Scott Fitterman
Outdoor Skills Expert
Education
- BS in Finance, University of Maryland
Professional Achievements
- Co-founder of TrailBound Project, a hiking & backpacking school
- Deputy Chief of New Jersey Search and Rescue
- Lieutenant & EMT for Ringwood Ambulance Corps
Certifications & Organizations
- National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) Initial Actions and Managing the Lost Person Incident (MLPI) Instructor
- NASAR Introduction to SAR, Fundamentals of SAR, & Advanced SAR Instructor
- NASAR SARTech III, II, & I Lead Evaluator
- NASAR Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness Fire Rescue, and Wilderness EMT Instructor
- American Safety and Health Institute CPR, Basic Life Support, Wilderness First Aid, Emergency Medical Responder Instructor
- National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) & New Jersey EMT
- Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Public Safety Diver & Divemaster
- New York State Licensed Hiking/Camping Guide
- Catskill 3500 Club Member# 3981
Favorite Piece of Advice
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Co-authored Articles (15)
How to
Read a Map
If your GPS is on the fritz and you need to know how to get from point A to point B without getting lost, there’s no need to admit defeat by stopping to ask for directions. Just pull out your trusty map! Whether you’...
How to Get Out of Quicksand (It’s Not Like the Movies!)
Plus, learn how dangerous quicksand actually is & where it formsYou're hiking alone in the wilderness, lost in your thoughts, when suddenly you find yourself trapped in quicksand and sinking fast. Certain muddy death? No...
How to
Live in the Woods
Living in the woods, surrounded by nature, is a fantasy of many city dwellers. Running the rat race day after day, dealing with traffic, crime, and pollution -- it's easy to romantically imagine a life more serene. Thro...
How to
Determine True North
Did you know that most compasses don't actually point to the North Pole? It's true! In fact, most compasses point in the direction of ''magnetic north'', a spot in the Arctic that is near to (but not the same as) the Nor...
How to
Measure Distance on a Map
Maps provide you with an accurate picture of a geographic area so you can determine how far it is from one place to another. Maps provide a fractional scale that tells you the ratio between the distance on the map and th...
How to
Make a Camping Toilet
For many people, one of the roughest aspects of camping is going without the comfort and familiarity of a modern toilet. However, if you’re out in the boonies without a toilet in sight, don’t fret; you can easily mak...
How to
Keep Bears Away
If you live, work, or play in bear country, it's important to keep yourself safe. Strongly scented items, such as food or garbage, should be kept away from your campsite, vehicle, and home. However, if you do meet a bear...
How to
Chop Wood
Many people look at the sharpened wedge at the end of a handle and think there's nothing to chopping wood. You simply take your axe in hand, bring it up over your head, and swing, right? Without the right form, you might...
How to
Find Water in the Desert
Deserts are areas that receive less than of precipitation a year. They are hot and dry during the day and cold at night. The most important thing you need in a desert is water. The dry, hot temperatures will dehydrate y...
How to
Survive Animal Attacks
If you frequently spend time in nature—regardless of the type of climate—you may be at risk for animal attack. The strategy you should take to defend yourself from an attacking animal will vary based on the animal yo...
How to
Live in the Wilderness
John Muir once said, "Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity." Does anyone need more of an explanation than ...
How to
Fend off a Mountain Lion
If you ever find yourself in a dangerous encounter with a mountain lion, it's best to be prepared, especially if you live in an area that is home to big cats. This article will give you information on how to protect your...
How to
Fix a Tent Pole
A broken tent pole could cause your hopes for a perfect camping trip to come crashing down around you—literally. Unless you know how to perform a few basic repairs, that is. Whether you’re taping up a pole that’s s...
How to
Build a Natural Shelter in the Jungle
If you’re lost or staying out in the jungle, a shelter is important if you want to stay dry and safe from the elements. Even if you don’t have any tools, you can work with the natural resources around you to make a ...
How to
Track Animals
Tracking animals is the art of interpreting signs like footprints, natural paths and nibbled plants to discover who has recently been foraging, hunting or resting in a certain area. Animal tracking is a useful skill to k...
