If you are interested in participating in an outdoor trip with us, participants must complete a Health Intake form and a Release From Liability form.
Participants must complete a health form which we review and keep in a locked cabinet for the duration of your time affiliated with WNMU. The health form allows us to collect information that may be important in the unlikely event of an emergency in the field. Participants will be asked to update their health forms each year to reflect important changes.
Participants must also complete a release from liability form for every trip. Forms are found here:
That’s okay! Unless noted, you don’t need experience to participate in trips, but you do need to have a sense of adventure! Many trips are geared toward beginners who have little to no experience in the outdoors.
You can rent most of your outdoor gear needs from The Outpost, WNMU’s gear rental facility located in Bernard Hall (the tiny building with a mural on it, located on the hill to the east of the Student Memorial Building.) Students borrow gear at no cost (thanks ASWNMU!) Please be sure to rent the gear you need on-line, then take your receipt to The Outpost . Our staff will get you hooked up with the right gear.
*Note: We rent gear to anyone. If you are not a WNMU student, we charge a nominal fee to cover wear and tear of our gear.
Ultimately, the clothing you wear depends on the kind of activity you do, but in general you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on high tech gear*. You’ll be more comfortable using what you have if you follow these basics:
- Always bring a hat and gloves. Even in the summer. After a rain, it can get cold and even the cheap $1 gloves you can get at a dollar store can make a big difference.
- Bring extra socks. Wool, wool blend. If cotton is all you have, note that cotton tends to cause blisters as your feet sweat and rub against your feet and shoes. We recommend ankle length wool or wool blend socks.
- Always wear sturdy shoes or boots. The Gila is rough and your feet will take a beating carrying you and all your gear. If you can afford to purchase a pair of sturdy hiking boots, we strongly recommend that you do so, and that you break them in before the trip. The Outpost has hiking boots that students can borrow, but they won’t fit you quite as well as your own. Sandals are not permitted as primary foot wear on our trips and we don’t recommend them for personal hiking trips. Your feet are your primary transportation and you want to ensure they can get you where you need to go.
- If possible, don’t wear cotton clothes. Cotton takes a long time to dry and you lose a lot of body heat if you get wet wearing cotton. Wear a quick-drying blend that whisks moisture out (e.g. fleece, silk, wool, polyester, and others). Check out local thrift stores. There are a lot of outdoor enthusiasts in our region and it’s not too difficult to find used outdoor gear at reasonable prices.
Unless otherwise noted, trip fees cover food, technical gear (e.g. helmet, ropes, packs), trip leadership (guide fees), required park entrance fees, campground fees, and/or user fees, liability insurance, and transportation.
It’s a good idea. Some places only accept cash for and we recommend having at least $20.00 in cash for items you might want to buy while we are traveling to a recreation area, or while we are there. We also recommend carrying a debit or credit card for any impulse items you may want. Depending on where we go, you may be able to purchase T-shirts or souvenirs, and, on long distance trips, we generally stop for group meals which are not covered by the trip registration fee.
Silver City and the Gila National Forest are located in a semi-arid region, so it’s typically fairly warm and dry. However, if you’re going on a trip between July and September, be prepared for heavy monsoon rains and hail. Between October and April, snow is possible and night temperatures can drop below freezing. May is a great month to do stuff outside, and June tends to be extremely hot and dry.
Keep in mind that although wind, rain and snow can make life outdoors challenging, proper clothing will help to keep you comfortable.
Of course it’s possible that you’ll encounter wild critters while out hiking – after all, the wilderness is their home! However, it is extremely unlikely that the encounter will be negative as long as you follow some basic guidelines. Keep in mind that most humans are big, loud, clumsy, and we stink. Wild animals generally do their best to avoid people.
If you’re still in doubt, hopefully this information will ease some of your fears:
Snakes: While on a trip, you may encounter a rattlesnake. The rule of thumb is to leave all snakes alone. If you encounter a snake in your path, slowly back away from it and give it a wide berth; don’t try to use a stick to move the snake. Snakes do not attack humans unless they are provoked. In fact, you have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than you do being struck by a snake.
Bugs: There are thousands of different bugs, or invertebrates, in the Gila including the common things like butterflies, bees, scorpions, spiders, mosquitoes, and ants. If you want bugs to leave you alone, avoid wearing perfume, sprays, scented soaps, deodorants, and lotions. Insects often find synthetic fragrances hard to resist!
Bats: Since bats make up about 1/5 of the total mammal diversity in the Gila region, if you’re out at night during warmer months, you’re probably going to see them. These crepuscular volants (flying mammals associated with twilight and dawn) consume tons of insects each night, and many are pollinators (if you like tequila- thank a bat). And to debunk some of the more popular bat myths, bats have excellent eyesight, they won’t fly into your hair, and they won’t bite you or turn you into a vampire .
Bears: If you’re lucky, you might be fortunate enough to see a black bear (Ursus americanus amblyceps). Observe these critters from a safe distance. Black bears, like their grizzly relatives, can be aggressive, particularly if they feel threatened or have cubs. Adult bears will charge if they believe you are trying to steal their food, and mother bears are known to attack if they feel you are a threat to their cubs. If you see a black bear, do not make direct eye contact slowly back away to a safe spot. Don’t run. Give the bear (or bears) plenty of room.
Black bear attacks are rare, particularly if you are traveling in a group, but attacks can happen. In the extremely unlikely event you are attacked, play dead.
Also keep in mind that bears may enter your camp if they smell food, so keep a clean camp. It’s best to not keep treats tucked under your pillow for a convenient late night snack. Hang your food from a tree.
Mountain lions: If you’re really, really, really lucky, you’ll see a mountain lion (Felis concolor browni). These big carnivores are elusive and rarely seen, especially when you are traveling in a group of people. However, in the extremely unlikely scenario that you stumble upon a big cat, don’t make direct eye contact and absolutely do not run; slowly back away. Make yourself look big by waving your arms and throwing rocks. If attacked, fight back. Keep in mind that you have a greater chance of being bitten by a venomous snake or being struck by lightning than you do being attacked by one of a big cat, especially if you are traveling or camping with a group of people.
Wolves: The Mexican Grey wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) was reintroduced to its historic range of New Mexico and Arizona in 1998. As of 2017, about 113 individuals reportedly roamed the 4.4 million combined acres of the Gila and Apache National Forests in New Mexico and Arizona. If you see or hear a wolf, consider yourself extremely lucky. There have been no credible reports of wild wolf-human attacks in the Gila National Forest, or for that matter, in any of the lower 48 states of the US during the 20th century (for more information, see Linnell, et al. 2002 PDF).
On many of our trips, we will be near water so it’s possible to get cleaned up at the end of a long, hot day. If you are out on your own, be sure to follow leave no trace principles for bathing. Do not bathe in a river or stream and keep all soap, lotions, sunscreen and insecticides out of all water sources.
Ultimately, it depends upon what we are doing. For each of our academic courses and co-curricular trips, we follow the the guidelines set forth by the Association for Experiential Education in the Manual of Accreditation Standards for Adventure Programs. We require certification and licensure of our instructors in compliance with experiential/adventure education standards.
Yes. The WNMU Outdoor Program is operating under a Special Use Permit with the USDA Forest Service in the Gila National Forest. The permit requires that all members of our guide staff hold current CPR and basic first-aid training. The WNMU Outdoor Program follows industry standards, requiring instructors and trip leaders to maintain current Wilderness First Aid and/or Wilderness First Responder as well as epinephrine injection, AED, and CPR certifications.
In general, cell phones do not work outside of Silver City. Neighboring towns of Gila Hot Springs, Gila, Cliff, Buckhorn, Mimbres, and Faywood have limited to no cell phone reception. We have learned that some people are very uncomfortable without cell service.
When we travel with groups in the Gila, we carry an InReach 2-way communication device which we use for emergency communication.
If you are recreating on your own, keep in mind that the Gila region, including our front-country areas (e.g. Bayard, Pinos Altos) are remote. It takes a long time for an ambulance to reach rural homes, and an even longer time for Search and Rescue teams or first responders to reach you in the field. Cell phones are not a substitute for sound decision making.