Joining The Mt. Hood Ski Patrol
Recruitment Schedule | Training Overview | Associate or Hill? | Frequently Asked Questions | Become a Mountain Host | Request Information
Meet People Like Yourself
Are you looking for a meaningful way to be involved with The Mountain, with rescue operations and with other people like yourself?
Become a volunteer with Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, and join others who love to ski, enjoy the outdoors, and achieve a sense of fulfillment by helping others.
Founded in 1937, the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol is the nation's oldest volunteer ski patrol. We provide first aid and rescue at Timberline, Summit, Mt. Hood Skibowl, Mt. Hood Meadows and the backcountry of Mt. Hood.
Four Ways to be Involved
There are places for people of all abilities--from non-skier to expert--Snowboarders, Alpine, Telemark or Nordic.
Hill Patrollers volunteer at designated ski areas providing on-hill first aid and sled transportation. Hill Patrollers must be advanced skiers or snowboarders, physically fit, and comfortable in all alpine terrain and conditions.
Associate Patrollers volunteer at designated ski areas providing on-hill first aid and continuing care in the first aid room. Associate Patrollers do not ski the rescue sleds. There are no skiing proficiency requirements to become an Associate Patroller.
Nordic Patrollers serve outside the established ski areas, providing on-hill first aid and evacuation for injured backcountry skiers. Nordic Patrollers must be physically fit, advanced Nordic skiers who are comfortable in difficult terrain and conditions.
Mountain Hosts provide assistance and support to the ski area as well as the MHSP. Skiing and riding abilities should be at an intermediate level plus. Hosts currently help out at Timberline and Mt. Hood Skibowl.
What You Get
As a member of Mt. Hood Ski Patrol you will:
Be part of an historic service organization and a community of over 200 like-minded individuals.
Acquire the skills and knowledge to respond to all manner of emergencies.
Develop the confidence that comes with knowing what to do in a crisis.
Make friends who love the outdoors and who are happy to ski in all kinds of weather.
Have fun while serving others.
What Our Patrollers Have to Say
The best way to gauge what it's like to be a ski patroller is to hear what our members have to say:
"I joined MHSP because I had stopped skiing and I was looking for a reason to make myself go to the mountain. Twenty years later I keep coming back because my best friends are fellow patrollers." -- Mac, joined 1984
Patrolling gives me a new set of skills to learn and challenges to meet. Every day is fresh regardless of how many days I've been to Mt Hood. This is the most important thing I've ever done. -- John, joined 2001
"I joined because I wanted to give back to the mountain. After twenty years I am still here because the work we do and the people I know give back even more to me." -- Lisa, joined 1984
How to Join
Getting involved as a patroller is easy.
- Register for our mailing list by completing the form on the Contact Us page. This will keep you informed of the next Info Night or Tryout. Do not send us your application, just bring it to tryouts.
- Come to Tryouts (pre-registration is required). There you will complete a membership application and participate in a personal interview. If you're applying for the position of either Hill Patroller or Nordic Patroller, you'll also need to pass a ski test.
No prior ski patrol or medical training is needed, MHSP will provide or arrange all the training you need.
Successful candidates will be enrolled in a one-year apprenticeship program. See the Recruitment Schedule to find out when apprentice groups are starting this season.
Need More Information?
Contact us on the web, by email, or at 866-828-9205.