by Carl Chaplin | Apr 3, 2023 | General News, Region Director
What an amazing March we’ve had….
Most of the season we were fighting the weather and the temps to get the snow we needed to have good conditions, and then in rolled March and dumped a ton of snow on most of us. Not sure about your area, but we’ve enjoyed better conditions this March than the entire rest of the season. Oh well, better late than never.
As we enter April the season is winding down and some mountains are closing with skiable terrain still available. Looks like the uphill crowd will have at least a few days left to play in the mountains.
Summer season will be here shortly with all of its outdoor activities. Downhill mountain biking, kayaking, swimming, hiking, adventure parks, etc. Enjoy your time outside, stay in shape, and keep an eye out for periodic updates on the latest news from National and the Region.
by Carl Chaplin | Aug 10, 2022 | General News, Region Director
Hi All
Its been a while since an update and a lot has happened in those months.
Let’s start with National rolling out the new Learning Management System (LMS) using this upcoming Cycle C Refresher as its kick off course. Be prepared, this refreshers online portion takes around 4 to 5 hours to complete. You can do it in sections so no need to do it all at once. Additionally this system is used by Instructors to create new course listings so the process for signing up for courses has changed. Stay tuned for more information on that as we are all learning together on this. Keep an eye on our website calendar for upcoming events.
With the growth of lift served downhill Mountain Biking (it’s no longer just the Highlands) there is now a National Bike Advisor. Eastern Division and NH Region (along with many other Regions) are still looking for Bike Advisors. We’ve had several interested parties but are still looking to finalize positions. For those of you interested feel free to contact me with questions. Also, if you haven’t tried it, get out and give it a go, it’s a blast.
by Carl Chaplin | Dec 7, 2021 | General News, Region Director
Hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday.
A few of our mountains are open (more will soon) and from what i hear the snow conditions are better than expected. We still have a ways to go temperature wise before we can get serious about higher trail counts and deeper snow depths. That said the man made trails we have are a good start. Now all we need is some help from Mother Nature by way of some natural snow, and consistently colder temps.
The elections for the National Board have closed and the four who will join the board are: Myron Allen, Kristi Ball, Rick Boyce, Julie Stone. Julie was re-elected to her post on the Board. Additionally there was a ballot question as to Mt Host / Bike Hosts member standing. The vote was to maintain the status of Associate member, thus keeping the OEC level as the base level for “Traditional” members.
by Carl Chaplin | Oct 27, 2021 | General News, Region Director
It’s Refresher season !!
Ok, so its warmer than it should be for the end of October, and most of us haven’t had our first frost yet, but its still going to be a great season…
At the end of last season I commented on how that was the strangest season to date with all the COVID issues and protocols, reservation systems, chairlifts and lodge occupancy restrictions, etc. While we are not out of the covid woods yet, this season is starting off slightly better. We are pretty much done with the chairlift and lodge restrictions. Most of the resorts have gotten away from the reservation systems, and in most places we don’t need to boot up in the car. We still will have to wear masks in many indoor locations, but as far as I can see not outside and in lift lines.
Remember that there are several emails around for the NBOD voting, the CISM surveys, and our own local Region Elections. Stay tuned for more on that –
by Carl Chaplin | Apr 22, 2021 | General News, Region Director
Hi All.
Hopefully this finds you all safe and healthy.
We’ve come to the end of what will go down in the books as one of the strangest seasons on record.
Weather wise, we had a tremendous snowfall early in the season, followed by a rain event that negated most of that snowfall. Followed by a dry stretch that lasted into February. We had some snow in February but then basically nothing in March except regularly above average temps by 15 to 20 degrees. Several ski areas had the lowest seasonal snowfall totals they could remember, and when the snow finally returned (in April) most mountains were already closed…
And then there was COVID.
by Carl Chaplin | Jan 6, 2021 | General News, Region Director
First off — I’d like to wish you all a very happy and healthy new year. I can honestly say I’m not sad to see the door close on 2020.
We’ve started out the year on a very positive note with the State of NH adding Ski Patrol to the list of First Responders eligible for the vaccine in the Phase 1a group. I’d like to thank those that participated in the effort to get the state to agree, bravo… An email was sent out to all the Patrol Directors with information on how to register their patrol rosters with the state.
That’s all for now –
Stay Safe and enjoy the skiing…
Carl
Carl Chaplin
NREMT, NSP & PSPA Certified
New Hampshire Region Director
by Carl Chaplin | Aug 25, 2020 | General News, Region Director
Well, we are moving into September and the ski season is fast approaching.
I wish I could tell you that it will be an amazing winter with epic skiing and riding. Mother Nature will do what she wants to do just like always. Unfortunately, for the rest of it, this season will more than likely be filled with numerous changes and unexpected events and no doubt a lot of uncertainty. The honest truth of this is, we are still unsure what will transpire. Ski areas will open or not, with crowd limits or not. Lodges may or may not be open, again with social distancing and limit issues. Restaurants may be open, with restrictions. Outdoor seating will only go so far into the season. The ski area experience as we have known it for decades will, to say the least, be different. Only time will tell, and most likely it will be an area by area struggle and decision on how things run.
So, what does that mean for Patrol?
Social distancing, PPE, hand washing, disinfecting equipment, being diligent and safe. We can do our jobs safely and professionally as long as we are careful and follow protocols.
We will try to keep you updated on what is happening and where, but even that is a moving target. The information changes daily.
Example, At the beginning of July areas supplied neck buffs for employees to wear to protect themselves and the customers. Now we hear that those same buffs may actually make the spread of Covid worse by diffusing the larger particles into smaller ones that can hang in the air longer and go farther. .
What has been going on over the summer….
by Carl Chaplin | Apr 19, 2020 | General News, Region Director
Well, it looks like things are settling in for the long haul.
The ski season ended rather abruptly and the summer season seems to be a long way off. Mountains are struggling to decide if / when they will be able to open their respective activities. We are all facing some sort of isolation issues. Whether it is because we are unemployed waiting for things to re-open, still are working and really don’t want to be exposed to the day to day, waiting for the daycare systems to re-open so we can get back to the day to day, etc. Whatever your circumstances, normal isn’t really normal anymore.
As a Region, the NH Patrol Directors group has met to discuss the current state and is actively looking at the upcoming season to determine what (if anything) will change in regards to PPE for its patrols. National has extended the timelines for any remaining OEC 5 courses still out there waiting for final exams to September 1st, after which time OEC 6 will be the rule. The Spring Officers meeting is coming up this weekend (April 24th, 25th) via Zoom and I’m sure the coronavirus will be discussed “a lot”.
As a gentle reminder, please close any outstanding courses you may have had so we can officially button up the season.
Here’s hoping things get back to some sort of “normal” sooner rather than later.
In the meantime stay safe, stay connected as best you can and enjoy the outdoors wherever and whenever possible.
by Carl Chaplin | Mar 26, 2020 | General News, Region Director
As we all try to struggle with what is going on in the nation and the world these days it should come as no surprise to any of us that we are effectively cancelling the last face-to-face event still on our spring calendar, the Awards Luncheon scheduled for May 3rd @ McIntyre Ski Area. Division wide any events that can be moved from face-to-face meetings to a conference call are being moved and any that can’t be run as conference calls are being cancelled. Hopefully this pandemic will run its course over the next period of time and we will be able to get back to “normal” albeit possibly a slightly different version of normal.
In the meantime enjoy the outdoors in any way you can, hike, bike, walk, or just sit on the porch and relax. Keep social distancing in mind, stay in touch with your family and friends and stay safe.
by Carl Chaplin | Mar 13, 2020 | Region Director
Eastern Division NSP COVID-19 Advisory
The Eastern Division Board of Directors has been monitoring the evolving situation with respect to COVID-19. The EDBOD has not taken this health concern lightly. The health and safety of all of our members are a priority. We have taken guidance from our Medical Advisor(s) and the information of both the CDC and World Health Organization on recommendations for preparedness and prevention recommendations. We are reminded that as health care providers we are trained in BSI and risk mitigation procedures for infectious diseases.
In considering the upcoming Eastern Division events and our normal Patrol duties, we advise ALL to follow the CDC recommendations for participants in Patrol activities. If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms, fever, etc., you are asked to stay home until symptoms resolve for 24 hours or you are cleared by your doctor to return to public activities (school, work, events). This is considered a priority.
In order for these events to be successful and minimize exposure to all participants, we cannot emphasize enough that we need your help in making decisions on whether or not you pose a risk to others. We trust that each participant will evaluate their own health and make appropriate decisions regarding their attendance.
Participants should be aware that screening and precautions will be taken at the upcoming events including but not limited to temperature screening, removal of those showing symptoms from the large group activities and potentially being sent home.
Should you determine that you should not or cannot participate in one of the upcoming events, please note that refunds will be provided as appropriate.
Please refer to the NSP eblast dated 3/5/2020, and the following links…
