Eastern Division NSP's News Magazine
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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!
Alumni Advice & Options
Allan Miller
Eastern Division Alumni Advisor
We Know the options, so you don’t need to…until you do! For most of us, when we join the National Ski Patrol and choose the area where we want to work, we don’t think much about the future.
Life happens, and some situations may require you to seriously consider how to navigate them without leaving our organization. This is when you go directly to your patrol, region, or division alumni advisor to learn about your membership options. NSP offers several that can help you without requiring you to relinquish your OEC certification. It is our responsibility to work with you and your patrol director to establish a plan that works for you.
‘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.
Liberty Mountain Ski Patrol Celebrates 60 Years
As the 2025-2026 ski season gets underway, the Liberty Mountain Ski Patrol (LMSP) marks a significant milestone: sixty years of dedicated service to the skiing community and the National Ski Patrol system.
From Oregon Ridge to Liberty Mountain
Their story begins around 1965 when patrollers from the then recently-closed Oregon Ridge Ski Area in Hunt Valley, Maryland, brought their expertise to a newly developed resort in the rolling hills of south-central Pennsylvania. Originally known as Charnita—named for developers Charles and Anita Rist—the ski area faced early financial challenges. When the resort went bankrupt in the early 1970s, those committed patrollers persevered.
In 1974, when Irv Naylor acquired the property and renamed it Ski Liberty, the patrol members took a defining step: they ratified bylaws to provide lasting structure and guidance, a measure that was truly ahead of its time. That formalization, now over fifty years old, created the foundation for an organization that would become a stalwart within the Eastern Division.
EPA Special Olympics Plane Pull Fundraiser
Bear Creek Ski Patrol/Mountain Host (Team BCMR) members participated in the 2025 Lehigh Valley Plane Pull fundraiser for Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Among those pulling for Team BCMR Mountain Host/Ski Patrol were Alison Hudak, Holly Krause, Roger Ritchi, and Chet Ochar.
Team BCMR finished in 2nd place for their division pulling 175,000 lbs. of pure plane (FedEx cargo plane at Lehigh Valley International Airport) the designated distance (about 25 ft) in 8.12 seconds.
Teams across the Lehigh Valley participated and raised a total of $57,000 for Special Olympics. Team BCMR was a new member of the event this year. Just goes to show Ski Patrollers and Mountain Hosts are not just pretty faces on the hill, they possess Superhero strength.
In Memoriam – Steve Reisman
Steven Reisman, former Patrol Leader at Big Vanilla at Davos Ski Patrol in the Southern NY Region, passed away on August 9, 2025, at the age of 84.
Born on June 13, 1941, Steven attended Bayside High School, where he excelled at swimming. At just sixteen, he became a lifeguard at Rockaway Beach—a role that sparked a lifelong passion for the ocean. He later joined the Knickerbocker Yacht Club in Port Washington, NY, serving as secretary for more than sixteen years and participating in countless sailing events on the Long Island Sound.
Steven was also a proud member of the New York Athletic Club in New York City and enjoyed spending time at their summer facility on Travers Island in Westchester, NY. Deeply committed to community and history, Steven served as a trustee of the Cow Neck Historical Society in Port Washington, where he contributed his time, ideas, and expertise.
Certified Program Update
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. Weinstein Memorial Ski Patrol Fundraiser. 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…
Awesome Week of OET Training
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.
From Crash to Care
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.
Alumni Success Story
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…
Reflections from Pacific Northwest
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.
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.
NSP and the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
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.
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.
Mark Your Calendar for 2026 Nordic Fest
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.
In Memoriam – John Cleary
John Cleary, a 30-year volunteer patroller at Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, Western Appalachian Region, passed away on October 25, 2025 at the age of 74.
“John was kind, soft-spoken, funny, genuine, warm, and so much more,” said Hidden Valley Ski Patrol Director, Lisa Buss. “John was one of the kindest people I have ever known. Not only was he an excellent ski patroller, but he also went out of his way to have a chat and ask fellow patrollers about their life outside of patrolling…how is the family, how is work, any trips coming up?
Following his retirement from Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, John and his wife, Kathy, continued to be homeowners at Hidden Valley, and were often seen in the chairlift lines or on the slopes, and made frequent visits to the patrol room to say hello.
John was a graduate of Kent State University in the field of architecture. He was a survivor of the Kent State Shootings on May 4, 1970…
In Memoriam – Gordon Leon Benoit
Gordon L. Benoit, a member of the Hunt Hollow Ski Patrol in Naples, NY, died on August 26, 2025 at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada while on vacation.
Gordy joined the National Ski Patrol in 1979 at Ski Valley in South Bristol, NY and advanced to become a senior patroller in 1985. When Ski Valley closed in 2000, he transferred to Hunt Hollow to continue his volunteer patrolling career. He was a dedicated member of NSP for 46 years, serving Ski Valley, Hunt Hollow, the Genesee Valley Region, and the Eastern Division with distinction. His exemplary service to the skiing public and leadership as an Assistant Patrol Director, Ski & Toboggan Instructor, Region Senior Outdoor Emergency Transportation Program Administrator, and Division Instructor Trainer earned him National Appointment Number 8814 in 1998 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2016.
Gordy will always be remembered for using his expert skiing and teaching abilities…
In Memoriam – Danny Shipe
Beloved Pennsylvania Denton Hill Ski Patroller Daniel “Danny” Shipe died peacefully on August 22, 2025, at the Gatehouse Family Hospice in Williamsport, PA, surrounded by loving family and friends, following an 18-month courageous struggle with cancer.
Daniel Brosius Shipe was born in Philadelphia on October 13, 1955, the son of Robert Amos and Virginia (Burns) Shipe. His love of the great outdoors first developed during outings with his family in Central Pennsylvania, New England, and Canada.
Danny was a UPS career employee for thirty-five years. An added benefit was that all of the walking and steps in and out of the UPS truck kept his skiing quads in shape. In addition to skiing, Danny’s passions included gardening, music, and other outdoor sports including fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking.
Danny’s journey to becoming an avid cross-country and excellent downhill skier began during his college years…
We Can Only Hope!
