Case Study: Frostbite on Denali

With incoming winter temps and atmospheric rivers heading back to California I thought it was a good time to review a case study on prevention and treatment of cold injuries.  If you are looking to learn more about hypothermia you can view last year’s January treatment of hypothermia article.

 

This case study is based on an incident on Mt Denali- but keep in mind frostbite is a risk factor even in California.

Read More

How Dangerous are Rattlesnakes?

 

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.

 

Read More

The Best Exercises for the Mountain Athlete

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.

 

Summit of Norman Clyde Peak

Tag more summits with intentional strength training!

Read More

 5 Lessons Learned the Hard Way as an Outdoorsy Woman

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

Read More

The Beginners Guide to Climbing Mountains

Getting to the top of a mountain and capturing the surrounding views can be an incredibly rewarding experience!  In fact, the physical challenges and feelings of accomplishment are so great that you may find yourself wanting to climb more peaks and bigger mountains.   For some this can lead them on a journey that culminates on Mount Everest!  But, nobody starts with climbing the highest mountain in the world.  We start with a dream of a mountain.  This blog post is full of mountain climbing basics to turn your dream of a mountain summit into actionable steps to get you up the mountain. 

Read More

Managing Risks in the Mountains

Adventuring in the outdoors requires almost constant risk management skills, and I’ve spent decades creating systems and structures to do so.  Today I want to talk about these systems and how I use them in the mountains. 

 

I was recently on a trip to Colorado where I went to climb a 14’er by myself.  On my way down, a horrified hiker appeared, commenting that I shouldn’t have hiked in the dark, by myself, when there are mountain lions.  It caught me off guard; I was being questioned about my risk management.  And, of course, when you have weird interactions with people, you always think of all the right things to say later.

Read More

Why I love Antarctica

Reason # 1

The continent itself.

Antarctica has to be one of the least accessible places in the world.  Just being here and getting to stand on the continent is a pretty special feeling.  Knowing that I get to see things most people will never have a chance to see.  My very first season I worked at the South Pole station.  As I flew from McMurdo (the main station) to the pole, I could hardly comprehend the scale of what I saw.  At times glaciers span practically to the horizon on both sides.  There were so many more dramatic peaks and valleys than I had imagined.

Read More