Patroller Chats
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, we’re preserving our legacy and building lasting connections for the future. Join us on Patroller Chats!
Episodes
14 episodes
Water, Snow, and Fire: The Elements of Kathy’s Journey-Part 1
Kathy's professional path exemplifies how ski patrol skills translate across emergency services. After transitioning from volunteer to paid patrol, she became Mount Bachelor's Safety Administrator (Risk Manager), then joined Bend Fire as a para...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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26:01
Memories as a pioneering ski patroller and nurse:(Part 2:2) Cinnamon Rolls and Yellow Merit Stars, A Patroller's Tale
Carol Fountain takes us on a nostalgic journey through her remarkable career with the Bogus Basin Ski Patrol, revealing how morning meetings became history lessons and cinnamon rolls turned into coveted prizes. Her leadership philosophy centere...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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42:55
Memories as a pioneering ski patroller and nurse:(Part 1:2) When we had no radios and so much more
Carol Fountain shares her 50-year journey with the National Ski Patrol at Bogus Basin, Idaho, providing a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of mountain rescue from the 1970s to today. Her perspective as both a nurse and longtime patroller ...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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33:26
From Bottle Caps to Rescues: The Evolution of Mount Hood Ski Patrol (Part 2 of 2) -(Click link in description for pictures)
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 betwe...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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41:26
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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)
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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43:54
Avalanche Rescues, Red Jackets and Patrol Evolution. Continuing the "Chat" with Gary Burke & Shirley Cummings!
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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57:07
The snow never stopped falling on volunteers...(Part 2:2) Steve, Gary & Shirley on Tobogganing Tales and Transformative Change in NSP
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 h...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:10:22
The snow never stopped falling on a volunteer patroller's four-decade adventure. (Part 1:2)
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:06:49
What Happens When Service Becomes A Way Of Life?
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 patro...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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50:52
From Wilderness Emergency Care to Modern Aid Rooms: One Patroller's Evolution
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 pa...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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40:10
From 1960 to Today: Six Decades on the Slopes
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 f...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:07:17
Nursing the Slopes: A Colonel's Journey Through Ski Patrol, an Amazing Ride!
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 countles...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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50:00
Bonus: Volunteers Created America's First Adaptive Ski Program (S2-Skiers2) at Hyak. S1:Bonus...
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 wa...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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7:39
The Cummings have served skiers at Hyak since 1965, witnessing decades of mountain evolution!
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 fascinatin...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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42:37
