True North Outdoor Skills Training

07/29/2026

A Montana hiker recently slipped and impaled himself with a trekking pole, yet still managed to hike nearly 10 miles back to the trailhead — with the pole left in place.

Fortunately, we cover Impalements in our Wilderness First Aid classes at True North... although this particular scenario is definitely a new one for us.

If you'd like to learn what to do when things go sideways in the outdoors — including managing severe bleeding, fractures, hypothermia, and more — join us for our upcoming Wilderness First Aid course this November.

Because some lessons are better learned in class than on the side of a mountain.

Explore with Confidence.

For information, and to register, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/wilderness-medicine/wilderness-first-aid

An emergency room nurse survived a freak hiking accident by doing something few people could imagine — hiking 10 miles back to safety with a trekking pole impaled completely through his torso.

07/24/2026

Heavy load. Steep terrain. Dense vegetation. Pouring rain. Thunder. Lightning.

The technical gap between competent land navigation and exceptional isn't as large as most people imagine. The process is exactly the same. The difference is found in judgment, discipline, and the commitment to continue when you're soaked, tired, cold, uncomfortable, and every part of you would rather stop.

Earlier this week we conducted another Tier One Navigation Development (TONDEV) for members of the SOF community preparing for the “Long Walk” in West Virginia. This video clip may seem unremarkable but it offers a glimpse of what they faced – conditions that would stop most, but not them.

That made their training even more valuable.

Prepare to Prevail.

To learn about our TONDEV course, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/mil-nav-program/tier-one-navigation-development

07/21/2026

This weekend, True North had the pleasure of working with a terrific group of clients who traveled from as far away as Maryland, Virginia, and Wisconsin for land navigation training.

A sincere thank you to Angela, Rebecca, Sean, Riley, and Adam for their hard work and determination as they spent Sunday navigating through the woods.

One of the things I especially enjoy about our classes is the diversity of goals people bring. This group was refining their land navigation skills not only for general outdoor recreation, but also to become more capable during ultraruns, Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, and in preparation for Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS). Different objectives, but the same essential skill set.

If you'd like to develop the confidence to travel off trail, navigate accurately, and explore the outdoors with greater independence, check out our Land Navigation Program.

Explore with Confidence.

https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/land-navigation

07/17/2026

Think your week was tough?

I just spent two days with a member of the Navy special operations community who is preparing for the land navigation phase of an Army SMU assessment and selection.

Each day started before dawn, ended at sunset, and covered roughly 25 miles under a 51-pound ruck—not including water.

They were long, demanding training days. But what ultimately determines success isn't just fitness. It's the ability to think clearly, make sound decisions, and navigate accurately while physically exhausted.

Helping dedicated professionals prepare for challenges like this is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do at True North.

Prepare to Prevail.

If you're currently serving—or in an enlistment pipeline—and preparing for the land navigation phase of an upcoming assessment, take a look at our Mil-Nav Program. And if you're preparing for a long walk, check out our SOF-OD and TONDEV courses.

https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/mil-nav-program

07/14/2026

I was really saddened yesterday to learn that Randolph Mantooth, one of the stars of Emergency!, passed away this week.

Like many people of my generation, I loved watching Emergency! as a kid. But the show—and Adam-12—became much more than entertainment. Together, they helped inspire the career path I eventually chose, one centered on service to others through law enforcement, EMS, and, ultimately, teaching.

What impressed me even more was the person Mantooth appeared to be off screen. Over the years, he devoted countless hours to supporting the EMS community, attending conferences, meeting first responders, and helping promote a profession that was still in its infancy when Emergency! first aired. By all accounts, he never forgot the impact the show had on so many lives.

One of the things that always makes me smile is thinking about some of the toughest, most seasoned medics I've known. Mention Randolph Mantooth, and suddenly they're pulling out their phones to proudly show a selfie they took with him at an EMS conference. For a moment, they look like excited teenagers meeting their favorite celebrity. It says a lot—not just about the show, but about the genuine affection and respect people had for the man himself.

Rest in peace, Randolph Mantooth. Thank you for the inspiration, and for everything you did for the EMS profession long after the cameras stopped rolling.

Mantooth played firefighter and paramedic John Gage on the NBC show that aired from 1972 to 1977.

07/05/2026

After several weeks behind the scenes planning courses and preparing for the Summer ahead, it's finally time for Terry and me to get back into the field.

July is shaping up to be one of our busiest land navigation months in quite some time. Over the next several weeks, True North will be conducting:

🧭 Basic Land Navigation
🧭 Advanced Land Navigation
🧭 Advanced Military Land Navigation
🧭 SOF Overland Development (twice)
🧭 Tier One Navigation Development (twice)

One of the things we enjoy most about teaching land navigation is the opportunity to work with such a diverse group of clients — from special operations personnel preparing for Special Mission Unit (SMU) assessments to hikers, hunters, search-and-rescue volunteers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who simply want to become more capable and confident in the outdoors.

Although their goals may be very different, the fundamentals remain the same. Accurate navigation, sound judgment, and confidence in the field are skills that benefit everyone.

We look forward to seeing everyone in the woods over the coming weeks.

Prepare to Prevail | Explore with Confidence

To learn about our Land Navigation & Mil-Nav Programs, visit:
www.ExploreTrueNorth.com

06/16/2026

Earlier this month, two day-hikers in the Adirondacks required rescue after running out of food and water. They also lacked extra clothing and headlamps, and their cell phone batteries were running low.

What stands out about this incident is that there was no single catastrophic mistake. The hikers were not seriously injured, nor were they caught in extreme weather. Instead, several relatively minor problems combined to create a situation they could no longer manage safely on their own.

This is how many outdoor emergencies develop.

A dead phone battery. A missing headlamp. An unexpected delay. Running low on water. A wrong turn.

Individually, these issues may seem insignificant. Together, however, they can gradually reduce a person's options until the situation becomes difficult to overcome.

One of the most valuable habits outdoors is maintaining a margin of safety. Carry a little more water than you expect to need. Bring a headlamp — even on a day hike. Allow extra time for the unexpected. Develop skills before you need them.

These simple decisions provide options when things don't go according to plan.

The goal is not to prepare for what is likely to happen.

The goal is to prepare for what might happen.

That's one of the reasons we emphasize preparation, planning, and practical outdoor skills in every course we teach. Confidence outdoors isn't built by hoping everything goes right. It's built by being ready when it doesn't.

06/15/2026

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching land navigation is watching clients discover that navigating with a map and compass is neither mysterious nor complicated. Like any skill, it simply requires the right instruction and practice.

Join us July 18–19 for our next land navigation training weekend near Pittsburgh.

This weekend features two separate one-day courses:

📍 July 18 — Basic Land Navigation
📍 July 19 — Advanced Land Navigation

Attend either day individually or attend both for the most complete training experience.

Basic Land Navigation teaches the foundational skills needed to navigate with a map and compass. Advanced Land Navigation builds upon those fundamentals by teaching you how to use terrain features, plan effective routes, and travel more confidently and efficiently through unfamiliar terrain.

Whether you're a hiker, hunter, backpacker, search-and-rescue volunteer, or simply someone who wants to become more self-reliant outdoors, land navigation remains one of the most valuable outdoor skills you can develop.

✓ Small classes (maximum 6 students)
✓ Personalized coaching
✓ Real-world field instruction
✓ Trusted by outdoors enthusiasts & military personnel alike

Learn the skills. Develop the judgment. Navigate with confidence.

Space is limited.

To learn more about our Land Navigation Program, and to register, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/land-navigation

06/11/2026

What an absolutely outstanding week.

True North recently returned from Medford, New Jersey, where we had the pleasure of providing Wilderness First Aid training to the Wilderness Trips staff of YMCA of the Pines.

Many thanks to Alba, Millie, Kate, Jen, and Mike — representing Brazil, Spain, and the United Kingdom — not only for their hard work and focus, but also for the enthusiasm, laughter, and positive attitude they brought to the course.

Throughout the training, they developed the skills needed to assess patients and manage a variety of wilderness medical emergencies, including fractures, wounds, heat-related illnesses, and allergic reactions. More importantly, they learned how to recognize and address potential problems before they become serious emergencies.

After spending the week with this exceptional group, we left confident that they are well prepared to help keep their campers and fellow staff members safe throughout the summer season, both on the river and on the trail.

Thank you for training with True North, and best wishes for a wonderful summer.

To learn more about the Wilderness Trips program at YMCA of the Pines, visit:
https://ycamp.org/wilderness-trips/

To learn more about our Wilderness Medicine Program, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/wilderness-medicine