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 2005 - 2006 season.

OCTOBER 6 (Thu) -- TRUCK TRAINING

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

A chance to get familiar or refamiliarize yourself with the team truck and the equipment we use from the truck on searches.

OCTOBER 8 (Sat) -- POWDERHORN HIKE

  • Where: Barker Pass to Five Lakes
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Mike Kennett (use current callout list for phone #)

A beautiful hike in our own backyard. Come to reaquaint yourself with team members and get some exercise. Check out picture's from David Wright and others.

OCTOBER 16 (Sun) -- SNOW VALLEY PEAK HIKE

  • Where: Tahoe Rim Trail
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 7:45am NT Beach Parking
  • Contact: Karen Honeywell (use current callout list for phone #)

Come for a hike on the East shore of Lake Tahoe. Stunning views and good company in an area we don't go to often. Check out the picture's from the day.

OCTOBER 22 (Sat) -- MT. ROSE HIKE

  • Where: Mt. Rose proper
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 7:45am NT Beach Parking
  • Contact: Sue Duerkson (use current callout list for phone #)

A hike to the top of Mt. Rose proper, the highest point on the N.Shore of Lake Tahoe. Excellent views and even better company on this uphill adventure. Check out the picture's from Brian York.

OCTOBER 30 (Sun) -- DONNER PASS TO SQUAW VALLEY HIKE

  • Where: Pacific Crest Trail
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:15am Sugar Bowl Academy/Old ASI
  • Contact: Polly McGehee (use current callout list for phone #)

The classic long hike in the area. Come enjoy excellent terrain that is difficult to reach in the winter. Expect a long day.

NOVEMBER 9 (Wed) -- TRANSCEIVER PRACTICE

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

The first Transceiver course of this winter; be there, be digital. Check out picture's from David Wright.

NOVEMBER 13 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Deep Creek
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Paul Honeywell /phoneywe@usgs.gov(use current callout list for phone #)

This trek to check out a peak named after one of our own is for all members. Check out picture's from David Wright and picture's Brian York.

NOVEMBER 19 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Relay Peak
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 7:45am NT Beach Parking
  • Contact: Michael LaFrancois (use current callout list for phone #)

This peak sees alot of traffic from winter enthusiasts. There are lots of ways to approach and descend from this area that can end up with a lost person. Call ahead to find out what gear will be necessary.

NOVEMBER 29 (Tue) -- TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

  • Where: Squaw Valley Fire -W. end of building
  • When: 6:00pm Team Garage; 6:30pm Squaw Valley Fire Dept.
  • Contact: Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

See the gizmos TNSAR uses during a search. We'll concentrate on the use, operation and procedures for the radios, GPS and TOPO computer program. Check out the picture's from Brian York.

DECEMBER 3 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Castle Peak area
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:00am Wild Cherries Coffee house @Truckee
  • Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)

This is a heavily used area for recreationists. This training will show where people tend to get lost and the safe routes that exist for searching.

DECEMBER 11 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Alpine Meadows Ski Area
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Patrol Building
  • Contact: Sara Barrett (use current callout list for phone #)

This is a chance to see the boundary and beyond of an area we have searched in several times. Plan on going out of bounds if conditions warrant.

DECEMBER 17 (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 #)

THIS TRAINING HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF SNOW. STAY TUNED.

JANUARY 5 (Thu) -- COMMUNICATION VAN OPERATION

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

Our team is now responsible for the comm. van. Using radios to communicate with the command post is vital for a successful search. Come out to see how it all comes together.

JANUARY 15 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Grouse Rock and beyond
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Steve Twomey (use current callout list for phone #)

Time to get back on those skis. Join a senior team member for a trip just outside of Alpine Meadows Ski Area. Good terrain, good excersize and great company. Make sure to call Steve prior to training.

JANUARY 19 (Thu) -- SNOWCAT TEAM TRAINING

  • Where: inside snowcat
  • When: 8:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Scoop (use current callout list for phone #)

Come listen to the first hand account of Scoop's adventures at the Search on 1/17/05.

FEBRUARY 4 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Jakes Peak
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Paul Cushing (use current callout list for phone #)

One of the most popular backcountry peaks in the Tahoe area. We will explore potential areas people may get lost and possible avalanche zones. We will have to respond to this area before to long.

FEBRUARY 9 (Thu) -- TRANCEIVER TRAINING

  • Where: Squaw Valley behind children's world
  • When: 6:30pm Squaw
  • Contact: Brian York (use current callout list for phone #)

transceiver \tran(t)s-e-ver, tranz-\ n (ca. 1937): An electronic device used to help locate buried avalanche victims. Pictures from Brian York.

FEBRUARY 11 (Sat) -- SKI AND SNOWMOBILE FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Sugar Bowl area
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:15am Mt Judah parking lot
  • Contact: TJ Johnson ; Jeff DeVries (use current callout list for phone #)

This training is designed to work on the joint cooperation/communication between skiers and snow machines. Skiers will use the ski area to access the backcountry, while the snow machines make there way to meet the skiers. A true search scenario.

FEBRUARY 13 (Mon) -- COMMUNICATIONS VAN ORIENTATION PART TWO

  • Where: Placer Co. Sheriff Office
  • When: 5:30pm Burton Creek Substation on Hwy 28
  • Contact: Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

The second installment of how the comm. van operates and is used during a search.

FEBRUARY 16 (Thu) -- AVALANCHE SCENARIO

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 5:30pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)

This training wiil give you the chance to practice those avalanche rescue skills in a controlled situation. For those who come hungry, dinner will be fetched after the training ($5).

FEBRUARY 18 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

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

This will be a big mountain tour. Check out the map and profile.

FEBRUARY 19 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Mt. Tallac
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Paul Honeywell (use current callout list for phone #)

Come join in the hike and ski of Tahoes premier backcountry peak. If conditions allow, we will ski off the backside and make a day of it.

FEBRUARY 26 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Mt Rose Ski Area
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage; 8:15am Mt. Rose Parking Lot
  • Contact: Sarah Lagano (use current callout list for phone #)

We will ski in area to check out the ski area boundaries and then head out to see where people potentially could get lost. We haven't trained here in a long time, if ever.

MARCH 19 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Mt. Tallac
  • When: 7:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Paul Honeywell (use current callout list for phone #)

Come hike and ski Tahoe's premier backcountry peak. If conditions allow, we will ski off the back and make a day of it.

MARCH 25 (Sat) -- SPECIAL SKILLS

  • Where: Donner Pass
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Wild Cherries Coffee House
  • Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)

A chance to practice and learn some self arrest and crevasse rescue techniques as the spring season is upon us.

MAY 13 (Sat) -- ANNUAL GARAGE CLEANUP

  • Where: Garage, dummy
  • When: 9:00am Garage
  • Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)

It's a thankless but important task that Dirk takes up each year; he needs your help, and for only a few hours. Give Dirk a call to see what you can bring.

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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