Mountain Travel and Rescue
SPART is a recognized course provider through the National Ski Patrol (NSP), delivering Mountain Travel and Rescue (MTR) education for ski patrollers, search and rescue responders, and members of the public who want to operate safely and effectively in mountain environments.
The NSP MTR Standard
NSP’s Mountain Travel and Rescue program is the national benchmark for outdoor rescue training in winter and mountain settings. MTR courses are structured to build competency across a broad spectrum of wilderness skills — from basic survival and navigation to team-based search operations and technical rope rescue.
Our MTR 1 and MTR 2 courses meet or exceed the following nationally recognized training standards:
- ASTM F2209 — Standard Guide for Training of Land Search Team Member
- ASTM F2751 — Standard Guide for Training of a Land Search and Rescue Team Member
- ASTM F2752 — Standard Guide for Training for Basic Rope Rescuer Endorsement
Built for Rescuers
While MTR courses are open to any motivated outdoor professional, our program is specifically designed to develop the skills needed for real SAR operations. That means field-heavy training, realistic scenarios, and instruction delivered by people who have worked actual rescues in King County and across the Pacific Northwest.
Our curriculum covers survival skills, wilderness navigation, mountain travel techniques, hazard and terrain management, mountain weather, group dynamics, search and rescue principles, and emergency rescue techniques including rope work.
Course Levels
We offer the full NSP MTR course sequence as hybrid courses, combining classroom preparation with substantial field sessions.
MTR Fundamentals
An introduction to mountain travel and search and rescue, designed for students new to the field. Covers basic navigation, travel, and survival skills, with an introduction to SAR principles. No overnight campout required.
Prerequisites: ICS 100 and ICS 700 (free online)
Credential: NSP Certificate of Achievement
MTR 1
Builds on Fundamentals-level skills with expanded field practice in navigation, survival, and basic search and rescue exercises, culminating in an overnight field session. MTR F and MTR 1 are parallel rather than sequential — students may take either, depending on their background and area requirements.
Prerequisites: ICS 100 and ICS 700 (free online)
Credential: NSP Certificate of Achievement
MTR 2
An advanced follow-on course providing in-depth training in land navigation, search and rescue, rope rescue, improvised toboggan construction, survival skills, and emergency shelter construction. Includes a minimum two-day, one-night field exercise, with up to two additional field days available.
Prerequisites: MTR F or MTR 1 (or equivalent from an approved agency); Level 1 Avalanche or equivalent; ICS 200 (free online)
Credential: NSP Certificate of Achievement
Our Instructors
All courses are led by NSP-credentialed Mountain Travel and Rescue instructors with active field experience in mountain search and rescue operations.
Who We Teach
Our MTR courses are open to active ski patrollers and SAR responders. We have a particular focus on serving the broader King County SAR community and rescue units throughout Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.
If your unit operates in mountain terrain, your team needs training that goes beyond general wilderness skills. MTR provides the structured, scenario-based preparation that makes the difference when conditions deteriorate and the margin for error disappears.
Contact Us
To inquire about upcoming courses or to bring SPART’s MTR program to your unit, please contact us.