Volunteer Nordic Patrol members participating in a toboggan rescue drill from Mazama Ridge.
NPS Photo
The Mount Rainier Nordic Patrol collaborates with the park staff to provide information to visitors, maintain winter trails, and assist ranger personnel with Emergency and Search and Rescue incidents.
Nordic Patrol Duties
Our volunteer nordic patrollers serve the areas of Paradise, Tatoosh Range, and Westside Road during the winter months at Mount Rainier.
The patroller is expected to project a friendly and professional image while performing a variety of functions, such as:
Contacting visitors and providing them park, weather, and safety information.
Marking and maintaining winter ski/snowshoe trails.
Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR).
Assisting park personnel in emergency and search and rescue incidents.
Maintaining and training with SAR equipment.
Volunteer Commitment
Nordic Patrollers are required to be members of Mount Rainier's National Ski Patrol Unit #P061.
All patrollers must work at least four days/year and attend one additional day of training.
All patrollers will be required have current first aid and CPR training. We also require patrollers to have completed an AIARE I or equivalent avalanche training.
Interested in joining us?
The patrol typically recruits in August, with new members joining by the start of October. If you are interested in joining, visit the Mount Rainier Nordic Patrol website for more details. Feel free to leave your details there if you would like to be contacted directly during the next recruitment season!
Seasonal training comprises a few online meetings on Wednesdays in October, with in-person training in mid-November.
Any additional questions can be sent to the following email address: Email: nordicpatroldirector@gmail.com
Learn more...
For more information about Mount Rainier Nordic Patrol please visit their website.
