dpsp

The Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol began as a backcountry education, emergency care, and rescue organization in the 1990-1991 season. The winter-use area (Cameron Pass) served by the patrol is located 65 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado on State Highway 14. Characteristics of the winter use area demanded a unique patrol not defined by the National Ski Patrol.

Two distinct types of ski patrols were recognized by the NSP:

1. Ski areas that were served by lifts (Alpine), characterized by patrollers using downhill skis, Cascade toboggans with first-aid gear, and strict schedules.

2. A ski area with maintained terrains normally not served by lifts were called Nordic and served by patrollers on light touring or skate skis.

The area served by the Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol had characteristics that fit neither the typical Alpine nor Nordic definition described by the NSP:

1. No lifts, but a vertical elevation comparable to many Alpine ski areas
2. Over 100 miles of trails not maintained on a regular basis
3. No phone and marginal emergency radio communications
4. Over one-hour drive to nearest medical facility
5. Public use numbers comparable to a small Alpine area
6. Several high-use areas with extreme avalanche danger
7. No commercial ski facilities

In order to meet the demands of these unique characteristics, patrollers had to adapt and design their own equipment, techniques, and rescue procedures including:

1. Use of Norpine equipment (Alpine type skis, heavy boots, adjustable poles.)
2. Requirement to carry full packs with emergency gear
3. Develop unique training such as building an emergency toboggan using victim's skis, back country search techniques and avalanche rescue procedures
4. Snow survey and avalanche hazard understanding
5. Coordination with local ambulance service and county search and rescue group
6. Utilizing car as rescue cache for oxygen pack and other supplies
7. Developing skills in education to teach classes in avalanche and mountain safety

Negotiations with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to establish a new patrol were started in the spring of 1990 by Ron Splittgerber following an announcement that the National Park Service was closing another regional ski area at Hidden Valley in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Many former members of the patrol at Hidden Valley dual-registered with the Lake Eldora patrol, and the newly formed Diamond Peaks Patrol. Most of the first aid and rescue equipment owned by the Hidden Valley patrol was designed for Alpine ski areas, and as a result was donated to the Lake Eldora and Medicine Bow patrols. This left the new patrol with no equipment, and several aging radios that were not compatible with the radio service. Splittgerber negotiated an agreement with the USFS covering liability and Workman's Compensation as well as use of government radios and agreed on the trails to be patrolled in the Cameron Pass area for the patrol. This agreement served as the basis for several other new patrol negotiations with the USFS in the Rocky Mountain Division of the NSP.

During the first two seasons, the patrol served as a volunteer organization under the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Forest Service. During the 1992-93 season, the Forest Service created a position of the Volunteer Coordinator. The patrol then coordinated its activities with this person, an arrangement that continues. During the 2000-2001 season, the patrol was awarded a generous grant from Jeff Lebesch (co-owner of the New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, CO.) This donation has immeasurably increased our training and rescue abilities by allowing us to purchase a laptop computer and digital projector for presentations, as well as numerous snow and rescue tools.

Through the first decade of its existence, the patrol has provided public education in avalanche hazards and mountain travel to well over 600 members of the public, sold (at wholesale) over 150 avalanche transceivers, and assisted on several search and rescue missions. As part of the regular duty cycle, the patrol maintains a snow station at the Zimmerman Lake Trailhead, which is used by local skiers as a reference point, as well as the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) for current snow conditions in the northern mountains.

The current roster is built on 25 dedicated patrollers/instructors, plus another 100+ parties who maintain interest and support. Over the two seasons alone, we provided first aid training for 15 new patrollers (all of which are are active patrollers at our, or other ski areas) and 200 people in the field of avalanche awareness (the majority of which had no prior education). The on-trail contributions of the patrol member are immeasurable (ranging from first aid services to mechanical repair to avalanche hazard evaluation to search/rescue).

Our philosophy is completely based upon doing whatever it takes to build an educated and safe population of snow enthusiasts.