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 2020 - 2021 season.
OCTOBER 8 (Thu) -- GARAGE ORIENTATION
- Where: Team garage
- When: 6:00pm Team Garage
- Contact: Russ Viehmann /1(use current callout list for phone #)
See the new garage. We will be checking out the garage, trucks and gear. Making sure we are ready for the season. A great training for New members to meet old and get an idea of the skills and equipment involved. Plan on 2 hrs with an optional Bridgetender trip afterwards
OCTOBER 13 (Tue) -- MAPPING THE DAY AWAY
- Where: Donner Summit
- When: 8:00am Donner Ski Ranch Parking Lot
- Contact: Troy Corliss (use current callout list for phone #)
"Mobile Apps rediscovered among friends". Download CalTopo, Avenza Maps and Gaia Maps onto your mobile device and set up accounts to enable the use of offline data prior to the training.
OCTOBER 17 (Sat) -- STANFORD ROCK MOUNTAIN BIKE
- Where: Stanford Rock
- When: 9:30am Kilner Park (Ward Ave.)
- Contact: Sarah Krammen (use current callout list for phone #)
While infrequently used on searches, it does occasionally happen. Try to keep up with local ripper (and TNSAR board member) Sarah Krammen on a mountain bike ride of the recently refurbished Stanford Rock Trail. Attendees should be up for 2,100' of climbing over 13.5 miles encompassing a 3ish hour ride with one of the best views on the north shore as a reward. Bring a functioning, reasonably modern mountain bike in good repair.
OCTOBER 19 (Mon) -- NIGHTTIME NAVIGATION
- Where: Paige Meadows
- When: 6:00pm End of Silvertip
- Contact: Mark Johnson (use current callout list for phone #)
Join Mark in the oft searched locale of Paige Meadows for some realistic (i.e. dark) conditions to familiarize yourself with the maze of meadows up there and refamiliarize yourself with some of the electronic gadgets we lug around.
OCTOBER 24 (Sat) -- ALPINE HIGH ANGLE
- Where: Donner Summit
- When: 8:30am Team Garage; 9:00am Rainbow Bridge
- Contact: Logan Talbott (use current callout list for phone #)
A continuation of previous team alpine high angle trainings. This one will only be open to those who have attended previous AHA trainings with the team. Training will be limited to 10 people. Contact Logan to reserve your spot.
OCTOBER 28 (Wed) -- GARAGE CLEAN UP
- Where: Team Garage
- When: 5:00pm Team Garage
- Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker /1(use current callout list for phone #)
Come out and help restock the garage after the epoxy floor project. we need many people to help tackle the various projects Dirk is planning. A BBQ is planned for after
NOVEMBER 1 (Sun) -- POWDERHORN CREEK TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION
- Where: Barker Pass
- When: 8:00am Team Garage
- Contact: Sara Carbonari (use current callout list for phone #)
Join Sara for a classic venture down the Powderhorn Trail towards Diamaond Crossing. This may end up as an out and back as opposed to the classic point to point, stay tuned.
NOVEMBER 4 (Wed) -- 1 HOUR WEDNESDAY- PATIENT PACKAGING I
- Where: Team garage
- When: 6:00pm Team Garage
- Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)
We are trying out a new program - 1 Hour Wednesdays, meet at the garage for an hour or so and practice skills in a controlled environment. Every Wednesday for the next 4-6 weeks. We are looking for members to lead these trainings; if it says TBD in the contact field, its open. This training will focus on breaking out the litters, sleds, and other packaging equipment, going through a few revolutions with each in the garage and parking lot. Please bring a mask.
NOVEMBER 7 (Sat) -- MOUNTAIN MEADOW LAKE - TERRAIN FAMILIARZATION
- Where: Shirley Canyon
- When: 8:00am Team Garage
- Contact: Jeff DeVries (use current callout list for phone #)
Join Jeff for a journey to the headwaters of the North Fork of the American River. Training will emphasize navigation and route finding.
NOVEMBER 11 (Wed) -- 1 HOUR WEDNESDAY- BEACONS AT THE BEACH
- Where: Team garage
- When: 6:00pm Team Garage
- Contact: Dirk Lewis /1(use current callout list for phone #)
Meet at the garage, then to the beach for beacon practice, bring a headlamp
NOVEMBER 12 (Thu) -- BENSON HUT TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION
- Where: Donner Summit
- When: 8:00am Team Garage; 9:00am ASI/Top of Old 40
- Contact: Jeb Mirczak (use current callout list for phone #)
Many a callout has involved this stretch of the Pacific Crest between Sugar Bowl and the Benson Hut. Join Jeb for a day out in the area during the light of day.
NOVEMBER 18 (Wed) --
1 HOUR WEDNESDAY- ROPE RESCUE TALK POSTPONED
- Where: Team garage
- When: 6:00pm Team Garage
- Contact: Ryan Decker (use current callout list for phone #)
Meet at the garage for a talk/ puppet demonstration on current rope rescue techniques
DECEMBER 2 (Wed) -- CANCELLED.
1 HOUR WEDNESDAY- PATIENT PACKAGING II- Where: Team garage
- When: 6:00pm Team Garage
- Contact: TBD /1(use current callout list for phone #)
Canceled due to the obvious.
Meet at the garage for part 2 of Patient Packaging. After some review, we will go in the field to practice realistic scenarios utilizing the litter, wheel, rescue sled ( if snow), and vacuum splint. DECEMBER 10 (Thu) -- 1 HOUR WEDNESDAY - ANATOMY OF A SEARCH - CHANGED TO VIRTUAL AT 7PM
- Where: Online
- When: 7:00pm Virtural
- Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)
Due to current conditions, this will be shifting to an online format. Experience Dirks legendary Anatomy of a Search. Learn the ins an outs of searching the Tahoe Nordic way, from pre-callout through gassing up the truck at the end. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99502619804?pwd=WVBVYVB0ZGVuUTA0Q3NNVUZsZzFUUT09
DECEMBER 15 (Tue) -- POSTPONED - BEACON TRAINING
- Where: Tahoe City
- When: 6:00pm Old County Road
- Contact: Paul Kitano (use current callout list for phone #)
POSTPONED -
Paul will be leading a training focusing on several avalanche scenarios and the use of your transceivers in real world burial situations. DECEMBER 21 (Mon) -- SEARCH PACK DEMO
- Where: everywhere and nowhere
- When: 7:00pm your digital device
- Contact: Chris Mertens /1(use current callout list for phone #)
Log on to participate in Chris' Search Pack Demo. A sno-mo pack demo is also in the plan. USE THIS ZOOM LINK: https://zoom.us/j/96795071472?pwd=ZzV2NW9WSmJzdUNrc0E1TlNFRGJYUT09
JANUARY 6 (Wed) -- HYPOTHERMIA DISCUSSION
- Where: Virtual
- When: 6:00pm Virtual
- Contact: Eric Stendell /1(use current callout list for phone #)
DR. Stendell will give a talk on the benefits and detriments of Hypothermia. Zoom link is
here.
to register attendance, we are trying a new system, please go to the following link after the training and fill out your attendance https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVIy4ko2IlI16rCwWEpjA13IckUEyPytU74gm9NjjsQwa2qA/viewform?usp=sf_link
JANUARY 20 (Wed) -- PAGING PRIMER
- Where: Virtual
- When: 6:00pm Zoom
- Contact: Andrew Oestereicher (use current callout list for phone #)
Join Andrew for a familiarization of the paging system, a critical step in calling out the team when it's time to search.
Zoom on.
FEBRUARY 3 (Wed) -- TECHNICAL RESCUE BASICS
- Where: everywhere and nowhere
- When: 6:00pm Zoom.
- Contact: Ryan Decker (use current callout list for phone #)
We will go over the basics of the team tech rescue program. Along with some discussion on personal and team equipment, basic knots and systems. Folks should "bring" their gear to the meeting to play at home.
Zoom in at 6PM, password tnsar.
FEBRUARY 11 (Thu) -- MOVED TO 8:30AM- RANDALLS WORLD FAMOUS MAP AND COMPASS TRAINING -
- Where: Commons Beach
- When: 8:30am Commons beach
- Contact: Randall Osterhuber /1(use current callout list for phone #)
Come out and learn how we did it in the old days ( or when your GPS batteries die). Randall will spend the day at Commons beach instructing on the finer points of bearing, heading, and declination.
This training is weather dependent as we need to see the surrounding peaks. Please bring a map of lake tahoe, a compass, pad and pencil
Here is a link to Randalls digital training for review http://tahoenordicsar.com/Training/MapandCompass.pdf
FEBRUARY 12 (Fri) -- DATE CHANGE. SNOWCAT AND SNOWMOBILE COLDSTREAM RECON
- Where: Coldstream Canyon
- When: 8:00am Coldstream canyon
- Contact: Dan Wilkins /1(use current callout list for phone #)
Snowmobilers come out and help recon new routes in and out of Coldstream
FEBRUARY 20 (Sat) -- SILVER PEAK AND BEYOND
- Where: Silver Peak
- When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Squaw Valley parking lot NW corner
- Contact: Andrew Oesterreicher (use current callout list for phone #)
We're going to start in person trainings in February. Limited to 3 "pods" of 5 people max. Must drive solo. All trainings should be considerate about limited parking issues.
This training sees the Oesterreicher leading us to Silver peak and the upper pole creek drainage. Leaving from Squaw parking lot. Please RSVP as space is limited
FEBRUARY 24 (Wed) -- NIGHT OPS
- Where: Grouse Ridge
- When: 6:00pm top of ward canyon, Sherwood parkin
- Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)
Come out and get a feel for searching in the dark. We will ascend grouse ridge and work on a few skills along the way. Bring your search pack
FEBRUARY 27 (Sat) -- SNOWMOBILE TRAINING FOR SKIERS
- Where: Blackwood Canyon
- When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Blackwood canyon parking lot
- Contact: Dan Wilkins (use current callout list for phone #)
This training is designed for both skiers and snowmobilers to teach towing, double up riding, beacon practice, and terrain familiarization. Be prepared to ski a few runs off Barker Pass. Bring goggles and a helmet
MARCH 4 (Thu) -- TTHRT TRAINING
- Where: Alpine Meadows
- When: 7:30am subway lift
- Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)
HRT training for those involved
MARCH 6 (Sat) -- ALPINE MEADOWS OUT-OF-BOUNDS/ FIVE LAKES
- Where: Alpine Meadows
- When: 8:00am Outisde Patrol Shack
- Contact: Brad Altman (use current callout list for phone #)
The plan is to descend off the back of Alpine Meadows towards Whiskey Creek or Diamond Crossing. This will be a long day so dress accordingly and bring plenty of food and water. Bring a GPS device or two. There will be 2 groups of 5 skiers. Open to A and B team skiers first and candidates second.
MARCH 10 (Wed) -- BEACON TRAINING
- Where: Tahoe City
- When: 6:00pm Old County Road
- Contact: Paul Kitano (use current callout list for phone #)
Paul will be leading a training focusing on several avalanche scenarios and the use of your transceivers in real world burial situations.
MARCH 14 (Sun) -- CALTOPO FOR SEARCHERS
- Where: ZOOM
- When: 7:00pm your house
- Contact: Julie Vargo (use current callout list for phone #)
Log on to learn all about Caltopo for searching. Downloading maps, layers, waypoints and What is SARTOPO?
MARCH 24 (Wed) -- POLE CREEK TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION/ HELI OPS
- Where: Squaw Valley/ Pole creek
- When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Parking lot across from old Squaw f
- Contact: Scott Meyer (use current callout list for phone #)
A full day of exploration of Pole creek. Snow machines will approach from Hwy 89 while skiers will come in from Granite Chief. CHP Heli will be on site at some point. We have arranged permission with the forest service to do a mechanized recon of this area. Details are still being worked out. Please call Scott Meyer with all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, or gripes
MARCH 31 (Wed) -- ON SNOW TECHNICAL RESCUE AND SKI MOUNTAINEERING
- Where: TBD
- When: 9:00am TBD
- Contact: Logan Talbott (use current callout list for phone #)
Open to A&B members, we will start the day reviewing fundamental mountaineering skills, followed by on-snow technical rescue training in the afternoon. Bring your boot & ski crampons and ice axe, in addition to your regular technical kit. This training aims to address some of our lesser-used skills that we need to maintain proficiency at as an Alpine Type 1 SAR team. Please RSVP
APRIL 3 (Sat) -- WEST SHORE - DESOLATION TOUR
- Where: The Best Shore!
- When: 6:45am Team Garage
- Contact: Chris Mertens (use current callout list for phone #)
Join Chris on a tour into the depths of Desolation. Dick's Peak is the objective, conditions permitting, so be prepared for a long day. Ski crampons are probably a good idea, and as always, bring a beacon/probe/shovel.
APRIL 7 (Wed) -- CANCELLED PATIENT PACKAGING/ CASCADE TOBOGGAN/AKJA TRAINING
- Where: Team Garage
- When: 6:30pm Team Garage
- Contact: The venerable.....Dirk Schoonmaker /1(use current callout list for phone #)
A return to Wednesday night skills training. Join Dirk at the garage for several hours of packaging and litter work. bring full ski gear and packs/ headlamp
APRIL 10 (Sat) -- SUGAR BOWL BOUNDARY FAMILIARIZATION
- Where: Sugar Bowl
- When: 8:15am Team Garage; 9:00am Sugar bpwl Judah upper lot
- Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)
We will be skiing the safe routes off MT. Lincoln into Onion creek if possible, then to crows nest and Mt. Judah. Open to 15 skiers. text your name to me.
APRIL 26 (Mon) -- FALLON NAS- SNOW OPS
- Where: Troy Caldwells property
- When: 7:30am Team Garage
- Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)
Fallon NAS has asked our help in training for snow operations. We need A team and B team members to help train and be trained with/by the air rescue crew. We will be working on patient packaging and transport issues with rescue scenarios. If you plan on attending, please call or text sooner rather than later. Bring full rescue packs
MAY 8 (Sat) -- CREVASSE RESCUE
- Where: snowshed wall/ Old 40
- When: 6:30am Team Garage; 7:00am Snow shed parking
- Contact: Andrew Oesterreicher (use current callout list for phone #)
TNSAR will be doing a crevasse rescue refresher to fulfill the requirements of a type 1 alpine rescue team. This training is to refresh perishable skills. The team will pull out its ropes/technical equipment and work on scenarios such as a stranded or injured skier in a crevasse. Bring search packs and technical equipment. No skis needed.
MAY 15 (Sat) -- NEVADA COUNTY TRAINING - SUMMER OPS
- Where: 39° 18.4452’ N 120° 45.8568’
- When: 8:30am Chalk Bluff staging area
- Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)
We are invited to join Nevada County in their training. All who possess a current OES card may attend. Meet at 10295 Chalk Bluff Rd. at 0830. Below is their description of the training. Expect most the day and hiking on dirt.
Who: All sworn recruits and mission ready members are encouraged to attend. What: Bring your 24hr search pack, lunch/snacks, and plenty of water. Also, the usual uniform items and a mask. When: Training begins at 0900; please arrive no later than 0845 to sign in.
JUNE 2 (Wed) -- GARAGE/VEHICLE CLEANUP
- Where: Team Garage
- When: 5:30pm Team Garage
- Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)
Join Dirk for the annual garage and vehicle cleanup with pizza and beer to follow. Bring cleaning materials for vehicles, yard and indoors. Text Dirk if you're planning to attend!
JULY 10 (Sat) -- FIVE LAKES AND BEYOND - CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST
- Where: Squaw Valley
- When: 7:30am Five Lakes Trailhead
- Contact: Chris Mertens (use current callout list for phone #)
The plan is to meet at Five Lakes TH, shuttle to Olympic Valley, and hike back to the Five Lakes TH. Plan for 12 miles and 3100' of vertical. Make sure to have CalTopo on your phone and relevant maps downloaded as there will be some field exercises involving it's use.
AUGUST 13 (Fri) -- PLACER COUNTY TRAVERSE - CANCELLED DUE TO SMOKE IMPACTS
- Where: The Pacific Crest
- When: TBDpm TBD
- Contact: Rom Marcucci (use current callout list for phone #)
Its time for a team overnight. Join Rom and others on a tour of the highest points in Placer county, A traverse from Sugar Pine state park to Sugar Bowl. 3 days, 2 nights of blissfull Tahoe summer backcountry. Call Rom for details.