Mother Lode Region

Welcome to the site for the Mother Lode Region of the National Ski Patrol! We would love to see you join us!

Members

I am certain that most, if not all of you, have been updated on the incoming El Nino Winter! Further, with the first significant storms arriving as I update this document it seems as if an opening date for most of the MLR’s resorts is just around the corner if not posted already. Additionally, Refresher season is ripping right along and as we approach early November the last opportunities to refresh your skills are quickly dissipating. 

It is always an exciting time with the dropping temperatures, as we dust off and tune the skis, check out our vest or pack, meet new excited candidates fresh out of OEC, and gather with old friends who have become extended family to refresh and train ourselves up for the upcoming season.

Please be sure to do the following tasks to be ready for the season:

• Check out and stock your vest/pack!

• Complete your online OEC modules and attend a skills OEC refresher!

• Safety Check your gear!

• Pay your dues!

• Vote!!! Your Far West Board encourages you to do your due diligence and research the candidates. As a board we did some of our own and the following candidates are submitted to you for your consideration:

  • Tanner Franti

  • Grant Fullman

  • Carl Heine

  • Dave Hemindinger

  • Jeff Wille

Patrol Reps

Please, It is very important to update the (add new members, remove Inactive members, update Primary Initial Classifications) before "Notifying National", however please consider that our members appreciate the lead time before needing to pay their $106 NSP dues.  If not paid by December 31, 2027, a patroller no longer a member of the National Ski Patrol.  

MLR Calendar

As always, the MLR calendar is nearly full every weekend with training and certification opportunities! Please check it out!

I am especially pleased to announce that our region will be hosting a “complete” Avalanche Class with ALL three modules!  The Third Module will be at China Peak the weekend of March 5th, 6th, and 7th featuring in bounds tactics and strategies of group rescue. This important component is a requirement for Far West Senior Candidates! More details soon!

The MLR and ESR regions are also collaborating to host at a minimum of three one day ski and toboggan training sessions. The day includes ski instruction, instructor continuing ed., and toboggan enhancement. These one day informal sessions are really catching on as we enter our third year of offering them. Come join us! 

Finally, due to efforts of a few members of both the MLR and the ESR we are offering a fledgling NSP driven Certified program! These opportunities are still being developed as I write this, so stay tuned!

Check the calendar and emails frequently for updates about these and other opportunities to take a day or to collaborate and train with other patrollers on another mountain!

Closing Thoughts

I am currently entering my fifth season as your MLR Region Director and during that time I have gotten to meet many, many members of the MLR and the FW. We have challenged ourselves, myself included, by training on toboggans together pushing our skill sets both as instructors and as trainees with Alpine Candidates and Senior Candidates. I have attended OET/SEM clinics, and refreshers throughout the Region all the while meeting members of the NSP that have become important and vital members of my extended family.  I am looking forward to another season filled with training, evaluations, challenges, and fun filled adrenaline moments of accomplishments and successes. 

Remember, that no matter what the outcome of certain endeavors that you pursue in the NSP, successful or not, you always win, as does your patrol, because you pushed yourself farther and became in the process, a better patroller and undoubtedly a better person!  

See you all soon!

William J. Borelli

Mother Lode Region Director