How BMG Came to Be
From humble, grassroots beginnings to supporting multiple programs and operations throughout the West Coast, Backcountry Medical Guides has remained dedicated to delivering accessible, high quality medical training for remote environments to the individuals and communities that we serve.
Backcountry Medical Guides began in 2010 from the cabin of a small boat in the Santa Cruz Harbor. Founder and paramedic John Taussig used ‘Breezy’ for the long commute from Santa Cruz, CA, across the Monterey Bay to host some of the first programs in the Monterey area. Along with family and a handful of paramedic friends, John developed and taught the first WFA and WFR classes between his full-time job as a flight medic in Big Sur.
S/V Breezy, the original office, on-site for a Wilderness First Aid class in Monterey, CA.
Lucia at anchor off of Sucia Island, WA
Between 2012 and 2013, programs began to incorporate backpacking trips, mountain bike tours, and inter-island sailboat trips, as the ‘classroom’ began to leave the confines of the classroom. This laid down the ethos and approach that serves as the backbone of the company today: to couple sport-specific wilderness and remote medical training with deeply experiential curriculums and itineraries.
In 2014 and 2015 BMG became a certified CA EMS Continuing Education Provider, a Certified Monterey Bay Green Business, and incorporated advanced level training (AWLS) for physicians, nurses, and other advanced practitioners to bring their practice into the backcountry. 2014 was also the year that Breezy was sold and Lucia, the new program boat and office, was purchased.
From 2015-2017, BMG grew organically within central California, adding multiple program sites and partners in Big Sur, Santa Cruz, Lake Tahoe, and the Bay Area. Programs also ventured internationally to include Belize, St. Maarten, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, and Alaska. During this time, BMG created a physician-led Medical Advisory Board and formed a Board of Directors, formalizing the business structure as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2017.
Backpacking through the coastal redwoods in Big Sur, California.
Dr. Mike Wallace, out-of-bounds in the Mount Baker backcountry.
From 2018-2020, BMG expanded its sport-specific education options to include trail running and ski/snowboard models. In addition, BMG expanded its maritime medicine operation, eventually forming a new division, Maritime Medical Guides.
With the 2020 and 2021 pandemic shutdowns, BMG had the opportunity to focus inward and develop a new online learning platform and programming, including an extensive library of web-based video lessons.
Throughout the growth that the past decade has brought, Backcountry Medical Guides has stayed true to its humble beginnings aboard ‘Breezy’ and remains dedicated to providing community-oriented, sport-specific medical training to prepare their students for a lifetime of adventure in the great outdoors.
