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Prepare for your next adventure.
This Wilderness Medicine For Mountain Bikers course covers the essentials of wilderness and emergency medicine, tailored to injuries and scenarios most common in mountain biking. You’ll spend a combined 13 hours on-trail for skills and scenario training, with 4-6 hours of self-paced precourse work issued 4 weeks prior to the course. Practice treating life threats, stabilizing injuries, and evaluating and managing medical and environmental hardships. Ages 14+ (for participants under 18, please see additional requirements below).
SCMTS members receive 10% off with the discount code SCMTS26. Proof of membership required.
“I found the classes to be informative, professional, and well-worth my time! The instructors were knowledgeable and fun, and I learned a lot of valuable skills that I will carry for the rest of my life... I can’t recommend BMG enough!”
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• Wilderness First Aid certification, valid for 2 years
• Wilderness First Responder-Refresher for those holding a current WFR Certification or within their grace period, valid for 2 years. Additional e-labs apply. Please reach out if you are unsure of your eligibility for recertification.
• CPR: AED Adult/ Child/ Infant, valid for 2 years.
• CA Epinephrine Auto-Injector Certification, valid for 2 years *Please Note: To formalize your California Epinephrine Certification, you will need to complete the state's application and pay a $15 fee to the state of California post program. For the most updated information on how to apply to the state, please see here.
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• Manage risk through pre-trip planning and preventative techniques: communications, first aid kits, sports nutrition and hydration, rider and equipment checklists, trip itineraries.
• Assess and treat life threatening emergencies: airway management, hemorrhage control, CPR, shock, and stabilization.
• Practice common trauma techniques: wound and fracture management, head injuries, neck and spine injury, blunt trauma, burns, dental and eye trauma.
• Develop important judgment skills for the assessment and evacuation of medical and environmental emergencies in the backcountry: heat and cold emergencies, animal bites and stings, lightning and adverse weather, search and rescue basics, cardiac and respiratory emergencies, diabetes, seizures, anaphylaxis.
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Santa Cruz, California is a beautiful town perfectly situated at the juncture between forested coastal mountains and world-class surf breaks. Perhaps most widely known for its place in the surfing world, Santa Cruz is also home to some of the best mountain biking around. Just north of town, Wilder Ranch State Park is home to miles of trail winding along epic cliffs dropping off into the Pacific, making it the perfect backdrop for this course.
Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship
719 Swift St Unit 7
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
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Day 1: Wilder Ranch State Park: 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Ride: 10-13 miles
Trails: Wilder Ranch Loop to Enchanted Loop to Wilder Ridge Loop
We’ll meet at the Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship (SCMTS) headquarters at 9:00AM for check in, CPR skills lab, and Risk Management Labs. We’ll hop onto our bikes and ride to Wilder Ranch State Park, stopping for skills and scenario practice. Around noon, there is a trailside lunch break before the afternoon, when we will continue on the trails, with intermittent stops for trauma skills and scenario practice. The day wraps up around 4:30PM.
Day 2: Wilder Ranch State Park: 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Ride: 10-13 miles, 800+ feet vertical
Trails: Englesman Loop
We will meet again at the Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship at 9:00AM for another day of skills and scenarios practice. We’ll finish back at the SCMTS at 4:30PM. *Note: The itinerary is fluid and is subject to change for safety and weather/ environmental factors including wind, rain/ snow, Air Quality Index, trail closures, traffic considerations, etc.
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This program is designed to be highly experiential. Thus, students will be expected to be comfortable riding 10+ miles through intermediate terrain, and both ascend and descend 1000 feet. For skills practice you will need to be able to get on and off the ground, squat, and lift the weight of your bike. Equipment must be in good working order, and it is advised to bring a kit to maintain your bike. Consideration should be taken to ensure you are fit enough to embark on these trails. Please contact BMG if there are questions about student fitness requirements.
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All of our programs have a minimum age requirement based on physical intensity and/or the mature nature of the online and in-person content. The minimum age for this program is 14, with anyone under 18 requiring guardian consent. Anyone under 16 years requires guardian consent as well as a chaperone (who must also enroll in the course). We reserve the right to make exceptions to this policy depending on circumstances. If you have any questions, please reach out to info@backcountrymedical.org to see whether an exception is possible.
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This course is held rain or shine and will require clothing suited for the weather. The following is a list of gear you will need to bring with you:
• Mountain bike (hardtails are acceptable, E-bikes acceptable at Wilder Ranch)
• Helmet
• Backpack
• Riding shoes
• Hat (sun hat or warm hat)
• Sunscreen
• Rain jacket
• Warm layers
• Water bottle
• Food for lunch and snacks (lunch is not provided or available during the course)
