Mountain Travel and Rescue LEVEL 1 Course — 2023 Central NY

Open to Eastern Division members interested in the Mountain Travel & Rescue LEVEL ONE course.

Are you a Ski Patroller, outdoor enthusiast, or SAR (search and rescue) team member looking to expand your survival and travel skills in the backcountry environment? Are you a weekend adventurer seeking the knowledge and skills to travel and enjoy yourself safely and comfortably in the outdoor environment? If so, this course can help you get prepared!

Course Overview

Students taking the Mountain Travel & Rescue 1 (MTR1) course will learn a variety of skills, including:

• hydration and nutrition
• weather patterns and route selection
• proper clothing and adaptation to the wilderness environment
• medical and survival skills
• teamwork and group dynamics
• incident command system and basic search and rescue operations
• knot tying and low-angle rope rescue skills
• emergency transport and improvised toboggan construction
• land navigation with map & compass and GPS

This course includes online pre-course homework, classroom study, and field sessions to ensure students can apply their knowledge to real-life situations. Specific field practice includes practice in navigation, travel, survival skills, a search and rescue exercise, and an overnight campout at Highland Forest – Onondaga County Park.

Pre-Course Homework requires:

Once your registration has been received by the Patroller School website, your course confirmation receipt will explain the portion of this course that each student must independently prepare at home before arrival:

1. Purchase the NSP MTR textbook, “MOUNTAINEERING, The Freedom of the Hills,” 9th Edition, by E. Linxweiler and M. Maude. It’s not a long read; Chapter reading assignments will be listed in the ONLINE MOODLE SCHOOL (refer below).
2. Complete the FEMA online courses for IS-100 and IS-700 courses. Visit the MTR FEMA web page for guidance. Print the Certificates of Completion or email the PDFs to the IOR. If you already have IS-700 completed, please forward or bring a copy of your Certificate of Completion.
3. Self-paced ONLINE study is required at Eastern Division’s Moodle School. Students will receive an online account to log in and accomplish the lessons that used to be taught in a classroom prior to attending the fieldwork sessions.
4. Several evening Zoom Sessions are scheduled for:
   • • Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 6:30 PM — Introduction and Camping
     • Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 6:30 PM — Sleep System, Shelters, Fire-Starting, and Group Dynamics.
     • Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:30 PM — Group Gear, 10 Essentials, and Hazards
     • Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 6:30 PM — Leave No Trace and Travel Equipment
     • Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 6:30 PM — Low Angle Rescue
5. Pack your gear for the campout; refer to the MTR Course Gear Info document for checklists and planning ideas.
6. Arrival is on Saturday morning at 8:00 AM. Remember to print your Patroller School ticket. It has the required Division Waiver; read it, sign it, and bring it to morning check-in.

Space in this MTR Course is limited; a waitlist may develop, so put a group together, bring your friends, and enjoy a weekend of fun and learning.