Educational Program News
Backcountry Patroller School
Are you an alpine patroller on skis? or split board? who has skins and have been doing uphill laps for fitness at your mountain? Are you a Nordic/Backcountry Patroller wishing to Improve your ski skills? Or are you any patroller wishing to learn backcountry rescue techniques? If so, then the Backcountry Patroller School at Pike Glades in Haverhill, New Hampshire is the event for you!
YAP 2026 at Smuggs 🎿
🌟 Join the Eastern Division Young Adult Program Staff and fellow young adult patrollers from Maine to West Virginia this March 13–16, 2026, at Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, VT for an unforgettable weekend.
Never been to an Eastern Division Young Adult Patroller Summit? This is your year to jump in.
Been before? Even better—come back with fresh energy, big enthusiasm, and next-level stoke.
2025 AWARDS
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO RECEIVED AN AWARD INÂ 2025
The impressive list includes National Outstanding Award 1st place winners from Eastern Division, Eastern Division winners, National Appointments, Leadership Commendation Appointments, Distinguished Service Awards, Meritorious Service Awards, Merit Stars, Patriot Stars, and more. Congratulations to all!
Alumni Zoom Forum
The Region Alumni Advisors of the Eastern Division are inviting you to a scheduled Zoom Forum.
This will be the first-ever Alumni Forum. We are creating an opportunity for Alumni to share stories, have their questions answered, and help us understand how we can support them in staying connected with their patrol and patrolling friends and getting the most out of their Alumni membership.
We will discuss the third Alumni and Patroller Celebration at Stratton in March. This is a great week with special low-cost lodging and lift tickets, plus opportunities to socialize and gain insights into the resort that the general public rarely gets to experience.
Topic: Eastern Division Alumni – Forum
Time: Feb 5, 2026, 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
More Patroller Schools
Here’s a great opportunity for some skill building before Senior tests kick off.
Eastern Division is offering two exciting Patroller School opportunities close to home—join us at Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks or Belleayre Mountain in the Catskills!
These events are a great opportunity to build and refine your skiing/riding and toboggan handling skills while learning alongside fellow patrollers.
What to Expect
Patroller School is a two-day OET event focused on skill development and progression:
- One full day with a Level III PSIA instructor focused on skiing or riding
- One full day with Division OET Staff focused on toboggan handling and applied skills
These events are engaging, supportive, and designed to promote meaningful growth—while having a lot of fun on snow.
3rd Annual Patroller & Alumni Event
YES, IT WILL HAPPEN AND WE’RE GOING BACK TO STRATTON!
Join us again for the 3rd Patroller and Alumni event. It will be a week of skiing, information, camaraderie and Après Ski. We will again celebrate our shared passion for skiing and patrolling! Be there for as long it is fun for you. We hope you can stay the whole time, but your stay is up to you. No charge for notable alumni and patroller events. All costs for lodging, lift tickets, and meals are on you.Â
HERE ARE THE DETAILS SO FAR! Â
DATES
We are awaiting Stratton’s announcement of the dates. The event will coincide with their “Friends and Family Week,” mid-March, around St Patrick’s Day. Stay tuned for the details.Â
Strengthening the Communication Chain
In mountain rescue, the moments between injury and definitive care can determine outcomes. The Regional Mountain Trauma System (RMTS) was founded to strengthen every link in that chain. From the ski slopes to the trauma bay we work to connect ski patrols, EMS providers, and trauma centers through shared communication, education, and feedback.
RMTS grew from the recognition that mountain trauma presents unique challenges. Response often begins miles from the nearest road, in terrain where evacuation is slow and resources are limited. Once a patient reaches the hospital, vital field details can easily be lost. RMTS closes that gap by creating a seamless continuum of care, ensuring that ski patrollers on-scene expertise directly informs hospital treatment—and that trauma center insights return to the mountain.
History of the Avalanche Award
The Eastern Division Roger H. Damon Jr. Avalanche Award was developed and first presented in 2013 in accordance with criteria from NSP’s Montgomery Atwater National Avalanche Award, to recognize Eastern Division’s NSP members, or non-members, who have made outstanding and continuing contributions to the Avalanche Program with significant division impact. Examples of such contributions might fall under management, curriculum development, publication, scientific discovery, instruction, or any combination thereof.
Roger was the first recipient of this award in 2013 when he then had 67 years of service, including time served at Norwich University, Burke Mountain, and the Mount Washington Ski Patrols. Also, during his time in the military, Roger patrolled at a mountain in Austria where his interest in avalanche safety began.
Nordic/Backcountry Update
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!
‘Tis the season for Avalanches
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. 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.
