Eastern Division NSP's News Magazine
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Division Director’s Report – December 2025
Winter arrived early this year – unlike last year! Lots of good snowmaking weather and some help from Mother Nature, so most of us have already been out on snow. OEC courses and refreshers were successfully delivered throughout the Division, and feedback on this year’s refresher content was overwhelmingly positive. Certified Boot Camp at Ski Roundtop (EPA), Advanced Patroller School at Swain (GV), AMN Instructor Refresher at Pike Glades (NH), multiple MTR courses, “Snowbound 2025” (Boston Ski Show), and the Division OET Staff Conference at Killington (SVT) were delivered and well received. Many thanks to everyone who made these possible!
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.
YAP Seminar Registration Opens Jan 1
Young Adult Patrollers (YAPs) from Maine to West Virginia will once again gather at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Jeffersonville, Vermont, March 13-16, 2026 for the Eastern Division Young Adult Program Summit. Smugglers’ Notch Resort has over 1000 acres of terrain including long turn cruisers, steeps, trees, terrain parks, and the only TRIPLE BLACK DIAMOND in the east, Black Hole. Smugglers’ has been a gracious host to this event in the past and looks to do the same this year.
A Time to be Thankful
Julie Bowman-Tuck’s Patrol, Cathe Neuberger-Smugglers’ Notch, SANTA, Rachel Tobler-Smugglers’ Notch
It was a casual late morning tour up The Cog rail line on Mount Washington. We made our way up we traveling in pairs, exchanging stories, talking about past adventures and how we ended up patrolling. There was a rotation of the pairings and who lead the charge, so we all got to talk to each other. After all there is so much to learn from one another.
We got up to the point where The Cog turns around in the winter, ate some snacks, and added some layers to continue up to Jacob’s Ladder. We chatted in a circle eating yummy chocolate treats and makeshift sandwich wraps. Santa came up to us with a bag over his shoulder. Jokingly one of us said “you got any goodies in there?”
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!
