hug a patroller

**~mikey b** · 12-31-2012, 12:30 AM

in light of all the shit going on recently, I humbly request that to celebrate the new year and the wonderful winter you do the following

find the oldest/youngest, cutest/ugliest, stinkiest bestest ski patroller you can find and give them a big damn hug and say thanks for all the bullshit they deal with for you - we work our asses off - today I got bled on, puked at (and missed), yelled at (and hit), cried on and hugged - hugged by a little munchkin who lost his mommy for a few minutes and hugged by his mommy - this week I've seen a 19 year old rookie with 3 days of experience find someone stuck and lost who would have been in deep shit if the kid hadn't been paying attention - FKNA - I've also learned about 2 experienced patrollers who died doing their jobs - fuck - what do I say to the rookie?

they might try to whack you with their "borrowed" beater rental poles, but grab 'em and tell 'em you appreciate them

**Ted Shred** · 12-31-2012, 12:45 AM

Good lookin out, Mike!

Thanks for your service, even though I ski far away from there. Tough job, for sure.

**~mikey b** · 12-31-2012, 12:55 AM

and don't forget to tip your guide

thanks Ted - good to hear from you

**MakersTeleMark** · 12-31-2012, 02:17 AM

Don't fall down (out), don't fuck up, and don't forget to tip your ...

I called patrol 2x (thanks MontanaSkier) before 10 am on Christmas.

I don't have a fucking clue why you folks do it, but, a big thanks.

**Slaag Master** · 12-31-2012, 02:30 AM

great job!!!!!!!!!!!

**flatNshallow** · 12-31-2012, 06:52 AM

{{{{{{{{{ PATROL }}}}}}}}}

**MMP** · 12-31-2012, 07:24 AM

Thanks Patrol! I appreciate you fixing me up for the ride home when I broke my shoulder. Special thanks to Magic Mnt VT Patrol, but thanks to all.

**Sutter** · 12-31-2012, 07:41 AM

I want to give a shout out to Nathan at Kirkwood. A solid guy, lots of fun, and full of knowledge. I always dig riding the chair with that guy. Give it up to your local Patrollers!

13 · 12-31-2012, 09:39 AM

My mom is a rookie 'troller this year. Hugs for sure - vines to you guys.

Contemplating joining myself. We'll see.

**Crampedon** · 12-31-2012, 09:53 AM

I chatted up a patroler that was just chilling sitting with an avi dog and thanked him for being up. Below three people on snowboards ducked a rope taking a short-cut to a cat track. He rolled his eyes and said, gotta go and skiid away...

**whyturn** · 12-31-2012, 10:02 AM

This is timely for sure. Yesterday I was skiing some decent pow in socal and the trollers were opening the top for the first time. Thanked em and chatted up one old guy. Been volunteering for 20 years. Another guy with the avi dog was talking to my wife and nephew snowshoing around. For sure under rated crew and big props to SAR as well for their work and sacrifice.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 12-31-2012, 10:12 AM

Sometimes I hang out in the warming hut / patrol shack at the top of snowbowl to let the circulation back into my toes. I don't think they'd like it if I hugged them.

Sent from my DROID2

**DasBlunt** · 12-31-2012, 10:16 AM

beyond a hug, Patrol likes to hear "thanks" rather than complaints.

"thanks for all you do", is my go to.

**baron** · 12-31-2012, 10:16 AM

easy to say Thanks...you pass them all the time. I always thank the gate jockeys who help give us SAFE freshies. The traverse workers ,also deserve a knod of thanks!

**snoqpass** · 12-31-2012, 11:51 AM

5lbs of bacon

**axebiker** · 12-31-2012, 03:57 PM

I got to come out of retirement yesterday for about 20 minutes - the patroller thanked me! "Thanks for being such a good bystander!" Made me miss it...until my next run...

Thanks to all - new, old, and otherwise. Haulin' the fallen...thanks again!

**mnflyfish** · 12-31-2012, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by axebiker

I got to come out of retirement yesterday for about 20 minutes - the patroller thanked me! "Thanks for being such a good bystander!" Made me miss it...until my next run...

Thanks to all - new, old, and otherwise. Haulin' the fallen...thanks again!

Where were you?

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**My Pet Powder Goat** · 12-31-2012, 04:05 PM

Do what I do; Buy them a couple pitchers of beers at their local watering hole at the end of the day, you fucking cheap bastards

**SterlingSpikeDancer** · 12-31-2012, 04:14 PM

Thanks to all of you Patrol members out there. Keep up the GREAT work.

**axebiker** · 12-31-2012, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by mnflyfish

Where were you?

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WV. Kid off the trail into the trees. Did an initial assessment and waited with him for about 20-25 minutes while trying to get some "bystanders" to send the patrol. Finally got a ski instructor to get someone on the scene. Nice kid. Ankle - but it was COLD. All was well though.

**snoboy** · 12-31-2012, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by SterlingSpikeDancer

Thanks to all of you Patrol members out there. Keep up the GREAT work.

You know what? You're all welcome. The other thread about the fallen one had somebody wondering why we do it. I do it because I love it. Even the shitty days are alright in the big picture.

A little thanks in the lift line goes a long ways and does a lot to offset the crap we get from people who don't understand what we really do.

Damn it must be smokey in here, my eyes seem to be watering.

**Meadow Skipper** · 12-31-2012, 09:09 PM

This thread is pretty cool.

**~mikey b** · 12-31-2012, 09:17 PM

I'd hug you if I could right now Bob.

Happy New Year

oh, and don't forget the patroller motto

We're not happy until you're not happy....

**Meadow Skipper** · 12-31-2012, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by telemike

I'd hug you if I could right now Bob.

Happy New Year.

Back atcha, amigo. Pretty good day on the hill today. A foot of snow, pulled a lot of snow fences, a couple of good easy patients...now a nice dinner, and an early wake-up for some control work.

Hugs.