Leader

For Alumni of the National Outdoor Leadership School Summer 2013 • Vol. 28 No. 3

TH

E

GETTING KIDS OUTDOORSPAGE 14

INSIDER’S LOOKNOLS FACULTY SUMMIT PAGE 12

PAGE 16

EXPEDITION DENALI REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

2 3Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

ContentsFrom the Director

Casey DeanEditor

Sam BakerDesigner

Alisha BubeDesigner

Rich BrameAlumni Relations Director

John GansNOLS Executive Director

July 2013 • Volume 28 • No.3Published three times a year in March, July, and November.

Postmaster: Send address changes to National Outdoor Leadership School284 Lincoln St.Lander, WY 82520

The Leader is a magazine for alumni of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), a nonprofit school focusing on wilderness skills, leadership, and environmental ethics. It is mailed to ap-proximately 60,000 NOLS alumni and an additional 10,000 prospective students. NOLS graduates living in the U.S. receive a free subscription to The Leader for life.

The Leader accepts paid advertising and welcomes article submissions and comments. Please address all correspondence to theleader@nols.edu or call (307) 332-8800. Alumni can direct address changes to alumni@nols.edu or (800) 332-4280. For the most up-to-date information on NOLS, visit nols.edu or e-mail admissions@nols.edu.

The Leader is printed with soy-based inks in Portland, Ore., on paper using 30 percent post-consumer-recycled content. A paper-less version of The Leader is available online at www.nols.edu/alumni/leader.

OUR GOALS AND YOUR GOALSAs we wrap up NOLS’ 2013 Strategic Plan this year, a great deal of reflecting has been taking place school-wide. We’ve looked back on the last five years and the goals we set in 2008 with a sharp eye, and I can say we’ll be wrapping up “Expedition 2013” with pride. In fact, a number of successes have been documented just in this single issue of The Leader. On the cover, you’ll see a huge undertaking NOLS has taken to be the leader in increasing diversity in the outdoors. Expedition Denali: Inspiring Diversity in the Outdoors will enable us—and the rest of the industry—to continue progress toward essential diversity goals, even without summitting. In fact, learn more about the importance of knowing when to turn around on page 7. Then turn to page 16 to read about Expedition Denali and what it means in today’s world on page 16. Another powerful initiative that came out of the current strategic plan is the annual NOLS Faculty Summit. It is of utmost importance to us that our instructors have every opportunity to develop into the best possible teachers they can be. One means of facilitating that development is providing them with a week of instruction, net-working, and collaboration each year. Get an insider’s look at the gathering of minds at the third annual NOLS Faculty Summit from our own Adam Swisher on page 12. As you keep reading, you’ll see our enduring efforts to protect access to our wilderness classrooms on page 6 and exciting progress on our environmental stewardship goals on page 26. As you can see, the 2013 strategic plan, which you can learn more about at www.nols.edu/strategic_plan, guides NOLS from a multi-tude of angles, making sure we are prepared for the future as we, in turn, continue to prepare our graduates for the future. The inspiration is cyclical and exponential as our grads both inspire our commitment to excellence and motivate their own networks as a result of their courses. I never tire of hearing about the myriad ways in which our alumni are changing the world, from creative outreach about the environment (see graduate Jonathan Rosen’s video on page 32) to keeping a team safe through self awareness and strong judgment and decision-making skills (read about grad Ian Overton’s tough decision not to summit on page 7) or breaking glass ceilings in the outdoor industry (meet grad Lynn Hill on page 9). This is why it is important that we set lofty goals for each strategic plan. As we wrap up the final months of the current plan, we are also gathering input and looking forward so that we can continue to enable NOLS graduates to set and achieve their own world-altering goals. As we reflect on all that we have achieved and how we remain the leader in wilderness and leadership education, it’s important to remember the sometimes-intangible outcomes our courses continue to have. We know NOLS teaches lead-ership in unrivaled ways and outdoor skills better than anyone else. But there is also that spiritual experience our students come away with that sticks with them. Semester in New Zealand graduate Carolyn Highland wrote about this while on her course, and her piece on page 29 is one that will bring every NOLS graduate back to the transformative experience of his or her course and reinvigorate your passions as you change the world.

John Gans, NOLS Executive Director

LeaderTH

E

Contributors

WHAT ARE THESE BOXES? They’re QR codes—two-dimensional barcodes that can be read by smartphone cameras. Search “QR code” to find a free app for your phone, then use it to read images of the QR codes in The Leader. Scan the code above to see the latest episode of The NOLS Cooking Show.

IAN OVERTONReal Life Drama, pg 7

Overton is a graduate of NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute’s Wilderness EMT course. He operates part time as the medic for EDGE8000, a Hungarian high-altitude climbing move-ment. When not climbing, he can be found skiing, hitchhik-ing, and otherwise adventuring in the Rocky Mountains.

JAMES EDWARD MILLSCover Article, pg 16

Mills is a freelance journal-ist and independent media producer based in Madison, Wisc. He’s the host and creator of the blog/podcast series The Joy Trip Project dedicated to reporting on the business, art, and culture of the active lifestyle.

BRENT WALLENFeature, pg 10 & Book Review, pg 21

Wallen knew he had an obses-sion with the outdoors when he realized he had set all of his computer desktop backgrounds to some picturesque landscape and stared at it long after he was done with whatever he was working on.

WHO IS THIS?Recognize this person? The first 10 people to contact us with the correct answer will receive a free NOLS t-shirt. Call NOLS Alumni at (800) 332-4280 or email alumni@nols.edu. The answer to last issue’s “Who Is This” is Lena Conlan, current NOLS and WMI in-structor from Bozeman, Mont. and has been working courses since 1986.

Departments

5 FIELD NOTES: Expeditionary Fortitude 6 ISSUE ROOM: NOLS before Congress 7 WILD SIDE OF MEDICINE: On turning around 8 ALUMNI PROFILE: He’s taken how many courses? 9 ALUMNI PROFILE: Shattering glass ceilings—safely 20 ALUMNI TRIPS: Return to the backcountry. Bring a friend. 21 REVIEWS: Octopuses, outlaws, and the great outdoors 22 GEAR ROOM: NOLS gets a new backpack 24 RECIPE BOX: Camping in luxury 25 JABBERWOCKY: Catch up on your coursemates’ lives 26 SUSTAINABILITY: Facility efficiency around the world 27 BRANCH NOTES: By the numbers 27 GIVING: Staff to endow a scholarship 29 BELAY OFF: What does wilderness mean to you? 31 TRAVERSES: Golden Ears, an animated film

Features

10 INTRODUCING THE WMR The first ever Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Semester just

wrapped up. Get a peek into what this already popular course entails and where it will lead its first—and future graduates.

12 INSIDER’S LOOK AT THE FACULTY SUMMIT The NOLS Faculty Summit brings together instructors to network,

share ideas, and continue their education. Instructor and Curriculum Publications Manager Adam Swisher gives a tour.

14 GETTING KIDS OUTDOORS A team of NOLS graduates have found themselves working together to bring youth into contact with wilderness and adventure.

16 COVER: EXPEDTION DENALI REACHES NEW HEIGHTS Expedition Denali is inspiring youth of color to find their passion

in the outdoors. Read about the climbers and their motivations.

CAROLYN HIGHLANDBelay Off, pg 29

Highland is a 23-year-old aspiring writer, Maine native, and graduate of a NOLS Fall 2012 semester in New Zealand. The months following her NOLS course have found her coaching cross-country skiing in her home state, backpacking through Patagonia, and teach-ing English in Northern Chile.

4 5Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

Field NotesFeedback

LeaderTH

E

A ski trAverse of the clAssic Nols course with liz hArdwick

winded in the winds:

A new wAy to explore: nols enters the world of pAckrAftingfeAture, pAge 11

redefine ‘possible’belAy off, pAge 30

pAge 16

For ALumni oF THE nATionAL ouTdoor LEAdErsHip scHooL • spring 2012 • VoL. 27 no. 2

“You jokers are going up there?” Alan, a seasoned farmer on the South Island of New Zealand, greeted us with this sentiment as Christian Martin, Andy Clifford and I (with a cameo from NOLS New Zealand equipment manager Ari Hertz) crossed the first road we’d seen since we left the west coast. Knowing Kiwis routinely and effi-ciently cover steep, rugged, mountain-ous terrain off trail, we received Alan’s mixed reaction with confusion. Was he impressed with our plan to continue our month-long traverse of the South Island following the 42nd parallel—an expedition we dubbed “42ude” (read: “fortitude”)—or did he think we were crazy? And in either case, what sort of adventure were we about to delve into? Using the 42nd parallel as the guiding element to our route made little sense in terms of efficiency of travel or access to New Zealand’s extensive wilderness infrastructure of trail and hut systems. Perhaps it is for these reasons that, to our knowledge, our conceptual route had not been previously (or intentionally) completed. The 42nd parallel’s appeal was the continually mountainous ter-rain from west to east coast, the associ-ated physical challenge, and the poten-tial for experiencing a true, wild crossing of New Zealand. By hugging the paral-lel, we anticipated we would trade days of slow travel through world-class bush whacking, bluffy alpine ridges, difficult route finding, and exposure to weather for the chance to explore New Zealand wilderness nearly never seen by humans. By the time we met Alan after cross-ing the rugged Paparoa Range, we had already realized the exploratory nature of our route would require constant vigilance and problem solving. The slower-than-expected travel had already forced us to troubleshoot through two dry camps, our ensuing dehydration, and fatigue from consistent sun-up to

sun-down travel. The finicky, steep, and often forested terrain combined with convoluted ridges had us constantly studying maps and practicing precise compass navigation. Amongst the pleth-ora of micro ridges and poor terrain vis-ibility in the thick bush, the map reader would yell from the back “we need the north-northeast ridge at 30 degrees, not the northeast ridge at 40 degrees!” The jungle gym-like bush saw us swinging down slopes too steep to travel safely were it not for the Dr. Suess-like trees. Our route and its challenges, previously known to us only through a topographic map, were mentally and physically ex-hausting. So when Alan expressed surprise and a hint of doubt when we described the next leg of our journey, we knew we had more adventure in store. Twenty six days, over 62,000 feet of el-evation gain, and 179 miles after setting out from the west coast, we plunged into the Pacific waters on the eastern shore of the South Island. With exhausted and worn bodies and a revised appreciation for New Zealand’s staunch, wild moun-tains, we felt immensely satisfied in com-pleting our exploratory adventure. Exploration, whether a business con-

cept, school project, or mountain tra-verse, is full of uncertainty. As NOLS alumni, we’ve all experienced various forms of uncertainty. We’ve also seen how managing and working through uncertainty is a rewarding learning ex-perience rarely available without taking the risk to forge into unknown territory. On our aptly named “42ude” project, we relearned the importance of fortitude—mental and emotional strength in the face of adversity—to be successful. By embracing the uncertainty surrounding our route, and supporting each other when individual fortitude waivered, we benefited from opportunities to hone our judgment skills. Doing so without the bias of pre-existing ‘beta’ is an experience virtually absent in this age of trip reports, smart phones, and guide books. We found real adventure on our route, though we were doing a relatively ordi-nary thing: hiking around the wilder-ness. The 42ude traverse was a powerful reminder that seeking uncharted paths without expectations provides space for using experience-based competencies and judgment to facilitate creativity and discovery, and this is when real growth and invention soars.

EXPLORATORY FORTITUDE TRAVERSING NEW ZEALAND’S 42ND PARALLELBY ALICE HILL, NOLS INSTRUCTOR

What do you think? Join the conversation.

Send your feedback or conversation starters to theleader@nols.edu, post it to Facebook, tweet it (@NOLSedu), or give us at call at 800-710-6657 ext 2254. Find back issues online at www.nols.edu/leader

The expedition covered 26 days, over 62,000 feet of elevation gain, and 179 miles. Alice HillThe pros seem to outweigh the cons as long as the cost is manageable for carrying Nooks on backcountry courses. As an outdoor leader, I myself make good use of my iPhone while leading backcountry trips. In response to, “...the question of eReaders being a distraction or untrue to a “pure” backcountry experience.” I would like to offer this enlightenment. In the 18th century books were primarily housed in libraries, as they were too large and expensive to carry wandering about the countryside. As technology improved and made them more compact and cheaper, some began to combine book study with enjoying nature. As the Romantic period arrived in the late 18th century, poets began to realize and promote the idea that nature was the epitome of writer’s inspiration. Despite this, William Wordsworth, one of England’s four great poets and perhaps the best of the Romantics, still viewed book study as some-thing “untrue to a “pure” backcountry experience.” This is evident in his poem, The Tables Turned, as you can see to the right. The point is that we ought not to be afraid of change. Books seem more pure to this generation because we grew up using them in the backcountry. But even they can become a distraction. This past Spring Break I went on a canoe trip in Florida. The leaders took all phones and al-lowed no electronics in an attempt to promote group dynamics. There was one new leader among the leadership team who was a strong introvert. He brought a book. Due to the stresses of being a new, introverted leader, he spent hours with his nose in the book every day and few of the group really got to know him. The point is that even good ol’ paperbacks can be a distraction if over used. I implore that NOLS staff hearken to the data rather than to tradition in this mater of using electronics in the backcountry!

THE TABLES TURNEDBy William Wordsworth

Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books;Or surely you’ll grow double:Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;Why all this toil and trouble?

The sun above the mountain’s head,A freshening lustre mellowThrough all the long green fields has spread,His first sweet evening yellow.

Books! ‘tis a dull and endless strife:Come, hear the woodland linnet,How sweet his music! on my life,There’s more of wisdom in it.

And hark! how blithe the throstle sings!He, too, is no mean preacher:Come forth into the light of things,Let Nature be your teacher.

She has a world of ready wealth,Our minds and hearts to bless—Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,Truth breathed by cheerful-ness.

One impulse from a vernal woodMay teach you more of man,Of moral evil and of good,Than all the sages can.

Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;Our meddling intellectMis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:—We murder to dissect.

Enough of Science and of Art;Close up those barren leaves;Come forth, and bring with you a heartThat watches and receives.

Leader

For Alumni of the National Outdoor Leadership School

Spring 2013 • Vol. 28 No. 2

TH

E

PAGE 16

TECHNOLOGY IN THE FIELDFEATURE, PAGE 12

EXPEDITION DENALI: INSPIRING DIVERSITY IN THE OUTDOORSFEATURE, PAGE 10

My Two Cents

What follows are one reader’s thoughts on the article, “Technology in the Field: NOLS explores Nooks on courses,” from the Spring 2013 edition of The Leader. We found it so powerful, we decided to dedicate the entire feedback page to it. If you feel strongly about anything we publish in The Leader, please let us know, and we’ll make room for your words, too!

Sincerely,David GarnerAn outdoor leadership major, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Tenn.

6 7Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

Wild Side of MedicineIssue Room

BeYond preserving landscapes and calling attention to activities that degrade the naturalness of our classrooms, the NOLS Environ-mental Stewardship and Sustainability Department works to ensure that the school can continue to operate in a fundamental way. We put significant resources into maintaining permits, preserving access to our operating areas, and promoting the outdoor recreation economy. We do this by connecting with federal agency personnel and elected officials at every level of government. In the interest of promoting outdoor recreation, NOLS was recently invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcom-mittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation at a hearing entitled “Impediments to Public Recreation on Public Lands.” While there are agency personnel at every level of government who are true advocates for outdoor recreation and its providers, they are fre-quently constrained by a burdensome network of policies, regulations, and analyses. NOLS addressed the constraints of this system, in addi-tion to promoting the rapidly growing outdoor recreation economic sector in this country. Following are key excerpts from the testimony.

THE RECREATION ECONOMY• NOLS is but one example of the national recreation economy. The economic impact on rural economies of our rural operations is measur-able. And the impact of recreation spending nationally is significant.

• Travel spending in Wyoming was $2.9 billion in 2011. It has increased 5.4 percent per year for 13 years running. Travel spending directly supports nearly 30,000 jobs, generating earnings of $731 million. Local and state tax revenues generated by travel spending is approximately $120 million.

GROUP SIZE LIMITS• Land managers struggle to balance the dual mandates of the Wilderness

Act: on one hand preserving naturalness while on the other retaining opportunities for visitors. When the wilderness resource is impacted,

the easiest way to preserve and restore its naturalness is to reduce visita-tion … through constraining commercial outfitter providers.

• We have seen this approach unfold across the three federal land man-agement agencies. In the mid-1990s, Canyonlands National Park reduced overall group sizes to seven, a number we could not sustain economically. We were forced to cease our operations there. In 2005, we saw group size levels in the Dirty Devil drop from 20 to 12… [We fear] it is becoming common practice to limit group size in order to meet wilderness management objectives. This is not the best answer, and its effectiveness is questionable.

PERMITTING POLICY• The bureaucratic morass that has become the new normal is stifling

creativity and growth in the outdoor industry. Under the current per-mitting policy on National Forests, new or expanded permits can’t be issued unless their issuance clearly will not exceed the carrying capacity of the forest. If Forests are unsure of the carrying capacity, they must conduct a capacity analysis… Most Forests have either not undertaken a capacity analysis, or have initiated and then halted one, due to lack of resources ... New permits do not get issued, and long-standing permitees must pay tens of thousands of dollars to conduct an analysis of modest growth on one permit at a time…

• This process stagnation is not just bad for NOLS, it is bad for the would-be recreating public. Many who would pursue outdoor recreation lack the technical skills necessary to engage in a pursuit on their own. They therefore seek out a school that can teach them the necessary skills, or an outfitter who can guide and equip them… We are service providers, meeting that demand and opening the doors to rich experiences.

It is heartening to see members of U.S. Congress, from both sides of the aisle, pay attention to issues that impact outfitters. At NOLS, we are proud of our legacy, and we hope that with the support of Congress we will be assured of our ability to provide our services for years to come.

NOLS GOES TO CONGRESSBY AARON BANNON, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR

THE SUMMIT IS OPTIONALLESSONS FROM TURNING AROUND ON NANGA PARBATBY IAN OVERTON, WEMT ‘11

Ian Overton is the Expedition Medic for EDGE8000, a Hungarian high-altitude climbing movement. In January and February of 2013, the EDGE8000 team, consisting of David Klein, Zoltan Acs and Overton, attempted to perform the first winter summit of Nanga Parbat. As a graduate of WMI’s Wilderness EMT course, Ian learned valuable risk assessment and leadership development alongside life-saving medical care for remote locations. He would like to thank his teammates, friends and family, as well as EDGE8000’s sponsors at Johnnie Walker, C.A.M.P-USA, Mountain Hardwear, Princeton Tec, Tubbs Snowshoes, Bodri Wines, and everybody who supported the Indiegogo campaign.

Places like this are not only powerful classrooms, but they are also owned by everyone, and NOLS works to protect them for everyone’s enjoyment. Kyle Cassling.

“so... we’re going down to islam-abad to eat chapatis?” David’s question was tinged with a bit of humor trying to lighten my mood. I shed my goggles, wiped away sweat and a few tears, and looked out across the gla-cier, scanning up to Mazeno Peak. I could feel my heart smashing against my breast-bone. With a frustrated smile and laugh, I dropped my goggles and simply said, “I guess.” I signaled him to cut the camera before I completely lost composure. We were sitting with our Camp 2 cache at 17,700 feet, the base of a steep icefall in our attempt to be the first team to summit Nanga Parbat (26,660 feet) in the winter. So far we had survived severe weather, un-roped crevasse falls, an avalanche in the dark of night, and a bivouac in which the temperature dropped to somewhere around -35 de-

grees Fahrenheit. Now, with another storm en route and my health declining, we were talking about going home. After heading down to Chilas and sending off our other team member, Zoli, who was suffering from Khumbu cough and frostbite, we returned to Base Camp rapidly. Not wanting to lose precious time and risk getting hit in another storm we made the mistake of not giving ourselves time to acclimate. For this breech of expe-dition behavior, I was paying the price. I came down with High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), a potentially fatal form of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). While we had started off strong earlier in the day, my body started to fade. Nausea, headache, ataxia, irritability and hallucinations began to creep in. I heard birds that were definitely not there and thought my partner was speaking to

me in his native Hungarian. I couldn’t make my hands properly load my rappel device. When we reached 18,372 feet, David watched as I took three steps and collapsed to my knees. When we called the turn around and, ultimately, the end of the expedition I was heart broken. I felt like I had let David and Zoli down, that I was disap-pointing my friends and family back home and in Budapest, not to mention our sponsors. And while my heart wanted so badly to see what was beyond the next ridge (“It’s just like this,” David assured me, “more snow and rocks.”) I was self aware enough to know it was time to go. We packed our gear and started the long, cold walk back to Base Camp. The American alpinist Ed Veisturs is quoted as saying, “It’s a round trip. Get-ting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” We must remember as alpinists (and seafarers, arctic explorers, bigwall climbers etc) that no adventure, no summit, is worth throwing ourselves off the mortal coil. It would be a far greater disappointment to those we love if we did not return to tell the harrowing tales. The mountain will always be there, waiting for some brave soul to reach its summit, snow-capped peak, freezing temperatures, howling winds et al.

Boldness and wisdom don’t always run together, but self awareness guided wise actions on this bold expedition. Ian Overton.

What is The Bay of Loreto National Marine Park? Answer on page 25.

WILDERNESS QUIZ

HIGH ALTITUDE CEREBRAL EDEMA (HACE) a. Can present with ataxia.b. Develops from HAPE.c. Presents with shortness of breath.d. Is treated with Nifedipine or Albuterol.Answer on page 26.

WILDERNESS MEDICINE QUIZ

WE MUST REMEMBER AS ALPINISTS THAT NO ADVENTURE, NO SUMMIT, IS WORTH THROWING OURSELVES OFF THE MORTAL COIL.

8 9Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

Alumni ProfileAlumni Profile

1993. Bill clinton is sworn into office, and Michael Jordan scores his 20,000th career point. One feat received far less attention than these headlines but had an enormous impact on climbing and outdoor recreation gender equality. In 1993, at the age of 32, a woman by the name of Lynn Hill became the first person to free climb The Nose route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Using a rope and removable protection but only her hands and feet to make upward progress, Hill climbed the nearly 3,000-foot granite face in a four-day push. If that wasn’t enough, she came back a year later and climbed the same route, in the same style, shaving three days off of her time to become the first person to free climb The Nose in under 24 hours. The route wouldn’t see another free ascent for five years. With this accomplishment, Hill found her way into the record books and, in certain circles, became a house-hold name. In what is widely considered her most important climbing achievement (there are many), Hill silenced critics

and doubters who believed not only The Nose couldn’t be free climbed, it certain-ly wouldn’t be climbed by a woman. The news spread and her fame exploded. In 1995, she traveled to Krygstzan with a team of world-class climbers to explore the climbing potential in the Karavshin Valley and, for one of the first times in her life, felt the very real and unrelenting reality of remote wilderness. “To my knowledge, none of the climb-ers I was with were formally trained in the way of wilderness medicine and with only a medical kit and no radio communication... I knew that if any-thing went wrong of if someone needed help, we couldn’t do much of anything,” she explained. Hill took her first WMI course in 2004 and has been re-certifying her Wilderness First Responder ever since. She spoke frankly about the funda-mental responsibilities and duties of a medically trained wilderness traveler. “Being trained as a Wilderness First Responder means having both the knowledge and confidence to take care

of emergencies and possibly even save someone’s life during those extreme cir-cumstances,” she said. These days, Hill commits much of her time and energy to raising her 10-year-old son, Owen, who recently found a love of Parkour (the art of moving through space by using obstacles and momentum). Hill has had to employ some of her WMI training with the bumps, scrapes, and bruises that come with this territory. “Washing and disinfecting wounds and making sure they stay clean are really important skills to know, espe-cially as a mother, “ she shared. “Being a WFR really gives you the confidence to judge the situation and decide if it’s an injury that needs more medical attention or just time and relaxation.” The legacy Hill has left is profound. With a healthy amount of life lessons and wilderness medicine skills, she hopes to raise her son in an environment where he may push himself toward far-away goals, just like those she achieved nearly 20 years ago.

whY would anYBodY want to Build a snow cave? This question is what drew alumnus David Cassaro into the NOLS com-munity back in 1974. After reading an article in Esquire by that title, he signed up for his first course “just to see what it would be like to build a snow cave.” By the end of his Ski Touring and Win-ter Mountaineering course in February 1975, the 26 year-old had built and slept in a snow cave, an experience he de-scribes as “nice and warm and cozy, but not for someone with claustrophobia.” Despite the tight quarters, Cassaro was hooked. Now 64 years old, he just en-rolled on his eighth NOLS course. After seven backcountry NOLS expe-riences, Cassaro maintains that his first course was the hardest thing he ever did, before or since. With only four previous days of skiing under his belt, he jumped right into skiing with a 60-pound pack.

On one day in particular, he remembers waking up to find that the thermometer outside his tent read a balmy -29 degrees Fahrenheit. While waiting for other students to finish getting ready that morn-ing, he and a few of his coursemates started skiing in a circle together to stay warm. He kept his head down in the bitter cold and followed the back ski tips of the student in front of him. After a few minutes, he looked up to find that they were in a different part of the forest. “Turns out, he split off from the oth-ers to find the latrine and I just followed

those ski tips,” Cassaro remembers. “The absurdity of it all just made me stand there and laugh. From that moment on, I could put everything into perspective and I knew that I could make it through the remaining six days. Since then, when the going gets tough on trips, I think of that moment and I am able to carry on.” When asked what keeps him com-ing back to NOLS, Cassaro has “lots of reasons.” In addition to the challenges, beauty, and new friends that each course entails, he is most thankful for the per-spective that a NOLS experience brings. “On a NOLS trip,” he observed, “everything is reduced to the bare mini-mums, so I can appreciate everything I have when I am back at home. Each trip reminds me of that.” This has remained true over the almost 40 years that Cassaro has been com-ing to NOLS. In fact, he notes only a few changes during that time. Though, “NOLS has matured into a more efficient

outfit” from the original lumberyard of the 1970s (“a jury-rigged outfitting center if ever there was one”), he is happy that some things have not changed. “Coming back to the Noble Hotel and the town of Lander is like seeing old friends again. What I do appreciate is that the courses are still challenging and have not been dumbed down to make them easier.” Cassaro retired in 2012 after working for 29 years for the Bank of America. He now spends his time mountain bik-ing, hiking, skiing, traveling, and tour-ing around his long-time home of San Francisco. His next NOLS experience is a lightweight backpacking course run-ning out of NOLS Rocky Mountain this July. He does not plan to stop adventur-ing any time soon. “Now that I am retired,” he said, “I have the time to train and be better prepared for future trips. There is a lot that I haven’t seen yet.”

MITIGATING RISKS,FROM CLIFF SIDES TO PLAYGROUNDSBY JARED STEINMAN, SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

PERSPECTIVE,FRESH—AND REFRESHEDBY MEGAN BUDGE, WMI PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Lynn Hill makes her way up the Pancake Flake pitch on the Nose of El Capitan. Heinz Zak.David pauses for a moment during a 23-and-over Wind River Wilderness course, his fifth. David Cassaro.

ON A NOLS TRIP EVERYTHING IS REDUCED TO THE BARE MINIMUMS, SO I CAN APPRECIATE

EVERYTHING I HAVE WHEN I AM BACK AT HOME. EACH TRIP REMINDS ME OF THAT.

10 11Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

THIS YEAR, NOLS ADDED A NEW COURSE—A UNIQUE blend of wilderness medicine skills, wilderness skills, leadership skills, and environmental studies—to its inventory. The Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Semester caters to those who might seek careers as medical professionals, either in the back or frontcountry. The curriculum encompasses a unique blend of wilderness skills, medicine, rescue, leadership, and environmental studies. The semester starts with a four-week Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) course, fol-lowed by nine weeks of canyon backpacking, canoeing, and rock climbing. The structure is typical of a NOLS course in that it implements the core curriculum taught on every course. Leadership skills, expedition behavior, and communication and decision-making are all criti-cal in the woods or in a hospital if an unforeseen emer-gency is going to be handled properly. The course also focuses on environmental studies and the impact of the environmental health on human health. Students wrapping up the first-ever Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Semester reflected on the course positively. One student mentioned he really enjoyed the progression of the course, as each section seemed to build on the last one. He also said NOLS did a great job to help develop the course as it went along, imple-menting feedback from students immediately.

One of his coursemates commented, “The course taught me how to help prepare for the unexpected, have tolerance for adversity, be ready for any-thing, and slow down my ‘knee jerk’ reaction and get a handle on a situa-tion before making any moves.” Each section of the semester offers its own proprietary rescue skills. During the backpacking section, for example, students focus on wilder-ness evacuations such as litter carries and sustaining a patient’s condi-tion while waiting for air rescue. The river section offers swiftwater rescue skills, involving adrenaline-pumping scenarios. “We were neck deep in water after intentionally swamping our own canoes and getting tossed around,” one student recalled. “I was expecting hands-on situations, but nothing like that, and I wasn’t opposed to it.” The rock climbing section implemented various methods of rock rescue skills, including escaping the belay and a full vertical rescue scenario at the conclusion of the section. Students graduated at the begin-ning of May with an education that covered not only all these wilderness medicine and rescue skills, but also lasting lessons about being great lead-ers and the environment and their role within it. There is no doubt this semester is demanding and will challenge students both in traditional and wilderness classrooms. The days are long, and the expectations are high, but so too are the outcomes. As with any NOLS course, all the hard work pays off many times over as it will provide a solid foundation for a career in outdoor recreation, medicine, or search and rescue. In the future, graduates may become members of search and rescue team, wilderness trip leaders, running safety on river rapids, leaders on rock rescues, or working on urban ambulances.

The Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Semester affords students the oportunity to be certified in Wilderness and Urban Emergency Medical Technician, CPR Instructor, Leave No Trace Master, Basic Swiftwater Rescue, and Rock Rescue. Tod Schimelpfenig, Robin Larson

Introducing the WILDERNESS MEDICINE & RESCUE SEMESTER

BY BRENT WALLEN, PR AND PARTNERSHIPS INTERN

12 13Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

THE THIRD ITERATION OF THE NOLS FACULTY SUMMIT WAS A HUGE hit. Started in 2011 as a part of NOLS’ strategic plan, the Faculty Summit is a conference designed to give NOLS instructors and staff from around the world the opportunity to meet each other, network, and learn about what’s trending at the school. The Summit is hosted every May in NOLS’ hometown of Lander, Wyo. This year, the summit had a strong focus on career planning for in-structors, environmental stewardship, risk management, and diversity and inclusion in the outdoors. “It was a tremendous opportunity to connect with people at all lev-els of the school,” instructor Mandy Pohja said. Keynote speaker Shelton Johnson wowed the audience with his storytelling skills and a heartfelt message. Johnson, originally from Detroit, found his calling while working as a seasonal employee in Yellowstone National Park during college. Since that time, he has worked as a park ranger all over the country, and through his work has promoted diversity in the outdoors. Given the changing demographics of our country, his mission is an important one. “All you need to get to heaven is a good pair of boots,” he said. Johnson has also been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Ken Burns National Parks documentary. Other noted guest speakers included Elizabeth English, the head of the Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles; Jamie Williams, Presi-dent of the Wilderness Society; and Dr. Kay Merseth, professor at the Harvard School of Education. All three spoke eloquently of the need for excellence in education, offering ideas for making our courses even better. All noted the importance of places like NOLS in our changing world. At one point Merseth told a comical anecdote about her preference of NOLS over other schools that certainly stoked some egos in the audience. Many senior NOLS instructors also shared their two cents in work-shops designed to give instructors real-world tools for creating out-standing learning experiences. Daren Opeka spoke of mindful ways to incorporate readings into courses, Gary Cukjati and John Kanengieter gave ideas for intentional leadership development, and Emily Led-ingham and Liz Hardwick presented an excellent LGBT workshop

for instructors. Curriculum and research manager John Gookin was, “psyched by how well the 200 NOLS expe-dition instructors participated. We had deep discussions about important topics from nutrition to climate change.” As an added incentive for professional growth, seminars scheduled before and after the Summit gave instructors opportunities for skill development. Topics included rock-rescue training, defensive driving, a two-day leadership workshop, and a fly fishing clinic. Other highlights from the Summit included a heli-copter evacuation scenario and an awards ceremony for excellence in education. During the helicopter evacua-

tion scenario, instructors were divided into three groups, given a radio, and instructed on helicopter landing pro-cedures. Soon after, the local helicopter rescue service, Lifeguard, flew in their “bird,” allowing instructors to practice guiding it in for landing. The awards ceremony began with a

heavy-hearted speech from Norm Plotkin that brought many tears to the audience, and a vow for continued excel-lence in education from the instructor community. The in-augural Thomas Plotkin Mentorship award went to Emily Ledingham. Instructor of the year went to Tracy Dumais, and the combo awards for work both in-town and in the field went to Anna Haegel and Jamie O’Donnell. The sense of purpose felt around the Summit was im-mense, yet was tempered by playfulness, a trait shared by many NOLSies. As the Summit came to a close, an un-suspecting flash mob of roughly 12 instructors dancing to the tune of Starships took center stage. The dance party then moved outdoors where local band Fluffy Buffalo rocked the house late into the evening.“I walked away feeling inspired and ready to implement tangible pieces of learning on my next course. Plus, where else does a three-day employee conference include helicop-ter landings, truly engaging speakers, and a flash mob?” Pohja reflected.

The annual NOLS Faculty Summit features a wide range of learning experiences. Brad Christensen.

WHERE ELSE DOES A THREE-DAY EMPLOYEE CONFERENCE INCLUDE HELICOPTER LAND-INGS, TRULY ENGAGING SPEAK-ERS, AND A FLASH MOB?

BY ADAM SWISHER, CURRICULUM PUBLICATIONS MANAGER

15Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

AVID4ADVENTURE, A BOULDER, COLO. CAMP THAT provides children aged 3 to 17 opportunities to get outside and go climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, or hiking hires highly motivated outdoor professionals, so it’s no surprise a significant number of their staff have NOLS backgrounds. NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute instructor Paul Dreyer directs Avid4’s overnight camp and oversees the program’s ongoing expansion to the San Francisco Bay area. He cites his 12 years with NOLS as a formative experience, both personally and professionally. “NOLS helped me to be really well prepared as an individual—whether it’s a 30-day backpacking course or a one-day top rope for kids. Having intention and professionalism behind what I’m doing translates to any setting,” he said. Dreyer is a believer in the benefits of experiential ed-ucation and he sees proof of this as his young students actively learn and grow every day. Like most outdoor educators, Dreyer is passionate about what he does. He left a job in the financial industry in favor of something more fulfilling, vowing to be personally invested in what he does. “It just seemed to make the most sense to me that if I loved something, I would be good at it and also be able to share that love with other people in a completely authentic way,” he said. Sarah Pekala is a NOLS field instructor and director of camps and school programs at Avid4. Her passion for the outdoors started at an early age. After a number of skiing trips and with a budding interest in climbing, she first came to NOLS for a Wind River Wilderness course back in 2000. She carries that experience with her still. “I use what I learned at NOLS on a daily basis,” she

said. “I manage and evaluate staff, and I’m always thinking back to how I learned to provide effective feedback and be an effective leader. Those programs prepared me for my current job better than most of my schooling.” A number of Avid4 instructors have taken NOLS courses, and Pe-kala says their leadership, risk management, judgment, and decision-making skills are excellent. “A lot of our best staff are NOLS grads, and that’s not an accident,” she noted. Pekala also speaks to the Avid4 mis-sion and the importance of shaping youth to be healthy, active, and envi-ronmentally conscious. “As screen time [time children spend using electronics] increases, outdoor activities go out the window,” she ex-plained. “At Avid4 we feel that it’s our duty to get kids outside and get them hooked on the outdoors at an early age so that they continue doing it for the rest of their lives.” Avid4 uses outdoor recreation and nature as mediums to foster confidence, self-esteem, and fitness in a non-competitive and fun environment. The result is an experience that is meaningful and gratifying for both campers and staff. Facilitating this atmosphere is second nature to Avid4 administrators and instructors, and it shows in their enthusiasm and in the quality of their programs. Dreyer explains, “What I love are things like building community, being outdoors in natural places, and doing and sharing athletic things, and so when I’m able to combine all three in a professional environ-ment it seems like the most natural thing in the world.” NOLS’ educational lessons made a positive impact on a number of Avid4 Adventure’s staff, and that positive, outdoor-oriented impact continues to grow as they teach and connect with young people in Colorado and beyond.

Getting Kids OutdoorsBY JACK FISHER, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP & SUSTAINABILITY INTERN

Avid4 Adventure

Caption. Photographer.

NOLS grads introduce children to the great outdoors through Avid4 Adventure and apply their NOLS education every day. Sarah Pekala.

I USE WHAT I LEARNED AT NOLS ON A DAILY BASIS...THOSE PROGRAMS PREPARED ME FOR MY CURRENT JOB BETTER THAN MOST OF MY SCHOOLING.

16 LeaderTH

E

School makes history. In fact, the more profound ef-fects from most any NOLS course is the impact it might make on the future. But a special group of stu-dents who attempted to summit Alaska’s Mount De-nali aim to do both. At the heart of NOLS’ mission to educate positive ethical leaders who can change the world is an ambitious project to put the first African-American team of climbers on top of the highest peak in North America. In a bold demonstration to create role models and mentors among those people of color least represented among outdoor enthusiasts and con-servation activists, the NOLS initiative called Expedi-tion Denali aspires to change the face of the outdoors, perhaps forever. At 20,320 feet above sea level Mount McKinley, known best by its Native American name Denali, is the highest physical point anyone can reach in the United States. After our long, painful history of racial segrega-tion and discrimination, this lofty peak represents for many the ultimate expression of freedom that defies the restraints of ignorance, prejudice, and fear. With dizzying heights, bitterly cold temperatures, and the constant objective hazard of avalanches or crevasses, the mountain demands of all those who even attempt to achieve its summit nothing less than their deepest commitment and utter determination. Indiscriminate of race or gender, the climb to the top is as much a test of one’s character as their mountaineering skills. And in true NOLS fashion Expedition Denali has brought together a team of outstanding individuals to work in cooperation toward a common goal. At 19, Tyhree Moore is the youngest member of the team and a journalism student at the University of

West Virginia. With an extensive climbing resume over several NOLS courses, he also brings a youthful spirit and exuberance to the group. Erica Wynn from Queens, New York is a junior at American Uni-versity where she studies psychology and communications. She only recently discovered her interest in mountaineering, but Erica aspires to be an example of healthy living through education and advocacy in her community. Scott Briscoe, 41, is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast with vast expe-rience hiking and climbing throughout the Northern Cascades, the Central Rockies, and the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains near his home in San Francisco. Working with low-income schools and young people with minimal exposure to the outdoors, Scott helps kids make lasting relationships with nature. Born in Seattle, Wash., Rosemary Saal is a graduate of the NOLS Waddington Range Mountaineering course. On the advisory board of Passages Northwest, part of the YMCA’s Girls Outdoor Leader-ship Development program, Rosemary, 20, works to empower young women through the arts and outdoor education. A leader in the business community, husband, and father of two little girls, Stephen DeBerry is an aspiring mountaineer. When he’s not working as an entrepreneur developing small businesses with a strong social consciousness, this goal-oriented athlete is training to be among the first team of African Americans to reach the high-est summits on each of the seven continents as part of the Pioneer Climbing Expedition. Adina Scott has a Ph.D in electrical engineering from Purdue Uni-versity as well as a bachelor’s in music from Case Western Reserve Uni-versity. Raised in Tacoma, Wash., she has an extensive background in mountaineering that includes NOLS courses in the Waddington Range and on Mount Baker. Adina also works as volunteer for the YMCA’s Boys Outdoor Leadership Development program in Seattle. A modern Renaissance man, world traveler, and avid reader, Billy Long is between adventures while tending bar and studying engineering in New York City. Having spent two weeks on the

Left: The team makes its way up Mount Baker last fall during a training expedition. Above: The team spent a day climbing in Sinks Canyon near NOLS Headquarters in Lander, Wyo. prior to departing for Alaska this summer. Brian Fabel, Brad Christensen.

Summer 2013 17

BY JAMES EDWARD MILLS, 23 AND OVER ALASKA MOUNTAINEERING

18 19Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

pie that’s becoming smaller and smaller ... we’ll have to shrink our organization,” said Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin, NOLS diversity and inclusion manager. Rajagopal-Durbin insists that’s not going to happen. She said NOLS wants to grow and continue to be an international organization, a leader in outdoor experiential education that works aggressively toward proactive change. Expedition Denali aims to make that change possible by providing the African-American community with role models and a clear path toward outdoor recreation as a favorite pastime or even a potential career. “My benchmark for success isn’t going to be the number of NOLS students and staff from the African-American community who come in,” Rajagopal-Dubin said. “It’s a win when a young black man, because of this project, doesn’t necessarily join NOLS but goes to work for Denali National Park, to work in outdoor retail, or work for a group like the Nature Conservancy. I believe it’s all the outdoors and everyone wins when more people participate.” The primary purpose of Expedition Denali, then, is exposure—to raise the profile of outdoor recreation in general and in high-altitude mountaineering in particular among people of color in the U.S. Cur-rently NOLS has only three African-American course instructors out of almost 800 staff members worldwide. Among them is Robby Re-Chord, a backcountry ski and water sports guide who is program supervisor at the NOLS Teton Valley branch. He’s also an aide on Ex-pedition Denali and as part of this team of black climbers he’s a solid role model for anyone who aspires to follow a similar career path. “I made a lot of choices to live this life,” he said in a conversation at NOLS’ Noble Hotel in Lander, Wyoming. “But I spend my win-

ters skiing and I paddle all over the world. I couldn’t be happier.” Inspired by veteran NOLS instructor Philip Hen-derson, river program manager for NOLS Rocky Mountain, Robby joined NOLS to emulate the ca-reer and lifestyle of an outdoor professional he truly admired. Along with Cliff Debride, a Portland-based nursing assistant, whitewater paddling instructor, and the third of NOLS’ African American instructors, Re-

Chord now serves as an example of the possibilities that are avail-able to anyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, who are looking to venture out into the natural world as a way of life. This new cadre of climbers, fresh off the West Buttress of De-nali and having come tantilizingly

close to the summit, will hopefully expand that number of positive role models even further. Far more critical than reaching the summit, the goal of Expedition De-nali is to set a benchmark for all people to strive toward in the decades and centuries to come. The object is not merely the top of this one mountain, but the creation of a clear path that others might follow to ascend any peak they choose. The adventure will indeed be found not in the destination but the journey. The success of this historic project won’t be truly realized until well in the future when young black men and women across the nation imagine for themselves a place in the world where their highest aspirations are limited only by the depth of their greatest ambition.

Matanuska Glacier training with NOLS in the Chugach Range of Alaska, he returned to NOLS Alaska to make a bid for the big one. The oldest member of the team and perhaps the most experienced, Steve Shobe, 56, is an avid climber with great ambition. A card-carrying member of the Screen Actors Guild, he works a challenging day job as a career line technician for AT&T. When not ascending to the top of cell phone towers, Steve is also the leader of the Pioneer Climbing Expedition having already reached four of the Seven Summits. And finally the one member of the team who had made a previous attempt to summit Denali aspires to bring the experience of climbing and other adventure sports to more people of color. Ryan Mitchel, 46, is a professor of science at DeVry University in Philadel-phia and a master road cyclist who encourages inner city youth to include bicycles in an active lifestyle. With such an eclectic mix of unique personalities, there are at least two things that every member of the Expedition Denali team has in common—an abiding love for the outdoors and a profound desire to share their passion with those who have yet to experience it for themselves. By joining together as a team, each climber

hopes their collective presence will inspire other African Americans to imagine a place for themselves in outdoor recreation and perhaps one day follow their example. Several in the group admit to often being the only person of color among their peers who actively engage the natu-ral world through adventure sports like skiing and rock climbing. For many of them, training for Denali was the first time in their experience as outdoor enthusiasts when they were not in the minority. “Praise to NOLS for drawing us all together,” said Scott in an in-terview. “When we first got together it was so amazing. We sat in this large circle and I just remember people saying over and over how amazing it is to see somebody who looks like me and to know that they’re doing these things that I feel so passionate about!” Expedition Denali wants to share that passion for the outdoors with the broadest audience possible by extending an invitation to people of color. Just as NOLS put this team together by reaching out directly to under-represented minorities, the nonprofit organization aims to grow its number of participants to create a more diverse student body and staff of instructors. And while this initiative is a measure to do the right thing, in a changing world that will soon favor a non-white majority, NOLS recognizes that diversity is key to its long-term vitality. If the school fails to attract members of this emerging demographic, it’s only a matter of time before NOLS becomes irrelevant. “What it means to be irrelevant is that we shrink and shrink until we cease to exist as a school. If we continue to cater to a slice of the

Kahiltna International Airport (KIA) 7,200 ft

7,500 ft Camp

9,500 ft Camp

(14,200 ft)

High Camp(17,200 ft)

Cache(16,200 ft)

Denali Summit

Kahiltna GlacierRoute

11k Camp(10,900 ft)

14k Camp

(19,600 ft)

The team's training on Mounta Baker last fall prepared them for long days, climbing in the dark, and risk management.. Brian Fabel.

The team's progress was posted on the blog as they made satellite calls from the mountain. They reached a height of 19,600 feet but had to turn around due to inclement weather before they could reach the peak. Sarah Losen graphic.

20 21Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

ReviewsAlumni Trips & Reunions

UPCOMING NOLS ALUMNI EVENTSNOLS is coming to your community this fall! We’re hosting alumni reunions for grads, friends, families, and guests all across the nation. Reunions include snacks, adventure tales, a free gear raffle, camaraderie, and networking. Watch for events in your area this fall:

• Oct. 5: San Francisco, Calif. • Oct. 17: New York, N.Y. • Oct. 24: Washington, DC • Oct. 26: Charleston, S.C. • Nov. 2: Minneapolis, Minn. • Nov. 6: Austin, Texas • Nov. 8: Atlanta, Ga. For more information, see www.nols.edu/reunions

ALUMNI TRIPSIf a month is too much to ask from the boss, the NOLS Alumni office offers shorter backcountry trips specifically designed for our working grads. We encourage you to bring family and friends along on these weeklong expeditions to reconnect with the school and introduce others to the NOLS experience. These trips have the same top-quality instructors, and though they aren’t guided trips, we do cater a bit more to the desires and maturity levels of our participants. Customized trips are also available. Call us to design your dream adventure. Signing up: A $200 per person, non-refundable deposit is required for enrollment on all alumni trips. For more information or to sign up, call NOLS Alumni at (800) 332-4280 or visit www.nols.edu/alumni.

ALUMNI SERVICE PROJECTDates: Aug. 11–17, 2013 | Cost: $595Time to give back and get out all at the same time! This year’s service project will take us into the Stough Creek Basin region of the Wind River Mountains. We will do some wetland mitigation projects and trail maintenance with the local Forest Service and Student Conservation Association. This is a great way to get outside in a beautiful area, meet and work with amazing people, and give back to our natural environment. Come enjoy great camaraderie and the satisfaction of serving!

ALUMNI TREKKING IN INDIADates: Oct. 28–Nov. 9, 2013 | Cost: $2,395On this wonderful adventure you will immerse yourself among the high peaks of the Indian Himalayas. This trip treks along the Pindari River to the terminal moraine of the Pindari Glacier. The route offers a moderate level of hiking, and burros will help carry gear and food to lighten your load. Join a small group of NOLS grads, friends, families, and Indian instructors for world-class hiking in the rugged, glacially carved mountains of India Himalya’s Kumaon region.

ALUMNI SEA KAYAKING IN THE BAHAMASDates: Nov. 17–22, 2013 | Cost: $1,650As winter looms at your door, consider expanding your summer season with a week of paddling among the stunning islands of the Bahamas. Dive in and enjoy the warm water, snorkeling, and developing your paddling technique. Whether you are a novice or expert, pristine coastline and beautiful sandy beaches await. Come join in on the fun!

ALUMNI COASTAL SAILING IN BAJADates: Feb. 2–8, 2014 | Cost: Cost: $1,450Explore the remote beaches, beautiful islands, abundant marine wildlife, and stunning seas of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula with a stalwart team of NOLS grads, friends, and families. Learn or polish your sailing skills on NOLS’ 22-foot, open-cockpit, yawl-rigged Drascombe Longboats and camp nightly on the beach. On this expedition, you will have the opportunity to travel in one of the most unique sailing adventures out there.

ALUMNI ROCK CLIMBING AT RED ROCKSDates: Feb. 17–22, 2014 | Cost: $1,450Looking for a mid-winter break from the cold? Check out this opportunity to boost your rock climbing skills at the gorgeous, varnished and steep Red Rocks climbing area just outside of Las Vegas. Easy logistics and inexpensive airfare allows access to some classic long climbs. Take the chance to build your climbing skills and rope work techniques in this beautiful and unique area.

Brad

Chr

iste

nsen

Brad

Chr

iste

nsen

Wyoming’s Outlaw TrailBy Mac Blewer, Wilderness Natural History

Wyoming’s Outlaw Trail gallops along the rise and fall of the mythic trail that stretched from Canada to Mexico and was frequented by horseback outlaws during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The book gives an overview of this period through historical photographs that are accompanied by short vignettes of the outlaws and lawmen—often describing how they met their demise. Calamity Jane, Butch Cassidy, and Wild Bill Hickock are all examined, along with a long list of lesser-known characters. The point of the book is not to give a full biography of these celebrities, but instead give enough context to understand the images.

Many of the places in this book will be familiar territory to those who have taken a course at NOLS Rocky Mountain: Lander, the Wind River Indian Reservation, the Red Desert, the Hole in the Wall, to name a few. This book makes a great addition to any western collection. Reviewed by Brad Christensen, Creative Director. © 2013 Mac Blewer

Birthright: People and Nature in the Modern WorldBy Dr. Stephen R. Kellert, NOLS parent, spouse, and former Research Advisory Board member

In his newest book, NOLS parent Dr. Stephen R. Kellert explains the inherent connec-tions humans have to nature, and how that relationship directly correlates to our health, cognitive ability, emotion, and overall quality of life. Kellert makes his case using univer-sity studies and research supplemented with delicately placed “interludes”—poems, literary excerpts, and personal stories. This mixture gives the book a feeling that is si-multaneously academic and narrative, both informative and entertaining the same time. Kellert approaches the merits of

a strong connection to nature from a number of angles. He writes about time outdoors as formative experiences for youth and mentions NOLS specifically. He

explores the benefits of greenways in urban centers, animal care rehab programs, fish tanks in doctor’s office waiting rooms, microbial composters, and how observing a hawk helped him recover from an automobile accident in Africa. In the chapter titled “Childhood,” Kellert stresses the importance of unstruc-tured outdoor playtime to the development of young children. He argues that nature is instrumental in fostering feelings of independence, resourcefulness, self worth, and that early exposure to nature is necessary in the creation of respon-sible and ethical human-nature relationships. As it relates to environmental conservation, establishing a strong childhood connection to nature could not be more important, and Kellert makes a moving argument in favor of getting youth to interact with their natural surroundings. Birthright reinforces the importance of nature in a healthy, fulfilling life and is an illuminating read that will resonate with lovers of the outdoors.Reviewed by Jack Fisher, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Intern. © 2012, by Yale University Press.

Learning from the OctopusBy Rafe Sagarin, Semester in the Rockies

We live in a society that relies heavily on es-tablished security systems and organizations. We blindly put our faith in our government and other big organizations, assuming they will make the right decisions. But are they really doing the right thing? Ecologist and security expert Rafe Sagarin (Semester in the Rockies ’90) thinks not. He suggests instead of pour-ing resources into planning, predicting, and preventing disasters from occurring, we should look at the way nature has dealt with uncertainty over the past 3.5 billion years. In Learning from the Octopus, Sagarin makes the argument that it’s not about how to develop a perfect solution to a given security problem, rather how to

develop a flexible system for solving problems. Different scenarios and the ef-fectiveness of human actions is discussed and compared with similar responses found in nature, with a particular focus on the octopus.“Octopuses learn not only how to survive, but thrive, in almost any environment,” writes Sagarin. Another analogy he uses is this: Fish don’t try to turn sharks into vegetarians; this forces fish to develop ways of dealing with risk. Sagarin drives home the point that adaptability is key to dealing with risk, variation, and uncertainty. He says we must change the way we look at risk and realize that everyone is qualified to respond to threats, not just a few “elite” ex-perts. Learning from the Octopus is more intellectual than practical, but it raises interesting points about the way we respond to the ever-present risk of danger. We might just want to pay attention to what the octopus is teaching us. Reviewed by Brent Wallen, PR & Marketing Intern © 2013 Rafe Sagarin

22 23Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

Wild Side of MedicineGear Room

nols has Been collaBorating with deuter to devel-op and provide excellent backpacks on NOLS courses since 2004. Our first prototypes were developed in April 2004, and our first production was launched in the summer of 2005. Over the past eight years, we have continued to try different materials, make the packs lighter, and redesign the hip belts and shoulder harnesses to create what we believe is the ideal pack for our students and instructors. Deuter has responded with enthusiasm to the changes we’ve made and is willing to get prototypes to us in a timely manner so we can critique and refine the packs. Working in conjunction with instructors and stu-dents, NOLS’ partnership with Deuter has yielded many updates for our Expedition packs. The most significant progress revolves around suspension. The new Expedition packs, which will be available on courses this fall, feature the full benefits of Deuter’s Air-contact back system, which reduces perspiration by 15 percent. Two reinforced aluminum stays in an X forma-

DEUTER UPDATES NOLS EXPEDITION PACKBY KEVIN MCGOWAN, ROCKY MOUNTAIN OUTFITTING MANAGER

You heard about NOLS through a friend. Now you can do the same. This week, tell five people about your NOLS experience.What were your top highlights of your NOLS course?

1

2

3

HELP PROMOTE NOLSTell your story!

WILDERNESS EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN

Intensive Wilderness Medicine Training

NOLS Wilderness Medicine InstituteThe Leader in Wilderness Medicine Educationwww.nols.edu/wmi • (866) 831-9001

Gates

Rich

ards

The month-long course includes classroom education, practical skills, scenarios, and full-scale mock rescues, in addition to clinical rotations with real patients.

Learning takes place in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather conditions. Come prepared for wet, cold, muddy, or hot environments.

Thinking of taking a WMI WEMT course this year? See financial aid information at: www.nols.edu/wmi/admissions/financial_aid.shtml

+

+

+

NOLS expedition backpacks are the result of a strong partnership with Deuter. Brad Christensen.

AUGUST 2–6, 2013 Front Country, Wolf Ridge WLC, MinnesotaAUGUST 8–12, 2013 Sea Kayaking, San Juan IslandsAUGUST 19–23, 2013Backpacking, Flat Tops WildernessNOVEMBER 8–12, 2013 Backpacking, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

For more information on courses and available scholarships visit nols.edu/lnt or call (800) 710-6657 x3

TAKE THE LEAD AS AN LNT MASTER EDUCATORThe Leave No Trace Master Educator Course is the highest LNT training, qualifying graduates to teach LNT courses.

You NEED a

Grub Hub.

Makes Base-Camping

Cool.

Built Stout (Very Stout)

U.S. Patents 7,901,018 & 8,127,690

grubhubusa.com

Holdsall

your stu�.

Extremelyeasy

to jamin the car.

“NOLS2013AL” for $80 discount

Sets upin a

�ash.

Take it with you.

720-301-9818 weekendmountaineer@gmail.comwww.weekendmountaineer.com

Vacation Condo - Sleeps 9Frisco, Colorado

NOLS Alumni - Exclusive OfferSummer $89/night + taxWinter $139/night + tax

HIKE BIKE SKI BOARD KAYAK

tion (rather than the V formation of previous models) offer a balance of torsional rigidity for large, heavy loads and enough flexibility to allow for movement. The critical component of any suspension system is the waist belt. Deuter has responded to feedback from NOLS students and instructors by taking action. The waist belt now pivots to follow the backpacker’s every movement and, similarly to the shoulder straps, is interchangeable (Deuter added a third size, extra small) for optimal fit. The waist belt also features two zippered pockets on each side to enable access to on-trail essentials. Advancements in suspension yield improved comfort and perfor-mance for both students and instructors, but Deuter did not stop there. Two one-liter water bottle pockets on either side have elasticized openings and overlaying compression straps. The top lid easily converts into a day/summit pack. Deuter updated the axe loops to accommo-date carrying two tools and extended the coverage of the Cordura fab-ric around the bottom and up the front of the pack. Lastly, the shorter torso “SL“ version increases capacity from 70+10 to 80+10.

24 25Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

JabberwockyRecipe Box

GRADS FROM THE ‘70SJulia Simonds, Wind River Wilderness ‘74Julia coaches a Massachu-setts ski team that competes against a team coached by another ’74 Wind River Wil-derness grad. Small world.

GRADS FROM THE ‘80SCaroline Byrd, Yukon Wilderness Canoeing, ‘84 and former instructorCaroline is the new ex-ecutive director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. A longtime conservationist with strong ties to the Yellowstone region, she has admired GYC’s accomplishments for years. Caroline, her husband Garry, and daughter Cate are looking forward to their move to Bozeman.

Jennifer (Jen) Lamb, Wind River Wilderness ’88 and Professional Instructors Course ‘04Jen Lamb, former NOLS

instructor and NOLS public policy director, has been named the Nature Conser-vancy’s Southwest Wyoming program director. Lamb works with local communities and partners to promote regional conservation.

GRADS FROM THE ‘90SStefan Jackson, Alaska Outdoor Educator ‘94 and former instructorStefan is the first Presump-scot Regional Land Trust executive director. Stefan, with almost two decades working in conservation, is the previous director of the diversity program and head of the Nature Conservancy’s Saco River Project in Maine. Before that, he was NOLS’ public policy manager.

GRADS FROM THE ‘00SBrian Lane, Wilderness First Responder ‘08WMI alumnus and award-winning author Brian Lane

just released his new book, “Hikernut’s Canyon Lands Companion—A Guide to the Best Canyon Hikes in the American Southwest.” This guide includes detailed trail descriptions, beautiful color photography, and addresses safety concerns, proper gear essentials, and more.

Julianna Aseltine, Semes-ter in Patagonia ‘09In November 2010, Julie and her brother rode their bikes from northern California to the tip of the Baja Peninsula. They produced a short, 20-minute film on the road. Their four-month, self-supported trip ended in Cabo San Lucus. Julie stopped at NOLS Baja and volunteered for a few days before heading back stateside.

MARRIAGES, ENGAGEMENTS & ANNIVERSARIESPhillip Topalian, Semester in the Rockies ’08, and Erin GalloglyPhilip and Erin were mar-ried on Dec. 29, 2012 in Mystic, Conn. Phillip is a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He and Erin live in Pensacola, Fla.

Christy O’Rourke Habetz, Wind River Wilderness ‘05 & Brooks Range Backpacking ’07, and Scott Habetz Christy married Scott Habetz of Raleigh, N.C. at Cavallo Point in Calif. Christy led a fun hiking trip in the Marin Headlands the morning of her wedding. They now live in Danville, Calif. and have open spaces right out their back door.

Julie Brown, former WMI & NOLS instructor, and Tom Jilot, Wilderness First Aid ‘10Julie and Tom were married May 18 at “The Knoll” outside of Springfield, Mo. They currently reside in De Forest, Wisc.

NEW ADDITIONSSteve Alexander, Utah River Instructor Course ’04, and MarianneSteve and Marianne are the proud parents of Arlo Owen Alexander. Arlo was born on April 21, 2013, and weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces.

NOLS instructors Matt Ack-ley & Kirstin HenningerMatt and Kirstin are the proud parents of Xavier Hawkey Ackley. Xavier was born on April 30, 2013 and weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces.

NOLS Instructors Chris Agnew & Lara Agnew (nee McClusky).

The Agnews welcomed new baby boy, Weston Gray Agnew, into the world on March 10, 2013.

IN REMEMBRANCEWilliam ‘Bill’ Garrison, Mountain Guide ‘69 and NOLS East DirectorBill passed away May 5, 2013. He was well known to many NOLS East students in the 1970s, running the program for two years out of Wash-ington, Conn. He and his wife Ellen lived with their daughter Jani, also a NOLS grad, at the time of his death.

Craig Patterson, Wilder-ness First Responder Recertifi-cation ‘08Craig died in an avalanche Thursday, April 11, 2013 in Utah’s Big Cottonwood Can-yon. He was a veteran back-country skier and avalanche forecaster. He was working for the Utah Department of Transportation at the time of his death.

THE CAR CAMPING KITCHENBY CASEY PIKLA AND AMY RATHKE

Contact the Alumni Office via telephone (800-332-4280) or email (alumni@nols.edu) to find contact information for any of your course mates.

as much as we all love extended BackcountrY expedi-tions, sometimes we don’t have the time to embark on such adventures. Nonetheless, this should never stop you from spending any bit of time you can in the outdoors. Car camping is the perfect marriage of our frontcountry and backcountry lives. Many of the principles you’ll employ on a weekend of car camping are the same techniques used on NOLS courses for base camping while rock climbing or cave camping. One of the keys to car or base camping is the seriously expanded possibilities for luxury and elaborate meals. All it takes is a little preparation. You can make more delicious food (and eat it on fun, heavy plates on a table with a table cloth) and have the time to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible if you bring your car camp-ing kitchen stocked and well organized. You can see a prime example of this in the latest episode of the NOLS Cooking Show in which we prepare mari-nated steak for our breakfast burritos, which we stuff with

Instructor Jim Chisholm shredding the gnar, circa 1987.

THE BAY OF LORETO NATIONAL MARINE PARK IS: an amazing region of the world often visited by NOLS courses and NOLS Alumni trips that is a haven for marine and terrestrial wildlife. The Sea of Cortez in Mexico has a long history of being one of the world’s most diverse and abundant seas. History has shown, however, that aggressive overfishing and bottom trawling are taking their toll and the sea is at risk. These developments have lead to the diligent efforts of the Loreto community to establish The Bay of Loreto National Marine Park. The park was created on July 19, 1996. The Marine Park covers 797 square miles in the Sea of Cortez ranging from Isla Coronado in the north to Isla Catalan in the south. On July 14, 2005, the Park was inscribed to the United Nation’s list of protected World Heritage Sites. With over 800 species of marine life inhabiting the Sea of Cortez and many of them currently endangered, the need for protection of these delicate ecosystems is great.

WILDERNESS QUIZ

foods we chopped and grated at home before we headed to Sinks Can-yon State Park. If you’re going to bake in your Dutch oven like we do, mix dry and wet ingredients in ziplock bags before you leave the house to ease the preparation process at the picnic table. If you’re not going so far as Dutch oven baking, do take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade your stove. Consider a two-burner propane stove over which you can heat as many pots and pans as your heart desires over more precisely managed heat without sitting on your heels the whole time. A huge advantage of car camping is the reality of a camping refrigera-tor, also known as a cooler. Keep it clean and cold, and throw in, say, some sour cream for your breakfast burritos without worrying about heat or weight. Frozen waterbottles are a great alternative to ice packs or loose ice for keeping these treats cool. At the end of the day, remember cleaning and organization are as important in a local campground as they are in the backcountry. Watch your morsels of food and food scents, and return everything to its place so you can spend more time playing and less time digging under the seat for that darned spatula.

Having a base camp frees you to bring items you wouldn’t pack on your back and make meals you couldn’t expect in the backcountry.

26 27Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

Branch Notes

In the past several years, NOLS has made great strides in reducing energy use as a school. We swapped out incandescent light bulbs with fluorescents, started buying Energy Star rated appliances, put overhead lighting on motion sensors, and turned down the heat. All of this made for great reductions—NOLS’ carbon footprint is 18 percent smaller than it was in 2006. But as we approach our 2020 goal of 30 percent reduction, we recognize the need to methodically address every opportunity for energy efficiency and cost savings. In the fall of 2012, we launched the NOLS Facility Efficiency Audit. We developed a facility checklist to ensure that the basics of energy efficiency were covered at each NOLS loca-tion. The list was long and included checking every light bulb and weather stripping on every door, as well as interviewing occupants to see which lights were routinely left on after hours and where there were issues with building comfort. Even though these projects were already addressed in many locations, we needed to quantify how much “low hanging fruit” was left in order to strategically plan to meet our 2020 goal. What we found was striking: incandescent bulbs where we thought there were none, windows that don’t close, holes in ceilings, noticeable gaps between doors and doorframes, and more. These audits revealed the numerous opportunities we have to meet our 2020 reduction goal in a way that saves NOLS money . We are optimistic that we’ll meet our 2020 goal with time to spare!

SUSTAINABILITY TIP: One of NOLS’ biggest opportunities for energy savings is in reducing the amount of heating and cooling lost through leaks in the “building envelope.” This involves installing weather stripping on doors, fixing faulty windows, improving insulation, and other typically straightforward fixes. Have you sealed your building envelope?

Sustainability

Alex

Cha

ng –

Cor

nell

Lead

ersh

ip E

xped

ition

WILDERNESS MEDICINE QUIZ

a. Ataxia or loss of balance is a reliable sign of HACE. Shortness of breath is a sign of HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) or simply working hard at altitude and Nifedipine or Albuterol are medi-cations used in the treatment of HAPE. HACE is thought to be a separate illness from HAPE, although they can occur at the same time.

Remember the moment you first set foot in a NOLS building, wherever in the world it was? All novel and unfamiliar in the first days, it was comfortable and familiar by the time you were de-issuing and celebrating your course. Well, it’s business as usual at NOLS locations around the world; stay up to date on the activities here or on the NOLS Blog at www.nols.edu/blog.

NOLS TETON VALLEY:• In the spring, six educators and professional

paddlers completed NOLS’ Professional River Instructor Course, paddling the Salmon River at high water to be assessed as new NOLS instructors. The international group hailed from Brazil, Scotland, Canada, and the U.S.

• In the spring, six educators and professional paddlers completed NOLS’ Professional River Instructor Course, paddling the Salmon River at high water to be assessed as new NOLS instructors. The international group hailed from Brazil, Scotland, Canada, and the U.S.

NOLS SOUTHWEST• This spring, NOLS Southwest installed a large

cistern to capture rainwater. The 2,000-gal-lon cistern collects and stores water during the intense monsoon thunderstorms of late summer. During the operating season, the water will be used for washing course gear and watering plants.

• A Gila Monster has been spotted in various locations around the branch. One of only

two venomous lizards in the world, the Gila Monster was the first venomous animal to be placed under Federal Protection.

• Semester students hiking in our area moun-tain ranges of the Sonoran desert experience as many as five biomes or life zones while traveling from the dry desert lowlands to the high spruce-fir-aspen forests.

• NOLS Southwest operates in three national parks, Joshua Tree National Park in California, Saguaro National Park in Arizona and Big Bend National Park in Texas.

NOLS ALASKA• 2013 is NOLS Alaska’s 42nd year operating

in the Last Frontier.• We have land-use permits with nine

different land management agencies ranging from the National Park Service to the Bureau of Land Management.

• The NOLS operations base in Alaska is a historic 40-acre farm in Palmer. The farm was originally part of the Matanuska Colony Project in 1935.

• The state of Alaska is 663,300 square miles, or about two times the size of Texas. Alaska has 33,000 miles of coast, 29 volcanoes and over half of the world’s glaciers.

NOLS PACIFIC NORTHWEST• In early June, two Semesters on the Borders

finished their course. These unique NOLS semesters split their learning between climb-ing and hiking in the desert Southwest and the mountains and bays of the Pacific Northwest. Their first section here was dominated by grand views, lots of marine wildlife, and exploring new inlets in Desolation Sound, British Columbia.

• As we transition to summer, our focus shifts to hiking and mountaineering. We’re excited to run the first Waddington Mountaineer-ing and Sailing course this July and August. This course traverses the Homathko Icefield from east to west, hiking down to tidewater to meet our sailboats Sol Quest and Luna Quest, for a sail back south toward NOLS Pacific Northwest.

Left: NOLS Pacific Northwest will run its first Waddington Mountaineering and Sailing course this summer. Right: NOLS Southwest installed a 2,000-gallon cistern to collect rainwater.

FACULTY AND STAFF AWARDS

The 2012 in-town employee awards were presented on March 25 at the Branch Director’s Forum, and the faculty awards were presented at the NOLS Faculty Summit (read more on page 12). This year’s in-town employee awards went to NOLS Patagonia Director RACHAEL PRICE and Payroll Manager JESSIE HELLYER FEHRINGER. Price has been with NOLS since taking an in-town job at NOLS Alaska following her course. Since then, she has instructed and worked in town in Alaska, NOLS Mexico, and NOLS Professional Train-ing—and now directs NOLS Patagonia. Fehringer returned to NOLS 10 years after her Semester in the Rockies, following family tradition. She quickly became a “Jack of all trades” with invaluable skills to support all of areas in her department. JAMIE O’DONNELL and ANNA HAEGEL received the com-bo award for their work in the field and in town. O’Donnell instructs students and fellow instructors in mountaineering, climbing, hiking, and winter courses at NOLS Rocky Moun-tain, Pacific Northwest, New Zealand, and Mexico. His work in town demonstrates his strong investment in school-wide environmental studies curriculum. Students compliment Haegel’s technical skills, energy and enthusiasm, and strong coaching abilities. Her desire to provide excellent student outcomes was evident during her time as a program supervisor, as she became the leading programmatic voice for the rock-climbing curriculum at NOLS Rocky Mountain. TRACY DUMAIS received the instructor award. Positive energy, enthusiasm, desire to learn, and penchant for helping others are terms that have defined her tenure at NOLS. Colleagues compliment her creativity and ability in using a variety of teaching styles for presenting formal classes and skills. EMILY LEDINGHAM received the first Thomas Plotkin Mentorship Award. In reading through student evaluations of her, the following words are ubiquitous: sincere, caring, passionate, honest, genuine, leads by example, checks in with every student, an amazingly engaging instructor, suburb listening skills, makes a point to build rapport with all students. A majority of her career has been working semester courses and she has had the opportunity to mentor students, through an entire semester in many different skill sets.

29Summer 2013

Belay Off

Campaign nOLSEndowing Our Core Values www.nols.edu/donate

ENDOWMENT ANNUAL FUND

SavingsAccount

Need

s to

Incr

ease

wi

th th

e Gro

wth

of th

e Sch

ool Checking

Account

EveryYear

Expenses Not Covered by Student

Tuition

FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE

Imm

edia

te N

eeds

Long

-ter

m

Investment

BUFF

ER

Lasting Security Shor

tTe

rm

ACCESSIBLE

Small Gifts Making Large

ImpactsStability During

Times of Recession

REOC

CURR

ING

Avai

labl

e to

Use

What’s the difference?Think of NOLS as a large investment, like buying a house. You have to make payments on your mortgage, but you also need to pay to keep the lights on. In the world of NOLS

fundraising, the endowment is like the long-term investment of mortgage payments, while the annual fund is like the immediate need to pay the utility bills.

ENDOWMENT & ANNUAL FUND

GIVE NOW

the thing aBout the wilderness is that it equalizes us, it sets us all on flat, even ground. We are all small in the face of mountains, all vulnerable before swelling seas, all dwarfed by the limitless sky. Facing the elements we are our raw, basic selves. All else falls away. In that rawness there is clarity, all the wind on the water going still so we can see straight into the depths. We are no longer defined by the years we have lived, or what we have been called, or the things we can do. We are all equally young and alive, swaying in the arms of the ancient earth. We are all equally young next to the rocks and the waves. With us we have only the parts of ourselves we can carry, only what travels with us always. We may find things that have been hidden, we may remember what we had allowed ourselves to forget. We may stretch ourselves taller and wider to mimic towering trees, tall-er and wider than we might have ever imagined. Back where we’re from the land is covered. Cloaked in artifice, pounded and blasted and moved and mold-ed to our convenience. Back where we’re from we are

OUT HERE BY CAROLYN HIGHLAND, 2012 SEMESTER IN NEW ZEALAND

covered. Steeped in beliefs that belong to others, folded over and compressed and colored until we forget the feel of our own skin. Out here the grass grows long, the trees grow tall, our eyes open wide. Where we’re from we are so often looking down, down at the tiny screens we hold in our hands, down at our own feet as we walk, down when we can’t meet someone else’s eyes. Being out here calls you to look in all directions at once. Not just down, at the plants and animals you walk beside, but out, at all that lies between you and the horizon, up, at the sun and the clouds and the big ancient blue above us, and also in, at the tiny reflection of the universe we hold within our ribs, behind our eyes, in our fingers and ears and mouths and toes. Our eyes no longer squint, trained on abstract things we hold in our hands, they open and clear to take in all that is around us. Where we’re from we’re kings and queens of concrete, we cradle the power in our hands. Returning to the wild we are reminded that

WE ARE ALL SMALL IN THE FACE OF MOUNTAINS, ALL VULNERABLE BEFORE SWELLING SEAS, ALL DWARFED BY THE LIMITLESS SKY.

Carolyn Highland wrote this piece about her experience while on her course in New Zealand. Alisha Bube illustration.

30 31Summer 2013LeaderTH

E

Traverses

30 LeaderTH

E

all we have created are constructs, all our control conjured up in our minds. Out here we do not have to go to churches and temples to pray to the idea of something greater, we can sim-ply stand before mountains and see it. Being out here makes you feel small in ways you need to feel small. We are not all-im-portant, we are not all know-ing, we are not invincible. We are blades of grass, we are par-ticles of wind, we are stones smoothed by water. Think of all the trillions of things happening each second all over this planet, the breathing, the flowing, the moving, the growing, the loving, the living, the dying, and try to feel like you are all that matters. You cannot.

Being out here makes you feel big in ways you need to feel big. We are not a set of nine numbers, we are not a one-word definition, we are not contained. There are mountains and seas and skies within us. Try to think of all the shades of your-self, of everything you’ve ever seen or thought or dreamed or

felt or believed and try not to feel infinite. You cannot.Being out in the wild reminds us of all the smallness and large-ness of ourselves because this earth, this sea and sky and rock

and tree and mountain, this is where we are from. Not a town with a name and a sign, but the ancient, persisting, elemental earth. We are not names and birthdates but hearts and souls reflecting the browns, the blues, the greens.

TRY TO THINK OF ALL THE SHADES OF YOURSELF, OF EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER SEEN OR THOUGHT OR DREAMED OR FELT OR BELIEVED AND TRY NOT TO FEEL INFINITE. YOU CANNOT.

We’d love to hear from you!Send letters, cartoons, rants, limericks, or watercolors our way, and we’ll get them on the pages of The Leader. We’re easy to contact—try Facebook, Twitter @NOLSedu, email (theleader@nols.edu) or the phone at (800) 710-NOLS.

GOLDEN EARSBY JONATHAN ROSEN, WIND RIVER WILDERNESS 2010

The fall following his NOLS course, Rosen began his senior year at Bard College, where he was working toward a bachelor’s degree in film production. As a senior at Bard, each student works on a senior project all year, and Rosen made a hand-drawn animation based on his NOLS experience. “Golden Ears,” a Suessian story about the mountains, specifically about a mountaineer (with mountains for ears), has screened in festivals all over the world.

Watch “Golden Ears” at https://vimeo.com/23975191 or by scanning this QR code.

CREATING A CULTURE OF GIVING AT NOLS• The NOLS community is embracing Campaign NOLS: Endowing Our Core Values, our $20 mil-

lion campaign to strengthen the school’s endowment and the NOLS Annual Fund. • To achieve this ambitious goal, we’ve reached out as never before to alumni, parents, friends, and

staff across the country and around the world, creating a true culture of giving at the school. • In-town staff and faculty have rallied to give back. In a remarkable show of dedication, 55

percent of staff members donated to NOLS in 2012. As Campaign NOLS enters the home stretch, staff are again striving to raise $100,000 to endow a scholarship for one student per year, forever.

• The stability and strength of the NOLS endowment is critical to ensuring the continuation of our core values—wilderness, education, leadership, safety, community, and excellence. These values define and direct who we are, what we do, and how we do it. Please join us as part of Campaign NOLS this year.

National Outdoor Leadership School284 Lincoln StreetLander, WY 82520-2848www.nols.edu • (800) 710-NOLS

THE LEADER IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDPORTLAND, OR

PERMIT NO. 2917

Campaign nOLSEndowing Our Core Values

Be a part of the change. Donate to Campaign NOLS today.

“We are always surrounded by nature, whether we recognize it or not. Spending time in the outdoors gives you a sense of responsibility to help protect nature however you can. My donations to NOLS help others to gain that same sense of responsibility, something that I hope they will carry throughout their entire lives.”

William BunnellYukon Backpacking 2008, scholarship recipient and donor.

Donate.