BACKPACKING MEDICINE IN ZION NATIONAL PARK

Welcome to this amazing course on the medicine associated with backpacking and hiking.

• Flash Floods

• Lightning

• Clothing for the Backcountry

• Backpacks, Trekking Poles and Back Pain

• Wilderness First Aid Kits

• Foot Problems in the Back Country

• Stream Crossing

• Back Country Water Treatment

• Menstural Periods in the Backcountry

• Nature Deficit Disorder

• Dental Issues on the Trail

Background: The instruction for this course will occur on Saturday on April 22, 2023 and Sunday morning April 23. Classes will be taught at the Hampton Inn and Suites 1127 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale, Utah When you are not in class, you will backpack or hike to your delight. We will meet for an outside dinner on Friday night of April 21st at the Hampton Inn and Suites at 6 pm. More instructions will be given to you that night.

Learning: Formal instruction will be at 9 am on the Saturday. Both lectures and outdoor skills will be taught. Instruction on Saturday will end in time so you can hike that afternoon. There will be a short set of lectures on Sunday morning. Students will need to study the material by looking at the Quick Link to the right on this page. Podcasts for this course are on the podcast called AWLS and found wherever you listen to podcasts. You should study prior to coming to the course. You can use the text book, listen to the podcasts and take the practice exams prior to taking the certification exam

Where to stay: Lodging is on your own. There are campsites on a first come first serve basis. These need to be reserved at: www.recreation.gov The sooner the better. There are many hotels and places to stay in Springdale, but many people stay to the west a few miles in the Hurricane area It is a short drive. Note: if you are a medical student signed up through VSLO, you will be given other instructions.

Opening Social Friday night: Students will meet at 6 pm at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Springdale, Utah (Outside Zion National Park) for an opening social.  Students will get to know each other and become familiar with the area.

Hiking, camping, food: Other than the opening social, you are responsible for all of your own hiking, camping and food.

Zion National Park: We have chosen this area because it is simply beautiful. It’s early in the backpacking season and this give the best chance of having good weather.  It is low in altitude and in latitude.  There are many places to hike and many places to camp and also there are hotels.   Below are some links to help you find places to camp, hike and hotels to stay in.

Backpacking Students will backpack/hike before and/or after the course.

Certification In order to pass the course and earn the Backpacking Medicine, students must pass the exam that is found to the quick ink to the right.

Register for the Course