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Stories from the field

Advice, stories, and inspiration from the wilderness

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Case Study: Chest Injury with Fall

The Setting You are on a climbing trip in Red Rocks, Nevada. You’ve spent the last week dialing in your climbing, swapping beta with new friends at the crag and soaking up the desert sun. Today, you decide to take a break from long routes and focus on bouldering.  You’re chalking up, eyeing a new…

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All Alumni Expeditions Gap Year Gear Leadership Wilderness Medicine
Kickstart your Summer: A NOLS-Inspired Guide to Outdoor Adventure
Articles

Kickstart your Summer: A NOLS-Inspired Guide to Outdoor Adventure

Summer is a season of possibility—new places to explore, skills to sharpen, and friendships to deepen. At NOLS, we believe…
NOLS May 2025 1 min read
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Expedition Isla Wager y Mas
Articles

Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Expedition Isla Wager y Mas

With dreams of personal adventures in Patagonian Chile, Dave Watson asked Nacho Aguilera and me to join him paddling in…
NOLS May 2025 1 min read
NOLS 1965 • 2025 • 2085
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NOLS 1965 • 2025 • 2085

NOLS winter camping in the 1970s. It was December 1973, in the midst of a two-week winter course somewhere in…
NOLS May 2025 1 min read
How to Make Deluxe Mac and Cheese (and Fried Macs too!) in the Backcountry
Articles

How to Make Deluxe Mac and Cheese (and Fried Macs too!) in the Backcountry

Photo by Jordan Cranch Cheesy pasta is a staple for any expedition. This recipe for macaroni and cheese, made deluxe…
NOLS April 2025 1 min read
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Mountaineering in Rwenzori Mountains
Articles

Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Mountaineering in Rwenzori Mountains

This 15-day expedition began with an interest to take on a challenge we had not encountered before. One day, after…
NOLS December 2024 1 min read
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Climbing in Kyrgyzstan
Articles

Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Climbing in Kyrgyzstan

Thanks to the Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund for NOLS Instructors, Damaris Jaramillo and Nicolas ‘Nico’ Navarrete set out in June of…
NOLS December 2024 1 min read
Case Study: A Climbing Fall in Greece
Articles

Case Study: A Climbing Fall in Greece

While climbing in Greece with a friend, you witness another climber takes a fall. She swings hard, feet first, into…
NOLS November 2024 1 min read
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Canoeing the Hess River
Articles

Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Canoeing the Hess River

Four friends take to canoes on the Hess River in the Yukon.
NOLS October 2024 1 min read
Case Study: Fall from a Horse
Articles

Case Study: Fall from a Horse

You witness someone fall from a horse; they are unresponsive. How do you use your Wilderness Medicine skills in this…
NOLS September 2024 1 min read

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