Tim & Lena Conlan founded Crossing Latitudes in 1995. Over the years we have promoted responsible enjoyment of outdoor pursuits all over the world while instilling an appreciation of different cultures and lifestyles. Our trips have always been an outdoor and a cultural experience wrapped into one.
We have been camping for a living for a very long time. Tim since he took his NOLS instructors course 1978 and Lena her NOLS instuctor course in 1986. We have done some fantastic paddling and hiking around the world but now it is time for a new chapter. Today Crossing Latitudes hosts NOLS Wilderness Medicine courses in both the US, Scandinavia and Europe. Lena who is an WEMT teach many of these courses and Tim enjoys winter skiing in Montana and wood work in the summer.
If you would like some one to guide you in Scandinavia please contact us – we will gladly connect you with Adventure companies in Scandinavia with extensive educational backgrounds and expedition experience.
Crossing Latitudes is an affiliate of NOLS Wilderness Medicine, a member of ATTA – The Adventure Travel Trade Association, a member of WMS - Wilderness Medical Society and a member of Swedish Nature and Ecotourism Society.
Lena Conlan, Co-Owner and Co-Founder
Lena is from Sweden. She has been active in outdoor related activities since childhood. Her family operated Camp Sparreviken – a YMCA sailing and canoeing camp on the Swedish west coast.
Lena has a teaching degree from the University of Umeå. Her love of travel and adventure drew her to the U.S. 1985 – where she ended up teaching for NOLS (the National Outdoor Leadership School). After years of travel covering four different countries as co-ordinator of NOLS sea kayaking program, it seemed only natural to return to Scandinavia and start her own adventure business. Lena is the master planner behind the wide variety of activities and outdoor education Crossing Latitudes has offered the last 20 years.
Now a days Crossing Latitudes and Lena is sponsoring / hosting NOLS Wilderness Medicine Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses all over the world. Lena is a Wilderness EMT and part of the Bozeman Search & Rescue team. Lena has been teaching for NOLS Wilderness Medicine since year 2000.
Even though Crossing Latitudes doesn’t offer trips any more Lena is not done with guiding. She works with other companies around the world and is more than happy to plan a trip for you. info@crossinglatitudes.com
Tim Conlan, Co-Owner and Co-Founder
Tim is from the U.S. He’s lived near the Rocky Mountains most of his life. Tim met Lena in 1986 while teaching sea kayaking expeditions in Baja California, Mexico for NOLS. He had been working for NOLS as an outdoor educator since the late 70’s. During that time he’d taught just about every skill type they offered, from caving and climbing to kayaking and skiing. He developed the NOLS sea kayaking Instructor course and authored their instructor manual.
Tim also helped to create materials and teaching practices for the Federally sponsored conservation program “Leave No Trace”.
After guiding for most of his life Tim is now happy by spending more time in Bozeman. He loves skiing and biking in the mountains. Bridger Bowl Ski Area is his second home. He is also creative in his wood shop. Visit his web site: http://timconlanwoodworks.com
Åsa Hultman Pape
Åsa grew up on a YMCA camp on the west coast of Sweden, along with her sister; Crossing Latitudes founder; Lena Conlan. Åsa has a degree in Physical Education and Swedish Language and worked in Swedish high schools for many years. When not out back country skiing Åsa can be seen working as a Landscaper in and around Bozeman, Montana. Åsa has worked with Tim and Lena since they started Crossing Latitudes in 1996. She has paddled in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska, Honduras, Greece and Mexico. Åsa married Jay Pape in Bozeman in December 2007 and is calling Bozeman, MT her home. Åsa also teaches for NOLS Wilderness Medicine both in Europe and the USA.
Roope Roine
Roope has been teaching and guiding mountain activities in Europe, Himalaya and Greenland for the past 30 years. He’s other passion is to guide and teach sea kayaking – which he’s done in 15 different countries! Finland is his home base but the world is his play-ground. Roope is a NOLS Wilderness Medicine instructor and teaches courses in both English, Swedish and Finnish. Roope has a WEMT certification – Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician. Roope owns and operates his own guiding business Moln. Roope speak fluent Swedish, Finnish and English and good Norwegian and Spanish.
For great trips please visit: https://moln.fi/en/start/
Elias Sjöberg
Elias Sjöberg has taught NOLS Wilderness Medicine courses for several years. Elias lives outside Eksjö in Småland, Sweden – not far from the farm he grew up on. Elias is a ski patroler during the winter where he unfortunately has accumulated lots of first aid experience. He is a graduate of the Älvdalen Utlbildningscenter Outdoor Ed program. Elias have some cool back country experience – like crossing Madagascar by foot – and leading NOLS Expeditions. Elias is a NOLS Expedition instructor, Wilderness EMT, “undersköterska” (assistent nurse) and he is teaching both WFA, WAFA, WFR-R and WFR courses all over the world.
Elias also owns and operates KBK Adventures.
Malin Thomasson
Efter några år av studier (till sjuksköterska) är nu Malin tillbaks och undervisar NOLS Wilderness Medicine kurser igen. Malin bor i Östersund med familj. Hon gillar att rida, åka skidor, njuta av naturen och busa med barnen. Malin har gått Storumans Fjälledarutbildning och trivs nog bäst i ett tält på fjället.
After a few years away from teaching Malin is now back with us again. She has devoted time to nursing studies. Malin lives in Östersund with her husband and two kids. She loves horsebackriding, skiing, just cruising in the woods and playing with her children. Malin went through the Storuman Outdoor Educator Program and enjoys nights in a tent in the mountains best.
Fred Södergran
Fred grew up in the westernmost point of Finland, in the archipelago region by the Gulf of Bothnia. This versatile, four seasons region shaped his appreciation for the natural world and this is where the foundation was laid for my wilderness skills.
“We used firewood to heat our homes and whether it was taking down trees, or chopping wood – spending time outdoors was always a been a big part of my life. Interacting with the natural world is the most rewarding endeavor I have taken on.”
Fred has been working full time as a Outdoor Educator and NOLS Instructor for several years. To teach for NOLS Wilderness Medicine was definitely a step in the right direction.
According to Fred a rewarding and meaningful aspect of the work is the community building, meeting great people, new colleges and empower students. I also enjoy the depth and never ending opportunities to develop my own skills, hone strengths and learn more.
For a full year Fred worked as leader/caretaker at a summer camp for disabled young people. He opted out of mandatory military service and instead chose to do public work.
Currently I am studying Psychology of Crisis at the University of Åbo in Finland. I am studying Psychological Intervention, defusing and debriefing of Rescue-workers and victims, preventing PTSD and dealing with the psychological aspects of severe trauma.
Xuan Ming, Ng
Ming was born and raised in Singapore but has traveled most her life. She now lives in Oslo, Norway. Ming has been working in the Olympic Movement for the past 10 years which has offered her exciting experiences in an international environment that is fast paced and demanding.
Ming’s wilderness medicine experiences began with wilderness adventures with friends and colleagues. She has had the joy of being the ‘group medic’ because of her WFR and later, her WEMT certifications. She have had to apply wilderness medicine skills in the backcountry mostly when she has been on personal expeditions and run into other hikers in distress. Lately Ming has also volunteered and helped injured kids in Africa.
Ming has signed up with the Norwegian Red Cross and hope to work on SAR missions with them. She is also gaining experience by riding along on ambulances in the USA.
Ming writes: “In life as well as in work, I enjoy being curious and being amazed. On personal expeditions, I enjoy getting eye level with lichen, moss and fern, or watching how the light transforms trees with new leaves into flickering torches against the dark rock. This curiosity and wonder are why I have a voracious appetite for learning and experiencing. The delight it brings me is why I am so excited about sharing. It is easy to be grateful in a world so rich and mysterious, especially knowing that life is transient. “
