Would You Like to Become a Ski and/or Bike Patroller With MHSP?
If you try out and we offer you an apprentice spot, you will be committing to completing the following training and certification program.
Application →Tryouts
By invitation after application submission.
| Discipline | Tryout Date |
|---|---|
| Alpine | February 27 at Skibowl |
| Bike | TBA |
| Nordic | By invitation after application submission |
Apprentice Training Program
By invitation only.
Outdoor Emergency Care Classroom Instruction
- September through January, every Tuesday
- Portland, 6:30–9:30 PM
*Special information for medical practitioners below
On-Hill Mountain Training Series
- Alpine: January–May, every Saturday or Sunday, 7 AM–5 PM
- Bike: June–September, every Saturday or Sunday, 7 AM–5 PM. All training completed on intermediate and advanced level terrain in all conditions.
- Nordic: January–April, Saturday or Sunday, 9 AM–4 PM (10 days total)
Requirements
All Mt. Hood Ski Patrol (MHSP) members receive specialized training to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests. Training requirements vary depending on whether you are a Ski or Bike Patroller, or a Nordic Patroller.
| Training | Who Completes It | Frequency | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) | All Patrollers | First year | 70-hour course covering first aid and on-hill emergency care |
| Annual OEC Refresher | All Patrollers | Annual | One-day refresher in September/October |
| CPR – BLS for Professional Rescuer | All Patrollers | Every 2 years | Must maintain current certification |
| Chair Lift Evacuation Practice | Alpine, Associate, & Bike Patrollers | Annual | One-day practical session (Sept–Nov) |
| Avalanche Awareness & Rescue | Alpine, Associate, Nordic | Awareness: Year 1; Avy 1: Year 2; Refresher: every 3 years | Avalanche safety and mountain travel training |
| Service Requirement | All Patrollers | Annual | Minimum 8 patrol days per year (10+ for area teams) |
Training Courses
At Mt. Hood, thorough training is critical to the safety of our patrollers and visitors alike.
Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC)
During your first year with MHSP, all patroller candidates must attend and successfully complete the National Ski Patrol Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) medical skills course. This college-level course is offered once per year by MHSP in the Portland area and is approximately 70 hours long (+ homework). The course usually meets one night per week plus 2-3 weekend days. Candidates must be a minimum of 18 years old on the date of graduation from the OEC course.
Annual OEC Refresher
After completing your first year, all patrollers will attend a one-day OEC refresher course, every year. This is usually offered in September and October, with several dates to choose from.
CPR
All patrollers complete the American Heart Association CPR course (BLS Professional Rescuer level) during their first year, and then complete the required refreshers every other year.
All patrollers must maintain a current BLS Professional Rescuer CPR certification.
Chair Lift Evacuation Practice
All alpine/hill, associate, and bike patrollers attend a chair lift evacuation practice, one day per year. This day-long session is held at one of the ski areas on Mt. Hood in September, October, or November.
Avalanche Rescue
All patroller candidates (with the exception of bikes-only patrollers) complete the basic “Avalanche Awareness” course during their first year.
All patrollers (with the exception of bikes-only patrollers) complete “Avy 1” during their second year, and then a refresher every third year following.
Service Requirement
Eight patrol days per year is the minimum to remain active as a patroller. Patrol days are in addition to the required training days. We maintain an online dispatch system so that you can schedule which days you patrol.
The expectation is that most active patrollers (other than those with schedule conflicts) will join an area patrol team, for which the annual service requirement will be 10 days or higher, depending on the level of benefits received.
Types of Service
At tryouts, all patroller candidates are given a snow-skills assessment. We look for stability, control, and the ability to confidently navigate off-piste.
Alpine/Hill Patroller
- For alpine/hill patroller candidates, our goal is to have them join with the skills needed to start toboggan training the following winter season.
- All alpine/hill patroller candidates complete one season of on-hill toboggan training, usually one day every weekend, except for major holidays, beginning in January and ending in March or April.
- Alpine patrollers are on duty all day (typically 7:30 am – 5:00 pm, but this varies by area and season), and will spend a portion of each day at a designated location where you can respond to an emergency (i.e., at the top of the hill). When off assignment, you ski anywhere in the area, have lunch, etc., but are always on call when needed.
Associate Patroller
Associate patrollers participate in the same snow-skills assessment as the alpine/hill patrollers, but are not assessed at the level required to enter the toboggan training program.
- Associates are specialists in first-responder skills, including on-hill response and first-aid-room skills. All associate patroller candidates complete one season of on-hill training, on the same calendar schedule as the alpine/hill patroller candidates.
- Associate patroller duty assignments are similar to the description of alpine patrollers, with the exception that when on assignment, associate patrollers are stationed in the first aid room.
Bike Patroller
To become a bike patroller, you must pass a mountain bike skills test. We look for stability and control. You must bike well enough so we do not have to teach you the basics, and you can get to any area of the mountain.
- All bike patrollers must complete one season of apprentice training, typically 8 on-mountain training days during weekends between June and September.
- Bike patrollers are on duty all day during operating hours, which vary throughout the summer season.
- Assignments include remaining at a designated location where you can respond to an emergency (i.e. at the top of the lift), in the first aid room, opening and clearing trails in the morning, and doing a final sweep when the area closes.
- In addition to the training requirements listed above (i.e., OEC class and refreshers, CPR, chairlift evacuation), bike patrollers are required to attend an annual refresher at one of the summer resorts with mountain biking.
- Once training is completed, bike patrollers are required to complete a minimum of 8 volunteer days in the summer. If the bike patroller is also a ski patroller, the minimum number of days as a bike patroller is 4.
Nordic Patroller
Nordic patrollers are required to have strong Nordic ski skills.
- Meet all OEC requirements annually.
- Complete avalanche and mountain travel and rescue training.
- Attend an annual On-The-Hill-Day, and patrol 10 days or more per year.
- Participate in a personal fitness program to safely perform extended backcountry rescue operations.
- For alpine and associate patrollers who wish to patrol with Nordic, all standards apply, except the patrol commitment is only 5 days per season.
Additional Information
Transfers
If you are currently an NSP Patroller (Alpine, Nordic, or Bike) and have recently moved to the Mt. Hood area, you may be eligible to transfer your membership to MHSP.
Membership Dues
Information about annual membership dues is available on the members page.
Special Information for Medical Practitioners
Q & A’s applicable to currently licensed Doctors, Nurses, PAs, NPs, and EMT/Paramedics
Mt. Hood Ski Patrol is a member of the National Ski Patrol (“NSP”). And, NSP requires that all patrollers hold a current Outdoor Emergency Care (“OEC”) card, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and first responders. There are no substitute credentials for the OEC card.
Ski patrolling is very different from working in a practice, clinic, or hospital. It is different from working in an emergency room or even an ambulance. Our first response is conducted in the wind and snow with little more than the supplies that can be carried in a small pack. Our patients are typically 20 minutes or more from shelter, and over an hour from a hospital.
Is there a shortcut or challenge to OEC for medical professionals?
The short answer is no. MHSP strongly recommends that everyone take the full OEC course. The course is important for becoming familiar with MHSP equipment, procedures, and protocols, and for bonding with your apprentice team.
If you are actively working in an Emergency Services field, you might be eligible to skip a few of the classes. But really, we would appreciate your attendance at all the classes, as it helps weaker students to practice with a strong partner.
What if I want to try to challenge?
NSP has very narrow guidelines for certain active emergency medical professionals to challenge the OEC course. If you are not actively practicing emergency medicine, you will not meet those requirements. If you qualify to challenge the course, there are very specific requirements. There is only one challenge attempt permitted. If you fail the challenge, there is no option but to take the full course. During the challenge process, you will be required to attend about 40% of the regular OEC evening classes and two field days, in order to become trained in OEC skills, procedures, protocols, and MHSP equipment.
All requests to challenge OEC are reviewed by the MHSP First Aid Chief. If you are actively employed in the Emergency Services field, you must apply for the challenge, and the determination of eligibility will be evaluated during the recruiting and tryout process. Please send your request for a challenge via the email link below, and note all applicable experience and current credentials on your MHSP application.