Blackfoot River Recreation Plan Meeting: 6 pm Nov. 5th Holiday Inn Parkside

There will be a meeting on November 5th concerning the purposed Blackfoot River permit system. The Blackfoot, which is near and dear to many of our hearts, has seen recreational use grow exponentially in the past few years. Please read the purposed plan (http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/management/river/blackfootPlan.html) and come to the meeting at the Holiday Inn Parkside in Missoula at 6 pm on November 5th. Now is the time for public comment. Don't miss your opportunity to provide input for the future management of this tremendous resource!

Higgins and Langley Award

WRI is pleased to announce that Cody has been elected to the Higgins and Langley Memorial Award Board of Directors. Cody said, "It is an honor and a privilege to be involved with this organization. I look forward to contributing what I can to further their mission."

The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue honor outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue. They are not heroism awards, but rather recognize preparedness, teamwork, and a job well done, sometimes under extreme conditions, where training is vital to the success of rescue missions, as well as the safety of rescue personnel.

The 2009 award was given to the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department, who responded to a water main break on River Road in Bethesda, Maryland. To view video of this amazing rescue, click here. To read more about the river road rescue, click here.

The 2010 call for nominations will be coming out soon. Read more about the nomination process here.

Hands-on Education: An Interview with Dave McEvoy

Dave McEvoy, Director of Aerie Backcountry Medicine was kind enough to sit down and chat with us last spring. Below is a portion of this interview. Aerie provides high-quality wilderness medicine courses nationally and internationally. We, at WRI, are honored to be partners with Aerie and are looking forward to the Wilderness and Travel Medicine semester. It is always a learning experience working with such a great organization. For more info on the semester program, visit www.aeriemed.com. To view the full text of Dave's interview, click here.

Wilderness Medicine Semester in Costa Rica: Sign-up Today!

WRI and Aerie Backcountry Medicine are teaming up once again to offer the most comprehensive wilderness education program available. Join us for a semester in Wilderness and Travel Medicine! You will receive 15 University of Montana credits and travel to Costa Rica and the Swan Valley in Montana. This course will begin February 1st and continue until April 4th, 2010. While living at an organic farm in Costa Rica and a stunning homestead in Montana, students will earn certifications in:

· Wilderness EMT
· Swiftwater Rescue Technician
· Level 1 Avalanche
· Leave No Trace Trainer

Among other learning opportunities, the students will organize and run a free rural health clinic in Costa Rica and float the Pacuare River. Aerie alumni receive a $250 discount.

BNSF Swiftwater Rescue Course: Guernsey, Wyoming

On Wednesday, October 7th, WRI traveled to Guernsey, WY to work with Burlington Northern and its sub-contractors. This team, responsible for containment and recovery of derailed trains, is setting the standard for swiftwater awareness. With warm temperatures and enthusiastic participants, we were able to operate their 14' Jet Boat, deploy boom and practice rescue skills. Thanks to BNSF and Kennedy-Jenks Consultants for a great course!