1.1.1 Mountain Travel and Rescue

1.1.1.1 Mission/Objective:

To introduce and train NSP members, associated group members, and interested public in the travel and survival in comfort in the outdoor winter mountain environment, with quality instructors and relevant up-to-date course content.

1.1.1.2 Supervisor: Name and Contact

By the Numbers:

Efforts/Accomplishments of the past 2008-2009 Season:

Course Completions and Educational Results:

By Region

Approximately 2% of the Division NSP membership took MTRF, MTR I or MTR II course this past 2008-2009 season. This is an excellent historical increase! We have dropped down from the larger spike during 2007-2008 ski season when 3.1% participated with MTR courses. However program attendance is up from the historic data that fell between 0.8 to 1.4%.

Challenges:

Weather is always a challenge for MTR programs, for have an outdoor components.

Events:

At this point, the major educational event is the fall Tri-Advisory Conference in Yosemite Valley, which is a joint multi-discipline educational conference hosted by FWD. Avalanche, and Nordic NSP instructors receive division continuing educational credit when attending the FWD’s Tri-Advisory event.

MTR Program Updates from National Office:

1. Manual:
   1. A new MTR manual is being drafted. The lead author is a NSP member in the Central Division who is also university professor with experience in writing college books and manuals. The expected date for release is summer 2010 for use in the 2010-11 season.

To date there has really not been any funds spent by National.

2. New Course
   
   1. A MTR Enhancement Seminar is in the preliminary process of development.
      

MTR Instructors across our 5 Regions:

Mother Lode Region:

Currently there are 8 instructors, three less from last year. Three are IT’s. One new IT was appointed from Bear Valley in anticipation of MTR courses being held there.

Eastern Sierra Region:

There are 10 instructors, down from 11 last year. Two are IT’s

Arizona-Nevada Region:

There are 2 in the Region, including 1 in the Alumni.

Northern California Region:

There are no registered MTR instructors in this Region. No change from past years.

Southern California Region:

Currently there are 17 registered instructors, an increase of one. With 3 IT’s.

Change to fewer instructors is due to the non-renewal of several who had not taught and elected not to continue their NSP instructor status.

Last Season:

1. A Southern California MTR IT traveled and attended Arizona’s MTR I field session.
   

The Pinecrest Nordic MTR course was miss-registered by an Avalanche instructor as an avalanche course.

Sierra Summit never completed the MTR I overnight field portion of their course

Bear Valley plan was to have the next MTR I course during the 2009-10 season.

1.1.1.3 Plan for 2009-2010 Season:

1. Mother Lode.
   1. Objective: To have an active MTR program in the Northern Sierra’s

Plan: With the addition of an IT at Bear Valley this MTR instructor will be mentoring prospective MTR instructors next year

2. To encourage Region administrators to increase awareness of the MTR program to the Hills in their Region.
   1. Objective: Find students who want to take the class, but have been unaware of where to find a class. Identify MTR educational interests, plan and schedule courses.

Plan: To encourage Hill’s to encourage members to attend MTR class’s, and to encourage Regional Administrators to let Hill’s know when a course is planned, and where. To encourage and support each Region Administrator to have at least one MTR instructor at each hill in their Region.

3. In the AZ-NV Region
   1. Objective:Develop additional instructors.

Plan: Visit a MTR field session. This showed there are several prospective instructors that were viewed by a So Calif MTR IT and all received a thumbs-up. All prospective instructors must first take the MTR II course.

Objective:Hold a M TR II course next season

4. Visit at least three Regions during the season
   1. Objective: Ensure consistency in delivery and level of content of MTR Education across the division, as well as to monitor safety considerations.

Plan: Attend a I or II field session or classroom session (3-regions).

1.1.1.4 Budget – MTR Program

To meet the travel goals, a travel expenditure of $ 1,000 is requested.