PatrollerGuidelines

1. PATROLLER DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES:

All patrollers are individually responsible for understanding and performing the patrol responsibilities outlined in this document. If you do not understand, please ask one of the patrol board members or advisors for a detailed explanation.

1.1 Sign on before 7:25am Weekends/Holidays 7:55am Mid-week

Sierra Ski Patrollers can patrol any day of the season. Sign on cut off time is 1:05 before the hill opens to the public. On weekends and holidays that is 7:25 AM and 7:55 AM on non-holiday weekdays. If you arrive after the morning meeting starts, you will not receive credit for the day. If you know that you are going to be late, you are encouraged to phone Sierra dispatch at extension 200.

Notification of late arrival will not guarantee obtaining credit.

1.1.1 Weekends and Holidays: 7:25 am

Sign on is conducted in the NSP patrol room via computer. Select your name on the login screen and indicate which side of the mountain you would prefer, if you have one. Indicate the number of the radio that you have. Side preference cannot be guaranteed by the Hill Captain. Put your skiis, poles and board outside the door to the patrol room. Take your helmet, coat, gloves etc with you to the morning meeting. You should be able to leave the morning meeting without the need to go back into the patrol room. You need to be in first aid prior to the start of the morning meeting. If the meeting starts and you are not there, you are considered late!

1.1.2 Non-holiday Weekdays: 7:55am

Cut off time is 08:00. Sign on via the computer in the NSP patrol room. You may be the only NSP patroller present if you are patrolling on a weekday, so you will need to login to the ticketing system as Hill Captain and assume Hill Captain duties.

1.2 Daily Patrol Assignments:

1.2.1 Daily routine

If the day is designated as a peak day, park in the lower lots (Usually Lot E), if not a peak day, park in D or A lot.

Sign in as above.

The mountain setup immediately follows morning report and needs to be done before the mountain opens to the public. The resort administration keeps track of our ability to have the mountain open on time. First Aid patrollers will setup the aid room, setup the mountain, or start candidate training as directed by the hill captain. ALL patrollers performing hill setup will ride either Grandview or Nob chairs for setup and will remain on the mountain until setup is complete in their area. If you are not sure what to do, ask a pro patroller (or the Hill Captain or a team leader) where you should go. When First Aid patrollers are done with their setup chores they need to check in with the dispatch supervisor for assignments for the rest of the day. Others will check assignments and proceed directly to check in at the bump where your assignment is. Take all your equipment, lunch, and anything else you may need with you to your bump station. Assigned patrollers are to be on one side of the mountain all day and report in to the bump supervisor. All runs need to be skied and checked for obstacles or unsafe areas. In the bump station, initial each run you have cleared. At 1545 all patrollers are to be at the bump station of the assigned sweep. First Aid Patrollers report to first aid and remain there until the mountain is down. If you are unable to be at your assigned location for sweep, let the bump supervisor know. When your sweep is complete, sign the sweep sheet in dispatch, turn in your radio, and sign out in the computer. Wait until the mountain is down and clear before taking your boots off, enjoying refreshments, or leaving for the day.

1.2.2 Assigned Days:

All patrollers will be assigned by the Hill Captain (HC) to assist the Pros with hill setup (signs, diversions, tower pads, run checks, etc.). Check with the Pro supervisor (listed on the pro assignment whiteboards) for duties that he/she needs you to assist with. If you are assigned to be a candidate trainer for the day, the Assistant patrol director for testing and training, candidate advisor, or designee will coordinate that training. If you would like to train in a specific area, contact your TL to coordinate this training after setup.

1.2.3 Sweep, Speed Control Assignments:

Every patroller will be assigned sweep and speed control duties by the hill captain or pro staff. There are three designated sweep assignments:

- Grand View - West Bowl - First Aid Room

There are at least three designated speed bump areas:

- Ledges/Barnyard on Sugar n Spice - Corkscrew - Echo/Sleigh merge

1.2.4 Skiing Assignments:

You are to setup and patrol the side of the mountain that your are assigned in the morning. If you would like to ski the other side for a couple of runs, let the Pro supervisor and/or TL know of your plans.

1.2.5 Sweep:

The mountain is closed and swept at 4:00 PM. Patrollers must report to their designated sweep assignment by 3:30 PM. This means at the top of the Lift, not the bottom. Please notify the Hill Captain if you cannot make your sweep assignment.

On West Bowl you must put your initials on the whiteboard next to the run you swept. They keep a log on that side of the mountain.

1.3 Sign out

Sign out is after sweep or by prior arrangement with the Hill Captain or Pro Patrol Director. Early sign out is extremely discouraged. Try to make early sign out a one-time occurrence. Early sign outs will be recorded. Once sweep is completed, and there are no missing people, the mountain can be called clear. No one leaves the mountain until dispatch signs off for the day.

2. PATROLLER RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

All patrollers must understand what is expected during their day of patrolling. This section outlines important duties and responsibilities and outlines how a patroller is expected to deal with these situations.

2.1 Basic and Senior Patrollers

Patrollers are required to understand and perform most of the duties required in the Sierra at Tahoe Ski Patrol Manual. The responsibilities not required of NSP patrollers are: line skiing, initial avalanche control, non-ground chair lift evacuation procedures, snowmobile and other company moving machinery equipment operations, and dispatch. Although NSP patrollers are not required to know these responsibilities, it is encouraged that all patrollers be familiar with as much of mountain operations as possible.

2.2 First Aid Patrollers

First Aid patrollers will follow the NSP guidelines for duties and responsibilities. First Aid patrollers are required to perform all duties and responsibilities outlined for patrollers in Section 2.1, except Auxiliary patrollers will not:

1] Operate a toboggan.

2] Perform any sweep or skiing assignment that is beyond their skiing ability. It is the responsibility of the First Aid patroller to know their skiing limitations and never accept an assignment that is beyond their skiing ability.

3] Be dispatched to carry equipment to accident scenes unless absolutely necessary.

First Aid patrollers will be assigned a First Aid Room time slot and may be assigned either Nob Hill or Speed control duties as well. It is required that First Aid patroller participate in and be checked off on First Aid Patrol Certification components.

2.3 Team Leader and Certified Patrollers

Patrollers in this category are required to perform all responsibilities and duties defined in the Sierra at Tahoe Ski Patrol Manual, except for operation of snowmobiles and other moving machinery equipment. It is the goal that patrollers in this classification can perform the required duties of the Pro Patrol staff.

2.4 Inactive Patrollers

When a patroller goes inactive or returns to active status from inactive status, he/she will present in writing to the patrol director their intent to change status in accordance with the bylaws. While inactive, patrollers do not participate in the Mountain Access Program.

2.5 Transfer Patrollers

Transfers will complete a minimum of six shadowed patrol days. Full patrol status and Mountain Access Program will be at the discretion of the Board. A transfer patroller must exhibit mountain knowledge in addition to all skills required of a patroller at an acceptable level to be eligible to patrol in accordance with the bylaws.

2.6 Patrol Procedure Changes:

Changes in patrol procedures will be announced via email and/or at the monthly patrol meetings following sweep.

2.7 Radio Use:

Radios are checked out in the morning, with the radio number recorded in the computer sign in, and returned at the end of the day. NSP radios are for use of NSP patrollers only.

Radio calls should start with the person or location you are calling, followed by your name (i.e. Grandview, Dave), followed by your request and location. Minimize chatter - be short and concise with your statement. The radio cannot receive and transmit at the same time, so do not talk over someone else, and make sure the channel is clear prior to transmitting a message. Key the mike about 3 seconds prior to talking. SSP radios should be set on channel 1 (repeater). Try to keep the volume low while in the lodges or crowded areas. Act professional while on the radio and provide only the essential information required. Please note that everyone who has a radio and everyone around them can hear your transmission; so avoid personal issues and be discreet when what you have to say might alarm or panic the guests.

Consult the Sierra Ski Patrol Radio Manual for a detailed explanation of radio protocol at Sierra. Every patroller must get checked off in the use of a Radio prior to using one. If you are not sure of what to do, see the Hill Captain for training.

See the Sierra Radio Manual for a complete description of radio operations and use.

2.8 Skiing With Family/Friends:

If you want to ski with others, you must be able to perform your duties at all times. Only patrollers can use the cut gate, so try to wait on top at the bump station if you wish to ski with others, i.e. non-patrollers. Try to ski in groups of not more than two or three patrollers. Non-patrollers will not load any lift prior to that lift opening to the public.

2.9 Toboggans:

Toboggans are to be packed neatly with proper contents - typically, 2 blankets and 2 cardboard splints. They need to be returned to their stations and properly stored as soon as possible. If you're passing by the first aid room and see a toboggan sitting outside, check to see where it belongs. If it is assigned to the bump you are going to, be sure to pick up and take it with you. Toboggans should be cleaned of snow and ice in the morning, especially after/during storms. Broken equipment should be brought to the attention of the Pro Patrol Leader or his designee.

2.10 Lunch Time:

The lunchtime period is always a challenge to maintain patrol coverage on the hill. Patrollers are asked to use judgment when taking their lunchtime break and to limit it to a 45 minute period, whenever possible. Ask the Pro Patrol Leader if there is enough coverage to take lunch. Be prepared to stay until there is enough coverage. If you purchase lunch on a peak day, do so before 12:00 or after 13:30. Note that your transaction at the cash register needs to be completed outside of that time range. The computers will not give you your fifty percent Mountain Access Program discount during that time range. Unless otherwise approved by the Hill Captain you must eat lunch at one of the two bump stations (GV or WB).

2.11 Diversions and Signs:

All patrollers are expected to properly put up any diversion, pad, or sign. If a diversion, pad, or sign cannot be properly replaced (damaged, missing, etc.), a Pro patroller should be contacted immediately so that the problem can taken care of. Whenever skiing by a rope line of any kind please make sure it is tight.

3. MOUNTAIN ACCESS PROGRAM

The Mountain Access Program outlined in this section applies to all Sierra Ski Patrollers in good standing. If a patroller experiences difficulty in obtaining any Mountain Access Program item please do not be confrontational with the employee. Contact your patrol director and he/she will resolve the issue. The Mountain Access Program below supercedes any previous program and are subject to change.

3.1 SSP Patrollers (all Classifications):

Active patrollers may choose between receiving one ski lift voucher for each day patrolled, or a season pass for each member of their immediate family. This Mountain Access Program decision is made at the refresher and will be in effect throughout a FULL ski season. It cannot be changed midway through the ski season.

3.2 SSP Patrollers on Probation:

Same as above for active Patrollers, except no ski lift vouchers are given nor dependent passes activated until after the probationary status has been cleared. See more on Probation under Section 6.

3.4 Employee Discounts:

Employee discounts are for the personal use of the patroller. Patrollers must present their employee ID to obtain all employee discounts. Misuse of any Mountain Access Program will result in immediate dismissal from Sierra Ski Patrol. Ski lift vouchers are typically good during all holiday periods (i.e.. Christmas, New Years Days, Martin Luther King, etc.) The use of ski vouchers during holiday periods is decided by the Sierra-at-Tahoe Management and subject to change.

4. UNIFORMS:

No uniform - no sign on! Patrollers are required to wear the uniform of Sierra Ski Patrol to patrol at Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort. The image of each patroller is important in gaining the trust and confidence of the public. Patrol clothes must be clean and in an appropriate condition to be worn. Please, no torn and worn-out garments. It will be at the discretion of the patrol officers and Sierra-at-Tahoe Management to determine the acceptability of a patroller's uniform. Uniforms should not be worn outside of the scope of the job. Alcohol will not be consumed while in uniform and violation of this will be grounds for dismissal.

4.1 Alpine and Senior Alpine Patrollers (formerly known as Basic and Senior):

Patrollers in these classifications are required to wear a red parka or vest with a white cross on the back and chest, a name tag, and solid black ski pants. Any shirt that is visible is required to be either red or black.

4.2 Patrollers (formerly known as Auxiliary Patrollers):

Patrollers in this classification are required to wear the same uniform as Alpine Patrollers while on duty in the First Aid Room and anywhere on the mountain.

4.3 Candidates:

Candidates must visibly wear the training bib or candidate vest, and a properly supplied first aid pack. Candidates will not wear garments that can be confused with patrol uniforms.

5. PATROLLER ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS:

As with any organization, there are "rules" that must be applied to maintain order and insure proper operations. This section covers those rules and all patrollers should read this section carefully and understand the contents. Patrollers must meet the requirements outlined in this section to maintain "good standing" status and to retain full Mountain Access Program privileges and/or membership with Sierra Ski Patrol. Patrollers who are not in good standing with the patrol at the end of the season will be informed of their status by the patrol director in writing prior to the start of the next ski season. The patroller will be informed as to why they are not in good standing and what they must do to return to a good standing status with the patrol.

5.1 Refresher requirements:

Every patroller must maintain current OEC requirements. This is accomplished by attending both days of the annual refresher at Sierra at Tahoe. This refresher is typically held on the second weekend of October and every effort will be made to accommodate year-to-year consistency. The first day is the NSP OEC refresher and the second day is the SAT on-the-hill (OTH) refresher. If a patroller cannot make the OEC refresher day he/she needs to attend another resort OEC refresher and bring a signed attendance and completion form to the OEC Instructor of Record for SSP. If the patroller cannot make the SAT OTH day he/she will need to accomplish the learning modules missed on their own. Each patroller will attend both days at Sierra at Tahoe a minimum of every other year. This is to accommodate our commitment to SAT. Unless an exception is made by the Board, a patroller who misses two consecutive years of either the OEC refresher day or the SAT OTH refresher day will be subject to the re-qualification of all requirements for patrolling with Sierra Ski Patrol at Sierra at Tahoe.

5.1.1 CPR for the Professional Rescuer:

All patrollers must hold a current, professional-rescuer-level CPR certification from one of the agencies approved by the NSP (see NSP Cycle Refresher workbooks for list of approved agencies). Regardless of the expiration date of the card, CPR skills must be demonstrated annually. Your card must be presented to the Training and Testing Director at the annual refresher. It is the patroller’s responsibility to ensure that they always maintain a current CPR certification.

5.1.2 Current NSP membership and OEC technician cards must also be presented at the annual refresher.

5.1.3 Chair Evacuation:

All patrollers are required to participate in chair evacuation checks. If you do not get checked off on chair evacuation, you will be placed on inactive patrol status until one is performed.

5.1.4 Sweep and Knots:

Sweep and knot checks will occur at the refresher on Sunday. Your trainer will review sweep procedures. Knot checks will typically occur on Sunday. All patrollers must know how to tie Square, Bowline, Figure Eight, Water, Fisherman knots, and Trucker and Clove hitches.

5.2 Ski and toboggan skills:

For Sierra at Tahoe Management liability purposes, each Alpine Patroller will be required to demonstrate adequate ski and toboggan skills during the first few days of the season. These sessions will be arranged between the SSP patrol director (or training director) and the Sierra Pro Patrol training director. Alpine Patrollers (Basic and Senior) must perform these checks. Patrollers (Auxiliary) do not check off on toboggan skills but are required to know toboggan theory, mechanics, maneuvers, and techniques. If your skills are not satisfactory, you will be recommended to participate in extra training days to obtain a check-off. Auxiliary patrollers will check off skiing skills at the Auxiliary level. Under no circumstances will an Auxiliary be checked off in the handles or tail rope of a toboggan.

5.3 Documents:

Every patroller will read and understand completely the current bylaws and each and every document that is a part of the guidelines identified in section 9 of this document. Ask a board member if there is something you do not understand in these documents.

5.4 Professionalism:

All patrollers must maintain professionalism and be ready to respond at all times during the ski day. Each patroller will be subject to doing other duties as assigned with the stipulation that a patroller can refuse to do a task that he/she is not comfortable doing or presents any risk to the patroller whatsoever. All patrollers will comply with uniform standards set forth by SAT, NSP, and/or Sierra Ski Patrol.

5.5 Required Patrol Days:

A minimum of 14 patrol and training days per season are required to maintain good standing. The OEC and OTH refreshers count as two training days. Late arrival and partial days do not count unless approved by special circumstances by the SSP patrol director.

6. PATROL MEETINGS:

Patrol meetings will be held after sweep on the second Saturday of each month from December through March. The patrol director may change this schedule and, on doing so, will notify all members of the patrol.

7. PROBATION:

A patroller will be placed on probation when they fail to meet any of the required patrol requirements, as outlined below, unless otherwise determined by the Patrol Director or upon review by the Board of Directors. Consideration will always be given for special circumstances and events.

7.1 Failure to Meet Patroller Days:

Active Patrollers who fail to meet the minimum required days will be automatically placed on probation the next year unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors due to extenuating circumstances. A patroller who makes less than 12 patrol days may be considered for possible dismissal and will be reviewed by the Board of Directors. Two consecutive ski seasons or three out of five seasons on probation is grounds for dismissal from the patrol unless otherwise determined by the Board. Probationary patrol status will be removed from a patroller once they have made up all missing days from the previous season and upon review by the Board. It will be the responsibility of the patroller to notify the Patrol Director in writing that they have made up the missing patrol days and have returned to good standing in order to receive their Mountain Access Program capabilities.

7.2 Failure to Meet On-the-Hill Requirements:

Upon review by the Board of Directors, failure to make a scheduled On-the-Hill refresher date will immediately place that patroller into inactive status (not allowing them to patrol on the hill) unless an alternative arrangement has been made with the Patrol Director and/or Assistant Patrol Director for Testing and Training. These OTH requirements include the preseason refresher, consisting of both Saturday and Sunday (OEC and OTH skills including knots, chair evacuation, etc.) and the skiing and toboggan skills assessment. To regain active status, a patroller must arrange a date to be checked-off for all the required skills through the Assistant Patrol Director for T&T. There is no guarantee that this can be performed, and if not, the patroller will stay on inactive status throughout the remainder of the ski season. All Mountain Access Programs will be revoked for the inactive period.

7.3 Mountain Access Program Impacts:

As determined by the Board of Directors, Patrollers on probation will not receive full Mountain Access Program priviledges (some or all of the Mountain Access Programs will be suspended at the discretion of the Board) until all missing days or skill sign offs from the prior season are made up. You will need to notify the Assistant Patrol Director Administration in writing after making up days in order to activate Mountain Access Programs.

8. PATROL ROOM USE:

The SSP Patrol Room is for the use of Sierra Ski Patrol members. Be sure the door is locked, lights are out and there are no electrical appliances left on when you leave the room. The patrol room shall store patroller equipment only! Absolutely no one else’s equipment shall be stored in the patrol room. Each patroller can store TWO pair of skis and poles in the patrol room. Slots will be assigned at the refresher. Candidates will be able to use the patrol room. A push button lock is now located on the patrol room door. The combination will be verbally relayed to all patrollers. The radios are also behind lock and key. The combination to the push button lock and the key to the radio cabinet should not be relinquished to any one who is not an active primary member. Do not prop the patrol room door open if the patrol room is unattended by a primary member. Failure to follow these patrol room rules may result in suspension of patrol room privileges as determined by the Board.

Family and friends may accompany a patroller into the patrol room if space permits. This is a privilege that should be minimized, and should not be exercised before setup nor when patrollers are coming in from sweep. Primary members shall not allow unaccompanied access to the patrol room of friends or family at any time. If guests in the patrol room are causing a disturbance or are in the way, they will be asked to leave.

The patrol room is a place to keep equipment, change clothes, put boots on/off, etc. It is not a place to hang out or eat -- do that at your bump station.

9. ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

The following documents are part of these guidelines

9.1 Associated documents: these documents are part of these guidelines.

9.1.1 Patroller guidelines (this document)

9.1.2 Current Mountain Access Program Guidelines as Approved by SAT Management

9.1.3 Hill Captain manual

9.1.4 Candidate manual

9.1.5 Team leader manual

9.1.6 Sierra Ski Patrol Radio Manual

9.1.7 Duty Statements

9.1.8 College program memorandum of understanding

9.1.9 NSP-NSAA Joint Statement of Understanding

9.1.10 References

9.1.10.1 USFS operating guidelines

9.1.10.2 Pro patrol patroller manual

10 Patroller Resources

10.1 Mailing Lists

We have a number of mailing lists for different patrol activities. Here are a few which may come in handy:

10.1.1 General Membership: sierra-patrol@googlegroups.com ----- List Archive at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/sierra-patrol

Use this mailing list to communicate with other patrollers. You can arrange carpooling, ask questions about patrolling or give people updates on things that you've learned or done as part of your patrol day at Sierra! Please refrain from using this mailing list for solicitation. If you have something for sale which people may be interested in such as ski related equipment feel free to let people know. However if you're selling something else for personal gain, this isn't the place to send it.

10.1.2 Sierra Board of Directors: sierra-patrol-board@googlegroups.com ----- List Archive at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/sierra-patrol-board

Use this mailing list to communicate with members of the Sierra Ski Patrol Board of Directors. These are the volunteers who run the Sierra Ski Patrol Program. If you have a question or concern about something, this is the place to send your inquiry. They'll point you at the right place to go to resolve your question.

10.1.3 Administration Requests: sierra-admin@googlegroups.com ----- List Archive at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/sierra-admin

This is the administration mailing list which currently is where responses from weekly automated email messages go. You should make requests directly to this mailing list instead of contacting people individually. If you don't get a resolution in a couple days, shoot a reminder message off, but keep in mind we're all volunteers and it may take a few days for us to get to what it is you're asking for. Hence it's best not to wait to the last minute for anything as we probably won't be able to accommodate needs on the spur of the moment!

10.2 Websites

10.2.1 National Ski Patrol Main Website - www.nsp.org

This is the National Ski Patrol main website. You will need to go here in order to pay your national dues each year. You can also go here to get some great Pro-Deals on equipment and gear!

10.2.2 Sierra Ski Patrol Website - www.sierra-nsp.org

This is the main landing site for the Sierra NSP Patrol program at Sierra. It contains useful links to how to join our programs and public information as well as links to the members only area.

1.2.3 Sierra NSP Host Ticketing Website - www.sierra-nsp.org/tix

This website is responsible for running the entire Sierra Ski Patrol Program! It has two functions. When you access it from home, it allows you to update your personal profile, schedule days, request tickets and look at a number of other statistics. When you access it from the computer in the patrol room, it provides an additional feature which is the ability to Sign In for the day, This is also how you get credit for patrolling!

11. Definitions

11.1 Primary members

A primary member is defined in the bylaws. A primary member is in “good standing” if he/she meets all requirements dictated by the bylaws and these guidelines.