Chapter 01: Areas Patrolled

Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol Manual

AREAS PATROLLED

We cover these non-commercial backcountry ski areas on a patroller availability basis:

• Castle Peak (west of Hwy. 80 at Boreal ridge)
• Tahoe Meadows (off Nevada Hwy. 431, south of Mt. Rose)
• Galena Creek (off Nevada Hwy. 431 near Mt. Rose ski area)
• Martis Peak (east of Hwy. 267, south of Northstar)
• Pole Creek (west of Hwy. 89 south, across from Big Chief)
• Mt. Lincoln/Mt. Judah area (east of Sugar Bowl ski area)
• Ridge Route (Sugar Bowl to Squaw Valley ridge traverse via Anderson Peak and Tinker Knob)

Each of these areas is patrolled pursuant to a volunteer agreement with the United States Forest Service. Tahoe Meadows and Galena Creek are in Nevada, in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The other five areas are in California and the Tahoe National Forest.

WEATHER

Weather conditions can dictate whether and how we patrol various areas. For example, parking is prohibited on Route 431, the "Mt. Rose Highway," during snow removal operations. As a result, there will not be any recreational activity at Tahoe Meadows, and we will not patrol Tahoe Meadows during serious storms when chain controls are in effect. Another example is the avalanche conditions, which may prevail at Castle Peak, Mt. Lincoln/Mt. Judah, Tahoe Meadows and Galena Creek during or just after heavy winter storms. Decisions regarding the cancellation or limitation of patrol activities are left to the Mountain Manager and the Team Leader for each area on the day in question.

AVALANCHE PRECAUTIONS

The areas we patrol are not known for heavy avalanche activity under normal conditions. However, there can be extreme avalanche danger in some areas after heavy storms. This is especially true of Castle Peak, Mt. Lincoln/Mt. Judah, Galena Creek and Tahoe Meadows. In addition to avoiding such dangerous areas ourselves, we should advise other skiers and snowmobilers of dangerous conditions whenever possible. In order to accomplish these ends, candidates and patrollers will receive training in how to recognize and avoid avalanche conditions. Team leaders should consult the avalanche phone each morning before commencing patrol operations, and avalanche conditions must be reported on the Daily Operations Log. Candidates and patrollers must become proficient in the use of avalanche transceivers. Each patroller must carry a transceiver and a shovel whenever patrolling. We have obtained grant funds to purchase a sufficient number of transceivers to cover patrol-training operations. Each member must have a personal avalanche transceiver by the beginning of the second year of membership.