The Red Coats are Coming

I mentioned earlier I was changing it up this year at Vail. I hung up my full time market research blue uniform for a volunteer one day a week "red coat" as we are nicknamed--officially a National Ski Patrol Mountain Ski host.

The change up was for several reasons. First, I skied too many days last year working full time on skis doing guest surveys on the lift and then coming back to "play" on the challenging terrain I wanted to free ski on on my days off. With over 130 days on skis and nearly 2 million vertical feet my knees needed a change from quantity to some quality ski days. At one point last January I was 47 straight days on skis, fun yes,  but not realistic for 56 year old knees that have seen many a mile, running, hiking, climbing, cycling and an ACL rebuild. Second, I met a great group of people to play with, that being Vail Club 50. and working full time was cramping my fun.  Third, I decided I didn't need full time work to make ends meet and I'm doing a little subbing for Eagle County schools that earns a much better hourly rate than working for Vail. Subbing gives me the luxury of picking and choosing my work days when the skiing isn't as good.  Last year I got to know many of the ski host crew including the leaders and decided it would be a great group to get involved with and many are snow loving retirees from around the country. It gets me my ski pass, locker, food discounts, camaraderie and an enjoyable way to be of service Vail and its guests.


Mountain host locker room.

When we report to the locker room in the morning we pick up a lanyard with a laminated card showing the day's assignments and a radio and get geared up. My uniform has more pockets than I can count and is organized with special location map we use, cue/route cards in case I'm leading a tour, trail maps for guests, some basic medical supplies (bandages, gauze, gloves), ice scraper for bottoms of ski boots, a pocket knife, pens, hot cocoa cards, and a booklet of vouchers I can use to help solve guest frustrations and my own personal supply of handwarmers, sunscreen, lip balm, phone, radio, ski pass and wallet.


Those tubes are boot dryers. When we get done we stick a pair in our boots.
They come on in the morning on a timer so when we get in our boots
are dry and comfy. Because ski boots are hard plastic shells in the
cold with our warm feet there is a lot of condensation that occurs
daily.

My day is Monday and after coffee, conversation and an 8:00 a.m. briefing at a base restaurant about a dozen of us on a given day fan out across the 3 bases that span 7 miles, 31 lifts and over 5200 acres of slopes on National Forest land. I might be at a base for a 45 minute segment greeting guests, answering questions and handing out grooming reports. When I have time to ski, my card gives a specific area of the mountain and several lifts to ride. I ski easier runs and slower than I'd usually ski, patrolling for guests who I might be able to offer assistance too. Then I'll have a 45 minute assignment in front of  large trail map sign at a key area where I'll help guests figure out routes suitable for where they want to head and their skiing ability. Some days I'm assigned to give a couple hour mountain tour. I had a fun Australian family with two energetic little girls that went with me on a tour last week. I've enjoyed the training materials that have familiarized me with the unique history of the mountain and its trails.


Another ski rack room. There are a lot of ski instructor lockers
in this basement.

Besides CPR/first aid we are also trained in radio protocol. Everyone on the mountain monitors the same ski patrol channel. That's an interesting part of the job and thank god the radios are clear enough for my hearing issues. I was nervous about that coming in. The upside is I get to hear all day what is going on all over the mountain--injuries, lift issues, terrain openings, lost kids, etc. The challenge is when I make a radio call, because EVERYONE-- is listening sooooooooo if I screw up the protocol or my location likely someone will give me a hard time but hopefully in a good natured manner. Last year it was easier, I wasn't on a radio I just called ski patrol on my cell phone so it was just me and a patrol dispatcher without everyone listening in.  The second challenging part of the job is knowing pretty precisely where I am on a 5289 acre mountain when I'm skiing in case I encounter a guest who needs a call to ski patrol. Last year I simply zipped around skiing from lift to lift to get my surveys conducted on the ride up. Now I have to think more about what the name of the run or cat track I'm on while or what the number of an old emergency locator phone is I might be near. We don't use those old phones any more because of cell phones and radios but the 4 digit numbering system is part  of knowing location.  The end of the day often involves coaching a tired beginner safely back to the base.

I guess it fits that I share my April 18th birthday with the anniversary of Paul Revere's famous "the red coats are coming" cry across the New England or maybe it is just time to be the "lady in red."