Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol is a group of volunteers dedicated to helping make the Tahoe backcountry safer for everyone. We are all members of the National Ski Patrol, but instead of ski areas we patrol the public lands around Lake Tahoe and Truckee. We train all our members in emergency medicine, winter travel/survival, and search and rescue skills. There are currently over 50 skiers/riders on the patrol ranging in age from early 20s to early 60s and in ski ability from advanced intermediate to jaw-dropping rippers. TBSP patrollers get around on telemark or randonnee gear and on split-boards. We patrol the backcountry together in groups of 3 or more every winter weekend from December to mid-April.

Most of our patrolling takes place in California’s Tahoe National Forest, specifically in the sizeable Castle Peak area north of Donner Summit and on the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s the most popular destination that we patrol, not just among backcountry skiers and snowboarders, but also a fair share of snowshoe enthusiasts, whom we often encounter in sizeable groups out for the day or for a winter camp. Other Tahoe Forest destinations are various corniced ridges and traverses adjacent to the popular local ski resorts of Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Sugar Bowl. Our other primary patrol destination is Nevada’s Tahoe Meadows area and its neighboring wilderness zones near Mount Rose, perched high above Incline Village with breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe.

We offer

• Training and Certification: Training and certification to the standards of the National Ski Patrol. All TBSP members are also NSP members, working closely with the organization at the Region and Division levels.
• Community Partnership: TBSP has partnered with the Tahoe Backcountry Alliance to advocate for backcountry access and to provide Trafx trail counters at popular backcountry destinations.

Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol is always looking for dedicated and enthusiastic winter backcountry lovers to join the patrol. TBSP is in search of folks willing to learn a new set of skills or two, while spending their weekends serving skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers that venture out into the mountains north of Tahoe. We invite anyone interested in learning more about the backcountry ski patrol to schedule a ski-along this season. Keep an eye out for our trailhead signs and white crosses the next time you’re out earning your turns!