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 2011 - 2012 season.

OCTOBER 9 (Sun) -- SQUAW TO FIVE LAKES HIKE

  • Where: Squaw Valley USA
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am Old Fire House, Squaw Valley
  • Contact: Bernie Mellor (use current callout list for phone #)

Bernie will lead us up through Squaw Valley and over to Five Lakes. This will be a full day of hiking, terrain familiarization and enjoying the fall colors. Be prepared with food and clothing with the possibility of encountering some snow on the ground.

OCTOBER 16 (Sun) -- MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVENTURE

  • Where: Pole Creek/Deep Creek
  • When: 9am Pole Creek Trailhead
  • Contact: Troy Corliss (use current callout list for phone #)

Mountain bike adventure in the Pole Creek/Deep Creek drainages up towards the Sierra Crest. Ride will be around 5 hours in length with a lot of climbing. Must be competent on a mountain bike for a long ride in rough terrain. Contact Troy with questions and to let him know if you are going to attend.

OCTOBER 20 (Thu) -- BASIC CLIMBING SKILLS TRAINING

  • Where: Donner Summit-Snowshed Wall
  • When: 3:30pm West Gully @ Snowshed (Donner Summi
  • Contact: Troy Corliss (use current callout list for phone #)

Meet at 3:30, or just come when you can. Troy will be offering up a basic climbing skills afternoon up on Donner Summit. He will be going over climbing skills, rappelling, knots, belaying, etc. Must bring harness and climbing shoes, all other gear will be provided. Contact Troy if attending.

OCTOBER 22 (Sat) -- MAP AND COMPASS TRAINING

  • Where: TBA
  • When: 8:15am North Tahoe Beach Center; 8:30am Sheep Flats, Mt. Rose
  • Contact: Randall Osterhuber (use current callout list for phone #)

Join Randall for a day of map and compass practice. There will be a small amount of time at the NT Beach and then you will be out in the field practicing your skills up at Mt. Rose. We will start off with the basics and everyone is encouraged to attend.

NOVEMBER 5 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION-MT. ROSE

  • Where: Mt. Rose-Tamarack Lakes Trailhead
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am KB Safeway
  • Contact: Jeff DeVries (use current callout list for phone #)

Jeff will be leading a hike in the Mt. Rose area. Come out and enjoy the late fall colors and meet some team members. Make sure to contact Jeff beforehand to let him know your coming and just in case the training turns into a ski tour instead of a hiking training.

NOVEMBER 16 (Wed) -- COMMUNICATIONS/TECHNOLOGY NIGHT

  • Where: Squaw Valley Fire Department
  • When: 6pm SVFD
  • Contact: Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

Jimmy will be going over our team communications and technology on searches out in the field. From radio use, GPS use and how to use our new repeater. The training will be indoors from 6-9pm, Wednesday night at SV fire department.

NOVEMBER 19 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION-DEEP CREEK

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

Doug will lead a tour of the Deep Creek Peak area hopefully accessing some good early season powder. Make sure to call ahead of time to make verify the mode of transportation and pray for snow!

DECEMBER 3 (Sat) -- WILDERNESS FIRST AID COURSE

  • Where: Squaw Valley FD
  • When: 8am SVFD
  • Contact: Steve Reynaud /sreynaud@sbcglobal.net(use current callout list for phone #)

The Team will be hosting a WFA course taught by Sue Purvis on 12/3 and 12/4. The course is limited to 15 participants and you must pre register for this course, first come first serve basis. We will be requiring a $175 deposit to hold your spot which is fully refundable when you show up for the course. Make checks payable to TNSAR and mail to Steve Reynaud, PO Box 1976, Truckee, CA 96160.

DECEMBER 5 (Mon) -- WINTER SPORTS SYMPOSIUM

  • Where: Resort at Squaw Creek
  • When: 3pm Resort at Squaw Creek
  • Contact: Steve Reynaud (use current callout list for phone #)

Registration is now open for the annual Winter Sports Injury Symposium brought to you by Tahoe Forest Health System. This year will be one of the best symposiums yet! We hope to see you there. Pre-registration is required! This will take place of our normal meeting which will be rescheduled for December 12. The team will reimburse you the $20 reg fee that night.

DECEMBER 6 (Tue) -- TAHOE MOUNTAIN SPORTS PRO NIGHT

  • Where: Tahoe Mountain Sports, KB
  • When: 5:30pm Tahoe Mountain Sports, KB
  • Contact: Dave Polivy /: dave@tahoemountainsports.com(use current callout list for phone #)

Tuesday night December 6th, 5:30-8pm. All Professional Ski Patrollers, Search and Rescue Personnel, Mountain Safety Managers, Professional Safety Personnel like firefighters or police. (This is not for your friends or family, it is only for you so don’t abuse it) Pro form pricing and deep discounts on the newest 11-12 winter gear. This includes skis, bindings, boots, avalanche beacons, probes, shovels, clothing and more….

DECEMBER 15 (Thu) -- ALPINE MEADOWS NIGHTTIME SEARCH REENACTMENT

  • Where: Alpine Meadows
  • When: 4pm Team Garage; 4:30pm Alpine Meadows Parking Lot
  • Contact: Scott Meyer ; Bob Wright (use current callout list for phone #)

Nighttime search reenactment of an Alpine Meadows real search from last winter. We will be practicing all of our search skills in as real conditions as possible. These are some of the best trainings we can do to get as close to what normal search conditions will be like without the stress of a search. We will focus on techniques and skills that are applicable to the situation.

JANUARY 7 (Sat) -- CASTLE PEAK TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Castle Peak
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am Wild Cherries Coffee House
  • Contact: Gary Sterle ; Holly Beattie (use current callout list for phone #)

Here are some goals for a fun filled day at Castle Peak: Terrain familiarization with Castle Peak, Andesite Ridge reviewing safe routes and avalanche terrain. We will dig a snow pit and go over some basic Level I avy skills. We will review the scene of the last avi/search/extraction. We'll also check out the Peter Grubb Hut and summit Castle Peak conditions permitting. Looks like we will be on foot but be sure to contact Gary or Holly to get the scoop.

JANUARY 10 (Tue) -- NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION

  • Where: TC PUD Conference Room
  • When: 6pm TC PUD Conference Room
  • Contact: Devin Hiemstra ; Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

This training is designed for new members. It covers how to get involved with the team, how to participate on trainings and how to get on the A team and go on searches. It also covers the many other things the team is involved with and how you can participate. 6-8:30pm.

JANUARY 24 (Tue) -- SLED RESCUE TRAINING

  • Where: TBD
  • When: 8:30am Team Garage; 9am Donner Summit/Sugar Bowl Academy
  • Contact: Jeb Mirczak ; Steve Reynaud (use current callout list for phone #)

We will be getting out our new backcountry rescue sleds and putting them to use. Building, preparing the victim, and transporting the sled will all be covered. We will also go over rope raising/lowering systems to move the sled through steeper terrain. Call ahead if you are interested, prepare for a mostly full day.

JANUARY 28 (Sat) -- DEEP POWDER SKI TOUR

  • Where: Steep and Deep Peak, Tahoe
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:15am KB Safeway
  • Contact: Scott Shane (use current callout list for phone #)

Tour will be Mt Rose area. May have snowmobiles depending on snow pack. Bring lunch and OES card. Check your pack and your batteries. Hope to get some early season turns in and blow out the lungs, legs and bring on the blisters. May throw in some beacon practice too.

FEBRUARY 12 (Sun) -- BEACON/MAP/COMPASS TRAINING

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 8am Team Garage
  • Contact: Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

Come join Brian for a skill day focusing on Transceiver use and Map and Compass. We will be starting at the garage and heading up behind for the day. Bring your normal ski pack with all your gear. All levels welcomed and encouraged for this training.

FEBRUARY 19 (Sun) -- SNOWCAT TRAINING

  • Where: TBD
  • When: 8am Team Garage
  • Contact: Sara Carbonari ; Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

Calling all aspiring snowcat drivers!!! Have you always wanted to drive an expensive piece of equipment? Do you like to be warm and cozy when it's raining outside? This could be for you. Sara and Jimmy will be going through all the basics of snowcat operations. RSVP if you are planning on attending.

FEBRUARY 26 (Sun) -- RELAY PEAK AND BEYOND

  • Where: Mt. Rose area
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am KB Safeway
  • Contact: Mike Lefrancois (use current callout list for phone #)

Be prepared for a long day tour out towards Relay Peak and into the Gray Creek drainage. Intermediate/Advanced abilities. As always call ahead for meetup and trailhead information.

MARCH 1 (Thu) -- WEST SHORE AND BEYOND

  • Where: West Shore
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Joe Pace (use current callout list for phone #)

Join Joe for a tour enveloping Tahoe's majestic West Shore. Please call ahead to see what Mother Nature has decided will be the optimal zone to visit.

MARCH 21 (Wed) -- ALPINE MEADOWS NIGHTTIME SEARCH REENACTMENT

  • Where: Alpine Meadows
  • When: 4:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Scott Meyer ; Bob Wright (use current callout list for phone #)

Rescheduled nighttime search reenactment of an Alpine Meadows real search from last winter. We will be practicing all of our search skills in as real conditions as possible. These are some of the best trainings we can do to get as close to what normal search conditions will be like without the stress of a search. We will focus on techniques and skills that are applicable to the situation.

APRIL 7 (Sat) -- TOUR TO DIAMOND CROSSING

  • Where: Sierra Crest and Beyond
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Jeff DeVries (use current callout list for phone #)

If you've hung around this team long enough, you've heard of Diamond Crossing. Now's your chance to see what all the fuss is about. We'll be leaving from the top of Ward Canyon, skinning up towards Grouse Rock and then over the crest and down towards Diamond Crossing, or as low as decent coverage exists. A clear forecast should allow for good views of the terrain that many a wayward Alpine Meadows skier has floundered through on their way towards Hellhole Reservoir.

APRIL 28 (Sat) -- DESOLATION EXPLORATION

  • Where: Desolation Wilderness
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Geoff Quine (use current callout list for phone #)

Join Geoff for what could possibly be the best skiing yet during this crazy year of feast and famine. Please call ahead to verify what conditions and mother nature are dictating at this point in the season.

SEPTEMBER 15 (Sat) -- OHV TRAINING WITH PCSO

  • Where: Blackwood Canyon, Kaspian Campgroun
  • When: 8:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Chris McConnell ; Ray O'Brien (use current callout list for phone #)

*Who: TNSAR OHV & 4x4, PCSO OHV and PCSO Deputies ("Missing Hikers" encouraged to participate, call to discuss details)*

*What: OHV / 4x4 training including GPS / waypoint / nav, map & compass,riding skill development, heli ops & field landing, medical scenarios and more.*

Bring your SAR ready vehicle (M/C, Quad, 4x4), SAR ready pack and radio. RSVP with Chris or Ray before 9/15!

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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