Mark your calendars: Continually check out the FWD (and, your own Region s) web site for updated calendar of events & training opportunities!

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1 News and Views of the Far West Division, NSP; December, 2015 Volume Seven, Issue Three From the Far advisor, Trudy Nye fills us in on the West Division Women's Program. Hitting the ground Director, running, you will be seeing Trudy at Bill Gibson region events throughout the Division. She has region advisers in place in Winter is almost three of our five regions and is looking here and most of for someone to step up in both SoCal our ski areas are and Arizona regions. Look for the already open. If Women's Program events at a ski area yours isn't, just near you this winter and don't be afraid give it a few weeks and you should be to get involved. skiing, at least that's what we all hope. There are also lots of updates After four years of below average included in this issue. OEC, OET, and snow fall, the weather man has Avalanche just to name a few. Karl promised the west coast at least an Chulski our MTR Supervisor bring us average winter and who knows maybe the latest information on MTR in the even a little more. Let's all do our Far West Division snow dance and a n d t h e see what happens. happenings from In this issue of this year's Tri News and Views Advisory. In case you are going to you missed it, the f i n e l o t s o f w e a t h e r i n information on Yosemite was happenings from p r e f e c t a n d a r o u n d t h e everyone had a Division. Have great time. You you thought about really should put becoming an NSP i t o n y o u r instructor? Doug calendar to attend Hill, our division next year, I will be ID supervisor will there. help guide you through the process And lastly, I want to wish everyone plus for those of us that are already a Merry Christmas and a wonderful instructors, the information he shares Holiday Season. I hope you enjoy this reminds us how important being an winter's ski season and above all else, instructor is. please be safe and I will see you on the Jeff Gurrola, Nordic Supervisor mountain. updates us on the world of Nordic patrolling. With updates in the Nordic Bill Gibson, classification from National, Jeff will Far West Division Director, be sharing this and more information National Ski Patrol in the future on the direction our Nordic patrollers are headed. Our Newest division program Please see Director, continued p. 10 Mark your calendars: A host of MTR, Nordic, Avy, Transportation and other events; see inside!. March 16, 2016, FWD Alumni Celebration Day, Heavenly Valley April 14-17, 2016, Sea Otter Bicycling Classic at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey Far West Awards Dinner, August, 2016, Davis, TBA Continually check out the FWD (and, your own Region s) web site for updated calendar of events & training opportunities! What s Inside... Alumni program is focus, p. 17 Avalanche updates, p. 6 Awards due to FWD, p. 14 Calendar of events, p. 16 Events feature NSP service, p. 16 FWD Officers, staff, p. 19 Get published, p. 14 Instructor Development, p. 2 Mountain Travel & Rescue, p. 12 Nordic program rolls, p. 11 NSP History, it s 1941, p. 8 OEC lays out program, p. 9 OET says Bring it, p. 7 Ski Dazzle has Avy insight, p. 4 Sea Otter Bike Classic, p. 6 Senate recognizes FWD, p. 13 Tri Advisory in Yosemite, p. 3 Web site offers Community Service opportunities, p. 15 Warren Miller movie, p. 18 Women s Program, p. 5 Lots more; see inside!

2 Addresses up-to-date? Is your mailing address and e- address current with the National office? Remember, the FWD gets its mailing lists and lists directly from the National office in Denver. If you change your US mail or address, drop a note to the Denver NSP office: or call ; and, notify your own patrol. Don't miss out on exciting future issues of FWD News and Views and other NSP publications designed to help you maximize your membership in the Far West Division and the NSP! FWD News and Views News of the Far West Division, NSP Division Director, Bill Gibson Asst. Dir., Lance Vaughan Asst. Dir., Richard Wilson Arizona Dir., Glenn Minuth Eastern Sierra Dir., Katie Dumont Mother Lode Dir.,Tony Atkins Northern Cal., Jason Allen Professional Dir., Rich Bailey Southern California, Diana St. Clair Secretary, Janice Waits Treasurer, Keith Dickens Legal Advisor, Josh Masur Registrar, Peggy Jamison Alumni Advisor, Tim Viall Awards Advisor, Ken Bergmann Avalanche Advisor, Keith Church Certified Advisor, contact Lance Vaughan Community College Advisor, Thomas Taylor Conferences Advisor, Tony Atkins Instructor Development, Doug Hill Mountain Travel and Rescue Advisor, Karl Chulski Nordic Advisor, Jeff Gurrola Communications Advisor, Tim Viall Outdoor Emergency Care Advisor, Kevin Qualseth Outdoor Emergency Transportation, Daryl Whitcher Recruitment, John McGuigan Webmaster, Rye Livingston Woman s Program, Trudy Nye The FWD News and Views is published three times yearly, in September, December and February. Deadline is the end of the month prior to publication. Features, photos; send to Tim Viall, fwdnewsletter@farwest.org, or mail to 5854 Turtle Valley Drive, Stockton, CA Keepin' The Good Ones! (NSP Instructors) No, I'm not talking about fishing and then later on, winning awards at and throwing back the small ones. their patrol, region, and division Let's talk instructors! Of the almost level, and even going further to be 29,000 patrollers in the National Ski recognized at the national level for Patrol System, a few thousand of their accomplishments. One of my those are NSP instructors in one or own most rewarding moments was more of the educational disciplines when one of my former students which are offered in NSP, disciplines thanked me for teaching him the such as Outdoor Emergency Care, skills he used to save a life the day Avalanche, Mountain Travel and before. Rescue, Outdoor Emergency So that brings us to one way we Transportation, Senior, Certified, can encourage instructors to continue Nordic, Search and Rescue, and even teaching, that is to make certain that Instructor Development. they get recognized for what they do. Our instructors are the most Let's do a little more than just a thank important asset and the backbone of you after the class is over. NSP has our educational organization. We many awards, pins, and certificates have great instructors in all of the that acknowledge patrollers and NSP disciplines. So the question now instructors accomplishments, but is how do we keep all of those great they don't happen automatically. instructors teaching our courses Someone has to write the award without getting burned out. nomination or order the pin or Let's glance at some of the reasons certificate and make sure it is a patroller might make the decision to presented in an admirable fashion at step up and become an NSP some event to honor and thank that instructor. It certainly is a bigger instructor. commitment of time and energy than Another way patrols can just their normal patrol schedule. And encourage their instructors to teach is money is definitely not a factor in to offer some duty credit for days most cases, as my paycheck for spent training and teaching. NSP teaching in the NSP is the same as requires all patrollers to commit to a when I started teaching 32 years ago. minimum of ten patrol days each When I ask my students in my season of actual on-duty patrolling, Instructor Development classes what but the local patrol may have the their motivation is to become an flexibility to offer some credit of their instructor, I get responses such as choice for days over the ten day " M y p a t r o l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e minimum in which the patrol encouraged me to get involved as we instructor is involved in teaching or need more instructors in our patrol training at NSP patrol, region, or for Avalanche or OEC training", or "I division events. want to teach in order to keep my own Although there is usually no skills sharp", or "I have learned so financial compensation for teaching many valuable skills in patrolling that in the NSP, many courses do incur I want to give something back to expenses by way of equipment and patrol." supplies, such as oxygen, first aid One of the motivations I offer to supplies, splints, copying of forms them that I have learned and they and tests, and classroom fees. We probably don't realize yet is watching should make sure that all of these the students you have taught in your expenses that are not recovered in classes out on the slopes doing student fees are budgeted and avalanche control, transporting approved at the patrol, region, or injured skiers and riders, reuniting families, saving lives, See Instructors, continued on page FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 2

3 37th annual Tri-Advisory rocks Yosemite Nov. 6-8! Held in Yosemite Valley the 37th annual Tri-Advisory was enjoyed by all attending. Everyone starting arriving on Friday November 6th, the event was Saturday, and some were able to extend their weekend and stayed until Monday. With fantastic weather to camp all enjoyed the solitude of the special camp site the Park reserves for their special groups. Starting off on Saturday morning was a demonstration on how to cross a fast moving river with reasonable safety using ropes and anchors to be secured with. This was presented by Natalie Muraciov, Austin Regg (both of Summit Patrol) and Mike St. Clair (Mt Pinos). Keith Church, FWD Avalanche supervisor organized an avalanche beacon field to test and get familiar with the workings of a beacon, and Glenn Minuth (Mt Lemon and AZ Region director) presented a very good snow pit showing different conditions and their effect on each other. The Avalanche Instructors and MTR Instructors each had an ICE (Instructor Continuing Education) course that will fulfill the requirements to be re-certified as an instructor in. Tony Atkins (china Peak) gave the ID portion of the ICE course. The event was also an MTR Enhancement Course for those that have had a MTR 1 or 2 courses. The dinner was again organized by Larry Cody and Mellissa (Mt Pinos) and was again certainly k n o w l e d g e o f t h e w i n t e r memorable! Salmon, tri-tip, baked pasta was some of the backcountry. Lodging is either main courses with plenty of home-make food cooked at the camping at the site where Tri camp site and brought by everyone. This is now certainly a Advisory events are held, or at the feast and is a must attend event. RV camp site, or the lodges. After dinner Dr. Ben Schifrin of YOSAR (Yosemite Search And Rescue) presented a very informative and Karl Chulski, FWD MTR, fwd- entertaining talk on hypothermia and what happens to the mtr@farwest.org body during hypothermia. Keith Church, FWD Avy, fwd- Tri Advisory is sponsored by the MTR (Mountain Travel avalance@farwest.org & Rescue), Avalanche, and Nordic programs and is opened Jeff Gurrola, FWD Nordic, fwdnordic@farwest.org to all members that wish to gain and enhance their FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 3

4 Tri-Advisory: Avalanche Instructors Train Together in Yosemite The Valley felt chilly this year--- and that's saying something coming from a guy who stands in snow pits all day---but Tri-Advisory training opportunities were warmly received by FWD avalanche instructors. After a group review and discussion of the Human Factors and Snow Immersion Suffocation units of our new program curriculum, Glenn M i n n u t h ( A Z R e g i o n AV Y Administrator) treated the troops to a demonstration of his portable "snow pit" and other teaching aids. Glenn's designing/building abilities were in the spotlight and we were all impressed with his ingenuity. It's always nice to go home with some new ideas to try in your next class! James Pruett demonstrated his new Black Diamond JetForce avalanche pack's ability to rapidly deploy and deflate an airbag. It was interesting to see a company trying a different direction with airbags. All other manufacturers use compressed gas or air to deploy their bags. We held a RECCO training session and then opened the beacon park to all participants to test their transceiver skills. Having four buried transmitters that could be remotely switched on and off individually made for a challenging course. Nevertheless, we saw some patrollers post very good times for double burial drills. Once again, our annual Tri-Advisory weekend was a fun, educational and inspirational experience. Submitted by Keith Church, FWD Avalanche Advisor. For the first time ever, SoCal Region's Avalanche program will have a large exhibitor booth, shared with our region's recruiting officers and the SoCal Snow and Avalanche Center (SoCalSnow.org), at Ski Dazzle. The Los Angeles Ski Show & Snowboard Expo runs 12/4 through 12/6 and "features 4 football fields of exhibitor and sponsor" space. And we have a prime corner spot and the opportunity to take to the main stage multiple times over three days to promote AVY safety, NSP courses, NSP membership, and our local avalanche center. I'm looking forward to this chance to get face-to-face with the public in a high energy environment. Let's hope At top left, James proves that I'm not the only airbag at Tri-Advisory this year with a demonstration of his new BD JetForce AVY pack, reports Keith. Above, Glenn shows off some of his handiwork to Tri- Advisory attendees; in this case a foam board crafted to help students visualize the connect between snow density and opacity. SoCal NSP Avalanche program exhibits at LA Ski Dazzle show they don't have to pry the mic from my hand at the end of the weekend. I've been called a stage hog more than once before... Keith Church, FWD AVY Program Supervisor; fwd-avalanche@farwest.org FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 4

5 Far West Women's Program - off to a great start! The Far West Division Women's Program is brand new and just starting up! We have women's program advisers for Eastern Sierra (Tammie Hoedeman), Mother Lode (Dore Bietz) and Northern CA regions (Roxanne?). But we still need women's region advisers for Southern CA and Arizona. We're looking for female patrollers who are interested in helping their women's programs grow. This can be accomplished by running women's toboggan clinics, increasing women's participation in other programs and/or encouraging more women to be in leadership roles. I plan on visiting several regions this year including Mother Lode and Nor Cal. Come join us! If you would like to get involved and/or would like to recommend a female patroller who is interested in getting involved, feel free to me. Happy skiing and let's keep on praying for snow! Trudy Nye Heavenly Resort Far West Women's Program Adviser trudyenye@gmail.com Photos from last season s Women s Clinics; we had a good, lively and talented turnout! And, expecting deep snows and larger women s educational and fun events this ski season. Join us! FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 5

6 Join Far West Ski Patrollers at Sea Otter Bike Classic! Patrollers, family, friends provide first aid, marshal service, April 14-17, 2016 J o i n s k i patrollers, family and friends for first-aid duty and course marshaling at the Sea Otter Classic, April 14-17, 2016 at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey/Salinas, CA. This event is the USA s largest outdoor biking extravaganza. Last year, Dodge Ridge Patrol led in numbers, with their 20+ members joined by Donner Ski Ranch, Tahoe Backcountry, Bear Valley, Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl and Heavenly patrollers. NSP members and friends get FREE CAMPING and FREE ADMISSION, enjoyed barbecues and find time to ride their bikes, attend the huge trade show and make new NSP friends! The Sea Otter Classic features everything from 50,000 spectators. A trade show with v e n d o r s w o w e d o u r attendees! For more insight, check the Sea Otter web siteat: By serving as first-aiders, course marshals and nonmedical SAG wagon drivers, these patrollers and friend s volunteer service earned almost $4,600 for their patrols! Patrollers, family and friends are offered FREE CAMPING and ADMISSION right in the Laguna Seca paddock at Ski Patrol Central. Motorhomes, camping trailers and tents make for cozy accommodations and all will enjoy the Friday and Saturday night NSP barbeques! Mark your calendars, April 14-17, 2016: To volunteer mountain biking, dual slalom, road racing and cross- or for more info, call or Tim Viall, Coordinator for country - thrills and spills that draw 9,500+ (yes, 9,500) NSP Volunteers for the Sea Otter Classic, Cell ph: competitors, ranging from avid pro and amateur bikers - and ; or Tim at tviall@msn.com. Clockwise from top left, the FWD first aid crew for the Downhill and Dual Slalom courses prepare to depart for assignments, two bikers ascend Skyline Road on the cross-country course in old Ft. Ord backcountry; BETA team members ( B i c y c l e E q u e s t r i a n Tr a i l Assistance volunteers, in orange vests/shirts) and NSP patrollers, and tents, motorhomes made for cozy evenings at Ski Patrol Central. Join the NSP team in 2016!

7 The Sled Commander, December 2015 TRANSPORTATION NATION on your area's moderate to difficult terrain ü Make appropriate route selections and demonstrate all appropriate maneuvers (sideslip forward, backward, and fall line), wedge, step turn, kick H E R E W E G O turn, and other PEOPLE. transition maneuvers As this long overdue, ü Demonstrate highly anticipated, and quite effective braking possibly very dangerous El techniques during fall N i n o s e a s o n o f line and traverse routes, unprecedented severity gets front and rear started in earnest, let's ü Demonstrate r e v i e w w h a t w e a s effective teamwork to Toboggan Instructors need allow for a safe and to prepare our ski patrollers controlled evacuation of for, in order to be ready for the patient the way-too big-to-be As always, we expect that anticipated snowfall this experienced OET Instructors will tailor this list to suit winter recreation season of : your immediate needs, and a fun, informative, fast Hype. Yep, the media is all over that paced instructional session that can be repeated as snowpocalypse! often as needed is always our goal. The critical Physical preparation. Yep started yesterday. performance objectives include: Stretching exercises. Thanksgiving took care of that abdomen is fully stretched! New batteries in the Avy beacon check. Unloaded Toboggan Course registrations. Slowly, but shirley coming in. Critical Standard: Is the toboggan run smoothly, in a Refresh skills. Hmmm, about that controlled, efficient and safe manner? 1. Safe & expedient, controlled and consistent speed Let's give all our patrollers the tools that they need to be 2. Appropriate route selection and approach to scene; successful immediately upon arrival at our resorts. This smooth and rounded turns means training up on those toboggan skills which may have 3. Driver in a balanced, stable, athletic stance with been more dormant than that skunk under the porch at your dynamic position in handles cabin those skills that are contained in our TREF course 4. Executes transition with effective use of toboggan curriculum. The Toboggan Refresher will be critically control surfaces important this season as, after 4 full sub-par years of 5. Ability to perform controlled emergency stop, if snowfall, the training schedules for many patrols in the asked Division have been minimized, delayed or put off entirely 6. Effective recovery technique if required due to the manpower required to simply keep our resorts Loaded Toboggan Driver open and each of you sled heads out there know a fellow Critical Standard: Is the toboggan run smooth, patroller or two that need some serious drive time in the controlled, efficient and safe? handles, so let's start with a review of the components that a 1. Appropriate communications and safe departure successful TREF course includes: 2. Safe, expedient, controlled & consistent speed 3. Demonstrate appropriate use of chain brake ü A quick safety inspection and review of toboggan 4. Executes transitions with stability and control components 5. Demonstrate effective Control Surface ü Safely approach an injured skier with an unloaded management during traverse toboggan 6. Effective communication with tail operator ü Position the toboggan at the incident site for safe Loaded Toboggan Tail loading and easy departure Critical Standard: Does the rear operator safely and ü Anchor the sled for safe and efficient patient effectively control the toboggan when needed? loading ü Run both the front and rear of a loaded toboggan Please see Transportation, continued p. 8 FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 7

8 Transportation, continued from p Maintains safe operating separation from toboggan 2. Maintains balanced, athletic stance and demonstrates effective edge control 3. Coordinates change of direction & speed control with front operator 4. Maintains functional tension on tail rope while driver is in transition 5. Effectively maintains control of tail rope in fall line & traverse 6. Monitors condition of the patient & performs static belay as necessary The function of the Toboggan Refresher course is critical to the continued success of our patrollers perhaps more so this year than in others. As our resorts begin operations, it is up to us as OET Instructors to ensure that our patrollers have the skill set necessary to be successful! Let's get those TREFs registered and on the training schedule as soon as possible. Have a great winter! Daryl Whitcher is Outdoor Emergency Transport Advisor for the FWD, and can be reached at fwd-oet@farwest.org; Daryl is a former Far West Division Director and National Board Member Back into history NSP s ski patrol manual from This was the third in The and legal liability. NSP system's manuals, A n o t h e r published at the beginning portion focused on of the ski season. your patrol and the At the time, the NSP defense of the had grown to embrace 180 USA it was 1941 r e g i s t e r e d p a t r o l s and Dole had composed of over 4000 agreed to help p a t r o l m e n s i n c e i t s train the US's i n c e p t i o n i n mountain troops. Patrollers had handled Additionally, 4887 accidents which had t h e N S P h a d been logged by the NSP's agreed to work medical committee. with its patrols, This manual urged all The 1941 NSP manual wasn t and form new volunteer members of much taller than a pair of patrols, to more individual patrols to glasses; its few illustrations thoroughly map become associate members showed how to make a traction the northern half splint from ski poles (still taught of the NSP, and pay annual when I joined the NSP in 1975). of the United dues of one dollar. States, in case that The editorial board was detail be needed made up of Charles Minot Dole, Chairman, Robert for national defense later in the war. Livermore,Jr., Richard Rocker, John Morgan and Borden They were tasked for determining places for natural Helmer. A small booklet, the first portion was devoted to the shelter, pioneering lightweight tents and sleds and operating organization of the national ski patrol and how to form a ski under work conditions in a snowy environment. The NSP's patrol, comprising almost 1/3 of the pages. work with the 10th Mountain Division would provide a Subsequent chapters focused upon equipment for critical factor in winning the war in snowy European patrollers and patrols, suggestions on accident prevention, mountainous terrain. Submitted by Tim Viall. FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD website: Page 8

9 Refreshers, OEC courses, Senior Programs, OFC program F a l l is here and our FWD Refreshers' and many of our OEC courses are coming to an end. Thank you to our OEC Instructors who have put in many hours of preparing for these OEC courses and Refreshers. Ski and Snowboard season has started at some areas, it is now time to put our OEC skills to use and make some turns. Do you have your gear ready for the season more importantly how about your physical self? It is time to get out our first aid gear and review it, take an inventory. Does anything need replacing or cleaning? I know my cravats get moldy and discolored after the summer season; the Band-Aids lose their stickyness, and the batteries in my headlamp need replacement. Do you still have witness cards and how about your sheers did they go missing in the snow and you didn't know it? How about your CPR mask, Is it still pliable? This is the time to check things out, instead of finding out when you are on scene. your refresher workbook is signed in the back and that you take it back to your Patrol Represenitave. You need to be sure that your name is listed on the Course Completion Record where you did your refresher. There needs to be something to go back to incase there is an issue. QA form and evuaations of an event It is so important for all patrollers to turn in the evaluation page at the end of your refresher workbook when your refresher day is over. This gives the IOR a big idea on how the event went through your eyes. The IOR can stand back and think that all is good but until they see the evaluations' of the participants, the IOR doesn't really know. The IOR can use this information for improvement for the next year's refresher. The Refresher QA Form that the visiting Instructor Trainer fills out, which is in the back of the Refresher Instructor workbook, is a great tool to provide information to the Region Director and to the Division OEC Supervisor. This information goes with the Supervisor to their yearly meetings and is reviewed for success and improvement needs of the refreshers. These QA forms are ALL read and not just briefly looked over. I do read them all. The QA form for other OEC courses are just as important. They might bring to light to the IOR that there was too much talk or not enough hands on or maybe moulage was needed to make things realistic. Please use the QA forms for all events Refreshers: Traditional, or Instructor Recertification, What is that? Hybrid and On mountain If you are an instructor there are recertification's that need Most Refreshers have been completed, I saw great to be met before you can continue on as an OEC instructor. feedback for the online hybrid portion of the refresher, most This recertification period takes place every three years. thought that it was informative, not too long, and it saved National wants Instructors to be actively teaching as to not lose lecture time during the on mountain portion, so the stations their skills. Instructors are required to teach a representation could get to the scenario hands on portion and get ER of the OEC course within the three year period. What does done. Some wanted to review it again for education purposes this mean? of their own. Next year we can look forward to an even better Hybrid portion and having all involved. I think that In the FWD this means that instructors must have taught this is the third year doing the Hybrid and it has improved twice during that three year cycle. Both teaching sessions must 100% every year. have a course # attached to it. The teaching could be at an If you attended a hybrid refresher on mountain and did OEC course, or at a continuing education course. This would not do the online portion you will not get credit for that consist of drawing up a lesson plan and sharing it with the refresher. Both the Hybrid online and the on mountain IOR. Teaching at a refresher can count as one event, but portions must be done for you to receive credit for the teaching at two refreshers does not qualify for recertification refresher. purposes. Another thing to remember for those who attend out of area refreshers. If you are a visiting patroller make sure that Please see FWD OEC, continued p. 10 FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD website: Page 9

10 FWD OEC, continued from page 9 The second thing that we need to do is to attend a STC Chris Peterson has a few candidates up for the Senior National, Divisional, or Regional Instructor recertification Challenge, with the date, yet to be determined. clinic every three years. Any questions please let's hear them, thanks. Feel free to Instructors are required to be observed and evaluated contact me: Kevin Qualseth, FWD OEC Supervisor, at: by an IT every three years. This evaluation is to be shared with the instructor, this is to be made available to the Region OEC administrator for recertification purposes You are only as good as you train! Instructors are required to attend and complete a full refresher each year. This could be a refresher at another area or at your local instructor refresher, either way the instructor needs to attend every station to be refreshed and be signed off as attending a refresher. OEC Module of the Senior Program Within the FWD we have a some very active Regions involved in the Senior Program. The Eastern Sierra Region which is headed up by their STC, Dave Pinsky, will have as many as 8 candidates to be evaluated for their OEC Module of the Senior Program this 2016 season with many coming from Heavenly. The date for this evaluation is March 13th. Southern California's STC, James Southerland will have at least 6 candidates for the evaluation, headed up by Jim Suzuki from Big Bear MTN, with an evaluation date of Feb 28th. The MLR Instructors, continued from page 2 kqualseth@jps.net. T h a n k y o u a l l, K e v i n Q u a l s e t h, F W D O E C S u p e r v i s o r, f w d - oec@farwest.org; H (559) ; C (559) about becoming an NSP Instructor. Don't feel like you have to do it all yourself. We need to keep all of you great division level so that our instructors do not personally instructors teaching, and you need to help us continue to incur any financial burden in putting on their classes. grow a solid cadre of new instructors to make our jobs easier. One final way and maybe the most important in our quest If you are not currently an NSP Instructor and have to keep our instructors instructing without getting "burn- thought about teaching in one or more of the NSP out" is to get them some help. How do we do that, for as I disciplines, take the challenge and begin your NSP teaching look around my own patrol of over a hundred volunteers at career by enrolling in an Instructor Development Course in one of the busier patrols in the Far West Division, everyone, your region. You can change patrollers' lives, and I think you including the instructors, are already working very hard. may change your life as well. Sometimes you just have to ask. I believe it is up to the For more information on the Instructor Development patrol leadership to encourage patrollers that show Program, or if you would like an Instructor Development leadership potential to step up and become instructors to Course offered to your patrol, contact the Instructor avoid overworking the instructors we now have. Looking Development Program Administrator in your region, or e- back in my own patrol career, I was flattered when mail me. approached by leadership to take on a new task or goal. If you have questions or comments regarding this article, "Wow, they want me to do that." You may be surprised that or ideas for future articles related to the Instructor you will get more positive responses than you thought. You Development Program, you may contact me at fwdcould solicit the need for instructors in patrol or region id@farwest.org. newsletters or web sites. If you want to be more selective, you could send a personal or even make a personal phone call to the individual patrollers you would like to recruit as instructors. Also, as existing instructors, we should be diligent to watch for potential instructors as we teach our own classes. Approach those students who are excelling in the class or who are showing a passion for the topic and encourage them to take an Instructor Development Course to learn more Instructor Development Advisor Doug Hill, fwd-id@farwest.org FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 10

11 A short Nordic update for the upcoming season: On-The Hill refreshers - please include information on toboggan construction and/or handling based on your local protocols. Nordic Senior requirements have been updated by National and ready for distribution to the patrol representatives. I'll send them out in the next two weeks, but its up to the individual member to seek out this information. This is a very rigorous process that takes not only commitment, but also perseverance to get through all the gates to achieve this certification. This personal challenge is great for patroller new to organization that wants to go farther with their skills and aptitudes. I realize that the medical portion of the certification is tough and oriented toward more alpine oriented scenarios, but its a great way to bond deeper with our front country counterparts and learn some new skills. I also have the Nordic Masters requirements that I will also distribute to the patrol representatives. This is a new certification that looks like a 'Certified' patroller, but manages the process a little differently. Thanks Jeff Gurrola; FWD Nordic Supervisor Jeff Gurrola, FWD Nordic Supervisor, fwd-nordic@farwest.org; Communications enhanced in FWD, regions In recent months, both the FWD web site and the FWD utilization as more patrollers and patrols use it as a place to Facebook page have been enhanced and improved to share communicate their successes, fun activities and to recruit information with patrollers and alumni. patrollers and alumni into off-hill and on-hill activities. As an example, the FWD web site offers a new look, new Take a look, and get in the habit of posting those cherished organization and sports new options like Community photos and success stories that come with patrolling! Go to: Service Opportunities. This option offers patrollers a place and to post events and recruit NSP members to take part. To see Join the page! It s there for you and your patrol! the start of this new resource for you, the patroller, go to: And, take a look at your region s offerings in these areas, as well. The whole idea is to better communicate programs The FWD Facebook page continues to grow in interest and and opportunities to you, to improve your NSP experience! FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 11

12 Winter storms are finally upon us with more approaching! We at the MTR program are looking forward to El Nino bring sufficient snow conditions in the back country to enjoy this season. The MTR course presents how to confront the winter environment and be prepared. Clothing, nutrition, weather, shelter are just a few of the topics presented to prepare for the winter environment in the event of an emergency, SAR, or just for the enjoyment of the winter backcountry. The public is expecting us to be skilled in the mountain winter environment in all aspects of it, on the slopes of the resort and being able and knowledgeable of the winter survival skills. Here are the courses that have been scheduled. If you would like to learn more about the MTR m program and join in a course contact myself (numbers below) or the instructor listed for the course of interest. cmhaagen@gmail.co S o u t h e r n California Region: Northern California Region: M T R 1 None scheduled at this time. Make plans to attend one of C l a s s r o o m the other courses. Has already Mother Lode Region: MTR 1 Classroom T o b e scheduled Mountain Travel and Rescue Learn more or refresh your outdoor, mountaineering and wilderness skills by taking an MTR course this season! Get more out of your NSP experience! been held. Field session Feb Pinecrest If you have had your classroom but not the field session For more information contact Keith Gale at contact Natalie. keith_gale@hotmail.com Field session Feb TBD MTR 1 Classroom Dec 5-6 Fresno, CA For more info contact Natalie Muraciov at Field session Dec Shaver Lake, CA scblackdiamond@yahoo.com For more information contact Don MacAlpine at MTR 2 Classroom Has already been held. alpines7@att.net If you have had your classroom but not the field session MTR 2 Classroom Dec Shaver Lake, CA contact Natalie. Field session Feb Shaver Lake, CA Rope clinic Feb 6 TBD For more information contact Don MacAlpine at Field Check-out Feb 7 TBD alpines7@att.net Field session March TBD For more info contact Natalie Muraciov at Eastern Sierra Region: scblackdiamond@yahoo.com MTR F Classroom Dec 5-6 Davis, CA Field session Jan Truckee, CA, or, Arizona Region: Field session Feb Truckee, CA MTR 1 Classroom TBD Phoenix area For more information contact Chris Haagen at Field session Feb 6-7 Ski Sunrise cmhaagen@gmail.com For more info contact Guy Roll at guy.roll@gmail.com MTR 2 Classroom Dec 5-6 Davis, CA Field session Jan Truckee, CA or, See Mountain Travel, continued p. 13 Field session Feb Truckee, CA For more information contact Chris Haagen at FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 12

13 California Senate recognizes FWD for 75 years of service Over 20 FWD board members and leaders joined Far West Division Director Bill Gibson and Southern California's Tina Choi (who worked with State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon) as De Leon presented the FWD a Resolution expressing appreciation for its 75 years of service to the skiing public. A number of other senators stopped by to express appreciation to individual members from their districts, including Senator Cathleen Galgiani in the fourth picture (to the right of FWD board member Tim Viall from her senate district). Mountain Travel and Rescue, continued from p. 12 These courses are designed for the patroller and will increase the skills and knowledge of winter mountain survival and travel. These courses are opened to all patrollers, Alpine, Nordic and Auxiliary. This course is designed to expand your knowledge and experience of the mountain winter to a higher level and gain confidence in how to survive in relative comfort and how to be an effective member of an SAR (Search And Rescue) team if called upon by your Hill management. These courses and skills are designed for the patroller that has not taken this type of activity and are designed to increase your confidence in the winter environment. Submitted by Karl P. Chulski, Far West Division Mountain Travel & R e s c u e S u p e r v i s o r, f w d - mtr@farwest.org. FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 13

14 FWD Awards nominations due, end of February! In the September issue of News and Views, you read about the Useful information for a National Outstanding nominee includes stellar award winners of our Far West Division. Well, it s only a few information on the nominee's outside activities that support the months before award nominations are due; is your patrol on it? NSP, relationships with other ski related organizations, use of NSP You may not realize behind each of these winners is a small skills outside of the industry, the nominee's contributions to group or a dedicated individual that took the time to sit down and patrolling, a detailed history of the nominees patrolling career, write up a nomination. In my view just being nominated for one of including NSP offices held, classes taught, hours on and off the hill, these National Outstanding awards is an honor in itself because and awards received. One of the items you will need is the nominees someone thought enough of you to take several hours out of their NSP history. This is NSP history is available to your patrol day, do some research and type up your nomination. As the ski representative online. I also have access to individual NSP history. season begins, the award season begins and it is time to start If you need a copy, please ask us and we will get it to you. Once all thinking about who you should nominate for an award. this information is gathered you can sit down and type it into the The NSP has two categories of awards, the National awards form. Outstanding Awards and what I call the general awards. The Allow time for the award to work its way through the system. general awards include things like Merit Stars, Angle Pins, Service These awards are reviewed by your Patrol Representative, Region Pins and National Appointments. These awards can be written up Awards Advisor, Region Awards Board, Region Director, Division and submitted to your local awards advisor at any time. The Awards Advisor, Division Director, and even the National Awards National Outstanding awards include Outstanding Alpine Patroller, Advisor. All this takes time so allow at least 60 days to for the Outstanding Auxiliary, Outstanding Instructor and Outstanding nomination to run it's course. Patrol. These awards are on a timeline and must be submitted to Your Region and Division awards boards are here to help honor your region awards advisor in February. (Check with your region our own. Do not hesitate to ask for our help. We know there are awards advisor or your regional calendar for the specific date.) many deserving patrollers that work tirelessly with little or no To nominate any individual for any award you can start by compensation other than a few great turns here and there. Take a choosing the correct award for the individual. You can see the little time to write them up and honor them for their many criteria for each award by downloading chapter 10 of the NSP contributions. Again, if you need help, your regional and division Policies and Procedures. If that seems like too duanting a task just awards advisors are here to provide you with the assistance you ask your region awards advisor or you can ask me directly at need; if you need help, ask!. percuss@pacbell.net. We will be happy to give you advice and guidance on the best way to honor your nominee. Once you have selected the award, download the form from the Submitted by Ken Bergmann, Far West Division Awards Advisor, 956 NSP website, Or again, you can ask me or your regional awards Santa Lucia Dr., Pleasant Hill, CA advisor. We can send you the forms. Review the form and start 94523; kennyb@pacbell.net. gathering the required information. For Merit Stars you will need to get the facts, timeline and specific actions of the nominee. For National Outstanding awards you will need to do some research. Get published...we want to hear from you! Your Far West photo s content. If News and Views yo u a r e m a i l i n g newsletter is actively photos and want seeking news and them back, please photos of the patrols e n c l o s e s e l f - and patrollers of the addressed envelope. Far West Division. FWD News and Views is published three times yearly, in Send submissions to FWD Communications Advisor September, December and late in the-season. Deadline is the T i m V i a l l, e i t h e r e l e c t r o n i c a l l y t o : f wd - 25th of the month prior to publication; NEXT deadline is newsletter@farwest.org, or by U. S. mail to 5854 Turtle November 25 for our December issue! Valley Drive, Stockton, CA If you are sending Features, photos welcomed, please submit items with the photos and want them returned, please send a self-addressed Five W s: Who, What, When, Where and How, and, if sending envelope. photos, please include an identifying cut line noting the FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 14

15 New option on FWD website for Community Service Opportunities Check out your Far West Division web site for new options/opportunities! Recently added: Community Service Opportunities offer a place to list upcoming events that showcase NSP first-aid and leadership talents - such as major events that utilize NSP first-aiders (like the Sea Otter Classic). This option offers patrollers a place to post events and recruit NSP members to take part. To see the s t a r t o f t h i s n e w r e s o u r c e f o r y o u, t h e p a t r o l l e r, g o t o : List your events and opportunities! If you are working to organize NSP firstaiders for Tough Mudder events, annual Cerebral Palsy bike-a-thons, community fund-raising events, big outdoor events like the Sea Otter Classic and more, list them! And, don t forget to work to enlist your alumni to assist! And, make a habit of scanning the FWD website for continuing updates on such events and programs - as well as new developments in your Far West Division! Send your event and activity postings, with the who, what, where, when and how to FWD Webmaster Rye Livingston, webworker@farwest.org. Also send your events to Tim Viall, FWD Newsletter Editor, tviall@msn.com and we will profile them in FWD News and Views. Pictured, left to right, Dori Bietz and Mike Fanelli worked the Tough Mudder event at Northstar this summer; NSP members and an NSP Subaru worked the Headwaters 50 K Trail Run last summer, and almost 40 patrollers and family members worked at, and enjoyed off time, at the Sea Otter Bike Classic in April. Please post notices for such events on the FWD website, and, scan the site for volunteer opportunities! FWD Events Calendar: Winter Education Conference, details to come. March 16, 2016, FWD Alumni Celebration Day, Heavenly Valley April 14-17, 2016, Sea Otter Bicycling Classic at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey, options to serve as first-aiders, course marshals and earn income for your patrol. See p. 15 for details! Far West Awards Dinner, August, 2016, Davis, TBA See the FWD Web site for updated calendar and training opportunities: Winter To Dos for more NSP fun...! Easy as the A, B, Cs! A: Skis: Get those skis tuned (take them to a ski shop for an edge and base job). B: Breakfast of Champions? Plan to eat well and improve your diet with good nutrition. And, get plenty of hydration - you ll be a better athlete because of good food/drink choices! And, stay hydrated on the slopes! C. Keep fit: Give some time to getting fit; drop a few pounds, walk, play golf, jog or get into the gym! Rewards come on slope! Winter returns to the Sierra soon; be ready! FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 15

16 Patrols of the FWD: Here are the stellar patrols of the FWD: Arizona Snowbowl Alpine Meadows Alta Sierra Bear Mountain Bear Valley Ski Patrol Boreal Ridge Buckhorn Ski Club China Peak Coppervale Diamond Peak Dodge Ridge Donner Ski Ranch Heavenly High Sierra Homewood Kirkwood Lake Alpine Nordic Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort Lassen Volcanic Mammoth Basin Nordic Mount Lemmon Mountain High Mt. Baldy Mt. Pinos Nordic Mt. Shasta Mt. Waterman Northstar Pinecrest Nordic Reno Ski Patrol Sierra Ski Patrol Snow Valley Snow Summit (formerly Big Bear Valley) Soda Springs Squaw Valley Sugar Bowl Sunrise Tahoe Backcountry Tahoe Donner Tahoe Donner Nordic Center Yosemite NSP takes first aid lead in big events Around the west, you ll find the FWD taking a big lead in providing first-aid for major events. For the 8th time since 2007 NSP Alumnus Chuck Herbert has manned the medical tent at a rest station of the M u l t i p l e S c l e r o s i s 'Wave to Wine' bike ride. On September 26 he worked at the Two Rock School rest stop west of P e t a l u m a a n d o n September 27 he manned the one at the Emma Herbert Park west of Cotati. Although in past years Chuck handled quite a few suspected sprains, many fairly extensive abrasions and occasional cases of insect bites and heat exhaustion, fortunately this year there were no major injuries - just application of Band-Aids, mole skins and distribution of ibuprofen and sun screen. This is a very large ride with over 2000 participants. Looking at the brightly colored biking shirts one sees that the employees of most of the startups and leaders of the high tech and financial companies of Silicon Valley and the South of Market are making contributions to MS. Many riders made complimentary remarks about the ski patrol when they saw Chuck's Squaw Valley parka. The NSP logo was also displayed on the bike shirt of one of the riders, who is a professional patroller at Breckenridge. Such occasions to use NSP skills in the summer off season are both fun and an additional opportunity to server the sport community. Below you ll see shots from last year s Sea Otter Bike Classic, where over 40 NSP members and friends served as first-aiders and course marshals for the USA s largest bike event (see feature, p. 15). At left, members of the Sea Otter first-aid crew gather around two NSP Subarus used for transport; bottom left, FWD Director Bill Gibson and three Dodge Ridge patrollers ready to head out to their assignments. Have you skied them all? FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 16

17 New talent for FWD Patrols... NSP Alumni! Does your patrol have a solid alumni program? Are you, as and share the electronic copy with members of your patrol so a patroller, considering moving to alumni status? that, when they move, retire or just-plain drop out they Greetings from your FWD Alumni Advisor. I am hoping to realize there is a valuable choice to be made and to remain an assist as best I can in the coming ski year in promoting, NSP Alumni. rewarding and energizing your patrol's alumni program, and Individual patrollers: If you are an individual patroller our Region's Alumni program. And, if you have reached the considering alumni status, check out the NSP Alumni point in your NSP service where you are considering becoming brochure on the web site, and consider Alumni status. It gives an NSP alumni, rather than an active patroller. you ongoing NSP registration, access to NSP catalogue and A couple suggestions for your patrol: sweet deals, invitations to yearly Alumni events (like the March a) Please appoint someone from your patrol as your alumni 16 Alumni Day), info from the NSP and your individual patrol advisor (you will find a simple draft Patrol Alumni Advisor Job and the halo status of continuing your NSP affiliation! And, Description on the Far West Division web site)). talk with your individual patrol's leadership; there is always a b) Please send me that Advisor's contact information. place for an alum who seeks to stay active in unique ways to c) If you already have an active alumni program, and match your talents! ideas/events that worked like crazy, please share them with For more info, the NSP Alumni brochure and draft Patrol me (I am also the FWD Newsletter Editor, and will profile Alumni Advisor position description, go to: those best practices in future newsletter issues, as well as share click on Member Programs, then on Alumni. them with all MLR Alumni Advisors). Please advise if you have questions! d) We are planning an Alumni Ski Day, set for Wednesday, March 16, 2016 (location TBA), where we hope to attract many Tim Viall, FWD Alumni Advisor, alums from the FWD for a fun day of skiing and catching-up (more on that special event as details are worked out). fwd-alumni@farwest.org; F o r a d d i t i o n a l i n f o, g o t o : e) See the NSP's Alumni brochure on the Far West web site click on Member I would suggest you post several copies in your patrol room, Services, then, Alumni! FWD Alumni to gather Mar. 16 at Heavenly Another Alumni Day is set for March 16, 2016, at Heavenly Valley (calendar the date)! It s a great way for our alums to stay up-to-date, involved and offer their service to their old patrols and the NSP. Pictured above are Eastern Sierra and FWD alumni who gathered to share old patrol tales, catch up and remain involved in the NSP, March, 2015 at Sugar Bowl Resort. That s Bill Gibson, FWD Director, at lower left in the picture, who joined to share old NSP stories!. Consider an alumni gathering at your resort this coming ski season! Best ideas for Alumni involvement sought by FWD The Eastern Sierra Region does an annual Alumni Reunion, a number of patrols in the Far West Division work hard to involve their alumni in patrol affairs and patrol activities/celebrations, and several FWD alumni are regulars at such annual off-hill activities like the Sea Otter Bike Classic each year. Of course, the questions remain: how do we retain patrollers as alumni members of the NSP (rather than just dropping out ), how do we involve them in patrol and/or regional activities; can we use their skills to mentor newer patrollers? I am sure you have more questions or thoughts. Can alumni perform duties in administration, in the patrol room and more - that might free up active patrollers to provide on-hill first-aid or customer service? All these ideas are being explored and developed by the National office, and many active alumni programs exist in the Far West Division. Please share your best programs and success stories with Tim Viall, FWD Alumni Advisor (and FWD Newsletter Editor), tviall@msn.com. We will compile the best ideas, top programs and events that worked like crazy, and tap the National office for their advice, as well. Watch for an article in future issues of News and Views! FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 17

18 Society for Disabilities seeks volunteers, hosts Warren Miller movie H e r e a t S o c i e t y f o r disabiilties in Modesto we have an adaptive winter ski program that For more information on either is always short of volunteers. Please the movie, or volunteering, contact: share information about our program with your skiing colleagues, friends Carolyn Teixeira Gomes and family. The winter ski program Director of Development is 6 times a season, two Saturdays Society for disabilities each in January, February and March th Street, Modesto, CA (when there is snow) We are always looking for intermediate and advanced skiers to volunteer and help those with disabilities experience winter ski. For every participant we have we need 4 ski volunteers. We are actively recruiting so that there is enough volunteers to allow the volunteer some personal ski time. As of now, that doesn't happen very often. This program is held at Dodge Ridge. Matt Tilford runs the Winter Ski program and can give you skier details. To support the Winter Ski program each year we have the Warren Miller film fundraiser. This year's dates are Friday December 4 and Saturday December 5. There are two shows each day. Friday's shows are at 6:30 pm and 9:00 pm and Saturday's are 4:00 pm and 7:30 pm (note these shows are around the City of Modesto Christmas parade). Tickets are $20 per person. With your ticket purchase and attending the movie you receive a free ski lift ticket to Bear Valley. Please see below for the film's trailer and more Warren Miller Chasing Shadows information. Tickets are available at: Our office at th Street, Modesto, O u r w e b s i t e : -events/warren-miller-movie.php REI in Stockton Sunsports in Turlock The State Theatre in Modesto. Thank you for sharing this information. If you need any additional information, please let me know. Have a great day, we look forward to seeing you at Warren Miller, or on the slopes! FWD News and Views, December, 2015 Check the new FWD web site: Page 18