Who We Are

Palisades National Ski Patrol is an organization of approximately 80 unpaid volunteers who are trained in Outdoor Emergency Care, CPR, and winter rescue. We combine our first aid and skiing skills to serve the ski area and public at Palisades Tahoe (Our location is in Olympic Valley and is a separate organization from Palisades Tahoe Alpine Meadows National Ski Patrol). While on duty, we patrol as agents of the resort and work under the direction of the Palisades Tahoe Ski Patrol Department. You can identify us by the red jackets with the white cross on the back. Together with the paid professional patrol staff, we are among the first ones on the mountain in the morning and we are the last ones off, regardless of weather or snow conditions.

In accordance with the Joint Statement of Understanding (JSOU) between the National Ski Patrol and the National Ski Areas Association, members of the Palisades National Ski Patrol act on behalf of Palisades Tahoe, and its parent company Alterra Mountain Company, in support of the Professional Ski Patrol of Palisades Tahoe. In this capacity, we are accountable for jobs assigned to our team daily by the Professional Ski Patrol, which include mountain set-up, take-down, emergency medical care, emergency medical transport, snow safety, and skier safety.

Our primary function is to work hand in hand with the professional ski patrol department to address the hill safety needs of the mountain and to provide basic life support, first aid, rescue, and on-the-slope transportation of injured resort guests.

We continually strive to improve our service to the skiing public as well as the ski patrol community. Our patrollers regularly train each other, as well as visitors from other ski patrols in the western U.S. An annual event is a three-day advanced ski and toboggan enhancement seminar offered to patrollers seeking to improve their skills.

Being a patroller at Palisades Tahoe is a calling and a commitment, one that can last a lifetime.

Patroller Requirements

• Maintain valid Outdoor Emergency Care Certification

• Maintain valid CPR (AHA BLS)

• Expert alpine skiing capability, comfortable on all Palisades Tahoe terrain, as judged by designated patrol members

• Completion of Avalanche Level I course within first three years on patrol