Eastern Division NSP's News Magazine
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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
New Patroller Event in Park City
Last Tracks, a patroller event hosted by Central Division, March 26-28, 2026, is being held at Park City. This gathering from all divisions is open to all
patrollers. Registration closes March 2, 2026.
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.
