Hope yall are all rad... and have hopefully gotten some snow under your skis already this season.
Many of you likely do continuing education for your jobs, and maybe even intermittently do avalanche refreshers formally or informally with your friends, but when was the last time you did a wilderness medical course or refresher course? Arguably, if you identify as a surfer, backpacker, climber, ski mountaineer, or couch potato, you've had a friend get injured or worse. Getting regular updates and practice of hands-on wilderness medicine best practices and training is so important for the health and wellbeing of you and your buddies while you're playing, guiding, filming, and working around the globe. MyDocInTow's education focus is for you to have fun and to make every trip a round trip! So think about signing up for this great course with your buds or come meet new folks!
Who: 13 rad learners (yall) plus a few rad international austere medicine doctors and a chef
What: wilderness medicine course and backcountry lodge trip
When: March 12 mid-afternoon to March 17 11:00 am, 2024. (could catch afternoon flight out of Missoula easily)
Where: at the Downing Mountain lodge - https://downingmtlodge.com/
It is just west and above Hamilton, MT in the beautiful Bitterroot mountains. It's 8 hrs from Seattle, 10 from Bend, 5:40 from Jackson, or fly to Missoula and drive 45 min. It's a cool, easy access spot bordering national forest with some interesting terrain and more interesting the further your legs take you. great kitchen, hang out space, hot tub etc.....
Why: 1- fun. 2- learn some life saving skills for when you're out in the mtns with your buds. 3- meet new folks 4- explore new ski zones
Hosting each of these courses simultaneously as there is much overlap: WFR, WFR-refresher, WLS:MP (for RN, PA, NP, MD, DO previously AWLS) and doing them together will bring cool folks together with different backgrounds!
To be clear: You can take one of either the WFR, WFR-refresher, or WLS:MP at this ski hut course!
Each will be hybrid format - meaning some computer time prior to showing up at the lodge.
Leaving plenty of time for ski touring!
WLS:MP: 8.5 hrs online, 20 in person. (24 CME hours if you want them for extra $)
Again, you can get CME for this! And you can use your CME $$.
description of the courses offered:
https://adventuremed.com/our-courses-wilderness-medicine/
We will do the required scenarios and some scenarios focused/tailored to back-country skiing and mountain medicine specifically, including one evening/night multi-casualty scenario.
We will also discuss some other important topics not in the standard curriculum- psychology related to being personally injured, mental health consequences of managing injury and illness in the backcountry, and of processing death in the mountains. We will also discuss different technologies available to help with prolonged field care.
There will be plenty of time for skiing too. The area has fun terrain- on many aspects so should be great even if avy risk is high. After sign up- I will provide a gpx file of the area so you can load into OnX Backcountry, Gaia, etc.
I do want folks coming on this to come with a partner, have touring experience, and have completed an Avy 1 rec or pro or an AST 1 course prior.
This is not a guided backcountry ski trip. This is not an avalanche course.
3 rockstar medical faculty
Jacob Van Dijk- Netherlands based emergency med doc that has done much expedition, tac-med, and dive/marine medicine trips and education. DiMM in Nepal. DiDDM. FAWM.
Anna Wallace- UK/Tanzania based emergency med doc that knows no austere environment that doesn't put a smile on her face and has also practiced medicine and taught courses on several continents. DiMM in Nepal.
Christian Dean- Missoula/Jackson based family med doc specializing in expedition and sports medicine outside of day job as a hospitalist. He has also taught wilderness medicine courses around the world. DiMM in Nepal. FAWM.
A couple cool talks by some guests too!
cost of course, lodging, great food, good memories:
WFR: $1550
WFR refresher: $1200
WLS:MP: do you call yourself doctor: $1650, non doc- $1495, resident/med student $1295
(if you want CME it's $42 additional). This will also count towards WMS FAWM credits....
Sample Day:
7am- wake, coffee, yoga, journal, stretch
8 am- breakfast
8:30- lecture
930- 3/4 in boots ready to go enjoy the ski day
lunch on tour with lecture (depending upon group ski dynamics)
scenario (2 days will be without lecture during the day so you can relax or ski all day!)
5 relax w/ fun lectures/ hor d'oeuvres
6 dinner
7 story time/ fun 'lecture' then play card games, sit around the fire, hot tub, sauna, star gaze, read, play the piano...party/award ceremony on last night
Other random thoughts:
-course will be taught in english
-There is wifi/cell service in the lodge to check the latest avalanche and weather forecasts.
-Unable to provide single room accommodations. Sleeping is on mattresses- some in a large loft, some in rooms. Bring a sleeping bag/pillow!
-Proof of medical evacuation insurance necessary- examples- world nomads, global rescue, allianz, seven corners, asc360, img.
-Will have a keg of local beer and some 'Best Day Brewing' NA beer for evening lecture time/dinners.
-Lunch will be pb&j and cold-cuts etc put out on table every morning- bring your own beeswax sandwich wrap or tupper ware etc.
-Participants will need to bring own medical kit that they normally bring on ski tours and be ready for a practical scenario at any time during the course.
-The itinerary is fluid and is subject to change for safety and weather/environmental factors including wind, rain, snow, avalanche conditions, air quality index, trail closures, traffic considerations, etc.
-Consider bringing a pair of radios/walkie talkies for communication.
-Upon registration, please notify us of food restrictions/allergies.
-Smoking/vaping will not be allowed in the building or on the property (per our lease) and strongly discouraged on USFS land.
-Gratuities for course faculty not necessary, but if you end up being satisfied with the meals, 10-20% gratuities for the chef/lodge wizard customary.
-Unfortunately can not offer different dates or a shortened itinerary.
-Online course work to be completed prior to arriving at the backcountry lodge.
**Some cool outdoor gear as prizes for different awards during the course**
We are really looking forward to teaching this course and hosting a fun 6 day/5 night learning environment!
Thank you for reading this far and for your interest and consideration!
Feel free to pass this on to other folks that may be interested.
Reach out if you have questions or want to book. The booking website will be active soon!
Have a relaxing Sunday eve and awesome start to the week!
Sincerely,
Christian, Anna, Jacob
https://adventuremed.com/course/wlsmp-downing-mountain-lodge/