Yellowstone National Park’s wild eastern neighbor is Wyoming’s Absaroka (Ab-sor-ka) Range, a vast wilderness region with some of the most remote territory in the Lower 48.

You’ll travel through broad river valleys surrounded by sheer glacier-carved cliffs, camp under towering conifers, and hike across alpine plateaus where the tallest plants are only a few inches high.

You’ll fly fish for large cutthroat trout, effectively ford high mountain rivers, practice GPS and compass navigation, and learn how to camp and travel in bear country. Along with grizzlies, other fauna you’re likely to see are eagles, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, black bears, coyote and recently re-introduced gray wolves.

For students craving remote, rugged land filled with wildlife, this is your course; you’ll see more wildlife here than almost anywhere else NOLS operates. And you won’t just study out here; in the Absarokas, you’ll live the lessons you need to skillfully travel in the mountains long after your course ends.

Absaroka Backpacking Features world-famous Orvis™ fly fishing curriculum and gear. Duration: 30 days Age: 16 and over (Average age 19) Tuition: 2008: $3,575 2009: $3,765 Dates: 2008 July 17-Aug. 15, 2008 2009 June 1-June 30, 2009 June 8-July 7, 2009 July 13-August 11, 2009 July 20-August 18, 2009 College Credit: (Optional) 6 Semester Credit Hours 2 Hours Environmental Ethics 2 Hours Leadership Techniques 2 Hours Skills Practicum Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming Equipment Deposit: $350 Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming Downloads: Requires Acrobat Reader to open Course Description (pdf) Equipment List (pdf)

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