Here are some photos from the past few days, including the trip to NOLS and some NOLS facilities, as well as a bit of the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course we're in right now.
(I'll do my best to upload some larger images later on and change this post, when I'm not limited by the slow satellite internet here at the Three Peaks Ranch.)

Detroit and Denver airports, respectively...interesting places. Trams seem to be really in vogue these days.





My first prop plane! My ride from Denver to Lander, WY on Great Lakes Aviation. Really nice folks.






The road from Riverton to Lander, with a great spread of the Winds (I think) ahead of us.







NOLS' historic Noble Hotel, where we stay when we're in town between sections and at the beginning and end of the course.







The bunkhouse where I stay. No, I don't have to sleep on the screen porch, but I could!







CPR training, as part of the WFR course. Love those dummies.








Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no head stabilization technique?











A few of our class/coursemates hiked to the top of the hill across the road from the ranch for some sunset photos.







NOLS' Three Peaks Ranch in Boulder, WY, seen from above, with the namesake peaks in the background. Beautiful place.







More to come, I'll try to get one more blog in before we depart for our winter section!

Your Adventurer,
Nick

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Labels: airports, NOLS, outdoor educator, outdoors, photos, planes, prop plane, Three Peaks Ranch

What a trip.  I have officially arrived in Wyoming, and things are really getting along great.  Right as I entered the Noble Hotel, NOLS' historic dorm-style hotel for students between legs of their journey, I was greeted by a few members of my team.  Already before me, ten of my classmates had arrived and were killing time watching The Mask of Zorro in the recreation room.  I have never seen a group of strangers so happy to see me!  This group is, so far, just about everything I could hope for.  Everyone really wants to be here, everyone buys into it, and there's no doubts we all want to be a successful group.

Not that the trip was all sweet sugar and flowers--unfortunately Northwest misdirected my largest and most important piece of luggage and sent it on my first aircraft down to Miami.  That's right, I went from Connecticut to Wyoming, and my bag went to Florida.  I've taken loads of wonderful pictures already I would love to share, but of course, the one cable I need to do so is in that bag.  I am pretty confused by the fact that I paid $15 to check this bag and they lost it, while the two bags I brought in carry-on for free are sitting right next to me as I type.  However, a very nice woman at Northwest's baggage office did manage to find the bag and expedite its flights to get up to Wyoming.  Hopefully I'll get it before I depart for the first leg...

Our lead instructor, Marco, was kind enough last night to have all 15 of our group into his home for a wonderful fajita dinner and our first group meeting.  Our grand calendar of events begns with the first two legs away from base, which will generally take me away from email and this blog until mid-March.  First, the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course at NOLS' Three Peaks Ranch and the winter section in the Wind River Mountains.  The WFR course will give me a medical certification I have wanted for some time, and the winter section, exposing me to temperatures around -30 degrees Celcius, will teach me how to mentally, emotionally, and of course physically survive just about any environment I find myself in.  I can't wait.

Pictures, I promise, next time I blog.  I'll try to get some up while I'm at the Three Peaks Ranch.

Your Adventurer,
Nick

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