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 2008 - 2009 season.

OCTOBER 9 (Thu) -- NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION

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

Designed for new members to learn how to get active with the team, attend trainings and get to go on searches.

OCTOBER 14 (Tue) -- MAP AND COMPASS

  • Where: Kings Beach Fire Dept.
  • When: 6:30pm Kings Beach Fire Dept.
  • Contact: Randall Osterhuber (use current callout list for phone #)

Get back to the basics. Re learn old skills or hone new skills. Everyone should be able to use a map and compass.

OCTOBER 18 (Sat) -- JOINT TRAINING WITH AUBURN SAR

  • Where: Cisco Grove Staging Area
  • When: 8:00am Cisco Grove Staging Area; 6:30am Team Garage
  • Contact: Brendan Compton ; Jim Rienstra (use current callout list for phone #)

Staging area is on Donner Pass Rd approximately 1/2 mile east of Cisco Grove. Activities to include navigation and terrain familiarization, man-tracking, grid searching and geocashing. Rescue Randy will be deployed into the field the day before.

OCTOBER 19 (Sun) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Powderhorn Creek
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage
  • Contact: Steve Twomey (use current callout list for phone #)

Fun filled day of hiking and becoming familiar with frequently winter searched terrain. Come enjoy the fall colors.

OCTOBER 22 (Wed) -- GPS PRACTICE

  • Where: USGS Office
  • When: 6:30pm USGS Office-Carnelian Bay
  • Contact: Gerald Rockwell (use current callout list for phone #)

Come learn how to use your GPS in a classroom setting. From the basics to more advanced skills like plotting your route on to a laptop. Bring GPS and laptop-there will be extra GPS there if you don't own one.

NOVEMBER 8 (Sat) -- POWDERHORN/TWIN PEAKS/PCT CIRCUMNAVIGATE

  • Where: Barker Pass
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am Barker Pass
  • Contact: Sara Barrett (use current callout list for phone #)

Come hike through beautiful search terrain and enjoy the fall. Bring lunches and warm stuff as usual and be prepared to be out most of the day.

NOVEMBER 11 (Tue) -- SNOW CAT TRUCK

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 6:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

Snowcat team - come and learn the proper procedures to follow when loading and unloading the team snowcat on the new snowcat hauler truck.

NOVEMBER 13 (Thu) -- COMM VAN

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 6:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

Come and learn how to be involved with searches as part of the Communications Van Team.

NOVEMBER 15 (Sat) -- HELICOPTER LZ TRAINING

  • Where: Round Valley (near Castle Peak)
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Wild Cherries
  • Contact: Dirk Schoonmaker (use current callout list for phone #)

Fun filled day of hiking becoming familiar with managing a helicopter landing zone and patient transport. Pictures by David Wright.

NOVEMBER 23 (Sun) -- BILLY'S PEAK/DEEP CREEK HIKE

  • Where: Deep Creek
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am Deep Creek Trailhead/Hwy. 89
  • Contact: Bernie Mellor (use current callout list for phone #)

Make sure to call and check on conditions if we will be on snow or dirt or both? Bernie will lead us through Deep Creek and up to Billy's Peak, named in honor of past TNSAR member Billy Dutton. Be prepared for a full day with some cold temps.

DECEMBER 6 (Sat) -- SET UP, GEAR UP, SHOW UP

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

Bring you’re prepared sled & search pack

Agenda: Team review of sled and search pack ready status. Review equipment (sled and pack), discuss best practices and opportunities for improvement; receive feedback on your setup.

DECEMBER 6 (Sat) -- BASIC 1ST AID & CPR

  • Where: Fire Station
  • When: 8:00am Fire Station
  • Contact: Rich Dwinell (use current callout list for phone #)

Basic 1st aid and CPR training. Cost is $55 which TNSAR will re-imburse upon successful completion of the course. Contact Rich Dwinell at (775) 720-4508 for details

DECEMBER 7 (Sun) -- GROUSE ROCK SKI TRAINING

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

One of the better early season ski spots in our area-we will be heading out in search of the elusive snowpack. Pictures by David Wright.

DECEMBER 8 (Mon) -- 2008 WINTER SPORTS SYMPOSIUM

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

Come hear about backcountry/pre hospital medicine and care practices and procedures. Event is free and will sell out- must register in advance, includes dinner. Register online at www.regonline.com/2008wsis.

DECEMBER 20 (Sat) -- BASIC 1ST AID & CPR

  • Where: Fire Station
  • When: 8:00am Fire Station
  • Contact: Rich Dwinell (use current callout list for phone #)

Basic 1st aid and CPR training. Cost is $55 which TNSAR will re-imburse upon successful completion of the course. Contact Rich Dwinell at (775) 720-4508 for details.

DECEMBER 21 (Sun) -- SNOW VALLEY PEAK

  • Where: Spooner Lake
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am Kings Beach Safeway
  • Contact: Mike LeFrancois (use current callout list for phone #)

Come spend the first day of winter, hopefully skiing, on the beautiful east side of Lake Tahoe. Make sure to call Mike for details on snow.

DECEMBER 22 (Mon) -- SNOWCAT LOADING AND UNLOADING

  • Where: Team Garage
  • When: 4:00pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Jimmy Smith (use current callout list for phone #)

Snowcat Team Members only training to write procedures manual for loading and unloading the snowcat on the team snowcat hauler.

JANUARY 13 (Tue) -- GPS TRAINING

  • Where: Page Meadows
  • When: 5pm Team Garage
  • Contact: Bernie Mellor (use current callout list for phone #)

An evening with the legendary Bernie Mellor. Bernie will be leading a GPS exercise in Page Meadows from 5-8pm. Dress warm, snowshoes or light weight ski gear will work great for this training.

JANUARY 20 (Tue) -- DONNER PEAK TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Donner Summit
  • When: t.b.dam t.b.d.
  • Contact: Scott Meyer ; Geoff Quine (use current callout list for phone #)

Jim Zaloga from Sugar Bowl Ski Patrol will lead us on a tour around Donner Peak and its steep terrain.

JANUARY 20 (Tue) -- DONNER PEAK TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Donner Summit
  • When: 8:00am t.b.d.
  • Contact: Scott Meyer ; Geoff Quine (use current callout list for phone #)

Jim Zaloga from Sugar Bowl Ski Patrol will lead us on a tour around Donner Peak and its steep terrain.

JANUARY 20 (Tue) -- DONNER PEAK TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Donner Summit
  • When: 8:00am t.b.d.
  • Contact: Scott Meyer ; Geoff Quine (use current callout list for phone #)

Jim Zaloga from Sugar Bowl Ski Patrol will lead us on a tour around Donner Peak and its steep terrain.

JANUARY 23 (Fri) -- OVERNIGHT WITH PLACER COUNTY SAR (SAT-SUN)

  • Where: Cisco Grove
  • When: t.b.dpm Team Garage
  • Contact: JIMMY SMITH (use current callout list for phone #)

Snomobiles, Snowcats, Skiiers welcome. Hone your skills and help the Auburn folks learn a thing or tow about SAR in the snow. Be sure to call ahead for additional details.

JANUARY 27 (Tue) -- NLTFPD AVALANCHE TRAINING SENARIO

  • Where: Sheep Flats, Mt. Rose
  • When: 8am Team Garage
  • Contact: Steve Reynaud (use current callout list for phone #)

Large scale joint avalanche exercise. We will meet at the garage in the morning to go over TNSAR protocals/procedures. Use search dogs, probe lines and transceivers to locate buried victims. Bring local agencies together.

JANUARY 31 (Sat) -- TERRAIN FAMILIARIZATION

  • Where: Alpine Meadows
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Alpine Meadows
  • Contact: Jim Granger (use current callout list for phone #)

Come and ski in and out of bounds. Learn where the safe routes are during searches. Be sure and call Jim if you plan on attending.

FEBRUARY 5 (Thu) -- COMM VAN TRAINING

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

For anyone wanting to learn more and participate with the Comm Van. Come learn the inner workings of our search communications.

FEBRUARY 7 (Sat) -- HO HO HOMEWOOD

  • Where: Homewood Ski Resort and Backcountry
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am Homewood Ski Resort-South Lot
  • Contact: Sara Carbonari (use current callout list for phone #)

Smile your#$% off at Homewood. We will check out inbounds and then ski tour up to Ellis Peak and beyond. Pictures by Sara Carbonari.

FEBRUARY 17 (Tue) -- JAKES AND BEYOND

  • Where: Jakes Peak
  • When: 8am Team Garage; 8:30am Jakes Peak Trailhead
  • Contact: Russ Viehmann (use current callout list for phone #)

Come check out some of the primo backcountry terrain in the Tahoe area. Be prepared for a full day in the backcountry.

FEBRUARY 21 (Sat) -- RESCUE SLED TRAINING

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

Skiers, snowmobiles and snowcats, team garage 8am. We will bring out everything we have in rescue sled technology; Cascade sled, the ski bubble, fire dept. standard issue, and other prototypes in the works to find what works.

MARCH 10 (Tue) -- DESOLATION WILDERNESS SKI TOUR

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

A full day ski tour into Desolation Wilderness. Terrain familiarization and good old fashion peak bagging. Come for the fun.

MARCH 14 (Sat) -- TOW ANYONE?

  • Where: Northstar/South Face Mt. Pluto Boundary
  • When: 8:00am Team Garage; 8:30am Northstar Trailhead
  • Contact: Chris McConnell (use current callout list for phone #)

Who: Snowmobilers, Skiers, Snowcat. Bring you and your standard search gear (ready to ski and/or tow)

Agenda: The snowmobile team will be providing a fun opportunity to improve the towing skills of both the sled driver and skier.

MARCH 23 (Mon) -- SQUAW VALLEY AND BEYOND POSTPONED

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

We will be skiing the perimeter of the resort and beyond, skiing terrain not easily accessable otherwise. Be prompt and prepare for a full day.

APRIL 6 (Mon) -- GROUSE ROCK

  • Where: Grouse Rock/Ward Canyon
  • When: 8am Team Garage
  • Contact: Mike Le Francois (use current callout list for phone #)

We will be ski touring up to Grouse Rock and over to the backside of Alpine Meadows. This is some of our more frequently search and rescue terrain.

APRIL 13 (Mon) -- DEEP CREEK/POLE CREEK SKI TOUR

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

Tour through the beautiful Deep Creek/Pole Creek drainages skiing aspects depending on conditions. Call Doug ahead of time for the possibility of doing a car shuttle.

APRIL 19 (Sun) -- SQUAW VALLEY USA PART III

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

3rd times a charm. Squaw Valley USA, out of bounds terrain, smooth corn skiing? Make sure to call ahead if interested in going.

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!

E-mail or Snail mail or Media Inquiries

TNSAR staff

Friends of TNSAR

©2021 TNSAR
Non-profit Tax ID# 94-2737988