Region News
In Memoriam: Robert A. Weber – Balsams Wilderness Patroller
Rober A. Weber was the long-time Patrol Director at Balsams Wilderness Resort in Dixville Notch, NH
LACONIA – Robert Alan Weber of Laconia, N.H, and formerly of Colebrook, passed away peacefully at the age of 65 on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, after a long-fought battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a rare brain disease, and form of Parkinson’s Disease. He was surrounded by his loving wife, Sylvie, and daughter, Allison.
He was born on May 20, 1956, in Cheektowaga, N.Y., to Howard C. Weber and Suzanne (Hoffman) Weber. Bob graduated from Maryvale High School and Buffalo State College majoring in history and education.
In the summer of 1979, with the help of his brother Howie, Bob moved to Dixville Notch, N.H. and began working at The Balsams Grand Resort as the waterfront director. It is there that he met the love of his life, Sylvie (Jolin) Weber. They met in July, got engaged
ESAW 2021 Avalanche Workshop Recap – 2020 Ammonoosuc Ravine Incident Case Study
Holiday greetings from Southern New Hampshire! The weather is finally looking a bit more like winter but the Mount Washington Avalanche Center (MWAC) is still posting a general bulletin. The forecast 3-6" snow will increase avalanche danger through Monday morning....
ESAW 2021 Avalanche Workshop Recap – Beacon Search Strategies
The 2021 ESAW seminar on October 26,27& 28 was a super way to kick off the season! The event was again held virtually, with engaging presentations and panel discussions, raffle prizes and good Q&A through online chat....
Let the fun begin 😉
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.
First Mt Washington Avalanche Incident of the Season – Be Careful Out There! – Updated Link
Latest info at MWAC site here It's early season but that doesn't mean the "avalanche dragon" is sleeping! This excerpt is from the Mt Washington Avalanche Center forecast for 12/6/21. Link to full MWAC Forecast Discussion here. Thanks to all first responders for...
MTR Level 2 Training Fieldwork at Ragged and Mt. Moosilauke
- Map and Directions | Register Description:National Ski Patrol requires that all members and non-members read and agree to the Event/Training Release/Waiver form. NH Region collects event attendee agreement to the statement below electronically within its event...
2021 Southern and Central Section Chief Elections
Southern Section patrols and Central Section patrols will be voting during the 2021 election season for Section Chiefs. Lisa Kling, the current incumbent, is running unopposed for election as Southern Section Chief, and Deb Brown, also an incumbent, is running unopposed for re-election for Central Section Chief.
The Northern Section is not in contention because its elections are held during even-numbered years. Ballots will be available to all section member patrollers by email invitation. Voting opens on October 31st and ends on November 20, 2021.
As voting Patrollers, we ask you to please familiarize yourselves with the candidate’s campaign and Ski Patrolling Curriculum Vitae:
It’s that time of year again !!
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 –
Stress Management is Important
“Seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength”
As Eric Snyder explains to the patrollers at Bear Creek Ski Patrol in Pennsylvania. Eric is a full-time paid patroller at Bear Creek, an OEC Instructor, and an active Instructor and Evaluator in the Pennsylvania State EMT System. He is also an active member of the Eastern Division PSA Team.
PSA stands for “Patroller Stress-Awareness” Team. The team is charged with publicizing the importance of job-related stress among Ski patrollers, to let our membership know that help is available. But more important than providing avenues for help, the team’s mission is to help break down the stigma of asking for help.
Getting help early after a traumatic stress episode is key for easing a patroller’s stress. Stress builds over time causing . . .
Another season in the books (and its been a strange one)
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.