46 inches of snow + thousands of acres of trails and back country terrain + the best winter job i could imagine = Livin the dream!
what can I say, life is grand! i have been here at Crystal Mountain for a little over two weeks and the snow has not stopped! my job is amazing! i begin every morning around 6:15 with my alarm and a BIG cup of black coffee! my housemates and i ( 8 awesome guys) make breakfast, pack up lunches and layer on the warm layers. we are out the door by 7:15 to head up the road about 3/4 of a mile to the ski patrol base/office. we boot up, have out morning meeting by 8 and are on the mountain by 8:20 ready to open. we each take a run and set up all the needed signage and rope-lines that were taken down for the nightly grooming on some runs., the rest of the day is spent on other projects, guest relations and talking with our guests and letting them know whats going on around the mountain as far as whats open and closed and our plans,helping guesta with injury and accidens , and did i mention skiing powder almost every day! i have a tough life!
my technical skiing ability has sky rocketed already! the terrain here is steep and beautiful! imaging skiing the steepest terrain you could imagine, with 50 lbs of bamboo and a 15 lb spool of rope on your back to mark off closed areas! haha as had work as it is most days, its a good hard! Its all worth it for those 6 perfect powder turns you may get at the end of the day!
I work with some great people, all with exciting stories and adventures and not to mention all the experience is many different areas.
although I am one of the youngest patrols this season, i do not feel out of my league. I learn something new every day about the mountain and patrolling as well as skiing, snow science and avalanche awareness and explosives!
Yes i said explosives~! on morning when we received new snow on top of our week base, we go out at 6am n the dark and get ready for first light to throw bombs to set off avalanches or slides to prevent them from happening while guests are on the mountain. and yes we are safe, I went though beacon and search training before the season started, and continuously practice these skills.
I have Sunday and Mondays off. most time i sleep in, ski for a few hours and then relax! what a wonderful life. my house is good. i have my own room, obviously in a house full of guys, as well as my own bathroom. we all get along great, and live well together. being the only woman in the house, i organized a family dinner night, monday nights, netflix for the house and a secret santa / winter fest gift giving extravaganza!!! (to be PC).
