by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Sep 13, 2025 | Division News, Program News
I hope everyone had a great summer and accomplished their goals. Now it’s time to go to the AMN Instructor Continuing Education Event, September 26-28. This year’s event will be held at Pike Glades, NH as we move these events around the division.
Instructors, instructor candidates, and interested patrollers wishing to get involved with Nordic, MTR, or Avalanche are always welcome at this event. This year’s registration will close on 9/22, allowing all attending to have time to complete the online material before they arrive.
The Nordic/Backcountry station will focus on navigation, using CalTopo, and plotting a waypoint on a paper map. The MTR station will focus on low angle rescue as we try to standardize our systems throughout all NSP programs. The Avalanche station will do transceiver searches and exam prep for L2 avalanche and Nordic Master transceiver tests.
Plus, this year they will introduce the Hypo Wrap, a backcountry technique to help keep your hypothermia or injured patient warm until more help arrives and transportation is complete. With the online material ahead of time we can now adjust our schedule and spend more time outside doing hands-on training. This should make things a bit more exciting and fun!
We will announce the upcoming season’s events for Nordic/Backcountry on patrollerschool.org. When you sign up and access AMN you’ll find a video presentation of our program updates. AMN events will be posted on the division website calendar when the events are finalized. As a heads up, one of the events will be at Pike Glade, NH in February.
Did you know that Jesse Diggins came to Vermont and held training camps at Stratton? It’s fantastic to see Olympic Nordic skiers come east to help train our future Olympians.
See you all soon at the AMN. The winter outlook for the east coast shows lots of snow and cold temps for us.
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Jul 4, 2025 | Program News
What is a Nordic Master? As the name suggests, it is a master of all Nordic skills. These include Nordic Senior, MTR 1 & 2, Avalanche 1 & 2, instructor in one or more NSP disciplines, holding or having held an NSP administrative position, and demonstrating proficiency in XC and Nordic downhill skiing, as well as toboggan handling skills. Once these prerequisites are met, candidates must pass three final evaluations and an oral review board to earn this coveted certification.
Currently, there are 22 Nordic Masters across the country. One is a division director, two are on the national board of directors, another is the national Nordic/Backcountry program director, and three are division Nordic/Backcountry program supervisors. All the Nordic Masters have worked tirelessly to master their skills and provide leadership and education to help make NSP the best it can be.
This level of achievement does not happen overnight. I’m NM 005 and have been a patroller for 31 years. With determination, you might be able to achieve this goal in 10-15 years of service, but being a Nordic Master is about being the best that you can be. We now have a couple of patrollers starting the final evaluation process and several others who have almost completed all the prerequisites.
Planning for this season is already underway, with the AMN scheduled for the weekend of September 26-28, 2025, at Pike Glades, NH. This is an instructor education event, but all patrollers are welcome, especially if you are considering becoming an instructor in any of the three disciplines.
We plan on running our three Nordic Senior/Nordic Master events similar to last season. First will be Nordic Fest at Highland Forest, NY, January 9-11, 2026. Second will be a Nordic/Backcountry event at Pike Glades, NH, February 27, 28, and March 1, 2026. The third and final event will be the Nordic Senior/Nordic Master event at Bolton Valley, VT, on the weekend of March 20-22, 2026. These events will be posted on the division calendar as well as Patroller School once the final details are worked out.
Hope you all have a great summer and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on skis this winter.
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Jun 5, 2025 | Program News
We wrapped up another ski season with our Nordic Senior and Nordic Master (NM) training clinic at Bolton Valley, VT. The patrol and management were gracious hosts and worked with us to help make this event such a success. Bolton Valley provides traditional Nordic track and skate skiing and backcountry skiing for all skier levels and is an excellent choice for advanced-level evaluations.
For the Nordic Senior clinic, four patrollers expanded their knowledge and tested their skills. Saturday started with a ski tour in spring conditions, working on several uphill techniques, especially at a few challenging water bars. At the cabin, we opened the patrol’s rescue cache, and the Bolton patrollers demonstrated how they use their backcountry litter. Some new ideas were adapted as we practiced loading a patient.
After lunch, we headed out to do rope rescue work. Jeff Sergeant led the group, demonstrating the raising and lowering systems we are trying to standardize throughout all division programs requiring rope rescue skills.
The main event started in the evening. Jeff Sargent was about to be evaluated for his Nordic Master overnight SAR exercise. This is one of the three final NM evaluations required once you meet the prerequisites and is considered by many to be the most demanding. Our suite became the ICS command center with Greg France as the Incident Command (IC), training Mike Lapierre and Brian Doyle to take over in the future. Jeff started to prepare the ICS 200 paperwork. Mike Balk, our patient and lost person, headed off to a location only known to the rescue support team. Once in place, a set of GPS coordinates was called in as the last seen point of the missing skier. Jeff downloaded the coordinates into his phone. All systems were double-checked before Jeff headed out the door.
A cold front was approaching with strong winds picking up to 25-35 mph and gusting to 45, snow flurries, and temperatures dropping to single digits. It was going to be a cold night for the participants. We discussed our backup rescue plan for the rescuers, hoping for the best. The overnight SAR exercise requires the participant to navigate to the missing person, treat their injuries (at least two), build a shelter, spend the night, prepare a hot meal, and evacuate in the morning.
We tracked Jeff’s movements and studied his search patterns. He called in at regular intervals, reporting his progress. Making it to the first set of coordinates, he was surprised no one was there. A second last seen point was called in. Jeff added this to his phone, and after another 20-30 minutes of searching, the subject was located. He called this in along with his first set of vitals and treated the subject’s injuries.
Once the patient was stabilized, Jeff called back in for assistance with the evacuation. IC notified Jeff that the rest of the team was involved in another callout and that no help was available. He would have to spend the night with the subject. He replied that he was starting to build a shelter. Two hours later, once we knew Jeff was settled in with Mike, we went out to observe his situation without them knowing (evaluation and safety factor).
For Mike, part of the NM IT training is to be the patient for several of these events. As an IT, I have suffered dearly for it. Jeff was a strong candidate for this scenario, and he did very well. After making breakfast, they were both evacuated and returned to the IC smiling.
Except for the sun coming out and the temps going up to 20, the weather on Sunday was still like the night before. We spent the morning building improvised toboggans and had the students demonstrate their rope skills. We finished the day debriefing, and all headed off in different directions.
We will be back at Bolton next year, so check the division’s website calendar for the dates and registration information.
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Apr 15, 2025 | Division News, Program News
Our Backcountry Skiing/Riding and Toboggan Enhancement Course focuses on skiing/riding, skinning, and toboggan handling. It furthers the skills introduced and mastered at lift-served ski areas. It gives members a chance to adapt these skills to the backcountry, where the snow is deeper and variable, requiring different strategies, tactics, and additional stamina. This is the first all-backcountry program offered by the Eastern Division.
Pike Glades turned out to be an amazing location. The property is utilized by the Upper Valley Stewardship Center, a non-profit whose staff works hard to maintain and upkeep access, skin tracks, and signage.
This terrain is a collection of northeast-facing glades accessible by ski touring, splitboarding, or snowshoeing. The peak summits are above the tree line at 2200’ and the base is at 700’. No matter your skiing ability, you will be thrilled by the skiing at this location.
This was our first Nordic/Backcountry event at this location, and it was so well-received that we already scheduled next year’s backcountry event and are looking to schedule the 2025 AMN instructor refresher at the same location.
Our weekend started at the Community Center for the Oliverian School, with a meet and greet, plus breakfast and trip planning. While the group was getting organized, equipment and supplies were being shuttled to the Warrior’s Cabin, which is located mid-mountain at the end of a service road. During the winter of 2025, it was plowed by a construction contractor renovating the cabin. The Warrior’s Cabin is heated by propane and was used to store potable water, solar-powered battery packs for recharging radios and cell phones, and for drying gear. Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast were prepared inside the cabin.
Our ski tour started up the Joan Wolter Trail towards the summit and a cabin called “The Shire.” Along the way, we demonstrated and practiced uphill travel techniques and transitions. The weather was beautiful as we arrived at the Shire to have a snack, admire the breathtaking views, and transition for our downhill ski through the glades back to the Warrior’s Cabin.
Our sleeping accommodation was winter camping. All attendees were experienced in outdoor winter overnighting. Tents were set up behind the Warrior’s Cabin, where there was an outstanding view of Mount Moosilauke.
On our second skin up, four patrollers each carried sections of a Cascade rescue sled with handles. Once back at the Shire, we assembled the toboggan, assigned a patient, and took turns managing the loaded toboggan through the glades. It was quite challenging for most of us as we all learned and tried new skills.
Dinner was back at the cabin, where Linda had prepared a hearty meal of meat and vegetarian Irish stews. This was topped off with a homemade wacky cake for dessert. Once finished, the evening navigation exercises began. Using CalTopo on their phones, the participants entered several waypoints that they needed to locate outside along the trail. The last waypoint held a hidden surprise.
Sunday morning was low-angle rescue (LAR) with both raising and lowering a loaded SKED. Dead Fred, a local patrol mannequin, volunteered to be our patient. Knots and anchors were practiced and built. The SKED was first lowered using a munter/mule knot with prusik backups. This was then converted into a 3:1 raising system with double prusiks. By the end, Fred didn’t look any worse for wear.
The highlight of the weekend was to have the DHART helicopter land in a landing zone we created. The group got a lot out of the pilot’s explanation regarding landing in a possible snow LZ. The tour of the bird was great, and both the students and instructors were extremely happy to learn how the medical crew took a patient hand-off.
Huge thanks to all the instructors, staff of the UVSC, DHART, the local community, and all the participants who helped make this such a great event. As mentioned above, we are already making plans at this location for next year. Stay tuned.
Our final event was held at Bolton Valley, VT, which included Nordic Senior training, exam, and Nordic Master training.
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Feb 18, 2025 | Division News, Program News
Nordic Fest was a blast! It started snowing on Friday night and we woke up to several inches of new snow blanketing the area. Highland Forest was our gracious host providing the Pines Cabins for the weekend. Saturday started with half the group taking skate ski lessons with PSIA L3 Instructor Candice Raines, who did a superb job teaching. Her husband, Thayer, worked with those who required more basic skate ski instruction. Highland Forest provided rental skis for those who needed them.
The other half of the group took classic ski lessons with division staff members Phil Galka and Mike Lapierre. The highlight of the classic lessons was doing the ‘Dead Bug’ to get up after a fall. Lunch was back at the Pines Cabins as we prepared for the afternoon sessions.
Three stations were set up for the afternoon. One was shelters and fire starting, the second was improvised toboggans, and the third was low-angle rescue (LAR). The LAR station drew the most comments as we tried to standardize the system across Nordic/Backcountry, MTR, Certified, and Nordic Master programs.
Once the day was done, the group shared a huge meal and dessert working them off practicing a nighttime navigation exercise. The following day some of the group again took a PSIA L3 classic skiing lesson with Candice and Thayer. The rest of us went on a ski tour and candidates’ patroller skills were evaluated.
Besides great skiing, Jennifer Jones of Highland Forest Nordic passed her Senior Nordic OET. Sten Winborg of High Point Nordic became a Nordic patroller passing all the required skills. A big shout out for their great efforts and to all who attended!
But wait, if you missed this one there’s more coming. Our next event is at Pike Glades in New Hampshire. Registration and details are available on wwwpatrollerschool.org. This event is more backcountry-oriented and requires climbing skins on skis or split boards. I look forward to seeing you.
On the weekend of March 21-23, 2025 we are planning our final Nordic/Backcountry event. The activities include a Nordic Senior evaluation and possible Nordic Master training. We are still looking for a venue; any patrol interested in hosting this event please contact me asap. The only requirement is plenty of snow.
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Jan 18, 2025 | Division News, Program News
See you on the snow!Well, the new year kind of wreaked havoc with our snowpack leaving us firm to icy conditions, or no snow at all. But here in the east Mother Nature has a way of correcting herself. Our western regions received a good amount of lake-effect snow. This set us up nicely for Nordic Fest.
Our second event at Pike Glades in NH is still in the planning stages and registration should open soon. Patrollerschool.org is the place to find out more information and to register.
Our OET staff is putting more emphasis on skate skiing this season. This is the fastest-growing aspect of our sport, and who doesn’t want to look like Jessie Diggins? With trail running becoming so popular in the other seasons, runners have taken to skate skiing to enjoy the winter season and maintain their aerobic fitness.
Others of us just do it for fun. To help us all learn the skating techniques, we have recruited PSIA L3 Track and Skate instructors to help provide this training. Even alpine patrollers should take a break from constantly going downhill and try this style of Nordic skiing. It’s a great way to balance your fitness and prevent overuse injuries.
While I was getting ready to drive into that lake-effect snow my yard was green. That does not work for us. We finally got some serious cold weather and snow. I hope to see many of you at our Nordic/Backcountry events, and if you notice a Subaru buried in a snowbank with a set of ski tracks heading into the woods, come and join us.
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Dec 18, 2024 | Division News, Program News
Get ready for Nordic Fest! On the weekend of January 11-12, 2025, at Highland Forest in Fabius, NY, the Eastern Division’s Nordic/Backcountry program will be hosting a Nordic Fest. What is a Nordic Fest? It is the celebration of everything Nordic, ski clinics with a PSIA track and skate instructor, skills stations, Nordic senior training, and a nice meal on Saturday night.
You will learn new skills, make new friends, and maybe start your way toward becoming a senior patroller. There will be cabins available for lodging, but you should bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Camping is also available. Registration and more information can be found on www.patrollerschool.org.
Hopefully, many of you have gone skiing in this early-season snow. I know that patrollers from both Connecticut and Western Mass Regions have had several good skiing days. I’m sure the New Hampshire and New York Regions’ patrollers have also been skiing, as we have been having a good time up in the Adirondacks.
There is no database that lists Nordic patrollers in the Eastern Division. It would be great if we had a list of all the ED Nordic patrollers. I would like some help creating this database so we could all benefit from it. Here’s an example of where this would be useful. I’ve recently been contacted to provide coverage for several Nordic races in upstate NY. This becomes a difficult task without a current list of Nordic patrollers. If you’re willing to help, please contact me.
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Oct 14, 2024 | Division News, Program News
Hi, I’m Chuck Boyd, the new Eastern Division Nordic/Backcountry Program Supervisor. I’ve been patrolling for a long time and just received my 30-year service award. Many of you may know me already as the Avalanche Program Supervisor, a Mountain Travel and Rescue (MTR) Instructor Trainer (IT), and Nordic Master 005.
I have a passion for these programs along with my love of the outdoors and climbing. I have helped many patrollers achieve their goals within all the NSP programs that I teach. I find it a very rewarding experience which has created many lasting friendships.
Nordic/BC is an interesting program. It includes all types of Nordic skiing as well as all types of terrain. We like to consider it as everything on the other side of a boundary rope. With this comes the challenge of meeting all these different types of patrollers’ needs.
We have Nordic resorts with set track and skate skiing, State and Federal forests and parks with rolling ungroomed terrain, and National Parks and Forests with huge mountainous terrain. These different terrains require a large skill set. To master them all and become a Nordic Master is a huge lifetime achievement.
With this said, we need training in all these different styles and techniques. My plan is to offer three division-wide events featuring Nordic skills enhancement, Nordic Senior training, and Nordic Master training at each session. There will be one each in January, February, and March with the final event containing a Nordic senior evaluation. I am looking for areas to help host these events.
Currently I’m working with Highland Forest in the CNY Region to host the first event in January. February and March are TBD. Please contact me if you would like to host one of these events. Besides good skiing, we will need lodging and food options for the group. For more information about Nordic and Backcountry programs, visit the Nordic Program page of the Eastern Division Website.
I’m excited about building on the strength of this program, creating more Nordic Seniors, and working with people who want to become Nordic Masters. Look forward to seeing you all on the snow.
