Mount Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the world outside the Himalayas and the second tallest of the classic “seven summits.” It is a part of the Andes Mountain Range in the Mendoza region of Argentina, soaring to a height of 6,962 meters.

What do you get when you join an all-women ski expedition to the top of Mt. Baker? Good views, tired legs, sunburned noses, and a whole lot of talk on women’s health in the wild.

Search and rescue (SAR) is a generic term which covers finding and providing aid to the lost, missing, stranded, ill or injured. It covers a range of responses including urban SAR (usually natural or man-made disasters), wilderness and mountain rescue, to the Coastguard for ocean-based missions.

Attempting treatment while still exposed to the elements is bringing a knife to a gunfight. No amount of emergency blankets, hot packs, or calorie gels will be effective if the body is actively losing more heat than you can provide.

Although it might seem outdated, a compass is the best navigation tool money can buy. There are a few reasons why it’s an essential item. No matter where you are, a compass can point you in the right direction. On top of that, a compass works independently of anything else.

Accidents can happen when you least expect it. Unlike other emergencies, medical emergencies are difficult to prepare for despite being the most likely to happen. Medical emergencies often require immediate attention and quick response times therefore it is essential to have the necessary training and equipment on-hand.

If you’re venturing outside for an extended period, take a moment to apprise yourself of certain basic outdoor survival skills (like foraging for food, starting a fire, or building shelter). These skills can increase your chances of survival if you’re stuck in the remote wilderness.

Learning basic survival skills—like first aid, building different types of shelters, and foraging for wild plants—will help you safely make it back to camp (or civilization) on a wilderness trip.

You only have so much time and money to dedicate to your efforts. You must direct that time and money into tasks that could save your life. Understand that gear can be lost, broken, or stolen. Skills will always be there to help you when needed.

Andrew Nathanson, MD, has been sailing since he was a child, and has spent many years researching sailing injuries – what causes them and what steps can be taken to prevent them.

Typically, boating injuries occur in one of three ways: a person on the boat falls overboard, the boat collides with another object, or a boat capsizes. These types of accidents can cause extremely serious injuries

Exposure to abnormal or prolonged amounts of heat and humidity without relief or adequate fluid intake can cause various types of heat-related illnesses.

Understanding the dangers around open water swimming and being familiar with first aid if someone is drowning is important. Here are some top tips about staying safe near open water, plus six things to know about drowning.

Many expedition team members, leaders and medics will have past or current medical conditions, injuries or disabilities. With more and more people undertaking mountain adventures and the average age of these people increasing, it follows that more people will be managing chronic (long-term) medical conditions.

Most people don’t sleep very well at high altitudes and often report broken sleep, vivid dreams and not feeling well rested on waking. On any trekking, climbing or mountaineering trip at high altitude, several factors can influence how well you sleep.

Success in the mountains can mean many things – reaching your physical goal e.g. a summit or the completion of a trekking or mountaineering route, enjoying the experience as much as possible and coming away healthy and hopefully even fitter than when you started.

Relevant expedition medical skills and experience are vital but what other capabilities and qualities does an expedition medic need to do their job effectively?

A suitably experienced medic can play a vital role in any expedition team, helping to ensure the success of the trip. Preventing medical problems is key to this success, but of course, when issues do occur, treating problems quickly and effectively is also essential.

As a hiker, I’ve learned a few things from the first several hikes, mostly from me making the mistake and checking off a box in my head to not do that same thing again next time. Here are a few beginner hiking tips I learned the hard way!

Whether you're a seasoned wilderness enthusiast, a dedicated outdoor educator, or an aspiring wilderness guide, this WFR course is designed to empower you with the experience and practical skills required to stay calm and responsive in disaster relief and medical emergency scenarios.