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 2013 - 2014 season.

OCTOBER 13 (Sun) -- POWDERHORN CREEK TO FIVE LAKES

  • Where: Barker Pass
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Jeff DeVries (use current callout list for phone #)

Kick off the season and join Training Co-coordinator Jeff DeVries for a splendid jaunt in the Powderhorn Creek Drainage all the way to Five Lakes. Navigation, socialization, and terrain familiarization will be focused upon in an often searched zone off the backsides of Squaw and Alpine.

OCTOBER 19 (Sat) -- MAP AND COMPASS

  • Where: TBA
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Safeway Beach (Kings Beach)
  • Contact: Randall Osterhuber (use current callout list for phone #)

Join Randall for a fun day of map and compass work. He will be covering all the basics of navigation with hands on techniques and practice.

OCTOBER 21 (Mon) -- SNOWCAT TRAINING RADIO INSTALLATION

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 12:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Ray Obrien (use current callout list for phone #)

Operating the snowcat hauler, loading and unloading of the snowcat.

OCTOBER 27 (Sun) -- CASTLE PEAK/ROUND VALLEY TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Castle Peak
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Wild Cherries (Truckee)
  • Contact: Bernie Mellor (use current callout list for phone #)

Join esteemed Team Member Bernie Mellor for a glorious terrain familiarization on scenic Donner Summit. Treat yourself to wit, satire, and search lore while polishing up your navigation skills, avalanche terrain assessment and gps use in this heavily trafficked area that has played host to many a search over the years.

NOVEMBER 9 (Sat) -- PLACER COUNTY HELICOPTER SKILLS

  • Where: Tahoe XC
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Scott Meyer (use current callout list for phone #)

UPDATE: The day will start with a classroom session at the garage, followed by some lifting exercises over the golf course and concluding with a rescue scenario at Alpine Meadows. Everyone should bring a helmet (rock climbing, skateboarding type), safety glasses and leather gloves. Any A-Team skiers interested in getting lifted need to contact Scott by Tuesday (11/5) evening. This will be a full day.

NOVEMBER 15 (Fri) -- FREE LECTURE: CONCUSSIONS

  • Where: Squaw Valley USA
  • When: 7:00pm Olympic Valley Lodge Conference Roo
  • Contact: Jeff DeVries (use current callout list for phone #)

A free lecture put on by Sportgevity concerning concussions, a pertinent subject that seems to have more new information every year. Speakers include Cindy Chang MD, Eric Freitag Psy.D, and Danny Toumarkine a head injury survivor. Come out and expand your knowledge base.

NOVEMBER 20 (Wed) -- GPS ROUNDTABLE/WORKSHOP

  • Where: Squaw Valley Fire Room
  • When: 6pm Squaw Valley Fire Community Room
  • Contact: Troy Corliss (use current callout list for phone #)

Come join an allstar cast discussing about all of our portable navigational devises. 6-8pm at the Squaw Valley Fire community room.

NOVEMBER 24 (Sun) -- GPS TRAINING

  • Where: Tahoe XC
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am Tahoe XC
  • Contact: Troy Corliss (use current callout list for phone #)

Outdoor GPS/Navigation training at Tahoe XC. Come refresh your skills.

DECEMBER 2 (Mon) -- 18TH ANNUAL WINTER SPORTS INJURY SYMPOSIUM

  • Where: Resort At Squaw Creek
  • When: 3:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Jeff DeVries (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. Preregister at: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=b8d6a9 The team will reimburse you the $25 registration fee that night.

DECEMBER 3 (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 3rd, 5:30-8pm for the annual Tahoe Mountain Sports Pro Night. All team members are eligible (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 13-14 winter gear. This includes skis, bindings, boots, avalanche beacons, probes, shovels, clothing and more….

DECEMBER 17 (Tue) -- NIGHTTIME MAP AND COMPASS/GPS NAVIGATION

  • Where: Paige Meadows
  • When: 5:30pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Geoff Quine (use current callout list for phone #)

Join Geoff for hands on and realistic navigation skills in Paige Meadows. 5:30-9pm.

JANUARY 18 (Sat) -- LEVEL 1 AVALANCHE REFRESHER

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

MUST PRE REGISTER TO ATTEND THIS COURSE.

This will be a Level 1 avalanche refresher specifically designed for our SAR team. Expect a full day starting in the classroom and then moving into the field. We will go over some of the basics in the classroom- terrain, avalanche phenom,new updated info. Then will practice avalanche rescue and terrain recognition in the field. Contact Scott Meyer for more information and to register for the course.

FEBRUARY 6 (Thu) -- ANATOMY OF A SEARCH

  • Where: TCPUD Board Room
  • When: 6pm TCPUD Board Room
  • Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)

6-8pm at the TC PUD Board Room. We will outline a search- from person being lost to person being recovered, and what happens after a search is over (CISD, media, etc.). It will cover not only what TNSAR does, but what other agencies do, as well. All TNSAR members, team members, deputies are welcome.

FEBRUARY 23 (Sun) -- PACIFIC CREST SKI TOUR

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

Join Sara for a solid day in a popular backcountry area that sees a lot of use. The plan is to ski into Deep Creek. Navigation, avalanche skills and touring skills will be on the menu for what is sure to be a fantastic day!

FEBRUARY 28 (Fri) -- SNOWCAT OPERATIONS

  • Where: Tahoe City
  • When: 10:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Ray Obrien (use current callout list for phone #)

Moving Backup Cat to Old Station 51

MARCH 1 (Sat) -- SNOWCAT OPERATIONS

  • Where: Tahoe City
  • When: 10:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Paul Honeywell (use current callout list for phone #)

Snowcat Operations

MARCH 3 (Mon) -- SNOWCAT OPERATIONS

  • Where: Tahoe City
  • When: 12:00pm 300 North Lake Blvd
  • Contact: Ray O"Brien (use current callout list for phone #)

Trailer Maintenance

MARCH 4 (Tue) -- SNOWCAT MAINTENANCE

  • Where: Tahoe City
  • When: 4:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Ray Obrien (use current callout list for phone #)

Grouser repair and cleaning.

MARCH 6 (Thu) -- SNOWCAT MAINTENANCE

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 11am Team Garage
  • Contact: Ray OBrien (use current callout list for phone #)

Snowcat maintenance at the snowcat storage facility.

MARCH 7 (Fri) -- SNOWMOBILE AVALANCHE AWARENESS

  • Where: TBD
  • When: 6:30pm TBD
  • Contact: Chris McConnell (use current callout list for phone #)

The Sierra Avalanche Center will be providing an avalanche education course specific to snowmobile users in avalanche terrain. The class will consist of an evening classroom session followed the next day by a full day field session. 3/7 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm classroom session, 3/8 - 8am to 4pm field session. TNSAR has secured (7) spots for this course. A team riders will receive priority. Please RSVP ASAP to Chris McConnell.

MARCH 8 (Sat) -- SNOWCAT OPERATIONS

  • Where: Kings Beach
  • When: 10:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Paul Honeywell (use current callout list for phone #)

Snowcat Operations

MARCH 12 (Wed) -- SNOWMOBILE TEAM: NIGHT NAVIGATION TRAINING

  • Where: Brockway Summit/267
  • When: 6:30pm Brockway Summit/267 Northstar Side
  • Contact: Chris McConnell (use current callout list for phone #)

Night Navigation Training (GPS, Map & Compass skills.) 6:30-9pm, meet at Brockway Summit/267 on the Northstar side. Contact Chris McConnell for more info or to confirm your attendance.

MARCH 13 (Thu) -- COMM VAN AND NAT GEO MAPPING TRAINING

  • Where: Burton Creek Sheriffs Dept.
  • When: 6pm Burton Creek Sheriffs Dept.
  • Contact: Chris McConnell ; Kim Bromley (use current callout list for phone #)

If you are interested in getting involved with TNSAR this is one of the faster ways to participate. This is a how-to and inside tour of the comm van. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the team. The comm van team can make a huge difference in the overall SAR experience and this training will get you ready to join the team at the next SAR. Food, Drinks and Prizes will be given out, don't miss it!

APRIL 17 (Thu) -- TNSAR 101

  • Where: North Tahoe Fire Station #51
  • When: 6pm North Tahoe Fire Station #51
  • Contact: Jim Helminiak (use current callout list for phone #)

Who: TNSAR members or aspiring members seeking to get more involved in SAR. What: New Member Essentials. I’m a member, I have my OES card, I’ve been to some trainings, now what? This training will give new members and members that have never been on a search valuable insight to the dynamics of TNSAR. You can count on hands on experience and the knowledge to help you prepare for your first or next SAR. Contact Jim Helminiak for information and availability, use current callout list for phone

APRIL 23 (Wed) -- MAPPING WITH CALTOPO

  • Where: SV Community Room
  • When: 6pm SV Room
  • Contact: Matt Jacobs (use current callout list for phone #)

This training will show how to plan a route, preload it to your GPS, print a map, download tracks after a trip and create a shareable online map. These skills are useful beyond SAR - learn them now, put them to use on personal trips over the summer and come back an expert in the fall. Bring a laptop and/or personal GPS if you have them.

APRIL 25 (Fri) -- WEMT/WFR REFRESHER

  • Where: SV Community Room
  • When: 8am SV Room
  • Contact: Steve Reynaud (use current callout list for phone #)

We have a WEMT and WFR Refresher Course for the weekend of 4/25-4/27. This course requires pre registration to attend.

MAY 11 (Sun) -- GARAGE CLEAN UP

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 10am Team Garage
  • Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)

Garage clean up from 10am to 12 noon. Come give Dirk a hand getting things organized.

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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