True North • Outdoor Skills Training

08/31/2026

It's not the coin that matters. It's what it represents.

We received it as a thank you from a Sailor with whom we've had the privilege of working with in land navigation.

It's a reminder of the trust our clients place in True North and the high standard we work hard to uphold every day.

Whether we're working with members of the SOF community preparing for extremely demanding challenges, or someone looking to become more capable and confident outdoors – to go solo backpacking, lead a group, or spend time camping with their kids – our commitment is exactly the same: provide exceptional training grounded in knowledge, experience, and skills that work when they matter.

Because we don't believe expertise should be reserved for just a few. Everyone who ventures outdoors deserves access to the same high standard of training.

That's our mission at True North.

To learn about our Survival, Wilderness Medicine, and Land Navigation Programs, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/

Please note that the group name has been obscured in the photograph out of respect for our client's privacy.

08/27/2026

You asked. We listened.

Over the past month, we've received several requests to add another Wilderness Survival 101 class to our Autumn schedule — so we did.

📅 Saturday, October 3

WS101 is our one-day introduction to the fundamental skills, gear, and knowledge that can help keep you safe, comfortable, and confident should your plans go sideways.

Whether you're a hiker, backpacker, hunter, paddler, or simply someone who spends time outside, this course is designed to give you a practical foundation in wilderness survival — with plenty of hands-on training along the way.

If you've been waiting for another opportunity to join us this year, this is it.

🌲 Harrison Hills County Park
📅 October 3
⏱️ 9:00 - 4:00

For information and to register, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/wilderness-survival/wilderness-survival-101

08/25/2026

Four days. Two courses. One goal: Prepare to Prevail.

Last week, True North conducted back-to-back Baseline Military Land Navigation (BMLN) and Advanced Military Land Navigation (AMLN) courses for current and former members of the Navy preparing for upcoming Army Special Forces and SMU assessments.

Thursday and Friday focused on building and refining the fundamentals — map reading, terrain association, route planning, compass work, and disciplined navigation procedures.

Saturday and Sunday pushed those skills further — longer movements, more demanding terrain, reduced visibility, and the decision-making required when navigation becomes less straightforward.

Graham, Terry, and Erik want to thank this crew for all of their hard work and effort.

If you're preparing for an assessment where land navigation matters, check out our Mil-Nav Program:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/mil-nav-program

08/24/2026

Would you like to give this wonderful guy a home? 🐾

While teaching in Fayette County last Friday, the True North crew came across this pup wandering alone along a very isolated road early in the morning. Given where he was found and the circumstances, it unfortunately appears that he was abandoned.

He is an incredibly sweet and friendly boy who could really use a loving home — and a fresh start.

He is now safe and being cared for by a local agency, but we'd love to help find him the family he deserves.

If you — or someone you know — might be interested in adopting him, please contact Erik, and he’ll gladly put you in touch with the agency currently caring for him:

📧 [email protected]
📞 412.913.6000

And even if you can't adopt him, please consider sharing this post. The right person may simply need to see it. ❤️

07/29/2026

A Montana hiker recently slipped and impaled himself with a trekking pole, yet still managed to hike nearly 10 miles back to the trailhead — with the pole left in place.

Fortunately, we cover Impalements in our Wilderness First Aid classes at True North... although this particular scenario is definitely a new one for us.

If you'd like to learn what to do when things go sideways in the outdoors — including managing severe bleeding, fractures, hypothermia, and more — join us for our upcoming Wilderness First Aid course this November.

Because some lessons are better learned in class than on the side of a mountain.

Explore with Confidence.

For information, and to register, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/wilderness-medicine/wilderness-first-aid

An emergency room nurse survived a freak hiking accident by doing something few people could imagine — hiking 10 miles back to safety with a trekking pole impaled completely through his torso.

07/24/2026

Heavy load. Steep terrain. Dense vegetation. Pouring rain. Thunder. Lightning.

The technical gap between competent land navigation and exceptional isn't as large as most people imagine. The process is exactly the same. The difference is found in judgment, discipline, and the commitment to continue when you're soaked, tired, cold, uncomfortable, and every part of you would rather stop.

Earlier this week we conducted another Tier One Navigation Development (TONDEV) for members of the SOF community preparing for the “Long Walk” in West Virginia. This video clip may seem unremarkable but it offers a glimpse of what they faced – conditions that would stop most, but not them.

That made their training even more valuable.

Prepare to Prevail.

To learn about our TONDEV course, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/mil-nav-program/tier-one-navigation-development

07/21/2026

This weekend, True North had the pleasure of working with a terrific group of clients who traveled from as far away as Maryland, Virginia, and Wisconsin for land navigation training.

A sincere thank you to Angela, Rebecca, Sean, Riley, and Adam for their hard work and determination as they spent Sunday navigating through the woods.

One of the things I especially enjoy about our classes is the diversity of goals people bring. This group was refining their land navigation skills not only for general outdoor recreation, but also to become more capable during ultraruns, Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, and in preparation for Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS). Different objectives, but the same essential skill set.

If you'd like to develop the confidence to travel off trail, navigate accurately, and explore the outdoors with greater independence, check out our Land Navigation Program.

Explore with Confidence.

https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/land-navigation

07/17/2026

Think your week was tough?

I just spent two days with a member of the Navy special operations community who is preparing for the land navigation phase of an Army SMU assessment and selection.

Each day started before dawn, ended at sunset, and covered roughly 25 miles under a 51-pound ruck—not including water.

They were long, demanding training days. But what ultimately determines success isn't just fitness. It's the ability to think clearly, make sound decisions, and navigate accurately while physically exhausted.

Helping dedicated professionals prepare for challenges like this is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do at True North.

Prepare to Prevail.

If you're currently serving—or in an enlistment pipeline—and preparing for the land navigation phase of an upcoming assessment, take a look at our Mil-Nav Program. And if you're preparing for a long walk, check out our SOF-OD and TONDEV courses.

https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/mil-nav-program

07/14/2026

I was really saddened yesterday to learn that Randolph Mantooth, one of the stars of Emergency!, passed away this week.

Like many people of my generation, I loved watching Emergency! as a kid. But the show—and Adam-12—became much more than entertainment. Together, they helped inspire the career path I eventually chose, one centered on service to others through law enforcement, EMS, and, ultimately, teaching.

What impressed me even more was the person Mantooth appeared to be off screen. Over the years, he devoted countless hours to supporting the EMS community, attending conferences, meeting first responders, and helping promote a profession that was still in its infancy when Emergency! first aired. By all accounts, he never forgot the impact the show had on so many lives.

One of the things that always makes me smile is thinking about some of the toughest, most seasoned medics I've known. Mention Randolph Mantooth, and suddenly they're pulling out their phones to proudly show a selfie they took with him at an EMS conference. For a moment, they look like excited teenagers meeting their favorite celebrity. It says a lot—not just about the show, but about the genuine affection and respect people had for the man himself.

Rest in peace, Randolph Mantooth. Thank you for the inspiration, and for everything you did for the EMS profession long after the cameras stopped rolling.

Mantooth played firefighter and paramedic John Gage on the NBC show that aired from 1972 to 1977.

07/05/2026

After several weeks behind the scenes planning courses and preparing for the Summer ahead, it's finally time for Terry and me to get back into the field.

July is shaping up to be one of our busiest land navigation months in quite some time. Over the next several weeks, True North will be conducting:

🧭 Basic Land Navigation
🧭 Advanced Land Navigation
🧭 Advanced Military Land Navigation
🧭 SOF Overland Development (twice)
🧭 Tier One Navigation Development (twice)

One of the things we enjoy most about teaching land navigation is the opportunity to work with such a diverse group of clients — from special operations personnel preparing for Special Mission Unit (SMU) assessments to hikers, hunters, search-and-rescue volunteers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who simply want to become more capable and confident in the outdoors.

Although their goals may be very different, the fundamentals remain the same. Accurate navigation, sound judgment, and confidence in the field are skills that benefit everyone.

We look forward to seeing everyone in the woods over the coming weeks.

Prepare to Prevail | Explore with Confidence

To learn about our Land Navigation & Mil-Nav Programs, visit:
www.ExploreTrueNorth.com