by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Dec 22, 2025 | Division News, Program News
As I woke up this morning the temperature was 9 degrees with 3 – 4 inches of snow in my yard. What a great way to start this ski season. This is the best start that we have had here in the east for several years, so let’s take advantage of it. I’ve been out skiing on two types of Nordic skis so far, for a total of four times. Waxing skis in the evening has become a ritual, with fellow patrollers coming over to chat and wax their skis.
Congratulations to all the new NSP BOD members. This is the first time that everyone I voted for was elected. Did you vote?
We are working on getting all the online course materials up on the Patroller School website. This is a huge undertaking for the staff to have all this material online five to six weeks before the start of each program. We hope to have most of this material open to the students by Christmas.
Nordic Fest is a go for the weekend of January 31 – February 1, 2026 at Highland Forest in Fabius, NY. This will be a fun time, and I look forward to seeing many of my fellow Nordic patrollers!
Pike Glades Backcountry patroller school is scheduled for the weekend of February 28 – March 1. Hope to see a lot of you skinners there.
Bolton Valley’s Nordic Senior/Master weekend is scheduled for March 21 – 22, 2026. Come out and help us get our Nordic senior and master candidates through their evaluations. Bolton Valley always has great snow conditions and is open already.
All of the above events can be found at Patrollerschool.org.
I’ll let you know next month how the December skiing was. See you out there!
by Rob West, Avalanche Supervisor | Dec 22, 2025 | Program News
Snow is falling and beginning to accumulate in the mountains. Avalanches have already occurred in Tuckerman Ravine, and unfortunately a few people have been caught—thankfully, with no injuries. In bound avalanches have occurred at Eastern Division Resorts of Holiday Valley (WNY) on The Wall and at Wisp (WAPP) on The Face. No injuries in either of these evets as well. With the season underway, now is an excellent time to sign up for an avalanche class.
The Whiteface Level 1 and Level 2 courses are already full. However, the Smugglers’ Notch and Tuckerman Ravine Level 1 classes still have plenty of spots available.
Congratulations to Kevin Burns from the Whiteface Patrol for being awarded the Eastern Division Avalanche Scholarship! Kevin completed the classroom portion of the National Avalanche School in Utah this past October and will be taking his Pro 1 field session this winter. I encourage all avalanche instructors to apply for the scholarship next season to continue their education.
Congratulations to Les Blomberg on receiving the Eastern Division Roger Damon Avalanche Award! Les is a dedicated patroller with more than 30 years of service and an accomplished avalanche instructor. He continues to share his deep expertise by mentoring new students and supporting the next generation of avalanche professionals. This award recognizes not only his long-standing commitment to safety and education, but also the lasting impact he’s had on !the community.
Stay safe out there!
Editor’s Note: There were two avalanches in unlikely places 12/15-16. Use this link for more information.
by Bill Zink, Certified Supervisor | Nov 19, 2025 | Division News, Program News
A lot of activity in the first nine months of the year as we wrapped up the 2024/2025 season welcoming four new Certified Patrollers in the Eastern Division. They are already living up to their number as all are actively engaged in the operations of the NSP Eastern Division Leadership and training programs.
We completed our second program in September with the annual Enhanced Patroller School at Swain Resort in New York. Again, over 60 participants shared their experiences and local expertise at a division event. The fearless leader of the program, Jeff Baker, Certified# 549, was honored as the National Alpine Ski Patroller of the Year for the entire NSP on September 20th. Congratulations, Jeff—you make us proud!
If you are interested in our program, please go to the Eastern Division website to learn more about the Certified program. We have a team of dedicated Region Certified Advisors that are local to your resort and are available to answer questions. We also have two certified members, Denice Kaus, Certified# 833 and Becky Moran-Rubin, Certified #871 that are available to help answer questions and guide you through the process. For more information contact Bill Zink by email or call 703-497-1475.
Below is a list of our program schedule for the 2025/2026 ski season:
• Nov 27, 2025: Registration should open for exams and Patroller School events
• Jan 1, 2026: Candidate credentials due
• Jan 21, 2026: Responses to admitted candidates
• Feb 1, 2026: Hunter Mountain Pretest (pretest referral letter required)
• Feb 6, 2026: Killington Pretest (pretest referral letter required)
• Feb 7–8, 2026: Killington Patroller School, Intro to Certified Program
• Mar 19–22, 2026: Certified Exam, Sugarloaf, Maine
• Mar 22, 2026: Certified Annual Meeting, Sugarloaf, Maine (8–10 AM)
• Mar 18–21, 2027: Tentative Certified Exam, TBD
• Mar 16–20, 2028: 60th Anniversary Certified Exam, Killington, VT
Looking forward to seeing everyone on the slopes this season.
by Matt Nebzydoski, OET Supervisor | Nov 19, 2025 | Division News, Program News
This February the OET, Certified, and Women’s Programs are teaming up for an awesome week of learning, testing, and training in Vermont.
The events kick off on Thursday, February 5 at Sugarbush with a “Steeps, Bumps and Trees‘’ clinic led by Eric Jordan, PSIA Examiner and Sugarbush local, along with Certified Patroller Matt Nebzydoski, Eastern Division OET Supervisor and Teigh Southworth from the OET Steering Committee Members.
Plan to work on improving your technical and tactical skills on some of the best ungroomed terrain in the East. All levels of patrollers are welcome; however, participants should be comfortable skiing on ungroomed black terrain. The clinic will be an ideal opportunity for those patrollers working to build their skills for upcoming Senior or Certified level assessments.
In addition, OET Instructors and TEs who attend will be provided coaching tips on assisting the patrollers they work with back home. **Due to a limited number of available tickets and instructors the focus will be Alpine skis this year. We hope to expand the program to include tele and snowboards in the future. Sign up early so you don’t miss out.
The fun moves to Killington on Friday with a Women’s Toboggan Clinic and Certified Pre-test. The women will spend the day running sleds with some of the best female instructors in the division, followed by an après ski gathering. Certified Candidates will pre-test to qualify for the exam at Sugarloaf in March.
This all leads to the famous Killington Patroller School for Saturday and Sunday. The patroller school includes two days of the best 
toboggan handling and skier, tele, or snowboard enhancement you can get. Newer NSP members may not realize the rich tradition of the Patroller Schools that were originally started to provide opportunities to train with the best. Sticking with tradition, Certified Patrollers and Division Staff will be leading the groups and sharing their knowledge and skills. Participants get one day of OET skills and toboggan handling and the other day working with top PSIA coaches to work on personal ski/ride skills. Patrollers interested in the Certified program can sign up for the Intro to Certified program which provides an overview of the tested modules. Whatever your goal is for the weekend there will be a group that fits.
Finally, to help participants that need reasonably priced lodging we have bunks available for the weekend. Join the instructors and staff who will be staying at the Turn of the River Lodge. It will be a great opportunity to unwind after a busy day on the slopes and chat around the fire with OET, Women’s, and Certified Leadership. Expect some après fun and camaraderie with fellow patrollers from across the East.
Tickets for all patroller school and OET events are available here. https://www.patrollerschool.org/events/divi-home/outdoor-emergency-transportation/ They go on sale the day after Thanksgiving.
by Scott Launt, Labrador Mtn., CNY Region | Nov 19, 2025 | Division News, Program News
First, a real human-interest story by Scott Launt, Central New York Alumni Advisor
In 2017, a young patroller named Melanie Harvey signed on with the Labrador Mountain Ski Patrol of the Central New York Region. Over the ensuing several years, she completed OEC and OET, and in 2018, she took courses towards OEC Instructor Trainer, having a background in teaching medical professionals. She was an active alpine patroller for two seasons.
Melanie Harvey
After having her first child, she made the difficult decision to sit on the sidelines. She joined the NSP Alumni in 2020, after her daughter was born. She maintained her OEC refreshers, making up one when her third child was born.
Now, with two additional children and missing the patrol, she decided to make a comeback! While on the sidelines, she stayed in touch with the patrol, making it clear she would eventually return. She was grateful that the patrol included her in patrol communications and alumni outings.
There are several keys to this success story. She kept in touch with the patrol, letting them know her intentions. Communication was key.
There were many moving parts to this story. In the background helping this happen were Mike Cassidy, our OEC Senior leader for the Region; RD Tom Hughes; Labrador Patrollers from her shift; and others.
It takes a Patrol that cares, and a patroller that wants to return to patrolling when life permits it.
Alumni Membership acts as a safety valve, allowing patrollers to handle life’s surprises and stay connected enough to their patrol family to make returning to active patrolling easier.
Questions? Contact your Patrol Alumni Liaison, your region’s Alumni Advisor, or your Eastern Division Alumni Advisor, https://www.nspeast.org/alumni.html.
by Larry Davis, Santiam Pass PNW Division | Nov 19, 2025 | Program News, Spotlight Articles
Reflections from Larry Davis Pacific Northwest Division, Nordic Master #22
Before boots hit the colorful fallen leaves on the ground at Pike Glades, AMN25 (Avalanche, Mountaineering, Nordic) instructor participants were already deep into the work. The Annual AMN Instructor Refresher was successfully hosted at Pike Glades, NH September 25-28, 2025, and provided 80+ instructors with the opportunity to hone their instructional skills together in this rugged outdoor center. Avalanche, Mountain Travel & Rescue, and Nordic instructors and instructor candidates worked together to elevate learning.
Flipped Learning Model
Patroller School’s online AMN curriculum laid the groundwork — four content areas, each building on last year’s AMN24, designed not just to inform but to prepare. This wasn’t fluff. The material was practical, mountain-professional grade, and built for the field. By the time participants arrived, they weren’t just reviewing — they were ready to coach and be coached. AMN’s flipped-classroom model isn’t just a clever phrase; it’s a shift in how we instruct and model effective outdoor instruction.
The whole point of bringing everyone out for three days was simple: elevate the skills and align the content. We’re running under a new mission too: “Rescue Ready Resource Smart.” It sounds like a bumper sticker, but it has deeper meaning. There were no PowerPoints® or long classroom lectures during field work. If you’re going to teach you need to be out there doing it, coaching activity, and not just standing and talking.
AMN’s flipped-classroom model wasn’t just a talking point— it was the backbone of AMN25. Patroller School’s Moodle LMS delivered four tightly focused modules ahead of the event, each building on last year’s AMN24 foundation. The content was practical, mountain-grade, and designed to stick. For many, it wasn’t just a refresher — it was a reset and level up. New accessibility features like text-to-speech made the material more inclusive to learning styles, and the Patroller School content remains available as a resource long after the tents are packed. In the field, CalTopo on mobile devices replaced the GPS standalone units, with offline downloaded layers giving patrollers the edge in planning and navigation. It’s a quiet shift, but a meaningful one — evolving to standard technology used by rescuers, without tech for the sake of technology.
Meet up in Pike Glades
Eastern Division instructors and others from as far as Oregon and Idaho came together to learn from each other, align, and elevate our instruction in Pike Glades. This is an excellent environment for a backcountry patroller school, with camping space, just the right number of rustic amenities, and expansive woods, trails, and hills perfect for practicing backcountry skills. Pike Glades is an area established for backcountry travel by the Granite Backcountry Alliance, with ongoing development of trails and amenities. GBA members were part of the weekend, both as volunteers and local experts helping patrollers understand the significance of the location and filling in local area knowledge. https://granitebackcountryalliance.org/
Instruction Technology – Prep for the Wilderness
The entire weekend was run on the philosophy that coaching replaces teaching. How’d we pull that off?
Instructors did the “classroom” homework before they even packed up the gear for travel. All the foundational knowledge was delivered online through the PatrollerSchool.org on the Moodle LMS. We’re serious about making this accessible too. We even rolled out Text-to-Speech (Natura Reader) as a new service in the Moodle courses this year, so everyone gets a fair shot at the material no matter what their learning style.
This pre-event preparation in Patroller School online meant that when you showed up at Pike Glades you weren’t wasting daylight. Every hour was dedicated to hands-on evolutions built around a tight cycle: “Content Delivery interspersed with Student Activities, monitored for effectiveness then repeated.” It’s about making a mistake, seeing it, fixing it, and owning the skill.
The Heart of the Lesson
The stations were focused on practical competence, standardization, and a couple of essential new tricks:
- Instructor Development lessons from Patroller School and coaching on the mountain helped participants to lean into the 6-Pack concepts of the Heart of the Lesson. Use the Heart of the Lesson and the Experiential Learning Cycle to guide the student’s growth collaboratively through active learning and coaching. The ID concepts permeated the other stations.
- Mountain Travel & Rescue (MTR): The focus was on low angle rescue systems. We’re standardizing these rope rescue systems education across the Eastern Division and simplifying the components so rescuers can get it right when it counts. The systems this year featured:
- minimizing gear hauling requirements, e.g. munter hitches over descender devices, improvised webbing harnesses consistently tied,
- anchors created with basket hitches, allowing sewn slings or pre-tied webbing to be used,
- adding safety by using two inline prussic hitches for secure load capture,
- rigging for simplified Up/Down directional changes during early system rigging, and
- safety factor calculations for use in the field.
- Nordic/Backcountry: “You have to know where you are in these woods.” The Nordic station put the hands-on into navigation with mobile phone technology and SAR Topo app navigation. Following the trend for rescuers to use their mobile devices for navigation, we drilled skills with SAR Topo on mobile phones which is becoming a standard for rescue groups. The AMN leaders demonstrated, coached, and prepared each participant for a custom solo-route to find waypoints through the rugged New England woods. We brought it full circle after the electronic route-finding to plot our waypoints on paper maps and create a bearing and distance record of the adventure. Participants found their way, overcoming low cell signal by utilizing offline maps and pre-selected data layers. A sunny Sunday hike sealed the Nordic knowledge as participants collaborated to set and follow a route to the top of Iron Mountain, complete with snacks and a group photo opportunity.
- Avalanche : The practice focused on Avy transceiver search techniques and treating victims post-avalanche rescue-patient care for hypothermia. Skilled leaders coached participants to quickly and efficiently locate Avy victims in multi-burial scenarios while using common transceiver models and varied search techniques. The highest skill was the introduction of the Hypo Wrap technique. It’s a smart, simple backcountry method for keeping a hypothermic or an injured patient warm until additional resources and ground transport arrive. Don’t leave home without knowing it. Participants practiced with standard rescue equipment and improvised systems from whatever was available in their rescue packs.
Why We Show Up
The true value of AMN far outshines the checkbox for continuing education credits; participants experiencing community. You had patrollers and candidates from all over the Eastern Division and even some West Coasters camped out sharing a potluck on Saturday night and hashing out the details with program leaders. This event is where we build our leadership core. instructor candidates got essential mentoring and networking time, and many took home new instruction to share in their home area. The up level of consistency and professionalism you teach on your mountain this winter starts right here.
by John Wolf, Bike Supervisor | Nov 19, 2025 | Division News, Program News
Learning From the Best: Eastern Division Bike Program Members Shadow World-Class Event Operations
When the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill (Union Cycliste Internationale) rolled into Whiteface Mountain, New York this season, it brought with it not just some of the world’s fastest riders, but also an incredible learning opportunity for the Eastern Division Bike Program. A contingent of bike program members made the journey to the Adirondacks to shadow the Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol and witness firsthand how risk management and emergency response operate at the highest level of mountain bike racing.
A World-Class Event, A World-Class Team
The scale of a UCI World Cup event is something that must be seen to be fully appreciated. With riders hitting speeds exceeding 40 mph on technical terrain, massive rock gardens, and gap jumps that would make even seasoned patrollers hold their breath, the stakes for emergency response couldn’t be higher. But if there was any doubt about Whiteface’s readiness, the local patrol team put those concerns to rest with a rock-solid performance that showcased the professionalism and expertise our organization is known for.
Watching the Whiteface patrol in action was like seeing a masterclass in preparation and execution. Every detail was considered, from pre-race course sweeps to strategic positioning of personnel and equipment along the most technical sections.
Strategic Risk Management in Action
Our division bike program members had the privilege of observing the comprehensive risk management strategies employed throughout the event. The Whiteface team conducted extensive pre-race course assessments, identifying high-risk features and determining optimal staging locations for personnel and equipment. Communication systems were tested and retested, ensuring seamless coordination between course marshals, medical personnel, and patrol teams stationed at critical points along the demanding downhill track.
What impressed the visiting patrollers most was the layered approach to safety: preventive measures through course design consultation, proactive positioning of resources, and rapid-response protocols that could be activated at a moment’s notice. The team’s familiarity with their mountain, combined with their professional training, created a safety net that allowed the world’s best riders to push their limits with confidence.
Emergency Response Excellence
Throughout race day, the ED bike program members shadowed the patrol’s emergency response capabilities firsthand. While major incidents were thankfully minimal—a testament to the preventive work done beforehand—the team’s readiness was evident in every interaction. From quick responses to minor mechanicals and crashes to the calm, coordinated approach to more serious situations, the Whiteface patrol demonstrated the gold standard for mountain bike event safety.
The integration of patrol skills into summer bike operations was particularly enlightening for the visitors. Many of the same principles that guide winter emergency response—scene assessment, patient care in challenging terrain, efficient evacuation procedures—translated seamlessly to the mountain bike environment, albeit with unique considerations for the sport’s specific risks and terrain features.
The Spectacle of World Cup Racing
Of course, it wasn’t all business. The bike program members also had the opportunity to witness some of the most impressive displays of mountain biking on the planet. Watching elite riders navigate the technical features of Whiteface’s World Cup track at race pace was an experience that reinforced why we all love mountain sports. The combination of raw speed, technical precision, and calculated risk-taking displayed by competitors from around the globe made for an unforgettable show.
Bringing Lessons Home
As the our Bike Program continues to grow and develop, experiences like this UCI World Cup shadowing opportunity prove invaluable. The members returned home with notebooks full of observations and most importantly, a deeper understanding of how to scale up operations for major events while maintaining the core principles of professional patrol work.
The Eastern Division extends its sincere thanks to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol for their hospitality and willingness to share their expertise. Their professionalism and dedication to safety at this world-class event reflects the very best of what the National Ski Patrol represents—and sets a benchmark for all of us in the bike program to aspire to.
As we continue to build and expand mountain bike patrol capabilities across the Eastern Division, the lessons learned at Whiteface will help shape our training programs, operational protocols, and event readiness for years to come. Here’s to many more opportunities to learn, grow, and serve our mountain communities—on snow and dirt alike.
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Nov 19, 2025 | Division News, Program News
Nordic Fest is back, but with a new date…January 30-February 1, 2026! We will again be at Highland Forest in Fabius, NY, with most of us arriving on Friday January 30. You can enhance your ski skills with L3 PSIA XC instructors who will provide personal instruction on your specific skill set needs.
Group meals, good lessons, and great people will make this an awesome learning experience. If you’re looking to test out as Nordic Senior, contact both your patrol director and me.
By the time you read this I will already have skied the toll road on Whiteface. The only way to catch this early season snow is to earn your turns. This is what Nordic skiing is all about.
It will be a couple more weeks before ski areas start spinning their lifts, so if you feel the urge, now is the time to get out there before everyone else. Just don’t be too aggressive as the snow will not be deep enough to hide all the hidden obstacles. Don’t hurt yourself before the season gets started. Work on getting in shape and having fun.
See you out there.
by John Wolf, Bike Supervisor | Oct 23, 2025 | Division News, Program News
The Eastern Division Bike Program ran their second annual Bike Patroller School at HoliMont Bike Park in Ellicottville, NY.
Our weekend started late Saturday morning allowing the participants to meet up and ride the bike park at reduced rates. During our Saturday ride, Adam, a HoliMont patroller, led a great skills clinic focusing on improving our cornering. I’ve been riding for many years, and his tips made me an even better rider! We finished our day with pizza and beverages in their ski school building, and then a few of us camped out at the mountain.
The main program started bright and early on Sunday morning. The HoliMont instructors taught the Bike 1 course first thing. The GVR instructors followed that with the wheeled-litter course. For those who are unfamiliar with the wheeled litter, it is the summer patroller’s version of a toboggan.
We had a late lunch, enjoying freshly grilled hots, hamburgers, and veggie burgers and then…we rode more! Two of the HoliMont patrollers, Kate and Adam, led the group ride that started with a tour of some of the great riding that the park has to offer and then led us all over the mountain.
Thanks to HoliMont Ski Club for welcoming us, Patrol Director Rick Chapman and the HoliMont Bike Patrol for hosting, Val Sorrells for photos, and the HoliMont and GVR instructors for leading us through a great weekend of training.
Want to host a bike patroller school in 2026? Reach out to your regional advisor, John Wolf, or Tim Franz
