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Patrol
Training
New
Backcountry/Barmy Dogs Patroller Training: National Trails Day
Weekend, June, 2008, Cable, WI
The Backcountry
Trail Patrol and Barmy Dogs Mountain Bike Patrol will hold their
annual new patroller training in Cable, WI on National Trails
Day Weekend, June, 2008. Once again the training will be
held at the Namakagon Town Hall, (7 miles east of Cable on
County Road "M") adjacent to the Namakagon/Rock Lake
trails of the Chequamegon Area MTB Association. (CAMBA) There
will be classroom and on-bike training sessions, plus guest
speakers from the US Forest Service, CAMBA and local Emergency
Medical Services. Free camping will be available at the USFS
Namakagon Campground or in the backcountry.
Potential Backcountry Trail Patrol members are reminded that new
patrollers are required to have a minimum of 16 hours of wilderness
first aid and 1-person CPR before they can take part in BTP
activities. We will be offering nationally-certified basic and
advanced Wilderness First Aid, CPR and Wilderness First
Responder training starting in March, at the REI stores in Maple
Grove and Roseville. Details will be posted here, or on our
website
Backcountry
MTB Patroller and Trail Care Training
The
Backcountry
Trail Patrol consists
of volunteer skiers, snowshoers and mountain bike riders of various abilities.
The patrol uses non-motorized means to travel on designated routes in the
Chippewa and Chequamegon
National
Forests and the Sand Dunes State Forest near Zimmerman.
As they meet other users on the trails, patrollers answer
questions, provide water, first aid and mechanical assistance
and directions if needed. The patrol also educates the public on
forest regulations and minimum impact travel and
camping. Patrollers wear official uniforms and use their own
equipment. They carry hand-held two-way radios to report emergencies
and other important matters. In the unlikely event that a
Patrol volunteer is injured while patrolling, medical expenses
will be covered by the Forest Service or the Minnesota DNR. At the end of each
patrol, patrollers submit a report to the agency detailing the number of hikers, bikers, ATVs, 4x4s, horses,
hunters and fishermen encountered during the day, as well as any
wildlife seen. This helps the USFS and DNR to determine area usage.
Patrollers also report any problems they find, e.g. blocked
trails, downed trees, fences in need of repair and broken signs,
and may perform light trail care.
When a new
member joins the BTPA, he or she becomes a Probationary member
for the duration of the Training. Probationary members are
trained by NMBP, Trail Care Crew, Leave No Trace and emergency
medical instructors in the areas described below.
Training
consists of both classroom education and practical exercises on
the trails. In the summer time, it also includes an overnight stay on the trail,
while on mountain bike patrol in the Chippewa National Forest.
This is part of a two-day concentrated National Mountain Bike
Patrol training session. Winter patrollers have the option of
staying out at night during their two days of training, but it
is not mandatory.
New
members are assigned mentors who are available to take them on
training rides and answer questions about the training program.
For
more information on training, e-mail
Backcountry@nospamtrailpatrol.org (Remove the "nospam"
for emailing us.) for
more information.
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Personal
Equipment
Personal safety is an important part of Backcountry Trail Patrol
training. Probationary members learn what equipment they
can and should carry with them, and how to be prepared
for the rapidly changing conditions in the North Woods. The
title link
above will take you our suggested equipment page.
Land
Navigation
Patrollers learn how to use a map, compass and GPS and how to
effectively help when other trail users need directions.
Minimum
Impact Travel
An important aspect of patrol responsibilities is to teach all
trail users, and mountain bikers in particular, how to enjoy the
environment without damaging it.
Emergency
Procedures
Occasionally forest visitors will get hurt, or become lost.
Patrol members learn basic search and rescue procedures to help
locate them quickly and effectively.
Communications
The Patrol teaches new members how to use U.S. Forest Service,
DNR and Backcountry Patrol radios and how to communicate
with Forest Officers and other patrollers. They also learn
inter-personal communication skills for assisting other trail
users, and avoiding confrontations.
Trail
Maintenance
The Backcountry Trail Patrol performs light trail maintenance,
including re-marking established trails and, when possible,
removing obstructions. Situations beyond our capabilities are
reported to the District Ranger's office for action.
First
Aid and CPR
All Patrol members are required to have a minimum of 16 hours of
Wilderness First Aid training and CPR certification.
Scenario-Based
Training
After a candidate learns the basics, they spend time on National
and State Forest trails with a mentor, to practice what they have learned.
New patrollers learn to react to typical conditions they will
encounter when dealing with trail users.
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