NOLS Blog
Stories from the field
Advice, stories, and inspiration from the wilderness
Backpacking the Vilcabamba Valley to Machu Picchu Alumni Trip: Inaugural Trip Reflection
An Interview with Kellsie Forbes, NOLS Alumni Trips Manager Where did the idea to create an alumni trip to explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu come from? Jorge Anhalzer, a NOLS instructor from Ecuador, and his friend Sam Husley, a NOLS instructor who lives in Peru, proposed it last year. It’s such a spectacular place. Most of our alumni…
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Leveling Up: From the Operating Room to the Backcountry
Surgeon Katy Trahan levels up her medical training on a Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals course with NOLS.
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How to Choose a Camera for Camping (That’s not your phone)
Here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing what kind of camera to bring on your next outdoor…
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Growing Confidence through Solo Canoeing
NOLS instructor Rumi Kodama reflects on a canoeing seminar in Canada—and the intersections between growing her whitewater skills and confidence.
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When You Should Wear Cotton in the Outdoors
Get ready for some myth busting! Despite its bad reputation, there are actually times when it makes sense to wear…
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Rhode Island: The Final Frontier
In 2017, NOLS finally taught its first course in the nation's smallest state: a Wilderness First Aid course on Rhode…
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Prepare for the Unexpected with a Solid Trip Plan
'I’m out of layers,' I thought as I searched my pack looking for something to make a splint. A broken…
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Reaffirming Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future
In 1965, Paul Petzoldt founded a wilderness school built on the principles of environmental stewardship, values that continue to guide…
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Tolerance for Adversity and Uncertainty in the Southern Andes
A NOLS instructor recounts adventures from a rock climbing trip in Chile and Argentina that highlighted the importance of positivity…
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How to Hunker in Your Tent Without Getting Bored
Here are some ways to stay happy and occupied while you wait out a storm on a backpacking trip.
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