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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Turning My NOLS Experience Into a Minimalist Lifestyle
Camper life comes with some challenges; however, it’s the most freeing thing I have experienced since my gap year, and…
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Why I Trusted a NOLS Course during COVID
When I say 2020, what comes to mind? Pandemic, quarantine, fear, loneliness, job loss, online overload. It was February 2020…
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Case Study: Abdominal Pain on the Trail
At 6:30 in the morning some of your participants come and tell you that their tentmate is complaining of abdominal…
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How NOLS Helped Me Thrive After Dropping Out of College
Out of the blue, a tip from an old mentor pointed me towards NOLS as an alternative, and maybe more…
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First Ascent of Cerro Nora in Patagonia
Stretching myself right to the limit, day after day, and finding camaraderie in that challenge gave me a new sense…
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5 Myths About a NOLS Gap Year
5 Gap Year Myths Debunked - Worried that a NOLS gap year expedition is beyond your reach in terms of…
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Why You Should Take a WFR with NOLS
Discover why the NOLS Wilderness First Responder course is transformative, equipping you with skills, confidence, and a new perspective on…
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55th Anniversary: Stories from Our Alumni
Over 55 years, we've learned the value of NOLS isn't in accomplishments so much as the way a NOLS education…
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30 Years of Wilderness Medicine
In 1990, two people started a business that was remarkable for 2 reasons—most important because the business was dedicated to…
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