Join us as we sit down with past and present patrollers, hosts, and friends of the Pacific Northwest Division of the National Ski Patrol to preserve their stories and grow our History Project together. Patroller Chats was started in 2023 for the History Project by Shirley Cummings. Tune in for fun, informative, inspirational, and occasionally spirited conversations, where we explore traditions deeply rooted in history and full of heart. Honoring the NSP Creed: Service and Safety since 1938, ...
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Pacific Northwest Division Of The NSP Podcasts
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From Bottle Caps to Rescues: The Evolution of Mount Hood Ski Patrol (Part 2 of 2) -(Click link in description for pictures)
41:26
41:26
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41:26
Ski Patrol Has Changed, But Friendship Remains the Heart of Service. Longtime Mt Hood patroller, Gordy Winterrowd shares insights from his 50+ years of service, reflecting on the evolution of rescue equipment and the changing relationship between volunteer and paid patrol staff. Click here to see the pictures he is describing while chatting with us…
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From Bottle Caps to Rescues: The Evolution of Mount Hood Ski Patrol (Part 1 of 2) (Click link in description for pictures)
43:54
43:54
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43:54
Imagine watching ski patrollers descend a darkened trail with injured skiers on sleds, sometimes hearing their cries of pain. For 9-year-old Gordy Winterrowd, these powerful moments sparked a calling that would lead to 57 years of service with the Mount Hood Ski Patrol. Listen in to learn more about his own and Mt Hood Ski Patrol's History! Click h…
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Avalanche Rescues, Red Jackets and Patrol Evolution. Continuing the "Chat" with Gary Burke & Shirley Cummings!
57:07
57:07
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57:07
Join us as we continue our “Chat” with Gary Burke as he shares his impressive legacy in ski patrol and search and rescue operations across the Pacific Northwest, recounting dramatic rescues and the evolution of mountain safety over decades. His stories highlight the dedication required to protect visitors to the slopes and the extraordinary efforts…
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The snow never stopped falling on volunteers...(Part 2:2) Steve, Gary & Shirley on Tobogganing Tales and Transformative Change in NSP
1:10:22
1:10:22
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1:10:22
Continuing with Steve Rolfe Part 2:2. Also joining in...Gary Burke and Shirley Cummings. Listen to veteran ski patrollers share stories that trace the evolution of ski patrol from the 1950s through present day, revealing how regional differences, equipment innovations, and standardization efforts shaped modern mountain rescue systems. Welcome to Pa…
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The snow never stopped falling on a volunteer patroller's four-decade adventure. (Part 1:2)
1:06:49
1:06:49
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1:06:49
What happens when a 17-year-old joins ski patrol in 1967 and stays for more than four decades? Steve Rolfe's journey through 42 years of Pacific Northwest ski patrol reveals not just his personal story, but the fascinating evolution of mountain safety, leadership, and ski area management. (Part 1 of 2; Friend Shirley Cummings in audience) The PNWD …
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What Happens When Service Becomes A Way Of Life?
50:52
50:52
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50:52
When Jim Trett first joined ski patrol in 1984, he could barely make it down the mountain. "I'm doing my make a pie and try not to fall down," he recalls with a laugh. That reluctant skier would go on to serve an incredible 40+ years as a patroller, including 33 years being on Mt Hood Ski Patrol at Mount Hood, OR before transferring to Santiam Pass…
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From Wilderness Emergency Care to Modern Aid Rooms: One Patroller's Evolution
40:10
40:10
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40:10
Barbara Lierson shares her remarkable journey in the National Ski Patrol since 1988, from her early days at Marshall in Missoula to her current role at Summit Central at Snoqualmie Pass. Her unique perspective highlights the evolution of ski patrol protocols, training approaches, and the challenge of integrating new patrollers with longtime veteran…
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From 1960 to Today: Six Decades on the Slopes
1:07:17
1:07:17
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1:07:17
Frank Rossi's life story reads like a cultural history of American winter recreation. The 80-year-old ski patroller, who joined the National Ski Patrol in 1960 at just 17 years old, shares six decades of memories that span from wooden toboggans to modern rescue equipment, from an era before CPR to today's advanced medical protocols. Note: Recorded …
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Nursing the Slopes: A Colonel's Journey Through Ski Patrol, an Amazing Ride!
50:00
50:00
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50:00
Few people embody the spirit of "Service and Safety" like Mary Lou Robinson. After joining the National Ski Patrol in 1988 while serving as an Army nurse, Mary Lou's remarkable journey spans five divisions, multiple continents, and countless lives touched along the way. Join us as we Chat with Marylou! Note: Recorded at a previous convention, pleas…
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Bonus: Volunteers Created America's First Adaptive Ski Program (S2-Skiers2) at Hyak. S1:Bonus...
7:39
7:39
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7:39
Shirley Cummings explains how "S2 Skiers2" began at Hyak Ski Area in the PNWD and its amazing efforts between various ski resorts in helping those needing a bit more assistance in learning how to ski. Pioneering well before the ADA was established. Note: Recorded at a previous convention, please disregard background noises. (2023) The PNWD History …
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The Cummings have served skiers at Hyak since 1965, witnessing decades of mountain evolution!
42:37
42:37
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42:37
Step back in time with Shirley and Gary Cummings, with this extraordinary couple whose experiences bridge skiing's wooden ski era to today's modern mountain operations of ski patrol service at Hyak (now Summit East). They offer a fascinating glimpse into skiing's transformation since the mid-1960s. Note: Recorded at a previous convention, please di…
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