New Division MTR website: www.centraldivisionmtr.org

New Low Angle Rescue program:  Fee: $10, Text: None, see calendar for details

MTR – Mountain Travel & Rescue (Mountaineering) is Alive and Well in Southern Wisconsin.

 Patrollers, the South Central Region MTR program is offering you a wide range of outdoor skills courses for your education and enjoyment this winter season. Please consider our program when planning out your winter activities. We train you in backcountry skills that you can use anywhere; during any season; at any time. Come join us for some fun.

Figure 1 - Winter campsite at Copper Falls State Park, Mellen, WI. MTR 2 course, March 2004.

Campsite selection, water sources, and food preparation area are important considerations in any winter camping program.

  We are holding a combination avalanche/mountaineering fundamentals course on the west side of the region in December & January. If you want to give winter camping a try, we have the MTR 1 course with an overnighter for the more adventurous in January & February. If you want to test yourself and your gear, try our MTR 2 course, a 3 day outing in Northern Wisconsin in early March, 2005. We usually have a lot of snow, a lot of food, and a lot of fun.

 All MTR courses have a separate classroom and outdoor components to allow students to gain new knowledges in outdoor travel and living; then time outdoors to experience and try out their new skills.  In the more advanced courses, patrollers research and present brief lessons to the group on outdoor gear, camping equipment, food, survival, and many other outdoor topics. Students may use snowshoes, back country skis, and backcountry sleds in the MTR 2 course.

                                        What’s new with the MTR program this season.   

1. Combined fundamental courses. The concept of combining the fundamentals courses for avalanche and MTR was tried last season with good responses from the participants.  A similar program is set for the west side of region this December.
2. Rental of outdoor equipment. You don’t have to purchase new equipment to participate in the MTR courses, just rent the tent, sleeping bag, stove, or skis you need for a day or a two. REI in Madison and Milwaukee both have extensive rental gear for your use. The equipment is very good quality, tell them the Mountaineering program sent you.
3. Low angle ropes training. MTR is developing a low angle ropes training course that combines several of the rope knots and skills of the old chair evacuation program with rescue ropes setup for use on slopes up to 40 degrees steep.

If you have interest in gaining rope skills to use in low angle rescue situations, please have your patrol leader contact Ken Anderson, MTR Advisor (262) 642-2668); or Dave Zoromski, MTR Ropes Training Coordinator (608) 437-3544) for more information.

Figure 2 - Steve Ross, patient;  Joe Peterson- sled man; and Ian Los- rope man; practice evacuation of a loaded sled up a wooded, snowy slope. MTR 2 course at Copper Falls State Park, March 2004. This person was hauled up a 30 degree slope with the rescue gear shown in the picture. Low angle ropes training is a standard component of the MTR 2 course.

Figure 3 - View of Tyler Forks River at Copper Falls State Park, Mellen, Wi.  Just one of the fantastic views of the rivers and gorges at this beautiful state park in the far north of Wisconsin.

 The 2004-2005 MTR Course Schedule:

1.     MTR Fundamentals Course – combined Avalanche/MTR fundamentals classroom sessions: Nov. 30, Dec. 2, 7, 2004; 6-10 PM. Location TBA.  Fundamentals Field exercise, January 8, 2005, Devil’s Lake or Blue Mounds St. Park. Basic introduction to avalanche dangers in the mountains, basic compass & navigation skills, equipment usage, food and water needs.

2.     MTR 1 Course – classroom session,  9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, January 22, 2005, TBA.  Field Exercise, February 13, 2005, TBA. Actual campout, search & rescue activities, winter travel skills, winter equipment rental and use for field session.

3.     MTR 2 Course – Classroom session on January 22 with MTR 1 students. Shakedown gear session with MTR 1 students - February 13, 2005.  3-day winter outing on March 4, 5, 6, 2005, Copper Falls St. Park. This is our advanced course for persons that want to experience winter travel and rescue training in an isolated location.

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Registration Form for 2004-2005 Mountaineering (MTR) Courses Only:

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___Combined Avalanche/MTR Fundamentals, Classroom sessions on Nov.  30, Dec. 2, 7; Field session on January 8, 2005.

______ MTR 1 Course, Classroom- Jan. 22 and Field -Feb. 13, 2005.

______ MTR 2 Course, Classroom – Jan. 22, Gear Shakedown – Feb. 13;

              3-day outing in N. Wisconsin – March 4, 5, 6, 2005.

 The registration fee is $10 per course. The required textbook for all courses is “Mountain Travel & Rescue,” Catalog # 509, $19.95+ shipping from the NSP office. All courses are NSP registered education courses.

 Check the courses you wish to attend, attach your check with proper payment to this registration form, mail to: Ken Anderson, 1720 Thomas Drive, East Troy, WI, 53120. Phone: (262) 642-2668. Email: ken.anderson@centurytel.net

 Please copy the completed registration form and check for your records.