The Nordic/Backcountry Division Staff presents:

Backcountry Patroller School

This is a “human-powered” Patroller School designed to provide backcountry travelers who are NSP Patrollers with a backcountry skiing and rescue education experience.  Located in White Mountains overlooking New Hampshire’s iconic Mount Moosilauke.  We’ll be living on the mountain, so please gather your winter ski camping gear. We can outfit those who are lacking winter camping gear.

Participants must have full Alpine Touring gear or Telemark Skis including Skins, all snowboarders must be on “Split Boards!”

The event starts with a short Online Course which includes a Zoom meeting to prepare students for the two-day weekend field exercise.  Participants will have a chance to borrow gear, learn how to assemble ski camping supplies, and learn how to plan their nutritional needs for a long day of rescue work on the mountain.

Saturday at 8:00 AM, the team meets in the glade trailhead parking area (we will have coffee, bagels, and muffins).  We will review gear, recheck the logistical needs for the rescue exercise, load up, and skin about a mile and a half to mid-mountain to set up camp.  Saturday is a skiing and educational  day with the following topics introduced and practiced:

1. Skinning and uphill travel (in-depth) exploration throughout the morning on Saturday.
2. Skiing/riding in glades (mid February may have moguls, if NH snows are running late then the skiing may revolve around crud skiing, or if lucky, eastern powder).
3. Navigation by both electronic means and compass/map as a backup skill.
4. Rescue Toboggan Handling as a team with multiple practice runs.
5. Low Angle Rescue (LAR) rope work will be introduced at camp as the late afternoon sun dips below the mountain tops.
6. Improvised Toboggan construction will be taught.
7. We will serve a camp dinner.
8. The learning will continue with rescue knot practice.

We will have the safety of the Mid-Mountain Cabin for heated meals and boot warming/drying.  However, all participants will be winter tent camping at the bottom of the east aspect glades, where the black diamond trails end, for lapping.

On Sunday morning, we wake up to a camp breakfast to prepare for the day of activities. The team puts the skills learned into action.  We will split into groups based on each participant’s preferred interests.  We can ski, or lap with toboggans, choose to LAR over a cliff drop for those interested in more rope experience, etc. .

We will break camp around 1 pm, clean up, and ski/ride off the mountain.

If you are interested in Senior Training or the Nordic Masters program, please check the corresponding box on the registration form.  We will be able to tailor the groups to provide an emphasis on the Nordic-Backcountry direction students want to pursue.

The online learning portion will teach participants how Backcountry Ski Patrollers plan and prepare their food and water intake for a long day of activities.  Everyone will be responsible for their own lunches and snacks.  Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast will be provided.

Are you ready to put your Ski Patrolling skills to the test in a backcountry field exercise? Read about last year’s Backcountry Patroller School.

This event is limited to 14 attendees. Please use the WAITING LIST button if the event sells out.  Pike Glades has an outdoor recreation outfitter at the base, where students can augment their winter ski-camping gear.  They have winter-rated sleeping bags and tents available for free.  Reach out to Customer Service if you want to inquire about borrowing additional gear.

Registration closes at 5 PM on Thursday, February 19th.  All attendees will receive an invitation to an online course and must attend the “Event Preparation ZOOM MEETING” at 8 PM on Thursday, February 19, 2026.