Backcountry Trail Patrol Home Page

Winter 2009-10

Patrol News

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Patrol Looking for Isanti County Volunteers

With the return of winter, the Backcountry Trail Patrol is again looking for volunteers to patrol the trails in the Isanti County Park system and Spirit River Nature Area. "Basically, the patrol started with just one person, myself, patrolling the ski trails at Lake Maria State Park," said patrol director Hans Erdman. "People would come up to me on the trail, or in a first aid class, and ask how they could get involved. One by one, we grew into the mountain bike, ski and snowshoe trail patrol that we are today. That's what we are hoping will happen again, here in Isanti County." Erdman also said that the Backcountry Patrol would like to get to a point where there is somebody out on the trails for at least part of every Saturday and Sunday during the snow season.

The purpose of the all-volunteer Trail Patrol is to educate, assist and inform trail users, and to assist the county parks department in managing and protecting the natural resources in the county parks. Law enforcement is not a function of the patrol, although they are trained to report any violations they observe to police agencies. All members will be trained in first aid, CPR and patrol procedures, and will start patrolling with an more experienced member of the group before being allowed to go out on their own. "We have had members make the drive up here from Elk River, Champlin and even St. Paul to help out on the trails here," Erdman related. "And they are still willing to come up and get new patrollers trained and onto the trails." Erdman emphasized that applicants don't have to be expert cross-country skiers or snowshoers. "As long as you can get from point A to point B without falling down, we can train you to be a help out on the trail."

There is a cost involved in being a Backcountry Trail Patrol member. Although the organization does not charge dues, patrollers are expected to provide their own patrol jacket, pack and first aid kit, (as well as skis or snowshoes) and to pay for their first aid and CPR training book. They are also asked to commit to a minimum of eight hours patrolling each month during the winter, weather and trail conditions permitting. Minimum age for volunteers is 16 years old. Training will be scheduled in the Cambridge area if enough interest is expressed. "The great thing about patrolling on skis or snowshoes is that you get to help out the community and the parks, while doing something that you enjoy, and is good for your health, " Erdman concluded. The Backcountry Trail Patrol can be contacted by e-mail, at backcountry@trailpatrol.org.

The Isanti County Park System is made up of six county parks, all of which are open in the winter for snowshoeing. Springvale Park is groomed for cross-country skiing when there is sufficient snowfall, as is Spirit River Nature Area (West River Park) in the city of Cambridge. The Backcountry Trail Patrol provides ski patrol at both Springvale and Spirit River, and occasional snowshoe patrol at Dalbo Forest, Wayside Prairie and Becklin Homestead parks.

2005 Winning Website in the "Trails Training" category.

The Backcountry Trail Patrol is a member of

and

Medical Training

"Minnesota's leading source for wilderness first aid and medical training"

(Click above for more information.)

10th Annual WFA/AWFA Classes at REI (Roseville, MN store)

Feb. 3, 2010 - Registration Closed-Class Full:*

Feb. 19-21 and Mar. 19-21, 2010

WFR class to start in April in Fridley, MN, with sufficient interest.

Click on "Medical Training" for more information or to register

*WFR Bridge (w/ AWFA certification) and WFR Refresher only, may register until March12, 2010

COLD Illness and Injury Information

Emergicare Medical Training, Inc.

Click above for complete information, or if you are interested in attending Special Transportation driver classes

We thank

Air Care, Ambulance and Paramedic Bike Team

for their ongoing support!

Backcountry Trail Patrol Association, Inc., is an equal opportunity service provider, operating under a volunteer services agreement and in partnership with the USDA Forest Service/Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest