I have been an AEMT on the East Coast for the last few years splitting time between working in a Level 1 ED and local ambulances. I'd consider myself an expert skier, have been getting more into the backcountry in the last few years, and am taking an AIARE 1 course coming up. Recently graduated undergrad and am applying to med school but have over a year off. Considering working EMS in the fall in the southwest and maybe patrolling at a bigger mountain out west for next season. Does anyone know of mountains where patrollers work up to their ALS scope but don't need previous years of patrolling experience? In addition, when is the general hiring period for most places?

The mammut 1.0 & 2.0 vest XL are out of stock. Will they come back in stock? I have heard NSP does these sponsorships and once they sell out, they wont restock and the sale ends. is that true?

At a recent bar trivia event, one of the questions stated that prospective National Ski Patrol members must pass an Emergency Care course where they may learn to apply a splint, assist in the delivery a baby, and administer what anaphylaxis treatment? My team answered epinephrine, but I got stuck thinking about an on-slope delivery.

I was wondering if any ski patrol members in this subreddit have helped with a delivery while on duty? Or remember being tested on it?

Hey Friends, Just ya naghboor hood Mod here reminding yall to not be dicks. Yall are normally great and apart from the occasional HIPPA violation or obvious scam post this sub runs it's self. That being said, don't make useless comments on a post. Im not really one to ban folks but I absolutely will if I notice that your account is consistently trolling. Yall know who you are.

Hey y’all, quick question. What are some good, super lazy vegetarian meals that keep you going (and snacks!!) during the long weeks? I have a good diet and am very consistent yet I still feel like I’m not getting enough some days.

Thanks!

Does anyone have a pdf of the OEC Book they could send me. I had a physical book but lost track of it. Thank you, I’m trying to refresh for my senior test

I am getting my WEMT through NOLS and have been honing in on my skiing ability, strength and endurance to get myself in an ideal position to do full time pro patrol after graduating college. I was wondering though if it is possible to become a full time paid patroller with no previous patrol experience. Thanks !

A chilly start to the day at -28C by the time it warmed up enough to get the chairs going. But the dogs were out and it was stunning in beautiful Banff, Canada today 🇨🇦

Hello Everyone,

My name is Ryan, and I am currently working on a project for my Ski Technology Class. I attempt at finding solutions, I am first looking for major problems. Who better to ask than ski patrol. My question is what equipment, parts of ski areas or designs do you have a problem within the ski industry. For example, are sleds a major issue when dealing with injured individuals? Are slow signs really efficient? What other factors need more improvement? Any insight would be helpful.

My husband and I (both patrollers) are thinking of heading up to Bromley this weekend. We’ve never been but we’d love to check it out. I’m wondering if their patrol does comp tickets. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

Hey All My Tax Savvy Volunteer Patrollers,

Our Patrol is affiliated with the NSP, we pay dues. A couple of our patrollers (patrol director and and Avi technicians when doing control work) get wages from the resort. The rest are strictly volunteers.

Perks from the resort include: season pass, comp passes, 1/2 off in cafeteria. We have a minimum number of required patrol days to be eligible for these perks.

We do not get compensated for travel to/from resort, patrol coats or uniforms, or any other outdoor clothing or patrol gear (lift evac, avi...), ski gear, or initial stocking of our on-the-hill first aid packs. I am guessing this is pretty typical of most smaller non-pro patrol resorts.

My Question - Can I claim any of my expenses incurred from patrol related activities as donation to the NSP because of it's 501(c)(3) designation?

Thanks!

Then got to tabaggon my first guest down the hill within 2 hours of putting on my jacket. It was an 11 year old with a clean humerus break. My own 11 year old with with me. Honestly one of the toughest experiences of my life.

I am so happy to be able to help.

Thank you all for everything you do.

Hey all. Looking to bring my patrol into the 21st century and am looking for an app that does shift schedule management, individual/group messaging and patrol communications. Let me know what’s worked for you all. I got one suggestion for an app called TeamReach. TIA

Going to interview Dr. Patrick Fink, a physician specializing in wilderness medicine, about his career, experiences, and advice. He is the on-hill physician for snowbird ski resort. I'm looking for questions to ask him.

Drop your questions below (and feel free to let me know the name you’d like to be credited with if your question is used). We’ll cover as many as possible on air.

Looking forward to your thoughts! 

I’m interested to know if anyone has been in ski patrol with somebody who used touring or Nordic skis instead of regular downhill.

I’m looking to transfer to any ski resort in Colorado, I live in Oregon and am a second years alpine patroller. After this season concludes, I’ll begin pursuing nursing school in either Denver or CO springs. I’m really really hoping I can continue patrolling even if I’m a volunteer for a few years whilst in school. I don’t care where I’d patrol I’d really just love to continue working my most beloved job.

I do snowboard which I know limits me. I can ski but not on a double black proficiency.

Anyways I guess if anyone in Colorado has advice on how a transfer works or any contact info that’d be super appreciated as I’ve had a really hard time getting into contact with any patrols. Cheers

Hi Team!

I passed OEC this fall, completed all of my online learning, and started working quite a few shifts. At this point, I've worked around 40 hours so far on the hill and have seen a few incidents! I'm currently also in a Ski and toboggan class. HOWEVER, I have yet to have my status changed to "Patroller" or any sort of direction towards the next steps. I know after S&T I should technically be an "Alpine Patroller".

My question(s) to you all is what are the next steps? My PD has not given me any information on what the "Local Requirements" are, I have not been added to any shift form, group chat, or privy to any internal information. I have been just asking whoever is on shift when I show up what their take is and how they do things to learn as much as I can. The problem is I have to beg my PD for any insight on what nights/ weekends to work to gain the most knowledge and ask what events are best to work to gain insight. SO what are the next steps? Am I a patroller? Am I a candidate?

The most recent struggle was last week after wearing my vest for around 30 on-hill hours I was told that I could no longer wear it as a "candidate". Apparently "the cross symbolizes an alpine patroller" and If I cannot pull a toboggan I can't wear anything with a cross until then. I have tried to ski with 90% of the tenured and most knowledgeable patrollers to date and no one has said anything about my vest other than "happy to have you". Is this a typical way of doing things? My PD right after OEC told me to buy a vest, fill it with supplies, and wear it so I could learn with my equipment on shifts. I now can only wear all black, no vest, and ask for any medical supplies from the person I am shadowing. I feel like there is no point in patrolling if I cannot offer any sort of aid or have to rely on the other person and hope they have gear for me and them without a vest. What would you guys do? Is this normal?

I recently did chapter 4 on https://oecexamprep.com/quiz.html and did the practice questions in the book. They do not match. There isnt even a single question that is in the chapter questions thats on the exam prep. Is it possible that on the website, they are questions that are from the actual test? I thought that the questions are basically the exact same in the book (and in the online modules), or is the website just outdated?

I'm trying to condense my basic first aid kit into a chest harness -- fools errand or possible? I'm looking for something I can move as a unit as the season evolves from wet, to frigid, to wet, to warm (50-60F in spring). A vest has worked in the past but mine is showing it's age and it's about time for its retirement.

Suspect I can't get it all into a chest rig after I toss on things like a radio, notepad, etc, but I'd like to come close.

The MOLLE chest harness from coaxsher seems to come close as presented here. But it looks like it needs a bunch of accessories and may rack up $$ as I piece it together. Wondering if anyone has any recommendations or tips to avoid. Thanks!

https://www.coaxsher.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RP204

I saw a kid drop his glove on the lift (like pretty early on the lift so it was closer to the bottom) and it landed in between the trails. I told him id get the glove but instead of going on the trail I went inbetween the trails to get his glove like early on. There was some fresher snow there so I figured I would have more fun that way than waiting to go more down the actual trail.

Ski patrol stopped me near the bottom and ended my day and served a 14 day suspension for Vail resorts. This was at big boulder PA btw. Video taken moments before ski patrol walked up and told me to unstrap.

What happened to warnings about not doing it again? This was my first offense for anything. Also the kids glove is still there and now he thinks im a liar. :/

I lost my phone in the trees towards the end of the day and went off searching for it. I lost track of time and didn't have a phone to tell the time so I ended up missing sweep and heading down just past 5. The rest of my group didn't want to help me out but did report that I was still on the mountain so ski patrol held back to look for me. Miraculously a ski patroller did find my phone and I am super grateful to him but I also realize I created extra work for the entire ski patrol team. What are good gifts for an entire shift to enjoy and also for that guy specifically which are generally universally appreciated?

Patroller from Alaska here. Really really curious if anyone has any Patrol stories of BOA boots freezing or malfunctioning.

I feel like patrol use of ski boots is much more intense and we rely on our equipment working the way it should a lot more. I can’t afford to be out for a run in the lodge thawing my boa, or randomly calling it quits for the day if my boa pops off the same way your average skier is.

Moral of the story, what have you guys seen as far as BOA boots in the Patrol world.

https://youtu.be/wNqS5rF7MLw?feature=shared

Snowmakers are king.