Nordic Workshop
August 8, 11:AM - 12:55PM
Course Description:
Nordic/Backcountry Skills, Needs
Where are patrols on needing training/ Trainers? What ideas are there for recruiting and keeping patrollers? Where is the next Nordic Senior and what support is needed? How are the 50 skills working out? Are patrols running refreshers on the 50 skills? What would you like to see in the new Nordic Manual? What is the Nordic Master's program and is there interest in it? Do we want a Nordic Clinic in 2020-21 and where? What focus/ skills? Who is willing to assist with the program? My aim is to replace myself in a year or two. Open Forum.
Instructor:
Eric Geisler
I am just in my 54th season as a ski patroller. I started in Banff and Lake Louse under the tutelage of a member of the 10th Mountain Division before moving on to Missoula Snowbowl in 1972 and met more of the 10th Mountain folks. After college I returned to Canada to Fernie, Castle Mountain and Kimberly where I was heavily involved in the Avalanche program. I first came to the PNW division in the fall of 1975 where I joined the Cascade Backcountry and Crystal Mountain Patrols. In 1977, I joined Anthony Lakes and 1979 Spout Springs and helped develop Nordic patrol programs in both areas. In 1982, I became Nordic Advisor and helped initiate several other Nordic patrols and helped draft the new Nordic Patrol Manual in 1984. In 1982, we initiated the Nordic Senior program in the Southern Idaho Region. I served as Spout Springs Patrol Director in 1984-85. In 1986 I went east to Minnesota where I worked with Viking Nordic, Western Region Nordic and the American Birkebeiner Patrols. In 1987, 1988 and 2009 I worked with the trials for the Nordic patrol for the Olympics and was chosen to serve at the1988 Olympics in Canmore Alberta. In 1992, I returned to the PNW and back to Anthony Lakes and Spout Springs. I served as Division Nordic Advisor again from 1996 to 2004 before taking on the Division Avalanche Program until 2010. From 1999 to 2005 I was with 49 Degrees North where I helped initiate their Nordic Patrol. From 2008 to 2010 I joined the Payette Lakes patrol and helped start 705 Backcountry Patrol. 2010 brought me to Anchorage Nordic Patrol and Alyeska and for the first time in many years I was not leading any programs outside of my own patrol. In 2017 we were able to expand the Avalanche classes to a regional program, since I had helped mentor several new instructors in the previous years. In 2020, I took on the challenge of becoming a Nordic Master's patroller and am awaiting the final steps to complete it. I have continued to patrol at the American Birkebeiner and will be encouraging others to join in this super event with 10,000 racers over a 50 km course. As I retire from BLM Alaska in the forestry, soils and fire programs, I am returning to the PNW with the Payette Lakes patrol and 705 Backcountry Patrols this summer. I am happy to be asked to take on the position of Program Supervisor, but it is your program so I need you to tell me what direction we are going.
Course Description:
Nordic/Backcountry Skills, Needs
Where are patrols on needing training/ Trainers? What ideas are there for recruiting and keeping patrollers? Where is the next Nordic Senior and what support is needed? How are the 50 skills working out? Are patrols running refreshers on the 50 skills? What would you like to see in the new Nordic Manual? What is the Nordic Master's program and is there interest in it? Do we want a Nordic Clinic in 2020-21 and where? What focus/ skills? Who is willing to assist with the program? My aim is to replace myself in a year or two. Open Forum.
Instructor:
Eric Geisler
I am just in my 54th season as a ski patroller. I started in Banff and Lake Louse under the tutelage of a member of the 10th Mountain Division before moving on to Missoula Snowbowl in 1972 and met more of the 10th Mountain folks. After college I returned to Canada to Fernie, Castle Mountain and Kimberly where I was heavily involved in the Avalanche program. I first came to the PNW division in the fall of 1975 where I joined the Cascade Backcountry and Crystal Mountain Patrols. In 1977, I joined Anthony Lakes and 1979 Spout Springs and helped develop Nordic patrol programs in both areas. In 1982, I became Nordic Advisor and helped initiate several other Nordic patrols and helped draft the new Nordic Patrol Manual in 1984. In 1982, we initiated the Nordic Senior program in the Southern Idaho Region. I served as Spout Springs Patrol Director in 1984-85. In 1986 I went east to Minnesota where I worked with Viking Nordic, Western Region Nordic and the American Birkebeiner Patrols. In 1987, 1988 and 2009 I worked with the trials for the Nordic patrol for the Olympics and was chosen to serve at the1988 Olympics in Canmore Alberta. In 1992, I returned to the PNW and back to Anthony Lakes and Spout Springs. I served as Division Nordic Advisor again from 1996 to 2004 before taking on the Division Avalanche Program until 2010. From 1999 to 2005 I was with 49 Degrees North where I helped initiate their Nordic Patrol. From 2008 to 2010 I joined the Payette Lakes patrol and helped start 705 Backcountry Patrol. 2010 brought me to Anchorage Nordic Patrol and Alyeska and for the first time in many years I was not leading any programs outside of my own patrol. In 2017 we were able to expand the Avalanche classes to a regional program, since I had helped mentor several new instructors in the previous years. In 2020, I took on the challenge of becoming a Nordic Master's patroller and am awaiting the final steps to complete it. I have continued to patrol at the American Birkebeiner and will be encouraging others to join in this super event with 10,000 racers over a 50 km course. As I retire from BLM Alaska in the forestry, soils and fire programs, I am returning to the PNW with the Payette Lakes patrol and 705 Backcountry Patrols this summer. I am happy to be asked to take on the position of Program Supervisor, but it is your program so I need you to tell me what direction we are going.