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 2007 - 2008 season.

OCTOBER 4 (Thu) -- SAR TRUCK ORIENTATION

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

Come find out what lives in the team truck and garage. This is a great introduction to the team.

OCTOBER 7 (Sun) -- SOCIAL HIKE

  • Where: Mt. Rose
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am NT Beach (across from Safeway)
  • Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)

Join our fearless leader for a trip to Price Lake. If you don't know where Price Lake is, come find out. There will be some surprises along the way. Kids and families welcome.

OCTOBER 13 (Sat) -- SOCIAL HIKE

  • Where: Tahoe Rim Trail
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am NT Beach (across from Safeway)
  • Contact: Jim Reinstra (use current callout list for phone #)

This hike leaves from Tahoe Meadows and heads to Martis Peak, a Long day indeed. For those who desire a shorter version, an out and back will be available. Kids and families welcome.

OCTOBER 20 (Sat) -- SOCIAL HIKE

  • Where: Billy's Peak
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:15am Deep Creek at Hwy 89
  • Contact: Randall Osterhuber (use current callout list for phone #)

Come join us for a hike to the peak named after one of our own. Find out who Billy was and enjoy the scenery on the way. Kids and families welcome.

OCTOBER 28 (Sun) -- SOCIAL HIKE

  • Where: Diamond Crossing/Bear Pen
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Steve Twomey (use current callout list for phone #)

Join Steve for a hike to an area frequented by the team on many a search. Much more pleasant to see in the day time then the dead of night. Kids and families welcome.

NOVEMBER 13 (Tue) -- GPS TRAINING

  • Where: Paige Meadows
  • When: 6:00pm Team Garage; 6:30pm Top of Silvertip in Talmont
  • Contact: Bernie Mellor (use current callout list for phone #)

Time to brush up those GPS skills. This is a good time to use another piece of important equipment that goes on all searches. Come for an entertaining night in the woods.

NOVEMBER 17 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Castle Peak
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Wild Cherries Coffee House
  • Contact: Paul Honeywell (use current callout list for phone #)

We will hike or ski up toward Castle Peak and see what we can find. This is a popular backcountry area for all levels of winter sports. Pictures by Jimmy Smith.

NOVEMBER 28 (Wed) -- COMM. VAN 101

  • Where: The Comm. Van
  • When: 6:30pm Burton Creek Sheriff sub-station
  • Contact: Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

This is the how-to of the comm.van. This is an excellent opportunity to get in on the ground level with the SAR team. We can't do our job without this important piece of equipment.

DECEMBER 15 (Sat) -- AVALANCHE SCENARIO

  • Where: Castle Pass
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:15am Wild Cherries Coffee House
  • Contact: Derek Wilson (use current callout list for phone #)

No time like the present to practice those avalanche skills. Let Derek know you are coming.

JANUARY 9 (Wed) -- COMM VAN 101

  • Where: Burton Creek Substation
  • When: 6:00pm Placer Co. Sheriff Substation, Burt
  • Contact: Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

This is an introduction to the communications van we use during searches. This is the fastest way to be part of a search and an important one at that. See you there.

JANUARY 12 (Sat) -- TEAM AVI I TRAINING

  • Where: Fairview Center
  • When: 8:00am Fairview Center
  • Contact: Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

Weekend Avi I training/certification, sponsored by the team. Check out the pictures by Chris McConnell.

JANUARY 13 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Homewood Ski Area and Beyond
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am North Parking Lot at Homewood
  • Contact: Sara Barrett (use current callout list for phone #)

Time to check out the boundary and surrounding terrain at the Westshores favorite ski area. Call ahead.

JANUARY 17 (Thu) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Silver Peak
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Pole Creek Trailhead
  • Contact: Jonathan Laine (use current callout list for phone #)

This is an all day tour to Silver Peak and some of the surrounding terrain.

JANUARY 20 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Barker Pass to Hellhole Res.
  • When: 7:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)

This is an all day affair to a remote area West of the Sierra Crest. Bring plenty of food, a headlamp and lots of energy. Pictures by Ray O'Brien!

JANUARY 26 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Martis Peak and beyond
  • When: 7:45am Team Garage; 8:30am Brockway Trail Head
  • Contact: Mike and Pam Le Francois (use current callout list for phone #)

Pictures by Mike L, Sara B, and Ray & Chris.

JANUARY 28 (Mon) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Squaw Valley and Beyond
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Squaw Valley Tram
  • Contact: Peter York (use current callout list for phone #)

Our resident Squaw Valley Ski Patrol will take us out of bounds to areas hard to access without the help of Squaw Valley. Be prepared for an all day affair.

FEBRUARY 7 (Thu) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Signal Peak
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Wild Cherries Coffee House
  • Contact: Steve Reynaud (use current callout list for phone #)

Time to explore the Signal Peak environs and do laps until no one is left standing. Please contact Steve prior to going for any last minute details.

FEBRUARY 17 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Sugar Bowl and Beyond
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am North Tahoe Beach (across from Safe
  • Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)

Join us at Sugar Bowl for an all day adventure. This is a popular jumping off point for skiers and boarders to get losty in backcountry. Get to know it before the next search. Call Russ for more information.

FEBRUARY 23 (Sat) -- THE EXPERIMENTAL

  • Where: Cabin Creek, Tinkers, Benson
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Doug Read (use current callout list for phone #)

Up Cabin Creek with Pacific Crest Snocats, to Tinkers Knob and then Anderson Peak. We'll have a lost skier scenario, with helicopter support. Pix by Ray O'Brien and Chris McConnell

MARCH 6 (Thu) -- TECHNOLOGY NIGHT

  • Where: Squaw Valley Fire Department
  • When: 6:00pm Squaw Valley Fire Department
  • Contact: Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

This training ties together and explains the use of all of the electronic equipment we use during a search. Bring your laptop if you have one.

MARCH 8 (Sat) -- SNOWMOBILE A AND B TEAM SKILL DEVELOPMENT

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 9:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Brian York or TJ Johnson (use current callout list for phone #)

This will be an A/B team skills day and rescue sleigh orientation.

MARCH 16 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Rubicon, Hidden Peak, and Beyond
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Jeff DeVries (use current callout list for phone #)

Contact Jeff for the details of this West Shore tour. Pictures by Dirk Schoonmaker.

MARCH 19 (Wed) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Silver Peak
  • When: 6:00 pm Team Garage; 6:30pm Pole Creek Trailhead
  • Contact: Steve Twomey (use current callout list for phone #)

Join Steve for a night time trip to Silver Peak,

MARCH 24 (Mon) -- GPS NAVIGATION

  • Where: Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area
  • When: 6:00pm Team Garage; 6:30pm Tahoe Cross County Ski Area
  • Contact: Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

We will ski through the area using GPS units to find our way. Along the way, a task or two will be set up for the group to work through (hint: as always, be sure to have a beacon, probe, and shovel).

MARCH 29 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION (SNOWMOBILE TEAM)

  • Where: Watson Peak and Beyond
  • When: 9:00am Trailhead at end of Regency Drive
  • Contact: Chris McConnell (use current callout list for phone #)

This will take the team in to a popular snowmobiling area and will involve skill development, GPS navigation tasks and at least one avalanche scenario.

APRIL 24 (Thu) -- ELT TRAINING

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 6:30pm Team Garage; am
  • Contact: Rick Miller / (use current callout list for phone #)

We have a new antenna for locating downed aircraft. Survivability of backcountry aircraft accidents is low. Our response time is critical. Come and learn how to use the equipment.

APRIL 26 (Sat) -- ELT EXERCISE

  • Where: Boreal Ski Resort
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Boreal Ski Resort
  • Contact: Rick Miller (use current callout list for phone #)

A joint training with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Comm Van operators are encouraged to attend (Comm Van and CAP mobile command center will be at Castle Peak). We will have landing zone training with Calstar as well as field scenarios

JUNE 14 (Sat) -- BASIC SKILLS / TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Big Bend / Loch Levon Lakes Area
  • When: 8:00am Ranger Station @ Big Bend
  • Contact: Brendon Compton ; Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

The Placer County Ground Team is inviting us to participate in a training in the Big Bend area. The day will involve tracking, navigation skills and so on. All members who participate will be used as ground searchers for a live rabbit in the field.

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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