Snow Angels

Story by Elaine Lang | Photo by Jon Olson

Once upon a time, almost twenty-five years ago, a young girl found herself in a very scary position. Katie Malon was enjoying a day of skiing at Cornwall’s Mohawk Mountain. However, as she headed down the slope, she found herself crowded off the marked trail by an aggressive, out-of-control skier. Terrified, she found herself hurtling through the rough terrain, wondering if she would be seriously injured, and if she was, if help would be able to find her. She sped through the woods, eventually falling and striking her head on a rock and losing consciousness. She awoke to the comforting presence of the Mohawk Mountain Ski Patrol. “They were so unbelievably kind and comforting, I knew that I could trust them and that I would be OK,” she says. Even in her initial confusion, she knew quite well that those red jackets meant competent and confident help. After all, her father, John Malon, had been a patroller himself for years.

Katie Malon’s experience was profound, but not necessarily unique. Skiing has long been a favorite pastime of New Englanders hungry for excitement and activity in the winter months, but the speed and joy of the sport is not without its risks. And, while most of the world’s larger ski resorts employ full-time professionals for rescue and first aid support, most of the smaller slopes, including those in our area, still rely heavily on the expertise and skill of the volunteer ski patrol.

“Our Connecticut patrollers are serving at very small ski areas where there is a strong reliance on the volunteer ski patrol,” says Rick Knight, director of the Connecticut Division of the National Ski Patrol.

The community spirit among these local ski patrollers is strong, and participation in the group can be a deeply satisfying experience that leads to lifelong friendships. The cold, crisp air and beautiful scenery make for one of the best ways to enjoy our region in wintertime. And, as resorts expand their activities to include snowboarding and tubing, a whole new generation of mountain enthusiasts is joining the fold. But with more people on the slopes and some high-profile accidents periodically making headlines, there is a growing call for safety.

Fortunately, when skiers and snowboarders find themselves in trouble, help is at the ready, as it has been for the last seventy years. The volunteer ski patrol is quick on the scene, and its members are equipped with expert skills and up-to-the-minute knowledge of first aid and emergency medical care. Each ski area has its own patrol that follows National Ski Patrol guidelines. Prospective volunteer patrollers are selected and trained for physical skill and undergo a rigorous certification course in Outdoor Emergency Care. Then, new patrollers serve a “candidate” year of on-the-job training. Only then do they become full-fledged rescuers.

Connecticut’s patrollers are part of a proud tradition. The National Ski Patrol was founded in 1938 under the auspices of the National Ski Association (now the United States Ski Association). During World War II, it was involved in the establishment, screening, and training of the famed 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army. By 1950, the organization had grown to 4,000 members serving 300 ski patrol units across the country. Today, the National Ski Patrol boasts 26,000 members who serve on over 600 patrols. Three hundred and fifty members are active in Connecticut.

West Cornwall resident Lorraine “Josie” Whitney has been with the Mohawk Mountain Ski Patrol since the early days when skiers lugged their flat skis up the Mohawk Trail, which was originally carved out from the forest by the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps. Early patrollers used surplus toboggans originally belonging to the 10th Mountain Division.

“I was introduced to skiing by Frank and Gert Ellis while I was helping to care for their young children,” Whitney says. Gert Ellis, a successful competitive skier, was particularly active in the close-knit ski community, providing condition reports on local radio and frequently entertaining international skiers. “It was so exciting for me as a young girl to ski during the day and then enjoy evenings around the piano with other skiers from around the world,” Whitney recalls.

The social pleasures of patrolling inspire many to stay with it for decades. Nat Florian of Farmington has been patrolling at Mount Southington for over 40 years, and he cites a common reason for joining and staying with the ski patrol. “It gets you out, exercising in the winter,” he says. “And, while I enjoy regular recreational skiing, patrolling is a great way to give purpose to your pleasure.” Dick Ohanesian of Canton is a lifelong skier who joined the patrol at New Hartford’s Ski Sundown about five years ago. “Of course I was drawn to the opportunity to ski more, but I was also very interested in the Outdoor Emergency Care and other first-aid training.” After a few years on the patrol, Ohanesian started to train new patrollers, conditioning candidates for the demands of the job. “The National Ski Patrol refines and enhances our training every year, and keeps longtime patrollers up-to-date with refresher courses along the way,” he says.

West Hartford resident Bing Lantz values the human connections he has made on the slopes at Ski Sundown. After seven years offering non-medical assistance as a guest services volunteer, Lantz stepped up his commitment, received his Outdoor Emergency Care training, and joined the patrol. After 11 years at it, Lantz still enjoys being an ambassador for winter recreation activities. “Being out there with the ski patrol gives you the opportunity to talk to everyone on the mountain. There is such a wide variety of people out there on any given day, and nothing beats the feeling of watching new skiers learn and grow to love the sport.”

These longtime patrollers have seen many changes over the years. As the sport has grown, much of the rustic, tranquil quality of skiing has been lost. “We used to pack a lunch in the morning and tuck it in the snow along the trail,” Whitney remembers. “We could come back for a quiet picnic hours later.” But that’s something she wouldn’t recommend trying today, as crowded slopes offer few safe spots for stashing food or picnicking.

The passage of time has also seen dramatic developments in the equipment used by both recreational skiers and the ski patrol. Injuries to the lower extremities have been greatly reduced by new safety bindings and highly maneuverable shorter, sharp edged skis. Equipment used in emergency medical situations has also improved dramatically with the growing availability of technological aids like GPS systems, lightweight digital diagnostic tools, and more efficient evacuation equipment like maneuverable toboggans and helicopters. The growing popularity of snowboarding and other snow sports has revolutionized not only the atmosphere at ski areas but also the way the ski patrol serves their patrons. A growing number of patrollers now monitor the mountainside on snowboards instead of on a traditional pair of skis.

Fortunately, most accidents and injuries are minor, and a typical ski patrol shift is likely to treat a few common injuries like cuts and scrapes or “FOOSH” (“Fall On Outstretched Hand”) wrist injuries. However, in rare cases, a serious injury can occur, and those are the times when the ski patrol’s rigorous medical training is crucial. Florian remembers the day he treated two broken femurs. It’s a serious and painful injury under any circumstance, but the incidents became far more complicated as they occurred on a day of activities scheduled for disabled skiers. Ohanesian vividly recalls a severe accident at Ski Sundown in which a skier lost control and took a terrible fall down the side of the mountain. Ohanesian was the second patroller on the scene, and it took a great deal of expertise and skill to locate, stabilize, and evacuate the skier, who was taken to the hospital by helicopter. The skier survived, but was permanently disabled in the accident, a sobering reminder of the need to behave safely and responsibly when enjoying mountainside sports.

The Ski Patrol’s motto is “Service and Safety,” and patrol members have good advice for skiers and snowboarders looking forward to a day of fun in the snow. What is the recipe for a safe day on the slopes? First, dress for the weather and wear layers so you can adapt to changing conditions throughout the day. Patrollers also recommend that skiers maintain their equipment carefully, making sure that binding settings are appropriate for weight and skill level, and that edges are kept sharp. Be aware of others on the mountain, and ski or board within your skill level. Take advantage of the ski school to learn the techniques necessary to control your skiing. In summary, Ohanesian says, “have fun with it, and remember that you aren’t out there alone.”

All good advice, but it is important to remember that even well-trained and cautious skiers and snowboarders can and do have accidents on the slopes, just as Katie Malon did all those years ago. These days, Katie Malon Jack is a nurse practitioner living in Watertown. She is still an expert on the quality of the Connecticut Ski Patrol, and not just because of her own injuries. As soon as she was old enough, she joined the patrol herself and has been providing comforting, quality care and assistance to skiers on Mohawk Mountain for twenty years. “When you are hurt and afraid,” Jack says, “it is such a comfort to have the kind and caring people from the ski patrol there to help.”

Elaine Lang is a freelance writer living in Simsbury. She has been skiing since childhood, yet still manages to be both the tallest and the least adept skier on the bunny slope.