North American Ski Training Center – Tahoe, CA

Category: Uncategorized

  • Covid-19

    Covid-19

    Dear NASTC Family,
    in our 25-year history we have never faced such a difficult global challenge. Our hearts go out to you and yours as we all face down Covid-19.  The past week has been a dramatic reminder of how lucky we are, and what trauma many people face daily around our world. Mostly we hope your loved ones stay healthy and that together we can fight this monster and flatten the curve as quickly as possible!Like every other non-essential business, we have shut down classes, instruction, and backcountry guiding due to Covid-19. We are still here for you via phone, text, email, Facebook or Instagram anytime. We encourage you to reach out and let us know how you are, ask any ski or climbing questions, or just say what’s up! At this time the resorts in Tahoe have closed for the season, and a week ago we made the decision to cease backcountry guiding until we have a clear idea of what our options are. It’s a hard time for everyone including guides, instructors, staff, and small businesses.We hope you won’t forget to keep supporting the small mountain businesses we call friends and colleagues. They all need you at this time, as do we. Consider buying Gift Cards, making class deposits, ordering from us or local shops online, and not forgetting your passion for skiing and climbing. We are still here, and we plan to be for the long run. We will deeply appreciate any “early bookings” you decide to make with us and every deposit will be 100% refundable in the event we can’t take you to whatever course you’re interested in: Portillo, Squaw, Big Sky, Grand Targhee, Homewood cat skiing, the Alps, Aspen, AIARE avalanche class, rock climbing lessons, or backcountry skiing next season.Thanks to you since 1994 we’ve been building a community – a family – of loyal clients. We attempt each year to answer your requests with new offerings and new resorts. You have answered ours by giving us a shot, and then most of you come back year after year, and become devoted and dedicated clients. So many of you we consider dear friends. We cannot tell you how much we appreciate your business, and more importantly who you are. Thank you.

    Be in touch. And get outside safely and with social distance – the fresh air and exercise is all of our passion, and what we need now more than ever. Nature truly is the universal salve, bringing us back to what’s truly important: our health and our natural environment. Nature exists outside the compulsion to scroll and scroll, and with its annual indifference to anything man-made or otherwise, we too can take a deep breath and place our worries in a much larger and age-old context.

    We will get through this NASTC Nation!
    “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene
    Take good care of yourselves and your loved ones! Call us!
    Chris and Jenny Fellows
    530-386-2102
    [email protected]
    Facebook
    Website
    Email

  • Happy 2020! Don’t Miss The Chance To Improve Your Skiing And Get Avy Savvy
    We hope you had a great holiday season and that your 2020 will include lots of skiing and adventuring! And we hope to be a part of that! Join us in Kicking Horse, St Anton, Squaw, or Portillo! Or take an Avalanche Course. Hire one of our guides for a backcountry tour. Come catskiing with us at Homewood! Let us know anytime how we can help make your alpine skiing, adventure travel, backcountry skiing, and rock climbing dreams come true!

    SNOWSHOE THOMPSON HAD TO BE THE MOST BADASS BACKCOUNTRY SKIING MAILMAN EVER

    Today the high Sierra is renowned for its massive snowpack, often more than 20 feet in a winter season that stretches six or seven months…In the mid-1800s, snows routinely closed the passes for months, leaving settlers and miners in what is now eastern Nevada completely isolated from the outside world.

    The mail simply couldn’t get through, until Norwegian-born John Thompson agreed to carry it 90 miles each way through the Sierra Nevada, from Placerville, CA to Mormon Station, UT (now Genoa, Nevada). He showed up for the job carrying a pair of 10-foot oak planks, what we would call skis today. Thompson called them snowshoes.

    For the next 20 years, he would make the 180-mile round-trip twice each month…carrying an 80-pound mailbag and little else. No blankets or tent, no map or compass, only matches and…
    CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS GREAT ARTICLE

    ST ANTON SKI ADVENTURE IN THE HEART OF THE ALPS MARCH 7-14
    The most legendary ski resort in the world…a total of 88 cable cars and lifts…305 km of marked ski runs, and 200 km of off-piste and challenging steep slopes and deep-snow ski runs. This Tyrolean village in the heart of the Austrian Alps knows how to win over skiers, and its a big change from your typical U.S. resort experience. Envision leaving your own tracks in fresh powder as you ski a line from high up on the mountain down into one of the neighboring villages. At day’s end decompress at one of St Anton’s many vibrant apres ski spots that range from warming huttes on the side of the run to bustling bars and fancy cafes in town!
    LEARN MORE ABOUT SKIING ST ANTON (4 spots left)

    NEW! SKI FITNESS BOOK $19.95
    This helpful book by Chris Fellows and Doug Kechijian includes a comprehensive lineup of exercises that will help you improve your individual fitness so you can build greater endurance and strength. This guide is perfect for you if you’re seeking a solid, skiing-specific workout regimen.
    ORDER TODAY, WE’LL SHIP TOMORROW

    GREAT PAWS CAUSE TO SUPPORT

    The Alpine Avalanche Rescue Foundation was formed to raise funds to support avalanche safety and education for professional rescuers and public throughout California. These dogs are awesome! Check out their photo gallery!
    LEARN MORE AND SEE THEIR CUTE PHOTOS

    AIARE AVALANCHE CLASSES
    Comprehensive, entry-level, 3-day AIARE avalanche class held indoors and out, designed for those with basic ski/snowboard touring experience. You should be an intermediate skier/rider at least; no other prerequisites to take this course. Jan 31-Feb 2 and Feb 15-17.
    LEARN MORE & REGISTER TODAY (2 classes)

    KICKING HORSE, BC FEB 2-8
    The dream trip and ski clinic for every serious skier and powderhound! Kicking Horse is one of those destinations that is talked about in hushed whispers because those that have been there can’t contain their excitement, yet don’t want to spread the word too far!
    LEARN MORE (3 spots left)
    Facebook
    Website
    Email

    Copyright © *|NASTC|* *|2020|*, All rights reserved.

    CONTACT US:
    P.O. Box 9119
    Truckee CA 96162
    (530) 386-2102
    [email protected]

    Want to change how you receive these emails?
    You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
  • SNOWCAT SKIING (TAHOE/TRUCKEE)

    SNOWCAT SKIING (TAHOE/TRUCKEE)

    PRIVATE CATSKIING GROUPS

    Call our office to book your groups’ day at beautiful Homewood Mountain Resort on Lake Tahoe and enjoy early access to reservations on the cat. Groups of up to 8. Price varies based on your group size. You will enjoy over 750 acres of backcountry terrain on the flanks of Ellis Peak, above the resort’s ski area boundary, including a wide variety of options from perfectly-spaced tree runs to steeps, powder bowls and intermediate-level glades all leading guests back to the in-bounds terrain at the resort. Participants enjoy laps with 1,824′ vertical from the top of Ellis Peak – where panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the Desolation Wilderness await – to the bottom of the Old Homewood Express chairlift.

    2024 Dates and Pricing: call the NASTC office 530-386-2102 or [email protected]

     


    Deposit Choices



  • Event Calendar

    Event Calendar

    Dec 9-11 Jumpstart your Ski Season at Big Sky MT
    Dec 9-10 Jumpstart your Ski Season at Squaw Valley, CA
    Dec 7 AIARE Rescue Course
    Dec 8-10 AIARE L2
    Dec 13-15 AIARE L1
    Jan 18-19 Backcountry Basics at Homewood, CA
    Jan 18-20 AIARE L1
    Jan 31-Feb 2 AIARE L1
    Feb 2-8 Kicking Horse, British Columbia (almost sold out)
    Feb 8-9 Backcountry Basics at Homewood, CA
    Feb 15-17 AIARE L1
    March 2-4 All Conditions All Terrain at Squaw Valley, CA
    March 7 AIARE Rescue Course
    March 8-10 AIARE L2
    March 7-14 St Anton, Austria
    March 15-17 Guide Course at Homewood, CA
    Guided backcountry skiing for individuals or groups, and resort private lessons also available. Text or call 530-386-2102.

  • This is REALLY cool…physics based animation explains avalanches

    Want to understand better how avalanches work? Check it out folks!

    PHYSICS BASED ANIMATION IS HELPING US UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER (click)

  • NASTC News 10/31/18

     
    HAPPY  HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!
    NOW AT NASTC: PRE SEASON AVY CLASS SALES

    So its HALLOWEEN which is great because there’s adorable & scary costumes and lots of candy, but also because it means the ski season is right around the corner! What’s the story on Halloween? It has roots in age-old European traditions. It originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Wild! Read more at the end of this missive.

    Anyway back to skiing…we’ve got a great line up of adventure ski camps with the best instructors in the nation, beautiful hotels, delicious meals, and fun people!

    DON’T MISS SALES & LIMITED SPOTS IN SOME CAMPS!

    BOOK YOUR *ON SALE* AVALANCHE CLASS
    DEC 9-10 JUMPSTART YOUR SEASON – SQUAW 
    DEC 10-12 JUMPSTART YOUR SEASON – BIG SKY 
    DEC 14-16, JAN 19-21, FEB 1-3, FEB 16-18 AIARE REC 1
    DEC 9-11, MAR 10-12 AIARE REC 2
    DEC 8, MAR 9 AIARE RESCUE DAY
    FEB 3-9 POWDER SKIING AT KICKING HORSE
    FEB 23-MAR 3 EVEN MORE POW AT NISEKO, JAPAN
    MARCH 4-6 ALL CONDITIONS AT SQUAW VALLEY
    BACKCOUNTRY SKIING WITH A PRIVATE GUIDE
    AUG 9-18 PORTILLO, CHILE
    Wonder how SNOWMAKING works?

    Snowmaking Basics by Sugar Bowl (where storms also dump tons of natural snow)!

    There are four vital ingredients needed for machine-made snow: water, compressed air, cold temperatures and low humidity. Snowmaking can begin at remarkably high temperatures if the humidity is low enough. In order to evaluate the combination of temperature and humidity, snowmakers refer to the wet-bulb temperature.

    When the temperature drops below freezing the watch begins to determine if the snowmaking system should be fired up. In this region, snowmaking can begin around 28 degrees F (26 wet-bulb), but the quantity of snow produced at this temperature level is usually minimal. At just a few degrees colder and percent humidity drier (26 degrees F/22 wet-bulb), the quantity and quality of machine-made snow really starts to improve. The colder and drier the conditions get, the more snow the guns can turn out. The outside air temperature is a rough guide for determining when snowmaking can begin, but it is the relative humidity that will determine the quantity and quality of the snow that can be produced. The magic number is 20 degrees wet-bulb. As temperatures drop the snowmaking team will start using electronic telemetry from monitoring sites across the mountain to assess the conditions. When the team determines that the time is right, they will start up the equipment and begin making snow. Interesting, huh? Thanks for the explanation Sugar Bowl!

    If you missed this super cool event at the beautiful Cedar House Sport Hotel, come this Thursday to Alpenglow Sports store in Tahoe City to hear Adventure Risk Challenge (ARC)’s 2nd annual “Voices of Youth, Now and Beyond”. Attendees will be inspired by ARC youth participants and alumni reading metaphorical poems, sharing stories from their lives, and providing insights from ARC’s wilderness programs (incl rock climbing with NASTC).Last year at this event, students shared stories about battling depression and anxiety, overcoming family challenges, and dreaming about life after high school. As one student wrote after performing her poem, “the poem allowed me to learn about embracing and accepting my feelings as I learn to love and accept myself.”

    This event is a fundraiser, and community members will be asked to financially contribute to ARC’s mission to empower underserved youth through integrated literacy and wilderness experiences. Donations of gently-used outdoor gear are also needed and welcome. Tickets/other events at Alpenglow Sports

     
    We had a great time last week at the Cedar House Sport Hotel with SAC (Sierra Avalanche Center), Chris, Patty, and Randall Osterhuber (above) of Donner Summit Avalanche Seminars. “Being Avy Savvy” was the topic. Keep an eye out for our next Winter Speaker Series event at the Cedar House Sport Hotel! 
    For a bit of armchair ed, check out these great videos by BCA about avalanche avoidance:
    BACKCOUNTRY BASICS VIDEO SERIES
    Enjoy your autumn!
    Thank you to our Sponsors:
    Rossignol, Patagonia, Hestra, Clif Bar, LEKI,
    Black Diamond, Smith Optics, BCA!
    We love to hear from you!
    [email protected] & 530-386-2102
    IF YOU READ THIS FAR….
    A little more history of Halloween to close out! The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. The commercialization of Halloween started in the 1900s, when postcards and die-cut paper decorations were produced. As for the trick or treating, or “guising” (from “disguising”) traditions, beginning in the Middle-Ages, children and sometimes poor adults would dress up in the aforementioned costumes and go around door to door during Hallowmas begging for food or money in exchange for songs and prayers, often said on behalf of the dead. This was called “souling,” and the children were called “soulers.”Now go get “dressed up” in your ski clothes, see if they fit, and sign up for some NASTC camps

  • Avi Ed: Rec 1 BOOK NOW

    Each year more skiers are venturing into the backcountry lured by the opening up of resort boundary lines and the promise of pristine powder fields and underpopulated terrain.  However, with more access the risk has never been greater, and the need to know basic safety protocols, rescue techniques, avalanche hazard awareness and management are essential to survival and having a great time out there.

    The AIARE curriculum is a 3-day intensive seminar designed to give you an understanding of avalanche formation, “nature’s billboard” observation skills, the ability to use an avalanche transceiver and probe and how to dig a snow study pit.  This is a minimum amount of know-how if you want to travel, ski or ride in the backcountry or sidecountry safely.  There is time spent daily in the classroom and in the field.

    Book NOW by clicking HERE

    The goals of the course are:

    • The student will be taught safe travel methods in avalanche terrain including trip planning and preparation, interpretation of the avalanche bulletin, observational techniques for snowpack, weather, avalanches, terrain analysis, safe travel techniques, and decision-making fundamentals
    • The student be will shown how to use various rescue equipment, and companion rescue protocols
    • The student will be taught how to execute mock rescues in the field
    • The student will be introduced to the avalanche triangle, weather, snowpack, terrain and the human factor
    • Attain Level 1 certification upon successful completion
  • Spring Backcountry Tours

    Spring Backcountry Tours

    Go spring backcountry skiing with us! Whether you want to go out for the morning, a day, or overnight to a hut (like these crazy guys: 2 feet of fresh snow night before they left, good thing the guide will break trail), we have something for you. If you don’t have experience, but you’re at least an advanced intermediate skier (off-piste), you can learn on the way. We will instruct you on how to use your avalanche beacon and skins, how to tour up, navigate, set a good track, & pick a line.

    Call 530-386-2102

    Text 530-386-2102

    email [email protected]

    Pricing

    FULL DAY (9am-3pm)                    HALF DAY (9am-1pm)

    1 person-$495                                      $295
    2 pp- $295 per person                        $195 pp
    3 pp- $235 pp                                        $155 pp
    4 pp- $199 pp                                        $135 pp
    5pp- $175 pp                                         $115 pp

  • SELF-RESCUE

    SELF-RESCUE

    Whether you are a new or a very experienced climber, do you know what to do if things go wrong? For example what if your partner takes a leader fall several pitches up and gets injured, do you know what to do? This is a highly recommended safety, skill/technique/tools, and decision-making course for any level climber. If you are lead climbing, this really is a “I should take that course” type of thing!  You may find yourself in a situation necessitating knowledge of self-rescue techniques.

    There are techniques, strategies, and systems that will help you save your partner and yourself. You need to know the best practices, including anchoring methods, and raising/lowering systems, using the gear you have. Then if a situation arises you can react in a calm and well-rehearsed manner, avoiding it getting any worse.

    Two-Day Course Curriculum Includes:

    Rope ascending and descending

    Counter balance

    Descent with an injured climber,

    Raising and lowering systems with a knot pass

    Belaying off an anchor

    Belay escape, and more in this thorough one-day class

    DATES: Sept 8-9, Sept 22-23 and Oct 13-14, 2019 or by private arrangement

    PRICE:

    $390 – 3 person min

    $530 – 2 people

    $950 – 1 person

    Call, text, or email with questions or to enroll:  530-386-2102 / [email protected]

    Paypal $100 deposit or full payment to [email protected]

    climbingdonnerpass

  • NEW Tahoe Donner Backcountry Skiing Courses

    NEW Tahoe Donner Backcountry Skiing Courses

    andermatt-snow-levelNew this year NASTC is providing backcountry guiding and avy ed in Tahoe Donner for members and guests. We are basing at the beautiful new Adventure Center to bring you the best backcountry education available! The Adventure Center is located at the TD Cross Country Ski Area (just around the corner from the Downhill Area).

    Get out and explore the great backcountry skiing right in TD with our professional instructors and guides. Learn avy skills and find powder for fun turns long after the resorts are skied out.

    There is some really fun inbounds terrain at Tahoe Donner’s Cross Country Ski Area. Don’t forget, a trail pass is required for any off-piste skiing or boarding within the cross country ski area boundary. Be sure to check the trail map to familiarize yourself with the area. Access to any temporary or permanently closed areas is considered trespassing and violators will be subject to prosecution.

    If you don’t own a BC set-up (skis, skins, boots, poles, beacon, shovel, probe, backpack) we recommend the following shops for rental. Make your reservations early! BlueZone Sports, Granite Chief, Tahoe Mountain Sports, The Backcountry, and Sports Hub. When you make your reservation we will email you an equipment list.

    Its easy to get your kit together, don’t be intimidated. If you’ve always wanted to try skiing the backcountry, this is your opp!

    Level requirements vary, see below for specifics. Space is limited. Book early by clicking Paypal tabs below. Minimum 3, maximum 5 per group. Bring the family, its a great thing to do together!

    Please feel free to call NASTC/Jenny with any questions: 530-386-2102.

    AVY SAVVY
    DATES: Jan. 6, Jan. 27, Feb. 23, March 3 – Half Day
    SKIING AND AVY ED LEVEL: ALL (beginners welcome)
    An intro/overview to the
    backcountry. Learn to use
    avalanche gear, what to
    do if someone is caught in
    avalanche, route selection,
    plus a beginner level tour.

    To reserve your space:




    ____________________

    INTRO TO BACKCOUNTRY
    DATES: Jan. 7, Jan. 28, Feb. 24, March 4 – Half Day
    SKIING LEVEL:
    Intermediate and up
    Review use of backcountry
    gear, practice beacon use
    and burial, discuss route finding
    and selection, then enjoy tour
    up and great ski down!

    To reserve your space:




    __________________________

    HAWKS TO EUER VALLEY*
    DATES: Jan. 20, Feb. 10, March 10 – Half Day
    SKIING LEVEL: Advanced/Expert
    Enjoy a beautiful climb up Hawks
    Peak, ski the north face
    down to Euer Valley, and then
    skin back up. Route subject to
    conditions.
    *Please note this terrain is closed
    and not accessible without a Tahoe
    Donner-approved guide.

    To reserve your space: