We were fortunate to sit down with author Ty Gagne to get his take on decision making. We posed the following five questions to which Ty graciously provided detailed responses we can hopefully all learn from. 1) Decision making is…
The Challenges of Fall
Eight fall concerns WMNF hikers should be aware of… Hiking is a great sport at any time of year, and each season has something wonderful to offer. Winter offers up its easier-to-stay-cool temperatures, thinner crowds, and diamond-quality views. It’s less…
Weakness in Numbers
How a Hiking Partner Can Be Dangerous An essay written by Ty Gagne » I’m about to tell an embarrassing story that I’ve told in a few other places, including in a book I’ve written. But unlike those other occasions…
Five Reasons for Rescue
The mountains are inviting to many people. “They call to me,” many will say. They are beautiful from afar — a majestic backdrop to any scene. And for those able, they’re even more stunning up close. To be on and…
Anatomy of a Rescue
If you’re sick or injured in the backcountry there are many possible scenarios with many possible outcomes, but most have one thing in common: Rescue will take longer than you might expect. To give a clearer understanding of why, this…
Backcountry Medical Response
Every serious, quasi-regular hiker or climber should have some level of first-aid knowledge. Specifically, unless you’re a guide or outdoor leader, and have your Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) card, you should probably test for…
Q&A with SAR Statistician Robert Koester
By Backpacker Magazine To read the actual piece written by Backpacker click here. Like a pencil-chewing stats geek from the world of fantasy baseball, survival guru Robert Koester knows his numbers. Really knows his numbers. Lost-hiker incidents in 2003? Check.…