Ski/Snowboard and bicycle patrolling at Willamette Pass is a lot of fun. It is also a lot of work. We are largely a volunteer patrol with some paid members who are also employees of the Willamette Pass Resort (WPR). We take a lot of pride in our performance and work hard to maintain the high standards expected of us by area management, the public, and most importantly, ourselves. We appreciate your interest in becoming a member of our Patrol and hope the following information will help you understand what we are looking for in our candidates.
The criteria for selection of candidates will include positive attitude, skills appropriate to the position applied for (skiing/boarding, auxiliary, or bicycle patroller), first aid experience, as well as the ability to complete the required training and carry out all required Patrol duties. Selection will be made on the basis of the written application, interviews, references, and, for candidates for the skiing/boarding patrol, skiing/boarding ability. The Patrol will work with WPR to select Paid Candidates. Bicycle Patrollers are expected to have excellent mountain biking skills.
A ski/board test is administered at the Pass, normally near the end of February or the first of March. In 2008, the two test dates will be Saturday, March 1 and Saturday, March 22. An interested skier/boarder need come only to one or the other of these dates. An application to test must be requested from our recruiter before the date of the test. Some years there is a need for weekday patrollers, and it is possible to test and train in early winter.
A cycling test will be given at a date to be announced, but prior to the start of Outdoor Emergency Care training outlined below. Watch this website or contact our Summer Coordinator, Norm Coyer (541-782-3991 normcoyer@yahoo.com).
When auxiliary patrollers are needed, applicants who already have advanced medical training (paramedics, physicians, and nurses with emergency room experience), can apply until October 1 for the year in which their patrolling will begin. Others wishing to join the auxiliary patrol should apply at the same time as those wishing to become skiing patrollers-end of February. Contact our recruiter for more information and an application. Contact information is at the end of this document.
Bicycle Patrollers will have one or more days of on-hill training after completion of their OEC class and when the gondola at the Pass is in operation.
Candidate expenses in the first year will include a one-time fee of approximately $125 to $150 to cover OEC books, Ski Patroller's Manual and OEC registration fees. In addition, all patrollers must pay annual National/Division/Regional dues, currently $63.00. New patrollers will be expected to provide their own personal equipment including first aid pack, with supplies, and navy blue or black pants for sking/boarding patrollers. Uniform coats for skiing/boarding patrollers or vests for Auxiliaries are provided on a cost sharing basis (currently a $50 charge for patrollers) upon completion of training. All Nordic candidates are expected to provide their own search and rescue overnight pack. All patrollers are required to have personal medical insurance.
Upon successful completion of required training and a satisfactory demonstration of competency in patroller skills, new volunteer skiing/boarding patrollers will be assigned to a duty patrol and will be required to be on duty a minimum of every third weekend day during the ski season. The Patrol is also expanding its services to cover some summer activities at the Pass, and patrollers will have the opportunity to help out then as well. Auxiliary Patrollers will be assigned duty days which may include weekdays. This works out to approximately three days per month. Duty days start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until released by the Hill Chief at the end of the day, usually about 5:00 p.m. All patrollers are required to remain on duty in the event of a search and rescue mission unless excused by the Hill Chief. Paid Patrollers are scheduled work days by WPR. All candidates and patrollers are expected to attend in-town patrol meetings during the season and to participate in other off-hill activities and other Patrol administrative functions. A minimum of 10 hours service is required at the annual Ski Swap which is our fund raising event. The Swap is usually the last weekend of October or the first of November. Not withstanding the personal demands and initial costs, patrolling at Willamette Pass is fun and rewarding. We will do our best to see that your experience with the Patrol is both.