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Below, take a moment to meet Mt. Crescent Ski Area Ski Patrol volunteer, Jim:
"I have been patrolling for 40 years, and all of those years except for six years have been at Mt. Crescent. I started patrolling at Mt. Crescent in the 1981-82 season. I served as Assistant Patrol Director and Patrol Director before moving to Vermont for three years. In Vermont, I was a professional patroller at Mad River Glen. I attained my Senior patrol status in Vermont at Smugglers Notch. I moved back to Omaha and while going to Medical School was again a patroller at Mt. Crescent. I moved to Chicago for my Emergency Medicine residency for three years and joined the Wilmont Mtn. Ski Patrol in Illinois. I served as medical director, slope leader, and as a ski, toboggan, and OEC instructor and Instructor trainer. I again moved back to Omaha and again joined the Mt. Crescent Ski patrol where I serve as the Medical Director, an OEC Instructor Trainer, and Senior Alpine patroller. I have also been the Assistant Eastern Region Director for the Rocky Mountain Division of the National Ski Patrol. I was awarded National Number 10590 for my service to the National Ski Patrol."
"Our jobs are very complex. In addition to helping and treating injured skiers and evacuating them off the hill, we also work to ensure the skiing public has a safe and enjoyable experience. We ski all around but also at the same time try to identify and mitigate any hazards to ensure the runs are safe. We also act as hosts and tour guides for the area. We also fill in whenever and however to make the hill function safe and effectively. In addition if the lifts malfunction we are trained every year in how to safely evacuate our skiers from the lifts if the need arises."
"When you are volunteering with the MCSP you are with a 'family' of like minded individuals. We all of course love to ski but also get great satisfaction from helping injured skiers in their time of greatest need. We also enjoy helping skiers have a better experience by providing some basic instructions or helpful guidance. We have a very diverse group of patrollers and we consider each other friends and family. Sometimes it is exciting to anticipate the new season so you can again enjoy and work with your friends and colleagues."
"We have to have skills that may help save someone’s life or to prevent further harm and disability. A injured skier can not evacuate themselves from the hills and EMS can not get up on the hill. We function as a critical link between the injured and EMS. We train and refresh our training every year to maintain our proficiency in our skills to stabilize and treat the injured and possibly save lives. We also train so that we can safely get an injured skier off the hills. Even at Mt. Crescent we see the same severity and rate of injuries as are seen at ski areas across the country."
"Joining the patrol is not for everyone as it is a significant expenditure of time and effort but we feel that it is well worth it. You have to have a love of skiing and the outdoors. We also like team players that we would enjoy as our family. If you are interested, speak to one of our patrollers or drop off your contact information at the Patrol Room north of the lodge. You will be contacted by our recruiting officer. We are always looking for enthusiastic team players. Initially patrolling involves a semester-long college-level Outdoor Emergency Care course and then there is a season of instruction in ski and toboggan training. It is a commitment of time and effort."
"I am most proud of the fact that two of my sons have gone through the OEC training and the ski and toboggan training. They have passed and are now members of the patrol as YAPs, or Young Adult Patrollers. They are ages 16 and 17. I am so happy that they share my enthusiasm for patrolling and service to the skiing and riding public. Hopefully they will both enjoy long careers as patrollers."
