Candidate Training

Prospective patrollers will receive comprehensive training in the protocols of TBSP.

OEC candidates and Transfer Patrollers

OEC Candidates and Transfer Patrollers are required to complete eleven patrol/training days their first season.

• Introduction to TBSP (5 patrol days)
• Mountain Travel and Rescue (1 day classroom, 2 day overnight)
• Avalanche Level 1 (1 classroom, 2 field days)
• Candidate final exam

Joining the Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol requires the following:

• You are a current member of the National Ski Patrol (NSP)
• You have paid your seasonal dues to your ski patrol
• You have completed and passed the NSP OEC course
• You have completed or are currently enrolled in the NSP Avy1 and MTR1 courses
• You are a proficient backcountry skier or rider (if in doubt about your skier/riding ability, contact patrol@tbsp.org)
• You have gear for single day backcountry tours or are prepared to put together the gear and daypack for single day tours
• You have the time and are committed to completing the course and becoming a TBSP patroller

Candidates without OEC

Candidates without OEC training are required to have a current certification in two-rescuer CPR (Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer or equivalent). Candidates without OEC are required to do 11 training and patrol days their first season and eight patrol days their second season.

First season:

• Introduction to TBSP (Orientation day only)
• Mountain Travel and Rescue (1 day classroom, 2 day overnight)
• Avalanche Level 1 (1 classroom, 2 field days)
• Shadow Patrol Days (any 4 patrol days)

Sign ups for the Fall OEC courses typically occur in March and fill up very quickly. The OEC courses fill up very quickly because they are shared with all other resort patrols in the Tahoe area.

Second season:

• Operations and On-The-Hill refresher
• Introduction to TBSP (5 days)
• Returning candidate final evaluation
• Patrol Days (at least 2 patrol days)

Good luck!

About the training

Mountain Travel and Rescue

• Map and Compass Exercises
  • Dead reckoning
  • Resectioning
  • Route planning and finding
• MTR course materials

Introduction to TBSP

• Radio protocols (review of AGILE)
• Patient Access Rope System
  • Lowering system
• Emergency Sled: Brooks Range Sled Construction
• Required knots
• Orienteering
• Beacon Searches (multiple burial, multiple searcher)
• Toboggan handling
• Megamid construction
• Major incident handling and coordination

NSP Avalanche Lev 1

• Beacon Searches
• Probe searches / guidon cord
• Safe travel in backcountry terrain.
• Route selection
• Hasty pits
• Snow Surveys
• Hazard analysis