People often ask me about emergency communication devices so I thought I’d share a bit about the types of SOS devices, their pros and cons, and the limitations of each.
The sun is out and so are the snakes – but just how worried should you be about rattlesnake bites?
North America is home to several species of venomous snakes. Thankfully, none of these are very deadly. The most common venomous snakes are known as pit vipers. These fascinating creatures include rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths. They have a unique feature known as heat-sensing pits located between their eyes and nostrils. Coral snakes (elapids) are slightly more poisonous, but bites are so rare they are not a considerable concern. In this blog post, we will explore how to identify pit vipers, discuss the characteristics of specific venomous species, and debunk common myths associated with bites and treatments.
The goal of a WFR is to make sure you have the knowledge to take helpful action, no matter what situation you find yourself in.
So, what is a WFR course?
A Wilderness First Responder course (WFR) is much more than just a course about first aid, CPR, or even emergencies. This course teaches you how to think critically, allowing you to apply your knowledge to unique situations that go far beyond typical backcountry-based trips.
Mountain climbing is a physically demanding sport that requires a high level of endurance, strength, and agility. Strength training is crucial for mountain climbers as it helps to build the necessary strength and endurance required to tackle steep hills and challenging terrain. In this article, we will focus on the best strength exercises for mountain climbers.
Tag more summits with intentional strength training!
I’m sharing these five lessons that I have learned in my 20+ years working as an outdoor guide, educator, risk manger, search and rescue team member, park ranger and wilderness medicine course provider. Suffice it to say that I’ve been around the block. Working the desirable and undesirable jobs. Always along side men, rarely with any others. I always wished I could have had a female mentor. I’ve learned a lot, the hard way. Let me spare you some challenges with these key lessons:
DON’T TAKE THE BACKSEAT
BELIEVE IN YOUR INSTINCTS
LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHADOW AND REAL FEAR
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE
DON’T DO THINGS LIKE A MAN
Let’s just call this a long road trip. Though the length isn’t what makes it so interesting but rather the location (The South Pole!), mode of travel, and reasons behind the trip.
How: Tractor traverse
Where: Across multiple Ice Shelves, up the Trans-Antarctic and onto the Polar Plateau, eventually reaching the Geographic South Pole.
Why: Delivery of fuel and other essential supplies for science projects at the South Pole.
My job: Field Safety Coordinator for the US Antarctic Program
What made this stint of contract work so interesting is the unique mix of skills needed. My work was a mix of traditional mountaineering, tractor rigging, white-out navigation, field medic, tractor operator, and science tech.
I actually spent the first part of my season training the team in crevasse rescue. Then I went on a special trip to prepare one section of the route, before actually starting this traverse.
Sounds like a lot?? It was! It’s hard to share the scale of this journey but below are some great insights.
Mt Beazley- one of the most stunning sites along the way. I wish we could have stayed here for days.
The Route
in Trip Reports
I’m just snuggled up by my fireplace on a cold rainy day which is inspiring me to talk about the cold, specifically hypothermia.
Problems with the cold have been on my mind a lot lately. I did just return from working in Antarctica where it was quite cold. Since being back in California, it has been raining and snowing, a lot. We are being hit by the “atmospheric river,” and while these are relatively warm storms, it is still colder and damper than most people are used to – especially in sunny California. On top of that, I recently attended a lecture by the renowned cold physiology scientist, Dr. Giesbrecht aka Dr. Popsicle, on hypothermia and crevasse rescue[i].
All of this led me to write this article. Let’s talk about what’s going on physiologically when we get cold, discuss the decision process needed to determine when it is causing a problem, and the actions to take to prevent it from becoming something significant (AKA hypothermia).
So, first things first, cold will always be a problem when we are losing heat faster than we can replace it.
Climbing Treasure Peak’s Northwest Ridge was such a great half-day objective. The hiking was pleasant, the views spectacular, and the summit climb was engaging and fun. We snuck this in during thunderstorm season, so we got a pre-dawn start. But that wouldn’t be necessary if the weather is good.
in Trip Reports