Become Apart of the Community with Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue

Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue was started in 1976 after two boys went missing from Northstar and a group of volunteer skiers and the boy’s fathers went searching. Since then the team has grown into an incredible group of awesome individuals who share a love for the mountains, and want a great way to give back to our community. About ten years ago I was looking for some way I could volunteer some time and give back to the community that has given so much to me. As a person with loads of ADHD and someone who hates to sit still (Trust me, just writing this is like pulling teeth) running around in the woods with rad humans seemed like a great fit…and it was. SAR (Search and Rescue) has been a great experience over the years.

First of all, becoming a volunteer and giving back just simply feels good, makes you part of the community, and you get a chance to meet other like-minded people in a healthy atmosphere (not the bar). What I didn’t really take into consideration when I joined was the incredible training that is accessible to members. From avalanche to first responder courses, we spend time getting to know the mountains we love and getting familiar with the backcountry. All this knowledge has made me a better all-around mountain traveler and the amount of collective knowledge from the team is amazing people love to share their passions with people. Some of my most enjoyable mountain memories are spending time learning and enjoying the mountains with the team.

The team is not just for people who struggle to sit still and bounce off the walls. We take all kinds, and that is what makes the team so special!!! Whatever your passion or skill set is you can fit in, and if you don’t think you have a skill set…you fit in, that’s what the trainings are for. It’s simple to join, just show up to one of our monthly meetings and get the ball rolling. Meetings are first the Monday of every month in the winter.

The primary fundraiser for Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, the Great Ski Race, held in March each year, is one of the largest Nordic ski races in the West. Proceeds from the event are used to purchase critical equipment for the team, support education programs, conduct trainings, and more. The Great Ski Race is Sunday, March 6th, 2022 and there is still time to register! Learn more below.