In Teton Valley, Idaho NOLS runs stand alone winter courses from December to April that cover a variety of skills and experiences. Our shortest course offering is an expedition style one week spring break course. Students on these courses receive their avalanche awareness certificate and spend six nights winter camping and backcountry skiing in the Palisades Mountains, just southwest of the Teton Range. We also offer week-long avalanche specific courses. Students on these courses receive their recreational level one and rescue certificate, and spend three days splitting field/ classroom time before moving to a yurt for three days to put their newfound skills into practice. We also offer affinity ski courses, courses specifically for outdoor educators, and for anyone from beginner skiers to advanced skiers.
We are excited to be partnering with CSO to help better educate and inform our students and to give them tools to continue to engage in their own learning after they’ve left the course. One of the neat things about a NOLS winter course is that a great deal of learning, whether it be winter camping, cooking, terrain choices, snow science, or companion rescue all have the capacity to help people better understand how they interact with the environment, how they communicate with others, and what skills are important to travel outdoors in the winter.
Text by: Caitlin Quinn
Photos: Molly Hagbrand