Wilderness medicine (WM) encompasses patient care in remote and potentially dangerous environments. Increased participation in wilderness recreational activities and environmental research, coupled with the dangers faced by wildland fire fighters and law enforcement personnel, has led to a continual rise in the number of backcountry medical emergencies. Many of these emergencies, such as musculoskeletal trauma and environmental illness, overlap with the skill set of sports medicine practitioners. Some other key factors in WM however may include the need for prolonged patient care on-scene as well as the performance of technically and emotionally challenging patient evacuations that are very different from traditional medical approaches and require specialized training and a unique mind-set. This chapter will provide an overview of the field of wilderness medicine and will discuss the nuances and challenges of providing patient care in wilderness environments.