Session I: Experimental Archaeology, Survival Skills and Wilderness First Responder

Dates: June 1 - June 27, 2024

Fee: Session I: $5,500 USD (Combined Course)

Session Ia: $3,000 USD (Experimental Archaeology and Survival Course Only)

Session Ib: $2900 USD (Wilderness First Responder only)

APPLICATION

Just 4 spots left! Applications accepted on a rolling basis until April 1st.

Course Description:

Join us for an exciting 4-week adventure in the captivating Khan Khentii Mountains, just a short two-hour drive from Ulaanbaatar. Our unique class, in collaboration with SEEK Adventure Travels, offers a blend of survival skills, experimental archaeology, and wilderness medicine, providing a chance to practice valuable ancient crafts and immerse yourself in the region's history and contemporary culture. Dr. Julia Clark, an expert in the region’s archaeology, will guide you through a tour of the archaeology in the area. Students will identify experimental archaeology projects (individually or in groups) that have the potential to inform some of the most interesting archaeological research questions in Mongolia today, sparking their curiosity and creativity. Projects may include topics such as stone and bone tool making, pottery making, cooking residues, network analysis of travel corridors using different transportation technologies, and many other possibilities.  

In tandem with the experimental archaeology section, the survival skills component adds an extra layer of excitement. With experienced survival skills instructors Trenton Harper, you'll delve into the skills of fire-making, shelter building, and foraging, all while considering the archaeological, historic, cultural, and ecological contexts. Together with Ryan Kertanis, co-founder and a guide of SEEK Travels and Erdenebaatar Bataa, our local horse guide, instructor Trenton Harper will lead sessions on traditional survival skills that were passed down for generations including rope and cordage weaving and horsemanship skills. As you practice these vital techniques, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for how past peoples likely survived in this beautifully wild environment. These skills will serve you for a lifetime of outdoor recreation, field careers, or wilderness rescues.

Finally, you will complete a wilderness medicine course, recommended for all who love to spend time in remote and wild places. The wilderness first responder (WFR) course is designed for outdoor professionals and outdoor enthusiasts, preparing them to care for injuries and illness in remote, challenging environments. The course is fast paced, challenging, hands-on and fun. The course will be taught by Aerie instructor Trenton Harper, a long-time instructor for Aerie Backcountry Medicine, flight paramedic, Yellowstone park ranger paramedic and survival skills expert. The WFR course will address injury and illness prevention/ care in the backcountry, patient assessment, long-term patient management, improvised splint and litter construction, and environmental emergencies while stressing the thought processes unique to caring for patients in remote environments. Students also receive adult CPR certification.

As you embark on this adventure, rest assured that your safety and comfort are our top priorities. The journey into the Khan Khentii Mountains will be fully supported with knowledgeable guides, professors, and a skilled cook to keep you well-fed. This course will be a mix of camping at a base camp and short expeditions on horseback. Whether at the base camp or traveling on horseback, you'll sleep in comfortable tents and alongside your trusty horses, forming a unique connection with the natural world around you. The breathtaking landscapes of the Khan Khentii Mountains will serve as your classroom, making this journey both challenging and profoundly rewarding. Don't miss this chance to learn, practice, and connect with the past while exploring the enchanting Mongolian outdoors in a welcoming yet wild setting.

A typical day on our adventurous trip in the Khan Khentii Mountains offers a fluid schedule that adapts to the surrounding environment and its unique opportunities. Mornings begin with a hearty breakfast, fueling you for the exciting day ahead. After breakfast, we delve into a variety of skill-building activities, lectures,  and individual and group projects. We also consider the weather and environmental factors, allowing us to make the most of our location, whether it's examining potential archaeological sites, foraging, or delving into other traditional skills.

Lunchtime provides a well-deserved break, as we gather around the campfire or in our group cook tent to enjoy a satisfying meal. The afternoon offers flexibility: you may have the chance to further refine your morning skills, learn new ones, or prepare for the next stage of our journey. Depending on our location and plans, we may even decide to pack up and move camp to explore new archaeological sites or immerse ourselves in a different part of the wilderness.

Throughout our adventure, we'll be living in comfortable tents, complete with ground pads and sleeping bags for a good night's rest. Tents and pads are provided, students are kindly asked to bring their own sleeping bags. Our group cook tent and classroom tent serve as valuable communal spaces, ensuring that we can carry on with our lessons even in adverse weather conditions. Students will be expected to participate in basic camp chores, such as collecting firewood, purifying water, and other essential tasks that help us maintain a sustainable and thriving camp. Modern comforts are nonexistent in this area, that means no cell service, no modern bathrooms and no running water. We will have satellite communication for emergencies. This dynamic and hands-on approach to daily life guarantees that you'll gain practical skills and a deeper connection with the ancient past and the rugged landscape surrounding us. 

If you have questions or concerns about the course, please contact us for more information!