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CLUB FACTS
The Mt. Hood Ski Patrol is the largest and oldest volunteer
ski patrol in the nation - 68 years and still going strong!
Volunteer opportunities are available for alpine skiers,
snowboarders, and Nordic skiers of all abilities.
HISTORY
MHSP provides the volunteer patrollers
you see at all the Mt. Hood areas. The Hill Patrollers are in
the red coats with white crosses that do NOT say “Professional
Ski Patrol”; the Associate Patrollers are in blue coats that say
“Mt. Hood Ski Patrol First Aid”; and the Nordic Patrollers can
be found on Nordic trails wearing either color coat with
“National Nordic Ski Patrol” emblems.
They are the primary weekend rescue patrollers, and provide some
mid-week backup to the professional (paid) patrollers. Potential
on-the-hill ski patrollers need to pass a stringent skiing test
and to serve one year of apprenticeship. Potential associate
patrollers need to pass an interview and a rigorous first aid
apprenticeship. All patrollers need to maintain first aid, CPR,
avalanche, and chairlift rescue training.
MHSP also
conducts a safety education program for those engaged in winter
sports.
MHSP also
purchases and maintains all of the rescue sleds and radios used in
the course of their patrolling, at a very high ongoing cost to a
volunteer organization. The equipment they own and have to
maintain and replace (about 1/4 of the equipment each year) is:
- 75 radios at $500 $37,500
- 60 backboards at $166 $10,000
- 40 sleds at $135 $ 5,400
- 75 avalanche beacons at $275 $20,625
- 6 rescue packs at $300 $ 1,800
- Total: $75,325
In addition, the cost of the first aid supplies is
$9,000-$12,000 per year. Annual operating expenses are between
$30,000- $50,000. MHSP members pay their own dues and do all their
own fund raising. The organization survives solely on donations
from individuals, grateful people they have rescued, ski area
operators, corporations, and the skiing/boarding public. When the
patrollers come around selling buttons for only $1, please buy
one!
By Linda McGavin
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