Sunday March 1
The day started out at 7:45am when I arrived at Purgatory. I went into the ski patrol cabin, only to find out that my mentor, Mitch was stuck in Taos due to snow. The morning was chaotic, trying to find out where I should go and what I should do. By 8:00 am Jennifer, the orderly for the day, gave me a small intro on the morning duties and rode the lift up with me. Then Chris Berger, also known as Picket, showed me the weather station and how to gather all the information that we needed to update CAIC. I also learned how to adjust the fences and ropes that mark the boundary or trail. After coming back to duty station 1 to update the weather, I was assigned to go with Val. Val took me all over the mountain, telling me all the names of tails and areas that I didn't even know had names. She said this was a vital part of the job because if you need to evacuate a person who crashed and need help you have to know where you are. I also learned the types of lifts; there are three, Dopplemayr, Poma, and Riblet. Throughout the day Val quizzed me on the run names and types of lifts. I then went to the Lift 8 duty station where Val and I met up with another patroller, Dirty. Picket had started a project to make the toboggans easier to move, so Val showed me how to tie a special knot, which took me awhile to figure out. Later we went back to Duty 1 and I went to get the weather for noon. We ate lunch and Mitch was able to make back by then. For the rest of the day I skied with Val and we continued to cover trails. At the end of the day around 2:50 everyone came back to Duty 1 to get the backside sweep assignments. Anish and I went with Pete to sweep a trail. We closed the trail from bottom to top making sure no one was still skiing or snowboarding. There is a very precise system for sweeping, it is like funneling the people down to the lift and it requires a lot check-ins with other sweepers. It is important not to miss anyone. After the backside sweep we all headed to Duty 1 and had a meeting about the day as well as getting the assignments for the front side sweep. Mitch, Anish and I swept Styx and then headed down to the cabin. We ended the day at 5:30pm. It was a very tiring and eventful day where I learned a lot.
Val and Picket tying knots
Monday March 2
Again today I started out at 7:45am at the cabin. We got all geared up and I rode a snowmobile while others got pulled up to the bottom of lift one or B1. After a morning meeting I headed over to the backside with Andrew. Andrew was the grizzly for the day so he was driving the snowmobile for the backside. So I spent most of the morning on the back of the snowmobile. Around mid morning I went with Skippie to respond to a code one. Someone had gotten lost and was slightly injured. We called for the rover to take him down to the base area. I then went with Travis and we covered the Snag sweep. Travis and I then met up with Val and Anish. Skippie came to tow us to T8 so we could practice the Snag sweep again. Skippie taught me how get towed behind a snowmobile. Val also showed Anish and I the lift and we were able to take a small tour within the lift. As a group we then went over the Zinfandel and Snag sweeps. Around 3pm Anish and I did the Zinfandel sweep by ourselves aiding with the backside sweep. At 4pm we had our meeting at the T1 duty station and then we began frontside sweep. We ended the day around 5:15. Day number two was pretty cool and I was able to learn a lot. I now know more about sweeps, snowmobiles and the workings of the lifts.
Wednesday March 3
The day started out at 11am when I headed up to T1 duty station. I was assigned to the frontside. Mitch and I started heading to the backside to get lunch but we took our time, taking many runs on the way. We reviewed the Zinfandel sweep and learned the snag sweep. The Zinfandel sweep was good reminder because I was going to do it again that day at 3:30. The snag sweep was a little bit trickier, I thought. There was a section of trees that we had to check that I didn't even know existed. We then went to Dantes and Mitch used his free lunch coupon to get lunch. As he ate we talked about sweeps and what I have learned. I also set up a time with him to do a mentor interview, which is scheduled for the middle of week two. I plan to write out questions that will help me gain a better knowledge as to why ski patrol is important and why Mitch chose to be part of ski patrol. T1 duty station was starting to lose coverage, meaning that there was no extra people if someone were to need help. So Mitch headed to the backside and I went with Andrea to sweep Wapiti. That was a fun sweep with lots of powder. Andrea did have me do the call on the emergency phone to practice for sweeps or emergencies. We then got a ride from one of the lifties on her snowmobile. I have gotten a lot better at being towed behind a snowmobile. I then headed over to the frontside to see if anyone needed help or needed me to do anything. Back at T1 duty I studied the sweeps manual and talked with Mitch more. Around 3:15 everyone, who had gathered at T1 duty, started heading out to do the backside sweep. Anish and I did Zinfandel again and we did a great job I'd say. There was some minor confusion on check points but it all worked out in the end. On the way up lift 3 we radioed in saying that we were dashing, meaning that we are skiing down to catch lift 1 before it closes. Everyone then met up at T1 duty again and we had our afternoon meeting. I saw a lot of faces I didn't recognize and I was glad to meet the other patrollers. I was in charge of sweeping Styx all by myself. I skied down and called on the emergency phone for a phone check. I then stopped at the check point to wave off at the Hades sweep. We finished the day by turning in our radios and putting our gear away. The best part of the day was that Anish and I got name tags saying we are the official ski patrol interns.
Week 1 Overview
Over the course of week 1 I have learned so much. I have learned how to sweep some runs, how to be pulled behind a snowmobile, and so many names that I did not know existed. I now know how to tie special knots for wickets, how to tell others exactly where I am and how to read the weather. In just three days I feel that I have gained so much knowledge that will not only help me during my internship but also aid me when I am having fun in the outdoors. All of the patrollers are so nice and are willing to teach. Everyone is helpful and funny at the same time, which really makes being around them enjoyable. For my project Mitch has helped me with some ideas for my brochure giving me little papers with basic information on it. I have been very communicative with the patrollers about what my internship is and how it will benefit me. I am so grateful and thrilled to be working with such an amazing group of people that want to help me further my knowledge, and I am glad that there is such a good program in my school that will let me go out into the world to learn. So far this internship has taught me and allowed me to appreciate so much.
Sunday March 8
Today started out a little bit chaotic because of the time change, so I was a slightly late for work. Right off the bat we had a training scheduled. A flight for life for a mock code 3 (life threatening injury or injuries) was planned to happen first thing. So after a small meeting at T1 duty and patroller Jen was assigned first responder for the training. Anish and I headed down after the training had begun. The mock code 3 was a tree strike on a mannequin and then they actually used Anish as the fake injured person. They preformed mock medical procedures to "save" his life. A helicopter was called in to land at B3 (bottom of lift 3) and so they put Anish on a toboggan and carried him to the helicopter. The whole training was very interesting and exciting. I was able to see a helicopter land right in front of me and I got to watch what would happen during a code 3. Everyone did very well and acted as though it was really happening. The patrollers were able to practice the procedures and make sure everything was in working order. After the morning training I headed to T8 duty (top of lift 8 duty station) with Mitch because I was assigned to the backside. I was able to get more snowmobile towing practice on the way over. A little bit later I was shown how to pull a toboggan behind me and I took one down to midway of lift 8. Then at 2pm Skippie and I closed and swept McCormack's Maze. We also went over how to do the Snag sweep. At 4pm I did the snag sweep all by myself and then headed back to T1 duty. Because of daylight savings the closing and opening times were pushed ahead by half an hour, so we started frontside sweep at 4:30pm instead of 4pm. Mitch and I did the Pandemonium sweep together and then we headed down to the cabin ending at about 5:30. I was informed at the afternoon meeting, that I will be doing a lift evacuation for tomorrow's training, so I am excited for that!
Monday March 9
The day started out at about 8:15 when I got all geared up and headed to the T1 duty station for the morning meeting. We had a training for a lift evacuation. I found out that I would be the person getting evacuated from the lift. They did the training before the mountain was open and the public could use the lifts. Val, Skippie, Dirty and I went to T2 and made sure the lift would be locked out so no one could turn it on. I got put on the lift at B2 (bottom of lift 2) and was out on the lift just past the first lift tower. Skippie and Dirty were helping Val with the training and assisting her with what she needed to do. They first made sure the lift was locked out and then they through a ball with a rope attached over the cable of the lift. It took a few tries but was successful in the end. Then Val attached a rope to the ball and brought the ball and rope back over the cable, making sure there was a nice strong rope to hoist me down with. Then they attached a chair like thing that had a rope to hold up my upper body. They talked me through the whole thing and treated me like someone who was really stuck on a lift. Val had a harness on and she attached one end of the rope to her so that she could belay me down. I was asked to drop my poles to get them out of the way. They then gave me instructions on how to safely get on the chair and wrap the rope around my body. I then scooted off the chair and swung 180 degrees so that the lift chair would not hit me in the face. Val lowered me slowly to the ground and the training was over. They packed everything up and I met up with Mitch at B2. Mitch and I went to Human Recourses (HR) to do paperwork for my internship and to get me an old ski patrol jacket. Once I got all adjusted and everything I headed up to T1 duty because I was assigned to the frontside for the day. I went with Val on a code 1 to a woman who had dislocated her shoulder. It ended up being a code 2 because Andrea, Val and Laurie were there helping. I tried to stay out of the way and only helped when asked. Andrea and I followed Val with the toboggan and woman down to the Patrol room (PR). Andrea later showed me how to properly pack toboggans and how to unpack a toboggan for an injured person. In the late afternoon Val and I responded to a code 1 of a boy who was possibly concussed. I helped clear Val's path so that she wouldn't have to stop on her way to the patrol room. We then headed to the backside to sweep at 4. I swept Snag and felt very good about it. Everyone met at T1 duty for the end of the day meeting and then we did frontside sweeps. I swept Styx again. The exciting and eventful day ended around 5:45pm. I learned a lot more about the toboggans and code 1s so I can be more helpful for the future.
Tuesday March 10
I arrived at purgatory around 10:45 because Anish and I had to go to HR. I had to drop off paperwork for my internship and Anish had to get his jacket and start paperwork. Then we headed up to the T1 duty station. I was assigned to the backside, so Picket and I headed over. On our way we stopped to check in with a possible injured person. We found a possibly concussed snowboarder at the Ingress gate. Picket had to stay with her and get her on a toboggan down to the patrol room. So I headed to T8 duty station. I met Jessica or Juice for the first time. She showed me what we would do and what gates we would close if we had to isolate lift 8 for some reason. All the trails that lead to midway 8 or bottom of 8 get roped off, forcing everyone down to lift 3 or 5. I then went back to T8 duty and studied the trail map. There was a code 1 and 10-16 on the backside that I missed observing. At 4pm we started to sweep and close the backside. I asked to sweep snag. At first I missed the Legend's radio signal to begin sweeping but then Picket radioed me and it all worked out. The Legend's sweep tells all of the backside sweepers when to start so that everyone is in unison and no skier or snowboarder gets missed, we act as a funnel. During the sweeps we call out down and up the trail and to any tracks in the trees yelling "closing", making sure no one gets left behind. Today we had to hike up to T1 duty because we did not have enough time to ski down to lift 1 before it closed. Hiking was a good workout. We then waited for all the patrollers to arrive at the duty station before we had our end of the day meeting. A few patrollers got held up because of a code 1 and a 10-16. I then swept Styx again which was a little tricky because the snow was crusty and icy. I opened a rope by the base area on my way down so that the cat groomers wouldn't run over it and take it down. All day we were on our toes because it is Texas spring break and there is a lot of beginner skiers on the mountain. We had to stay alert and vigilant to make sure we didn't get overwhelmed and nothing major happened. I tried to help and stay out of the way as much as possible. Knowing that it will only get busier as more spring breakers come, I am excited to be working with the patrollers during this time of year.
Wednesday March 11
Anish and I got up to Purgatory and to the duty station around 11. Right away I did my mentor interview with Mitch. The interview was very interesting and I was able to learn a lot more about Mitch and ski patrol than I had previously known. I learned how he started working at ski patrol and I also learned about his education and how it benefits him at work. Listening to Mitch talk about his life as a ski patroller really put my internship into perspective. I am able to now see difficult and rewarding, not only in helping people but in creating a safer environment for the benefit of the public. I can now see the passion that Mitch has or his work with all his time and efforts. And I can see a little bit of a passion like that in myself. After the interview Marlo did toboggan or sled training with us. I carried Anish down the mountain from T1 duty to the base in a sled. I learned how to use the break, which is a metal chain, and I learned how to keep control of the sled. It was very hard work and I wasn't even worried about the patient's comfort or care. Then, I rode in the toboggan while Anish practiced. We went over how to pack and unpack a sled. I feel comfortable bringing sleds to wrecks if a patroller needed one. Steve gave us check lists of things that we can be trained to do as far as non-medical duties that ski patrollers would do. On the check list there were many things we couldn't do but there were also many things we could that could be very helpful to other patrollers. Each thing that we got trained to do had to be supervised and signed off, that we could officially do those things. Zoe the LINK coordinator visited us later in the day. There was a Code 2 of a spine injury that we responded to with Mitch. Zoe met up with us after she talked with Steve at the T1 duty station and she took lots of pictures. We then skied with Zoe a little bit discussing how our internship is going and what we were learning. We hung out at the T1 duty station for a little while studying sweeps and looking at what we could do next on our check lists. Anish and I then got to use our toboggan skills and took a toboggan to a wreck of a possible head injury. We unpacked so the injured person could get in and then we let the patrollers do their thing. I then was towed over to T3 (top of lift 3) to help with the Legends sweep. I got to call the start over the radio, which starts all backside sweeps. However, the sweep was stopped of a few minutes because of code 1 that needed towing out. The Legends sweep is long and has a few check points. You go from the top of lift 3 to midway at lift 8. You have to make sure that everyone is off the lift including patrollers and lifties then you wait for the last chair and the lift to stop. Then you get towed all the way back to the T1 duty station. For frontside sweep I swept Styx again. We ended the day and the week at the cabin around 5:40pm.
Week 2 Overview
This week was very fun and interesting! I was able to observe and partake in some trainings. I learned a lot more about code 1's and what to do in that situation. I also learned a few more patrol procedures and sweeps. Over the course of the week I learned so much and I am able to look back and see that I am not only benefiting myself but the ski patrollers as well. By going over some of the basic things ski patrol does I have gained an understanding on how important ski patrol is and what it takes to be a ski patroller. I feel that by learning out in the field and having so many great mentors that I am getting a very well rounded experience. Hearing from Mitch during the interview allowed me to see the passion behind ski patrol and what it means to be a part of ski patrol. I also felt that this week was a middle point in my internship, that I have learned the basic day to day things and now instead of just purely learning I can be of assistance. I will continue to learn but I will also but useful to the ski patrol team or as I see it the family. I feel that I have really been accepted into this family and I can see that they really want to have me around and teach me, and I appreciate them for that.
Sunday March 15
Today started out at 8:10 where I got all geared up at the cabin and then headed up to T1 duty. I was assigned to the front side and when it got busy I went down to the patrol room (PR) to help Jennifer who was the orderly. For the first half of the day I went over the Pando sweep with Pete and now I feel confident that I can sweep it by myself. Pete and I also practiced with toboggans so more and I carried a led with him in it down the mountain. I am starting to get the hang of it and now I know when to use the brake and stuff like that. When it started getting busier and there were more code 1’s I went down to the PR to learn about what goes on in there. I followed the orderly, Jennifer, around helping her and observing. There were a few code 1’s and 2s that I got to observe. One was a 6 year old who fell in a creek and had what turned out to be kidney trauma. He was brought down in a toboggan and then went into the Urgent Care clinic, which is right next to the patrol room. The clinic and patrol room work together. If a patient needs to be admitted for a possibly more serious injury or they need to use the big equipment to find out what is wrong then they go to the clinic. The little boy actually ended up going to the Children’s hospital in Denver. Another code 1 was a fibula/tibia break on a girl who didn’t land right after getting a little air. I was able to see how the splint worked and the procedures that took place in the PR. She then went to the clinic to get an x-ray. I was able to see a picture of the x-ray, which was very interesting to me to be able to see the patient and what was going on inside her leg. There also was a mom who requested a pulse oximeter reading for her baby because he was on oxygen at night and the higher altitude might be a problem for him. I was able learn that pulse oximeter is the percent amount of oxygen in your blood. In between people coming in, I re packed the sleds/toboggans so that they can go out and be used quickly. I really enjoyed working in the patrol room because I am very interested in the medicine and helping people out. Today really showed me what it was like to be practicing medicine and it confirmed my interest in it. Mostly I like being in the action and helping people.
Monday March 16
The day started out at the cabin around 8:10 again. It was a beautiful day and all the spring breakers are still here. Today was a very casual day. I was assigned to backside duty and so after first run and morning meeting I headed over to T8. Yesterday the patrollers had planned to have a barbecue using the grill at the T8 duty station. So around lunch time Skippie, Val, Travis, Dirty, Andrew and I cooked an amazing meal on the deck overlooking the mountains and ski slopes. We had hot dogs, cheeseburgers, chili, and chips. There wasn't a lot of action on the backside today. There was a few 10-16 (snowmobile rides0 from the top of 8 for people who were beginner skiers and could not get down the runs from 8. At the end of the day I swept Zinfandel for backside sweep and then I swept Styx for the frontside sweep. We end the day around 5:35pm.