Difference between revisions of "Appendix S: Patrol Recruiting"

Revision as of 23:14, 2 December 2009

Patrol Recruiting

TBSP is always looking for eager candidates to join the patrol. The more patrollers we have available on a given day, the larger the area we are capable of assisting.

Going for a ski along

TBSP Patroller rips the powder on the East slope of Castle.

Ski Along requests are subject to the discretion of the Mountain Manager. We are able to provide Ski Alongs to prospective patrol candidates on most days when we patrol, but request at least 5 days notice for prospective ski along candidates.

How to arrange for a Ski Along

Contact recruiter@tbsp.org at least 5 days in advance to schedule your ski-along!

• Guests are required to sign a liability waiver prior to patrolling with TBSP NSP Event Release Form from the NSP Document Library. Blank copies are also found in the Ops trailer black box. File these in the Patrol Reports binder.
• The guest must supply their full name, mailing address and phone number to the Mountain Manager.
  • The Mountain Manager should forward this information to the TNF Forest Service Liaison
• By Friday morning: The Mountain Manager must forward the guest's full name and mailing address to the Tahoe National Forest contact. On the email copy recruiter@tbsp.org and operations@tbsp.org.
• No more than two guests may visit with TBSP on any Ski-Along day.
• NSP members are encouraged to come out for a ski-along

Ski-Along Procedure

• Guests will patrol at Castle Peak, and only with a regular patrol team (not training, instruction, or “Challenging Terrain”).
• A guest may not bring or invite any other person (or dog) on patrol with TBSP, the only exception being for avalanche rescue dogs which are owned and have been trained by the guest.
• On the assigned patrol day, a guest shall meet TBSP at the Equipment Shed at 8:30 AM.
• A guest shall be expected to ski the same distance, duration, and terrain as the TBSP team, which may on occasion exceed six miles, 2000 feet of climbing, and 2000 feet of descent, with up to black-diamond difficulty, and any snow conditions, for a full day. It is the responsibility of the guest to be familiar with, and prepared for, such an effort.
• A guest will be accompanied by a radio-carrying TBSP patroller (to be assigned by the Team Leader) at all times while on patrol.
• Guests are not allowed to provide medical assistance, regardless of guest experience. TBSP patrollers shall take leadership of all incidents.
• Time (typically 30 – 60 minutes) will be provided as a lunch break.
• Return to the equipment shed typically occurs by shortly after sunset, but this is not guaranteed.
• Upon return to the TBSP Patrol Operations Center, all loaned equipment must be returned to TBSP in as good a condition as it was loaned out. Equipment to be returned may include avalanche transceivers, probe poles, ensolite foam pads, shovels, pack crosses, and Sno-Park permits. Report any lost or damaged equipment immediately to the Patrol Leader.
• TBSP’s patrolling season is roughly mid-December to third week of April, weekends only.

Required Personal Equipment

Guests on Ski Alongs are required to bring the personal equipment defined in the Patrol Manual Appendix A: Required Personal Equipment.

The following types of equipment can be used for ski-alongs:

• Metal-edge skis with fitted skins and either a sturdy freeheel binding, randonee binding, or alpine binding and freeheel adapter (e.g. “alpine trekker”)
  • NNN-BC bindings and/or fishscale skis are strongly discouraged
• Snowboarders must bring snowshoes, short x/c skis, or “Split-Decision” type snowboards in conjunction with ski poles for moving while on flats or uphills. No walking or postholing in snowboard boots alone is allowed.
• Poles, preferably adjustable-length, ideally convertible to a probe; required for both skiers and snowboarders

Candidate Training

New members of TBSP pass through a one or two year candidate program before becoming members of the patrol. As part of this process, you will be certified in:

• NSP Introduction to Ski Patrol
• NSP Avalanche 1 for the Professional Rescuer
• NSP Mountain Travel and Rescue Level 1

Candidates who start their candidate year with the NSP Outdoor Emergency Care certification (medical course) can complete the candidate training in a single season. Candidates are also invited to begin training with the patrol, and to take the OEC course between their first and second seasons. For candidates without OEC, they will take the Avalanche and Mountaineering courses their first season and join patrollers on patrol, and then finish their candidate training during their second season.

We also welcome patrollers transferring to our patrol, transfer patrollers can be waived out of the MTR and Avalanche courses but are expected to participate in the ISP course during their candidate season. Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol Manual