"There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad preparation" Humans are inherently not built for the cold. We do not have fur or any natural adaptations that allow us to literally freeze solid and wait the winter out like amphibians or insects. We do however, have the adaptation to use and carry items with us to deal with our needs. Dressing in layers can be a huge lifesaver. Follow the COLD acronym: Clean, Overlapping, Loose, and Dry. Avoid tight fitting clothing and footwear as this can...

A fun little acronym we made years ago while teaching at a venue in Boston, MA. All of these things alter your judgement and can lead to incorrect choices in a survival situation (or even every day life). SCARED: Fear and panic can lead to irrational choices, or not making a choice at all. Calming down from Flight, Fright, or Freeze by using breathing techniques can be a huge life saver. TIRED: Sleep is a survival skill. Getting a good night's sleep before the trip, making sure you have the...

No one ever wants to admit they they need help. Especially when they packed their bags, spent the time and money to go on the adventure, and tried to reach the summit. Getting lost, medical emergencies, and weird freak accidents can happen to anyone, at anytime. I always do my best to take the time to read about survival stories that happen, so that I may study the patterns and statistics of situations so that I may be able to communicate the proper skills to my students. No matter the...