Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue, Inc. Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue, Inc.
Training

The Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team holds several training sessions every month throughout the autumn, winter, and spring. Training exercises vary from the ubiquitous terrain familiarization to first aid, avalanche safety or backcountry navigation. The Team trainings are designed to be fun and informative and all Team members are encouraged to attend.

Wondering what to bring? Check out a suggested Gear List.

If you provide a training, or otherwise require a reimbursement from TNSAR (for lunch subsidy, equipment purchase, etc), please use this form for reimbursement.

The following were the TNSAR trainings for the 2003 - 2004 season.

OCTOBER 9 (Thu) -- TRUCK FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 6:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Jim Coffey (use current callout list for phone #)

Truck Familiarization

OCTOBER 12 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Powderhorn Creek
  • When: 7:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Steve Twomey (use current callout list for phone #)

Get familiar with this popular lost skier destination. Check out the pictures from the training.

OCTOBER 18 (Sat) -- MAP/COMPASS

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 9:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Derek Wilson (use current callout list for phone #)

overview of map and compass with GPS

OCTOBER 25 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Five Lakes trailhead
  • When: 7:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Karen Honeywell (use current callout list for phone #)

Great terrain--you'll need to know it on a search! Check out the pictures from the training.

NOVEMBER 2 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Mt Rose area
  • When: 7:00am Team Garage; 7:30am Safeway
  • Contact: Jim Reinstra (use current callout list for phone #)

A hike/tour of Mt Rose area.

NOVEMBER 9 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Castle peak Area
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Wild Cherries
  • Contact: Steve Reynaud (use current callout list for phone #)

Destination is the Peter Grubb Hut. We had a search here last year, so knowledge of this area is a plus! Check out the pictures.

NOVEMBER 12 (Wed) -- GPS TRAINING

  • Where: Paige Meadows
  • When: 6:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Bernie Mellor (use current callout list for phone #)

Using GPS to find our way.

NOVEMBER 15 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Donner Summit
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Wild Cherries
  • Contact: Mark Johnson (use current callout list for phone #)

Hike/tour toward the Benson Hut

NOVEMBER 22 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Billys Peak
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Hwy 89/Deep Creek
  • Contact: Mike Kennett (use current callout list for phone #)

Mikey will take us up Deep Creek to Billy's. How about some pictures?

DECEMBER 3 (Wed) -- BEACON PRACTICE

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 6:30pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Paul Honeywell (use current callout list for phone #)

Get familiar with your beacon/avalanche transceiver. Practice, Practice, Practice

DECEMBER 7 (Sun) -- TELEMARK TRAINING - POSTPONED

  • Where: Northstar at Tahoe
  • When: 8:15am Base of Northstar
  • Contact: Peter Sporleder (use current callout list for phone #)

Geared for beginning and Intermediate skiers. Possible cancellation due to low snow, contact Peter. Postponed - will be rescheduled.

DECEMBER 14 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Sugar Bowl Ski Area
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Wild Cherries
  • Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)

Get familiar with the boundary of Sugar Bowl and see where people get lost. BE READY TO GO.

DECEMBER 20 (Sat) -- MOCK SEARCH

  • Where: Pole Creek
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Pole Creek Trailhead
  • Contact: Doug Read (use current callout list for phone #)

Always a great training. See a search scenario up close and personal. The Bradley Hut will be reserved for Sat. nite. for those interested parties. Check out the photos and report.

JANUARY 4 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Pyramid Peak
  • When: 7:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Roman Fail (use current callout list for phone #)

Hopefully El Dorado Co. SAR will join in.

JANUARY 10 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Somewhere on the Westshore
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Joe Pace (use current callout list for phone #)

An all day affair.

JANUARY 14 (Wed) -- FOURTH GRADE PROGRAM

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 7:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Jim Coffey (use current callout list for phone #)

Learn how we go about teaching the winter wilderness survival program to the fourth graders

JANUARY 15 (Thu) -- FIRST AID

  • Where: Squaw Valley Fire Dept.
  • When: 6:30pm Squaw Valley Fire Dept.; 6:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Mike Kennett ; Jonathan Laine (use current callout list for phone #)

A First Aid refresher-BRING SEARCH PACK

JANUARY 17 (Sat) -- SNOWCAT DRIVERS TRAINING

  • Where: TBA
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Ray O'Brien (use current callout list for phone #)

This is for approved drivers only.On going.

JANUARY 24 (Sat) -- SNOWMOBILE ORIENTATION CANCELLED

  • Where: Blackwood Canyon
  • When: 9:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Ray O'Brien (use current callout list for phone #)

This Training has been cancelled due to illness

JANUARY 24 (Sat) -- SNOWCAT DRIVERS TRAINING

  • Where: TBA
  • When: 8:00am team garage
  • Contact: Scoop Remenih (use current callout list for phone #)

This is for approved drivers only.On going

JANUARY 25 (Sun) -- TELEMARK TRAINING

  • Where: Northstar at Tahoe
  • When: 8:15am Base of Northstar
  • Contact: Peter Sporleder (use current callout list for phone #)

Geared for beginning and intermediate skiers, this is the rescheduled Dec. 7 training

JANUARY 31 (Sat) -- SNOWCAT DRIVER TRAINING

  • Where: TBA
  • When: 8:00am team garage
  • Contact: Ray O'Brien (use current callout list for phone #)

This is for approved drivers only.On going

FEBRUARY 8 (Sun) -- MOCK AVALANCHE

  • Where: Grouse Rock
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)

An up close look at how to work an avalanche scenerio.

FEBRUARY 9 (Mon) -- SNOWCAT DRIVERS TRAINING

  • Where: Coldstream Canyon
  • When: 9:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Scoop Remenih (use current callout list for phone #)

For authorized drivers only

FEBRUARY 12 (Thu) -- NIGHT SKIING

  • Where: Silver Peak
  • When: 5:00pm Team Garage; 5:30pm Pole Creek Trailhead
  • Contact: Steve Twomey (use current callout list for phone #)

Time to breakout the headlamps and ski at night without the pressure of searching.

FEBRUARY 22 (Sun) -- ALPINE MEADOWS AND BEYOND

  • Where: Alpine Meadows Ski Area
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:15am Subway/Patrol Building
  • Contact: Sara Barrett (use current callout list for phone #)

A look at Alpines boundaries and a tour to the Five Lakes Creek area.

FEBRUARY 28 (Sat) -- MARTIS PEAK OVERNIGHT

  • Where: Martis Peak Area
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:15am Martis Pk Rd/Hwy 267
  • Contact: Tony Bochene (use current callout list for phone #)

Come for the day or come for the night. A chance to test your overnight backcountry skills.

MARCH 14 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Mt Rose Area
  • When: 7:00am Team Garage; 7:15am Across street from KB Safeway
  • Contact: Bob Wright (use current callout list for phone #)

Ski the South side for a change

MARCH 20 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Westshore of Tahoe
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Gerald Rockwell (use current callout list for phone #)

Ski the Westshore with a past president.

MARCH 28 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Granite Chief and Beyond
  • When: 7:15am Team Garage; 7:45am Squaw Valley Tram
  • Contact: Bernie Mellor (use current callout list for phone #)

Always a good training and tour.

APRIL 3 (Sat) -- TRAINING CANCELLED

  • Where: Rubicon Peak and Beyond
  • When: 7:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Sarah Lagano (use current callout list for phone #)

TRAINING CANCELLED

JUNE 7 (Mon) -- PATIENT PACKAGING/SPINAL IMMOBILIZATION

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 6:30pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Steve Twomey ; Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

Hands on loading and immobilization in each of the teams litters and backboards. Check out the pictures.

JULY 12 (Mon) -- LOW ANGLE RESCUE

  • Where: Meeks Bay Fire Station
  • When: 6:30pm Meeks Bay Fire Station; 6:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Steve Twomey ; Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

Meet at garage to carpool. Learn carrying techniques on low angle terrain. This is a follow up to the June 7 training. Check out the pictures.

AUGUST 14 (Sat) -- HELICOPTER PATIENT EVACUATION TECHNIQUES

  • Where: Truckee Airport
  • When: 9:00am Truckee Airport; 8:15am Team Garage
  • Contact: Steve Twomey ; Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

Meet at Team Garage to carpool. Learn the special considerations for packaging a patient for helicopter transport and see the helicopters we may encounter on a search and rescue operation.

SEPTEMBER 6 (Mon) -- ELT/PLB LOCATION TRAINING

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 6:30pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Steve Twomey ; Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

Learn the basics of radio direction finding operations when trying to locate a emergency location transmitter/beacon.

The goal of TNSAR is to conduct fast and safe rescues, and to help educate the public on winter safety. If you would like to help TNSAR in this cause, please use the following PayPal donate link. Thanks!

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