Semester
Montana and India
Aug 31, 2026 - Nov 8, 2026
Course Details:
Aerie Backcountry Medicine’s Fall Semester Program provides unparalleled opportunities to learn and practice wilderness medicine and rescue skills in Montana and India all while earning 15 upper division credits through the University of Montana.
Our Fall Semester begins at the beautiful
Jack Creek Preserve located near Big Sky where students live, study, and certify as Emergency Medical Technicians. You’ll be studying and working hard during this section to prepare for the Psychomotor and Cognitive Exam. Partway through this section, we will take a long weekend and travel to the
Buffalo Field Campaign located in West Yellowstone to enjoy several days of camping, hiking, and work on Land Navigation components needed for your travel through the Himalaya the following month. Our time in Big Sky Country will be nearing completion as you pass your final exams and progress to the next phase of this exciting Fall Term.
Students then head back to Missoula to complete line qualification for Wildland Fire Operations with
Aerie's professional wildlands firefighting instructors. You will examine the structure of command and develop skills needed to be operationally ready as a care provider on the fire line. Swing a tool, deploy a shelter, and pass the arduous pack test. Remember you’ll be carrying a big pack at high elevation in the weeks to come so think of this as part of your ongoing physical training.
Our Montana section ends on a high note with the
Whitewater Rescue Institute in Alberton where students engage in high angle ropes rescue training. You will learn the fundamentals of rescue rigging and be capable of accessing terrain that only the most skilled practitioners can. Build anchors, belay rescuers, and use mechanical advantage. During this section you will gain endorsement as a UTV driver, this skill is paramount for care providers on a Rapid Extraction Module Support Team (REMS) during fire line operations.
Take a week to visit family and friends, pass your NREMT cognitive exam, and pack for a month in the Himalaya.
Students and instructors travel to the
Hanifl Centre located in the Indian Himalaya to trek high in the mountains while focusing on outdoor leadership. This leg of the journey will put all of your new found skills to the test as we travel high in the mountains for 12 days. You will pack in your own food, fuel, and gear to sustain this trek. You will be working towards a Wilderness EMT certification while becoming a Leave No Trace Trainer all while leading your cohort through the rugged terrain of the greatest mountain range on earth.
Return from the high mountains to complete the program while working alongside Indian doctors, nurses, and paramedics in the hospital setting. We will travel to remote villages or busy hospitals to learn in the clinical setting.
If you are ready to set out on the semester of a lifetime, then please contact David Kerner - Semesters Program Coordinator at david@aeriemed.com or call our office at (406)542-9972.
