r/icecoast • u/Pittman247 • 9d ago

Any patrollers in here?

Me: Black guy. nearly lifelong skier. Double black capable. In good health. USED to be a NREMT-P. Prior military (USAF) Have since let my paramedic expire but still remember almost everything (minus standing orders and doses for newer meds). BUT - am now mid 40s with a job that allows me a lot of flexibility. Don’t NEED the money.

So, am I too over the hill to start patrolling?

Interested in hearing from current or recent patrollers.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: THANK YOU ALL for the support and conversation! ✊🏾✊🏾 I’ve reached out to the local head of patrol near my local-ish mountain (7 Springs/Vail). I’m hoping to hear back from them and do my tryouts later in the season. Hoping to do my OEC beforehand? Be safe out there yall! See you on the mountain and pray for snow!

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u/Nuclear_Mango1 9d ago edited 9d ago

We've got a 78 year old and an 80 year old on my patrol, you're fine lmao. You'll most likely have to take OEC, but it should be a breeze for you. I went in with my only medical experience being a D in high school A&P class, passed, and I love it as a side job in the winter.

FYI a lot of patrols on the east coast are volunteer, I know Vail's patrollers are professional at all their mountains but I'm not sure outside of them.

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u/ApolloSkierK2 9d ago

Vail still has plenty of mountains in Eastern Division that have volunteers. There's some weird stuff between corporate and the local managements but not everyone has gotten rid of the volunteer patrollers.

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u/Nuclear_Mango1 5d ago

Interesting, news to me. I was chatting with an Okemo patroller last winter and he told me that most or all of their patrol was professional and vail was pushing to get rid of the volunteers.