Newly certified avi dog Ari, demonstrates proper Chillin’-In-The-Sun technique.
Corey
Dog Chillin’
Posted in UncategorizedIncident Information and Patient Privacy
Posted in UncategorizedWe’ve had an unusual number of rather high-profile unfortunate indicents recently. We get lots of questions about the incident and the outcome for the patient from witnesses, concerned passers-by, friends and family, etc. It’s nice to live and work in a community of regular customers that have such concern for each others’ well-being. But I thought… Continue Reading
Witness from Lucky Shot Today
Posted in UncategorizedApologies to everyone inconvenienced by our temporary closure of Lucky Shot today. We had to do that to keep everyone safe while we landed a helicopter at the top (the down-slope “top”) of Little Portillo, to quickly evacuate a patient. We’re looking for witness to the collision (the collision itself, not just the aftermath) that… Continue Reading
Russian Extreme Carving
Posted in UncategorizedI don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’ve gotten a couple comments here, and on Crystal’s Facebook page about our failure to specifically mention “snowboarding” when referring to human powered snowsports generally as “skiing” (“Snowsporting” sounds so awkward, y’know?) Not to mention -bike, -skate, -mono, -tele, and various forms of airborne travel. Anyway, here’s… Continue Reading
For Jump-buildin’ Kids
Posted in Jumps & Jump Building, Terrain Park & 1/2-PipeIn the last couple weeks we’ve had to knock down a few jumps being built by youngsters. They always have such a hard time understanding what the big deal is–why we can’t allow kickers to be hidden willy-nilly in various places around the resort. (From a safety standpoint, our concern is that people might smack into–or launch… Continue Reading
Photo of the Day
Posted in Photo of the DayUsually we address topics of interest to more advanced skiers & boarders. But today’s picture comes from the Playpen, the beginner area for little kids, and the Magic Carpet conveyor belt. How can all these cheery flowers not make you at least a little bit happier? And what better advice could there be for US ALL… Continue Reading
Can You Hear Us Now?
Posted in NewsWe got asked to help support a local campaign to improve cell phone coverage near Crystal Mountain. I hope I’m not stepping on anyone’s toes by being blissfully unaware of political ramifications of this. All I know is that it’s been real helpful for us ski patrollers to find hurt people quickly and lost people… Continue Reading
Volunteer Patrol Now Accepting Applications
Posted in Employment, NewsCRYSTAL MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEER SKI PATROL NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS! Skills Evaluations will be held the weekend of February 11 & 12. The evaluation is a one-day event; you may participate either Saturday or Sunday. Minimum requirements: • You must be at least 21 years of age. • Expert level Alpine Skier or Snowboarder able to ski/ride safely… Continue Reading
Southback Closed For Now
Posted in UncategorizedRedeemable skiing is tricky to find out South right now. And because there’s so little snow, skiers and boarders are damaging vegetation as they navigate the traverse out, which lies in a part of Mt. Rainier National Park designated as “Pristine Wilderness”. So this is a rare “resource management” closure. Tourer are still welcome to… Continue Reading
Early Season CLOSED Areas
Posted in ClosuresThe sun is out and the skiing’s GREAT! I hope you aren’t missing it! Brent, our Assistant Director, got an e-mail from Andre asking for clarification about how we indicate CLOSED areas in light of the new law authorizing $1,000 penalty for violating ski area closures. In the ski & snowboard biz, CLOSED is designated by: Rope… Continue Reading
Re: Taking Responsibility…
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, ClosuresI started to write this as a comment in response to the other comments responding to Kim’s recent post about the guy who wouldn’t cough of the dough to reimburse Crystal for his after-hours, out-of-area rescue. But then I thought it would be better to post as it’s own entry, hoping more folks might see… Continue Reading
Mt. Hood Meadows Avalanche
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, ConditionsWe’ve been hearing reports from people coming in from the backcountry (the true, non-avalanche-controlled backcountry) that conditions feel "solid" out there. This causes us some concern as we record some significant results while doing avalanche control within the ski area. If you need some motivation to pay attention to persistent weak layers deeper down, take… Continue Reading
Bluebird Pow in the Backcountry
Posted in ConditionsHere’s a quick head’s up for anybody planning on heading into the backcounty to get the untracked stuff this weekend. Today, many people were observed engaging in unusually risky behavior just outside Crystal’s boundaries. (We think maybe they didn’t know how risky it really was.) Things look great and the temp’s have stayed cold, but… Continue Reading
Chairlift Loading Safety
Posted in Safety Patrol/Speed Control…With all the dumpage we’ve had lately, the snow in the corral just above the loading area was high. I was digging like crazy to clear it out, but was surprised how many people didn’t know “good high snow etiquette” and almost got yanked out of the chair…
Babies in Backpacks
Posted in Safety Patrol/Speed ControlWe got asked to put something on this here ski patrol blog to spread the word about babies in backpacks on chairlifts.
I figgered “Well that’s easy.” “Ya’ can’t take babies in backpacks on chairlifts.”
Pretty concise article, huh? ……
HELP WANTED!
Posted in NewsTHE VOLUNTEER PATROL IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!
A Little History
Posted in NewsThis doesn’t have much to do with Ski Patrolling or skiing/riding at Crystal, but I thought there might be other history/random-fact nerds like me who might find THIS interesting. It’s a hodge-podge of videos from some Michigan sports network, featuring interviews with John Kircher’s dad Everett, where he talks about the early days of developing the American skiing business.
Rock Climbing Shutterbug
Posted in Place Names, Skier/Snowboarder StoriesClimbing Rabbit Ears to get a good photo.
Skiers vs Snowboarders: An Invitation
Posted in Skier/Snowboarder StoriesI’ve gotten a few questions and comments from people about the best ways to maneuver long traverse/ascent trails like we have going to Southback, up into Bullion Basin–even coming back into the area on the I-5 trail returning from Northway. Got any great ideas? Been to other places where they have unwritten norms for this kind of situation?
“IRRESPONSIBLE DECISIONS” & HOW TO AVOID THEM
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, ConditionsA customer mentioned that he thought it was irresponsible for Crystal Mountain to open as early as it did this season. Some people just don’t get it, do they? If you’re bringing friends or family who aren’t familiar with early-season conditions, always make it part of your responsibility to warn them about the increased possible hazards. With new snow on the way, remember there still hasn’t been much compaction in avalanche starting zones.
NOW I’LL NEVER GET TO BE ON THE TV SHOW ‘UNDERCOVER BOSS’
Posted in Safety Patrol/Speed ControlToday a bunch of us got to step away from the normal duties of patrolling to help the crew building the gondola at the summit. After lifting some huge metal beams (girders?) into place, and transferring a the pile of metal grates upon which you will walk once you disembark the gondola, we got asked to… Continue Reading
FORECASTING SKI CONDITIONS PART II
Posted in ConditionsI’m often asked: “Howcum some people know where to find the best snow, where to go first to get the blower pow, and which skis to pull out on a given day?” Read on to learn how to turn telemetry weather data into your own personal ski conditions forecast!
Early Morning as a Ski Patroller
Posted in Avalanche HazardThis was actually from CHRISTINA, and I forgot to post it back when it was snowing! 4:15 AM: Ring, ring. My phone wakes me up. “Hullo” I groan, full of sleep. “Christina, we are out the door at 6,” Says my fellow patroller doing the morning call-outs. “OK,” I mumble and roll back over; it’s… Continue Reading
Purty Pitchers
Posted in Avalanche HazardWilliam Richmond has a blog with some cool pics of Crystal and he reviews some of the skis he’s used. Check it out at http://williamrichmondski.blogspot.com/ I swiped one which is my fave, because I got caught in an avalanche just to the left after entering here once. (Actually it was ON an avalanche….I surfed down to the bottom… Continue Reading
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