Mountain Travel & Rescue

Mountain Travel and Rescue Training

Those taking Mountain Travel and Rescue (MTR) courses will learn a variety of skills, including nutrition and how the body performs in a wilderness environment, weather patterns, survival skills, working with group dynamics, an introduction to search and rescue, rope rescue skills, improvised toboggan construction, and land navigation with map, compass, and GPS. The MTR courses are taught in classroom and field sessions, including mock scenarios to ensure the attendees can apply what they have learned to real life situations.

Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast looking to expand your survival and travel skills in the backcountry environment or a ski patroller preparing for one of the worst possible scenarios a parent can face at a ski area (a lost child), the MTR courses can help you get prepared. There are three MTR courses:

Mountain Travel and Rescue Fundamentals (MTR F)

This course provides students with basic knowledge and skills to travel and work in reasonable comfort and safety in an outdoor environment. Field practice includes basic navigation, travel, and survival, and an introduction to search and rescue. This course does not include an overnight campout.

Mountain, Travel, and Rescue 1 (MTR 1)

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to travel and work in reasonable safety and comfort in the outdoor environment and to assist a search and/or rescue team, including possible overnight operations. Field practice includes practice in navigation, travel, survival skills, basic search and rescue exercises, and an overnight campout.

Mountain, Travel, and Rescue 2 (MTR 2)

Mountain Travel and Rescue Level 2 is designed as a follow-up course to MTR F and/or MTR 1. This course provides more in-depth training and field work in land navigation, search and rescue, rope rescue, improvised toboggan construction, survival skills, and emergency shelter construction that students can utilize during the length of the course.

If you are interested in taking an MTR course please contact Joseph Calbreath at calfam3@comcast.net for more information.

MTR 1 & 2 CLASSES

Combined MTR 1 & 2 class Scheduled for March, early April

MTR 1 is to train participants to be effective search team members and is open to everyone interested. The coast is $10.00 plus you must buy the MTR manual available in the NSP catalog for $19.50. The classroom sessions will be on March 10^th in Eugene from 08:00 — 16:00 and March 17^th from 12:30 — 16:00. The location is still to be determined. There is a homework assignment that is to be done before the classroom session so register early so you can get started on it. You can register by emailing me your name address and NSP number.

MTR 2 is to train participants to be effective search team leaders and is open to patrollers who have completed MTR 1 and Avy 1. If you have completed Avy 1 you can take both classes together. The coast is $10.00 and it is advised that you buy the new manual even if you have an old one. The manual is available in the NSP catalog for $19.50. The classroom session will be March 17^th from 08:00 — 16:00 in Eugene the location is Room 243 in Building 30 on the LCC Main Campus. There is a homework assignment to be completed before the classroom session so register early so you can get started on it. You can register by emailing me your name, address and NSP number.

Note: Date has been rescheduled for the field session at Gold Lake Snow Park (Last updated 2/26/2013).

The field sessions for both classes will be the weekend of April 27/28 at the Gold Lake Snow Park, located ½ mile west of Willamette Pass on Hwy 58. Be ready to hit the trail by 09:00 on the 27^th. We will be back to the parking lot by sundown on the 28^th. Participants can travel on cross-country skis or snowshoes.

Joseph Calbreath
Oregon Region MTR Advisor
Willamette Backcountry Ski Patrol
calfam3@comcast.net