NOLS Library

From the outdoor training experts. Rescue techniques using rope, throw bags. Wading techniques, safe crossings, swimming skills.

Seven common bear encounters and how to survive them. Best ways to identify grizzlies and black bears. Learn essential info on bear behavior at different times of year and in different habitats.

A how-to guide of safety, rescue, and recovery techniques for all who work and play on the water. 2015 National Outdoor Book Award Winner.

"One of the finest first aid books I've seen." -- Mel Otten, M.D., Wilderness Medical Society • Make informed decisions about medical treatment and urgency of transport • Essential items and suggestions for packing a standard first aid kit • Two new chapters on common non-urgent medical problems and legal issues This revised edition of NOLS Wilderness First Aid reflects the changing field of wilderness medicine. Designed as a field textbook for the NOLS wilderness first aid curriculum, it helps train outdoor leaders to prevent, recognize, and treat common medical problems and to stabilize a severely ill or injured patient for evacuation. A vital resource for outdoor enthusiasts, this book covers fundamental topics in first aid--patient assessment, shock, soft tissue injury, burns, fractures and dislocations, and chest, head, and abdominal injury. It explains how to handle environmental problems posed by heat, cold, water, altitude, and poisonous plants and animals. Also discussed are issues related to expedition medicine as well as leadership, teamwork, and communication for rescue groups. While risk can be minimized through good judgment, skills, and experience, being prepared for emergencies in the wild is an essential component of good outdoor leadership.

• Leave No Trace, minimum impact skills and ethics • New research and field experience prescribe better minimum-impact techniques for wilderness use • Expanded information on camping practices • How far you should camp from water, where to pitch your tent, how to build a fire or if you should build one in the first place • Respecting and caring for wildlands, doing your part to protect our limited resources and future recreation opportunities • Trampling, litter, waste disposal, fire use, wildlife health, and protecting cultural resources

A how-to guide of safety, rescue, and recovery techniques for all who work and play on the water. 2015 National Outdoor Book Award Winner. Nate Ostis is a member of the senior field staff for NOLS and a Swiftwater Rescue Technician instructor. A lifelong educator, he was a lecturer for the outdoor recreation department at Plymouth State University, and he has taught at an international whitewater kayaking academy.

One of the finest first aid books I've seen. --Mel Otten, M.D., Wilderness Medical Society • New chapters on judgment and decision-making and mental health • First-aid topics--patient assessment, shock, soft tissue injury, burns, fractures and dislocations, and chest, head, and abdominal injury • How to handle environmental problems--heat, cold, water, altitude, and poisonous plants and animals

This updated edition of the popular NOLS Wilderness Mountaineering reflects the most current practices, equipment, and risk management in mountain climbing.

The keystone of the NOLS library, the Cookery has been a trusted and reliable resource used in the field by NOLS students and instructors for 50 years. First published by Stackpole in 1991, NOLS Cookery is in its 7th edition with 125,000 copies in print. Whether you're a first-time backpacker or a seasoned backcountry cook, you'll learn from the cookbook used by the experts in outdoor education. With more than 2 million meals prepared in the wilderness, NOLS speaks with authority on the art of outdoor cooking. This new edition includes important nutritional information that supports the 200 recipes plus a special section of recipes from around the world, new recipes for lightweight backpacking and recipes that can be prepared in advance of the trip. First-time backpackers as well as seasoned backcountry cooks will learn from the cookbook used by the experts in outdoor education. This new edition includes nutritional information for the 200 recipes, plus a section of recipes from around the world, new recipes for lightweight backpacking, and food that can be prepared in advance of the trip. Claudia Pearson is rations manager for the National Outdoor Leadership School's Rocky Mountain Branch in Lander, Wyoming. The National Outdoor Leadership School is the leading educational organization for outdoor skills and leadership and offers courses in the world's most spectacular wilderness classrooms.

• The guide for planning a successful trip, short or long • Research access to public land, domestic and international • Create a budget and find additional funding • Choose essential gear, with checklists for personal and group gear • Plan food and fuel requirements • How to prepare mentally and physically • Health issues, including insurance, illnesses, and injuries • Transportation and lodging • How to deal with risks in the wilderness • Leave No Trace principles for sustainable travel

The sixth edition of the bestselling NOLS Wilderness Medicine includes all the key first-aid information that made previous editions so valuable, now updated throughout with the latest medical recommendations. This guide is used in NOLS and WMI courses to train outdoor leaders to prevent, recognize, and treat common medical problems and to stabilize severely ill or injured patients for evacuation. A vital resource for outdoor enthusiasts, this book covers fundamental topics in first aid from the unique perspective of the National Outdoor Leadership School. ?First-aid topics include patient assessments, shock, soft tissue injury, burns, fractures and dislocations, and chest, head, and abdominal injury. ?Learn how to handle common environmental problems-heat, cold, water, altitude, and poisonous plants and animals. ?Vital material is presented in an easy-to-use reference format to save valuable time in an emergency. A wilderness educator since 1973, Tod Schimelpfenig is the curriculum director for the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute. He lives in Lander, Wyoming.

The National Outdoor Leadership School's official guide to finding your way in the wilderness. Darran Wells is a senior NOLS Instructor and Assistant Professor of Outdoor Education & Leadership at Central Wyoming College. He is also an officer for Fremont County Search and Rescue and an avid mountain biker, climber, and backcountry skier. He lives in central Wyoming.

• The National Outdoor Leadership School's official guide to finding your way in the wilderness • Covers all navigational techniques, from map and compass to GPS and gives instructions on taking bearings and planning routes on USGS maps • Up-to-date information on tools, equipment, and software For wilderness travelers, good navigation ability can mean the difference between a successful day hike and an unplanned overnight stay. Based on the curriculum of the National Outdoor Leadership School, NOLS Wilderness Navigation gives you the skills you need to confidently find your way on and off the trail. Included here are methods for orienting yourself by the sun and the stars alone, easy-to-follow explanations of map and compass techniques, and advice on using an altimeter. There's also a comprehensive section on using GPS technology-without becoming dependent on it. Exercises at the end of each chapter help readers gradually develop their skills and build their confidence.

The National Outdoor Leadership School's official guide to camping in extreme cold. Comprehensive coverage of winter clothing and gear. Proven techniques for traveling efficiently and safely across snow and ice and complete directions for building igloos and many other snow shelters.

New edition of a NOLS classic; the definitive book on environmental ethics and their relation to managing wildlands. An excellent introduction to all relevant federal agencies and legislation. Objectively examines various perspectives on difficult ethical questions.

Discover how nutrition can help you enjoy backcountry adventure. Practical, science-based information presented in an easy-to-understand, useful way.

Meal planning for short outdoor trips (5 days or less) and small groups (1-4 people). 32 recipes including breakfasts, dinners, beverages, desserts, and snacks. Cut down on expense of freeze-dried plus eat better nutritionally.

Field guide for making careful decisions in the backcountry and relying on informed observation.

The keystone of the NOLS library, the Cookery has been a trusted and reliable resource used in the field by NOLS students and instructors for 50 years. First published by Stackpole in 1991, NOLS Cookery is in its 7th edition with 125,000 copies in print. Whether you're a first-time backpacker or a seasoned backcountry cook, you'll learn from the cookbook used by the experts in outdoor education. With more than 2 million meals prepared in the wilderness, NOLS speaks with authority on the art of outdoor cooking. This new edition includes important nutritional information that supports the 200 recipes plus a special section of recipes from around the world, new recipes for lightweight backpacking and recipes that can be prepared in advance of the trip.