Patroller Spotlight
Mark Your Calendars!
• Bear Creek EMS Program, Virtual, 6/23, Contact Eric Snyder
• Bike Patroller School, Ontario County Park, NY, 6/27-28, Contact: John Wolf
• Certified Boot Camp, Magic Mountain, VT 8/7-9, Contact: Jenn Laitala
• AMN, Campgaw Ski Center, NJ, 9/11-13, Contact: Chuck Boyd
• Bike Patroller School, Holimont, NY, 9/12-13, Contact: John Wolf
• Enhanced Patroller School, Swain, NY, 9/18-20, Contact Tom Wallin
Bear Creek EMS Program
The Bear Creek EMS Program is hosting the following virtual class.
Assessment of Chest Pain – June 23, 2026 – Virtual
Presented by:
Dr. Steven Goldblatt, MD, FACC
Cardiologist (Retired), Medical Officer, Team CT-1, Disaster Medical Assistance Team,
and Medical Advisor for National Ski Patrol’s Eastern Division.
10th Mountain Insignia
Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division can once again don the division’s historic ski trooper insignia on their Army Green Service Uniform garrison caps, restoring a visual link to the unit’s World War II roots and reinforcing the alpine spirit that resonates across the formation.
Although never officially recognized, the insignia was adopted by 10th Mountain Division soldiers in 1943. The symbol represented a soldier’s ability to fight in harsh winter conditions and rugged mountain terrain. Today, leaders say bringing the emblem back to everyday uniform wear honors that legacy while reminding Soldiers of the division’s high standards.
Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann, commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division, said the decision carries real meaning for the force. “The crossed skis are more than a symbol from our past,” Naumann said. “They represent the toughness, adaptability and spirit that define this division. Seeing them on our Soldiers’ caps connects who we are today with the mountaineers who built our reputation.”
The Proving Ground – Tuckerman Ravine
Every ski season, Mount Washington sees an average of 25 life-threatening sliding falls. The Proving Ground is a short film from Warden Co., produced in partnership with the Mt. Washington Avalanche Center Foundation, exploring the dangers of recreating on the mountain that go beyond avalanche risk alone – told through the stories of those who have survived, and those who tragically have not.
My Friend, Rick
Chuck Boyd & Rick Shandler Nordic Masters #5 and #7 Ski Touring in Switzerland
The one thing that we will do at this year’s AMN is honor him with a station called XOEC. XOEC is first aid given in an austere environment with only what is in your pack, and if you are on a day hike, or a mountain bike ride, this might not be much. Rick developed this program years ago and traveled around the division teaching some of these techniques to Nordic patrols. Nutmeg Nordic was fortunate to be able to participate in one of these courses.
EMS Continuing Ed Program
Over the past two years, Eric Snyder, a member of the Bear Creek Mountain Resort, has engaged in the development and implementation of a continuing education program. The program, run through Bear Creek EMS (not affiliated with Bear Creek Ski Patrol), has and continues to provide workshops via live online platform (i.e. Zoom).
The program provides interesting topics through the lens of industry professionals. Some are directly related to “patrolling” and others to outdoor emergency care. Each session is two hours in length and can be used as CEU’s for a myriad of certification requirements (i.e. NREMT).
Advanced Life Support Pain Management Program
Now about to conclude its second season, the advanced life support (ALS) pain management program at Stratton Mountain in the Southern Vermont Region has already helped numerous patients with moderate to severe pain while still on the mountain with injuries.
The program, known internally as “Code 90,” was started during the 2024-25 ski season at the Stratton Mountain Ski Patrol (SMSP). The goal and purpose were to enhance our on-hill medical care by reducing pain and improving comfort and patient outcomes.
What Award to Give in an OEC Incident
So, you know an OEC incident (can be anywhere, at a ski area or not) where a patient with a critical injury was handled by one or more individuals in an outstanding manner. They saved the life of the patient or kept them from having a negative quality of life outcome. You want to give the team an award, but you aren’t sure what award to give. Here is how to determine which.
The word individual used here refers to patrollers, hosts, or alumni. Individuals must be up to date on their OEC/OFC and dues. Only one merit star per individual per incident may be awarded. What incidents qualify?
Outstanding Alumni & Patroller Event
Melanie Musczynski, EDIV Safety Team & Oliver Loewen, Stratton Patrol
No matter how you look at it, the 2026 Eastern Patroller and Alumni Event was an outstanding success. There were over 100 people signed up to participate, more than double last year’s event. The evening events with NSP Board members Rich Pietrafesa and Butch MacQueen, the NSP Safety Team, and the history of the 10th Mountain Division were well attended and very informative.
Stratton Mountain did a great job welcoming us. The daily events included touring the snowmaking operations, the Carlos Otis Clinic and First Aid Center, and the Patrol Summit HQ. These provided us insight into some unique attributes of the daily routine of different departments at Stratton. Matt Jones, CEO of Stratton, even came and talked about the resort, the ski industry, and answered questions from us all.
Tug of War with a Horse
I first saw this sport roughly twenty years ago, never thinking that one day the sport might show up in Central New York, let alone that I might be patrolling at one. SKIJORING (Noun) – a winter sport in which a person wearing skis (or snowboard) is drawn over ice or snow as by a horse, dog team, or motor vehicle. It is derived from the Norwegian word skikjoring, which means “ski driving.”
On March 7, members of Song Mountain, Labrador Mountain, and Highland Forest Nordic Ski Patrols in the Central New York Region were asked to assist at Heritage Hill in Pompey, New York with safety and of course medical services as needed. What a Hoot!
