I’ve returned safely from the backountry after completing the National Outdoor Leadership Schools Winter Outdoor Educator course. Overall it was a great trip, filled with adventure. Here’s course leader Roger Yim’s summary, links to my photos and videos from the course, and my daily summaries.
Course Summary, by Course Leader Roger Yim:

Instructors: Roger Yim, Emily Ledingham, Lindsay Yost

The Winter Outdoor Educator course was held in the Arizona Creek area outside of Grand Teton National Park. This was a 15 day self-sufficient expedition with 2 days of resort skiing at Grand Targhe Resort, a one day terrain tour and 2 days of classes and preparation. There were 13 students initially and 3 instructors. One student was evacuated in the first several days of the expedition due to an illness. The course was challenged with 120 cm of new snowfall, wet snow conditions and down to -18 C air temperatures. The curriculum focused on ski touring skills, winter camping, avalanche assessment/rescue and leave no trace. Students taught minin classes to improve their teaching skills and worked on self-leadership, peet leadership and some limited designated roles. Some of course highlights were improvement in skiing, avalanche and the impressive scenery of the Tetons. The students have developed a good foundation of backcountry ski skills.

• Day 1 – Food Rationing and Gear Selection
• Day 2 – Telemarking at Grand Targhee
• Day 3 – Backcountry Film Festival
• Day 4 – Avalanche Rescue Training
• Day 5 – Skinning and Field Gear Evaluation
• Day 6 – Into The Backcountry
• Day 7 – Snow Shelter
• Day 8 – Ski Touring
• Day 9 – Blizzard Evacuation Attempt
• Day 10 – Jake Deserts The Group
• Day 11 – Rescuing the Evacuation Team
• Day 12 – Avalanche Science
• Day 13 – Redemption From The Storm
• Day 14 – Climbing to High Camp
• Day 15 – Touring
• Day 16 – Avalanche Rescue Training in a Blizzard
• Day 17 – Whiteout
• Day 18 – Test Pits
• Day 19 – Touring
• Day 20 – Kick Wax
• Day 21 – Transferrence

Photo slideshow.