In Memoriam – David Hayle

by Trail Sweep Staff | Sep 10, 2026 | In Memoriam

David Hayle of Malone, NY, passed away on May 22, 2026, at the age of 75. Dave led a full and “adventurous” life. He was a four-year veteran of the armed forces. He enjoyed camping, motorcycling, golfing, boating, traveling, and especially skiing.

He started skiing at Moon Valley Ski Area, long before it became Titus Mountain. In his over 30 years of service with the Titus Building Committee and assisted with many Octoberfest celebrations. The patrol was an extended family where he formed lifelong friendships for him and his family. He was especially close to the infamous “Sunday Morning Shift”

Dave particularly took pride in teaching his three amazing daughters and grandchildren to ski at Titus. Many days were spent at the mountain skiing and enjoying “apres” skiing!

Dave will be missed by all on the mountain.

Submitted by William “Bill” Boyea
Titus Mountain Ski Patrol

In Memoriam – Gary B. Peck

by Trail Sweep Staff | Sep 10, 2026 | In Memoriam

It is with great sadness that the Catamount Ski Patrol of Hillsdale, NY in the Eastern New York Region announces the passing of Gary B. Peck, a Senior-credentialed, 33-year member. Gary passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026, with family at his side. Gary’s life was marked by commitment to his family, friends, service to the community, love of skiing, and a passion for the outdoors.

Gary’s journey began in his hometown of Copake, NY, surrounded by deep family roots and tradition. After high school he answered the call to serve his country. He honorably served with the U.S Army, demonstrating the dedication and integrity that would define his whole life.

Gary’s professional career included many positions with a prominent local phone company beginning as a lineman, and ultimately as a member of its board of directors. His professional accomplishments were matched by his commitment to volunteerism and community service. Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, he served faithfully on the Catamount Ski Patrol for more than three decades, passing the torch to his son, Adam, who is currently an active member of Catamount’s patrol. Gary was famously known for his unique yodeling ability while skiing with streamlined grace and style while “schussing” down the mountain.

His professional lineman experience with heights, ropes, and knots made him an integral part of the annual Lift Evac Instructor Team. Gary also served on the local Community Rescue Squad for many years. The skills he acquired there made him a major asset with trauma injuries at Catamount throughout his years of service to the mountain.

Gary was a lifelong outdoorsman. He was an avid hunter, antique gun collector, and an enthusiast of Harley Davidson motorcycles. His adventurous, generous, positive outlook and spirit were well-known among his family and friends.

When he wasn’t patrolling, his love of skiing took him to many ski areas on the east coast as well as out west, to areas in Colorado, Utah, and also heli-skiing in the Bugaboos.

When he wasn’t skiing, one of Gary’s most treasured places was his camp on Copake Lake, NY; a beloved family retreat now in its third generation. There, he delighted in water skiing, sailing, and savoring the tranquility of lake life. He and his wife, Debbie often hosted the Ski Patrol’s summer banquet “meetings.” A legendary patrol story is one where Gary and fellow patrollers “water-surfed and tail-roped” a Cascade toboggan behind his Ski Nautique on the lake. This annual event and their many post-refresher dinners were some of the many examples of his generous, fun loving spirit as a member of patrol.

Gary leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Deborah (Byer); two sons, Adam Peck (current Catamount patroller) and his fiancé Lynn Hart, and Brian Peck and his fiancé Suzanne Fregien; two grandsons, Aaron and Tyler Peck; as well as his sister Pamela Blakley, his brother Charles Peck and partner Myrna Figueiredo; and many extended Byer family members. He was predeceased by his parents Brad W. Peck and Harriet Ackley Peck, and his late wife Pamela Bame Peck, mother of his children.

Gary’s commitment and dedication to his family, friends, and fellow patrollers as well as his love of skiing will be greatly missed and he will always be a part of the Catamount Ski Patrol’s history and legacy.

In Memoriam – Robert “Bob” Crossman

by Trail Sweep Staff | Sep 10, 2026 | In Memoriam

Bob Crossman passed away peacefully on April 17, 2026, at his home in Lake Titus, N.Y., surrounded by his loving family.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marilyn, and their three daughters, Beth, Caryn, and Emily, who were his reason for being, and his six grandchildren. Bob was predeceased by his cherished son, David, in 1991.

From 1964 to 1968, Bob served in the United States Navy in the Naval Communications Security Group. Bob later joined Alcoa Aluminum in Massena, NY, as a millwright, retiring in 2001. He served as the Town of Malone Code Officer for 20 years and later as the Code Officer in Westville, NY, and Duane, NY.

Bob was happiest when he was out meeting and helping people. He loved to ski and taught all of his kids and grandkids and many of their friends to ski as well. He was a member of Titus Mountain Ski Patrol in Malone, NY for over thirty years, many of them with the famed “Sunday morning crew.”

Titus Mountain Ski Patrol was extremely fortunate to have enjoyed Bob’s knowledge and friendship as a fellow patroller.

Submitted by William “Bill” Boyea
Titus Mountain Ski Patrol

In Memoriam – James ‘Jay’ Sanders, Jr.

by Trail Sweep Staff | Sep 10, 2026 | In Memoriam

James (Jay) Sanders, Jr., an alumni member of the Blue Knob Ski Patrol (BKSP), PA passed away on April 6, 2026.

Jay grew up in Rye, NH with winters of skiing and pond hockey, and summer camp sailing. He served in the US Navy and earned an EE degree at Tufts University. Following graduation, he took a position in Maryland supporting a US Navy missile systems contractor. He met his wife Carol, skiing at Blue Knob (BK) and they were married in 1967.

Jay joined the BKSP in 1970 to begin his 50-year NSP ski patrol career. He achieved senior status in 1972. During his career, he held numerous leadership positions including both OET and MTR instructor. He also served as both an APL and a PL. His awards included BKSP Patroller of the Year for several years, a Yellow Merit Star for Cooperation During Lifesaving Efforts at Blue Knob in 2012, and National Appointment #4965 in 1978.

Known widely on the patrol as “Mr. Radio,” Jay introduced VHF radio system technology to BK in the 1970s and served as Telecommunications Advisor for 50 years. His radio skills coupled with a passion for ski patrolling converged and became his career mission. He designed and built the system currently in place, incorporated upgrades, and trained patrollers in the professional use.

He worked closely with Dick Woolf, and served as Communications Team Member at Whiteface Mountain supporting all aspects of the competition venue at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. Dick, the present NSP National Telecommunications Advisor during this period recalled his memories of working with Jay, “My first interaction with Jay was in 1975…I was a junior at RIT in Rochester, NY, a patroller at Bristol Mountain, NY, and also serving as the Eastern Division Telecom Advisor.

“Jay contacted me (by mail of course) and asked for help in establishing a VHF radio system at Blue Knob. In the 1970s, radio was still a new thing for ski patrols. Those patrols using radios at all were likely using CB radios with giant antennas from Radio Shack. At the time, NSP was participating in a DOD surplus equipment distribution program, and we were able to source Motorola radios that had been returned from Vietnam. In those days, Motorola radios were very expensive and getting them for free (!) was well worth the cost of buying new crystals and have them retuned. He had questions about what type of antenna to use and where the base station should be located. I offered to drive down to Blue Knob to make a site visit.

“Blue Knob was an upside-down ski area, and the patrol room was at the top of the hill. I recall that Jay had to make some kind of remote receiver at the bottom of the chair lift to pick up signals from the portable radios. Anyway, the radio system became operational and everyone thought it was the best thing since Morse Code!

“Jay and I stayed in touch after I graduated college and had transferred to Stratton Mountain, Vermont and was tasked to set up communications for the first Alpine World Cup skiing events in the USA…at Stratton in February 1978. Lake Placid had been awarded the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, and with the Alpine events being the most radio-intensive, I was contacted by the Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee to ask if I would set up the communications for the 1979 pre-Olympic events. It was about that time that I realized that I would need a team of people to handle all aspects of the competition venue, in addition to the alpine events including dispatching, issuing and receiving equipment, charging and maintenance, and of course signal coverage.

“I contacted (by mail, of course) patrollers who I’d dealt with over the past few years to see if they were interested in being “on the team.” Jay was one of those who agreed. I recall we had a telephone conference call (new technology!) to make introductions, and we all got together a week or so before the opening ceremonies. Everyone worked well together and the international ski officials overseeing the Alpine events said we did a great job. We all received elegant certificates of participation from the Organizing Committee.

I stayed in touch with Jay over the years and I was sorry to learn of his passing. He was a really good guy, and a credit to the National Ski Patrol. My condolences to his family.”

His passion for ski patrolling extended well into his eighties as he enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow patrollers, providing safety services for the skiing public, and skiing with his family.

Mike Calabrese, Jess Hill, and Tom Rawcliffe
Blue Knob Ski Patrol Alumni

In Memoriam — Richard Scott Shandler

by Trail Sweep Staff | Jun 9, 2026 | In Memoriam

Richard “Rick” Shandler died on April 29, 2026, after a short illness at Lankenau Medical Center in Penn Wynne, PA. Rick was born in 1961 in Broomall, PA to Selma Shandler (née Ziegler) and Irving Shandler.

Rick graduated from Marple Newtown High School in 1979 and was in the Class of 1983 at Temple University with a theater arts major. He spent the next 20 years working in theater traveling the world as technical director for theatrical shows, concerts, festivals, etc. He also taught theater arts at the collegiate level at several colleges throughout the United States.

Concurrently, Rick was working as the Director of Operations at Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Center (DRC) from 1988-2003. He changed careers in 2003 and began working in the medical field first as a senior technologist in Electrophysiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and most recently as an Executive Clinical Account Specialist in Electrophysiology for Biosense Webster as well as Interim Product Director for Ultrasound in 2013 for Biosense Webster.

Rick was an EMT and a Wilderness EMT and was a very active volunteer. He Joined the National Ski Patrol (NSP) in 1996 and worked at the local, regional, and national levels often holding senior leadership positions. He was NSP’s Program Director for the Safety Team and for the Nordic/Backcountry Program. Rick created a Memorandum of Understanding between the US National Parks Service and the National Ski Patrl and created the Valley Forge Ski and Bike Patrol at Valley Forge National Park in 2012 where he was still program director.

In 2012, Rick helped organize a ski tour with the Eastern and International Divisions (then the European Division) to ski the Bernese Oberland Haute Route. This was a combined MTR/Avalanche training. Rick also liked rock climbing doing routes in the Tetons and the Gunks.

During the early through mid-2000s, Rick regularly showed up to help instruct at Level 2 Avalanche courses as well as ESAW (Eastern States Avalanche Workshop) and the IsSW (International Snow Science Workshop). He once represented NSP at ICAR (International Commission for Alpine Rescue) at their European conference.

Rick was and an instructor and IT in Avalanche, MTR, Nordic/Backcountry and OEC. He was instrumental in the founding of the NSP Nordic Master Program and proudly earned Nordic Master #007. In 2013 he received National Appointment #11450 and a Distinguished Service Award in 2020. In 2019 he received a Yellow Merit Star as the Patrol Representative of the National Outstanding Nordic Patrol.

Rick regularly traveled aroundntothe Eastern Division’s Nordic patrols and taught XOEC. He was spearheading the team that was writing the XOEC chapter for the new OEC 7.

Rick also enjoyed spending time on the water teaching whitewater kayaking, whitewater safety rescue classes, and volunteering with the Friendship Dive Rescue Team in Phoenixville, PA. He taught many different classes throughout his life including the National Ski Patrol, the Philadelphia Canoe Club, the American Red Cross, and at many universities and schools throughout the country. His accomplishments, certifications, and the number of lives he touched are too vast to list. Rick loved nothing more than helping people.

Rick is survived by his wife Susan Shandler (née Pratt) and his children Abram and Elias who will all miss him terribly. A Memorial Service was held in his honor at Temple Sholom, Broomall, PA on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Donations can be made to the American Red Cross and to Temple Sholom.