about the expedition by on the National Geographic or the North Face blogs. The following is his first note from the field:
Phil Henderson
“With this being my fourth trip to the Khufu region of Nepal, I thought I knew what to expect. I have always come here in the winter, so to see wild flowers in bloom and the Magnolia trees blooming as well is a bit different. NOLS graduate Pasang Chuttin Sherpa has proudly displayed her NOLS diploma on the wall of her mother’s tea house and lodge. Pasang is joining another expedition to Mount Everest this season, so I hope to see her on the mountain. Arrived in Namche Baazar on market day which is always a treat. We should end our long trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC) soon. Sad to have missed Bahati’s [Phil’s daughter] fourth birthday yesterday, I was able to call though.”
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Mar 30, 2012 in the following categories: Instructor News, Rocky Mountain
Desolation Canyon to See Drilling
It continues to be a tough year for NOLS river classrooms, as the BLM released a final environmental impact statement last week assessing the Gasco Energy Uinta Basin natural gas project. If authorized, Gasco- a Colorado-based natural gas company- will build nearly 1,300 new natural gas wells in Utah’s Desolation Canyon and other remote areas. A notice in the Federal Register opened a 30-day public review period, which ends April 16th, after which the final authorization will likely be granted.
The pristine beauty of Desolation Canyon/ Photo credit: Ashley Wise
The highly controversial decision made by the Department of the Interior and approved by the Obama administration has drawn strong criticism. The project poses a major threat to the Desolation Canyon wilderness study area, an oft-frequented NOLS river classroom, and the largest unprotected roadless complex in the lower 48.
It was a surprising decision in light of the fact that in November of 2011 Secretary Salazar, head of the Department of the interior, declared that Desolation Canyon merited wilderness protections by Congress. Furthermore, the administration chose this option over two other, more protective, alternatives.
NOLS has participated in public comment periods throughout the process, expressing a concern “that this project will have a serious impact on the river experience.” NOLS also commented on the threat that development poses to air quality, which will “degrade the outstanding and remarkable values that compelled the Vernal BLM to recommend this stretch of the Green River as suitable for designation under the Wild and Scenic River Act.”
NOLS canoe course running the waters of Desolation Canyon/ Photo credit: Ashley Wise
The proposed final EIS does not strike the necessary balance between development and conservation. As a result, some of the wildest and most pristine parts of Utah and a valuable NOLS classroom are going to be compromised. If you would like to comment on the recently authorized Environmental Impact Statement that allows the development of around 200 natural gas wells in the Desolation Canyon wilderness study area, you can address comments to:
UT_Vernal_Comments@BLM.gov
Attn: Mark Wimmer
Check out the NRDC's Switchboard blog for more information.
Permalink | Posted by Dave Clark-Barol on Mar 22, 2012 in the following categories: Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, In The News, Rocky Mountain
