Over the course of the season at Ski Sundown, you may notice folks in red coats with a white cross on their backs around the hill. These are members of the Sundown Ski Patrol, an entirely volunteer team dedicated to maintaining guests’ safety. The patrol includes approximately 115 alpine patrollers and 30 mountain hosts, each volunteer committing 10 hours per week, enabling the patrol to cover all hours of operation.
Every morning begins with skiing each trail to assess conditions and completing a trail report to ensure it is safe for guests. Inside the Bottom Shack, a fully stocked aid room ensures patrollers have supplies on hand to help guests with injuries or concerns throughout the day. Within a second station, the Top Shack at the summit of the hill, patrollers are ready to quickly reach injured guests and coordinate additional equipment and support as necessary. As the night comes to a close, patrollers perform a final sweep of each trail, skiing down checking that it is clear, and ensuring that all guests are safely off the slope. Patrollers’ duties may include marking hazards with signage, transporting guests in toboggans or providing medical care.
As Alpine Patroller Chris Berning puts it, “Joining [the] Ski Sundown Ski Patrol has brought the opportunity to be a part of a close community of like-minded people. This group works hard on a volunteer basis to make the customer experience better every day. Being able to assist Ski Sundown’s customers even in challenging circumstances has been extremely rewarding as well.”
Sundown Ski Patrol members practicing for skier rescues on the mountain. Photos by Jacob Dunnohew
To qualify as an alpine patroller, each volunteer must complete an Outdoor Emergency Care certification, a 16-week, 100-hour course, comparable to EMT-level training. This nationally standardized program has transferability across state lines. Along with medical training, they also complete the Outdoor Emergency Transportation course, refining their ski/snowboard skills to transport guests in toboggans as efficiently and safely as possible. Mountain hosts are Outdoor First Care certified, a less strenuous training course that prepares them to assist guests and support operations.
Patrollers’ skills and contributions extend beyond the winter slopes. In the summer, during the Talcott Mountain Music Festival summer series, patrollers continue to use their skills to contribute to the community by assisting with medical concerns, allowing every guest to enjoy their experience. Even in everyday life, their skills and capabilities are proven when patrollers frequently assist in medical emergencies wherever they may be.
Each November, through a display of great camaraderie among patrollers, the Sundown Ski Patrol holds a community-wide ski swap with proceeds helping to fund essential equipment, including toboggans, Automated External Defibrillators, lift evacuation equipment and much more. Patrollers’ family members help at these events too, supplying food, running cashier stations and performing other tasks necessary to run a smooth and successful event, setting the stage for another promising patrol season.
For younger folks in the community, ages 15–18, the patrol offers a Young Adult Program that introduces the teens to patrol responsibilities and mountain safety.
Anyone interested in joining the patrol can go to nspskisundown.org/join-us to find out more.