Course Location

 

Target Audience

Physicians and other medical professionals who engage in wilderness activities, who counsel individuals who take part in such activities, or who are likely to encounter illness or injury in remote or resource-limited settings.

 

CME Information

The Wilderness Medical Society designates this educational activity for a maximum of 13 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits TM.  Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

13 California Continuing Education credits are available for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics.

Norway Ski Adventure - Winter Wilderness Medicine and Rescue

Wilderness Medicine and Backcountry Skiing

Ski Summit to Sea

Mountain peaks with incredible vistas of the Arctic Ocean and Norway fjords are just the beginning of what you’ll find in the Lofoten Islands.  March is powder season in Lofoten so be ready to explore couloirs and peaks and the thrill of awesome descents!  Enjoy 6 days of guided backcountry skiing with certified mountain guides. Tahoe Wilderness Medicine, LLC has partnered with Northern Alpine Guides and Lofoten Ski Lodge to offer this weeklong Winter Wilderness Medicine course in the Lofoten Islands of Norway.

Learn practical winter wilderness medicine skills in the outdoor winter environment

Through lectures, hands-on sessions and scenarios, you will enhance your medical training and learn to apply your medical knowledge to the winter outdoor environment.

Educational Objectives: After attending this conference, the participants will be able to: 

  • ​Demonstrate increased awareness of medical problems unique to the wilderness and austere environments
  • Prevent, diagnose and manage illnesses or injuries in the wilderness and/or remote location
  • Promote increased awareness of safety and accident prevention in wilderness surroundings

Topics include:

  • Acute Mountain Sickness
  • Hypothermia
  • Ski and Snowboard Injury Patterns
  • Avalanche Resuscitation
  • Frostbite
  • Fractures and Dislocations in the the Wilderness
  • Wilderness Medical Kits
  • Pre-hospital Patient Assessment and Care in the Wilderness
  • Wilderness Rescue for the Backcountry Traveler
  • Avalanche Rescue
  • Avalanche Case Scenarios

Lofoten Ski Lodge in Kalle, Norway will be our hosts for the course.

Lofoten Ski Lodge has 2-bedroom cabins accomodating 4-6 people.  Accommodations are shared 2 bedroom cabins for 4-6 people in each cabin.  The cabins are former fishing bunkhouses that have been renovated with bedrooms, a bathroom and shower, and a kitchen/living room area with a wood-burning stove to keep you cozy. The main lodge is a restored brygge, a traditional timber frame building from the heyday of the 1800s fishing industry.  The lodge is where we’ll meet for top quality, local cuisine and course lectures.  The lodge also offers lounging areas to relax by the fire, play ping pong, or even strike up the band in the music corner.  If we’re lucky, we’ll see the Northern Lights!

We Recommend the Purchase of Travel Insurance

Due to changes in weather and the remoteness of backcountry skiing, we highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Types of coverage to consider include: trip cancellation, medical, rescue and evacuation, lost baggage, trip delay, etc. We are not travel insurance experts, please consult an insurance company with any specific questions.

Two travel companies to consider: Travel Guard and World Nomads.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the Wilderness Medical Society and Tahoe Wilderness Medicine, LLC. The Wilderness Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

Tahoe Wilderness Medicine, LLC reserves the right to change or substitute course faculty without advance or prior notice to participants.

Faculty

Mark Baier
MD
Mark Baier's picture
Mark Baier is a board certified emergency medicine physician at a busy Level II trauma center and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNSOM). Dr. Baier has practiced emergency medicine since 1997 with special interest in areas of wilderness emergency medicine and sports medicine.  He teaches University of Nevada School of Medicine medical students and residents and coordinates emergency medicine rotations at Renown Medical Center for these students and residents. Mark is a former Outward Bound instructor and professional river guide and is currently an avid whitewater kayaker and backcountry skier. He is AIARE level 1 and level 2 certified.
Jonathan Laine
MD
Jonathan Laine's picture
Jonathan Laine has been an avid backcountry skier since 1987. He was medical director of the Park-Medic program at Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park from 1988-91. He then moved to Lake Tahoe where he has been ever since, and was then on the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue team for 9 years, and served on their Board of Directors. He currently is a Board Member of the Sierra Avalanche Center. Dr. Laine has been Board Certified in Emergency Medicine since 1991, and worked 23 years at the regional Trauma Center, and served as President of the Emergency Medicine group for 12 years, and now is Medical Director of the Emergency Department in Truckee, California. He continues to enjoy backcountry skiing as well as backpacking, nordic skiing, and is the current Northern California/Northern Nevada State champion in road cycling in his age group.

Faculty Disclosure

All faculty reported no relevant financial relationships to disclose.