WFRs Assemble!
What to expect:
Expect to be exhausted
Expect to have fun
Expect to learn a lot
Expect to study on your own time, outside of class
Expect homework
Expect to be pushed outside of your comfort zone
Expect to make mistakes and not get skills perfectly
Expect to take a risk, fail, and risk again
Expect to meet new people
Expect to lean on your classmates & support them in return
Expect to maybe cry a little
Expect to ask for help when you need it
Expect to grow
Expect to be challenged
Expect to get dirty
Expect to be outside, regardless of the weather
Expect to sweep up, maybe even mop
Expect to be too hot/ too cold at some point
Expect to make sure there are no real injuries
Expect to interrupt class if there is a puppy, very important
Packing List
So you're gonna be a WFR....
Wear:
Comfy, practical layers appropriate for ALL weather
Clothing you are okay getting dirty/stained
Close-toed shoes -- crocs do not count!
Inside shoes -- crocs count 😊
Must Bring:
Water bottle Writing implements
Snacks Note book
Rain Jacket Rain Pants
Warm layers Warm Hat
Sun hat Sunscreen/ Insect repellent
Extra socks Head Lamp
Hiking Pack: what you would bring on a 24 hr expedition
Tarp 10' x 10'
50' paracord
Sleeping Pad
Sleeping Bag
Improvised Traction Splint
Rescue Awareness
the first-person account of unmet expectations when signaling SOS in the winter woods of Idaho was deleted from YT, most likely due to negative comments. Here is a break-down of the video done by someone else. I don't agree with this creator's interpretation of events or his belief that the "law enforcement officers are not to blame". Mistakes were made by all parties, and it's a good reminder to know what you don't know.
Click below to watch:
A short story by Ty Gagne that centers the importance of Psychological first aid skills in Backcountry first responders. Click above to read
Lightning Video
A cloud's perspective on lightning safety; click HERE to watch
Key points:
Prevention: learn the signs of oncoming storms so you can turn back before it's too late
Don't be the tallest thing around, or next to the tallest thing around
Avoid areas where lightning has easy access; ridge lines, dry riverbeds, ditches, open fields, open water, sodden banks along water, shallow caves, etc.
The "lightning position" is a myth and will absolutely NOT keep you safe in an electrical storm
Avalanche Safety
Click HERE to watch "A Dozen More Turns"
The Appalachia Mountain Journal is published biannually. It contains poetry, short stories, and detailed accounts of rescues and accidents in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Many of these accidents and subsequent rescues occur because of ill prepared, inexperienced hikers. Many others occur simply because the environment and terrain are severe, unforgiving, and unpredictable. Mistakes can happen to the most prepared hikers. It's important to remember that, no matter your experience level, there will always be risk associated with outdoor adventuring.
