Posts by NOLS

NOLS winter camping in the 1970s. It was December 1973, in the midst of a two-week winter course somewhere in the Winds. With our 70+-pound packs, we used seal skins on our wooden Army-issue skis to ascend a steep ridge. The day was clear and very cold. The snow was almost to our knees, as…

Photo by Jordan Cranch Cheesy pasta is a staple for any expedition. This recipe for macaroni and cheese, made deluxe by the addition of butter and dried veggies, is hot and delicious and transitions well from the backcountry to your kitchen at home. Be sure to check out the recipe for NOLS Famous Fried Macs!…

This 15-day expedition began with an interest to take on a challenge we had not encountered before. One day, after working a contract in East Africa, James “KG” Kagambi, Evan Kuria, and I began discussing enhancing our outdoor skills. Evan suggested we explore the Rwenzori Mountains, the nearest mountains with easy access to a glacier.…

Thanks to the Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund for NOLS Instructors, Damaris Jaramillo and Nicolas ‘Nico’ Navarrete set out in June of 2023 to spend 17 days climbing in Ak-Su Valley, Kyrgyzstan.

Four friends take to canoes on the Hess River in the Yukon.

Learn more about the team behind NOLS Alumni Trips.

This story tells of the journey of two NOLS instructors and three horses who traveled coast to coast along the Camino De Costa Rica, and learned how community, uncertainty, and laughter became their trusted teachers.

A mountaineering adventure on the Patagonia northern icefield brought four friends together to explore, share, and get challenged in a complex expedition in this remote part of the world. 

Lhakpa Sherpa has grit, determination, and goals. As the first woman to summit Mt. Everest ten times and under adverse life circumstances, she prevailed to meet her goals despite the odds by turning challenging situations into opportunities.

Alumni Trips instructor Susan Brame talks about the impetus behind the new Portugal trips.

An expedition to climb Mount Hooker in the Wind River Range via “The Optimist.” The trip provided ample learning, an opportunity to scout a new route at Hailey Pass, and a mountain birthday celebration.

In March 2024, two groups of NOLS alumni ventured into Sweden’s Arctic winter. Although they faced the cold, the kind hospitality of Sweden’s locals, hard-earned days skiing, and several sauna sessions left them returning home warm and happy with new memories.

Thanks to the Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund for NOLS Instructors, John Sims and Brian Sarge set out in the spring of 2023 to climb Mt. Fairweather’s Carpe Ridge in Alaska.

During the summer of 2023, NOLS instructor and PhD candidate Emma Erwin led a scientific expedition in the high peaks of Denali National Park to help characterize the behavior and age of glaciers on Denali and Begguya (Mt. Hunter). This all-female expedition navigated a season of challenging weather to come away with an exciting new scientific data set from the summit plateau of Begguya.

What is packrafting? Learn the unique history of this adventure sport and what makes it so awesome for exploring water and land!