The Old Forge Ski Patrol at McCauley Mountain was awarded the 2010-2011 Outstanding Small Mountain Patrol of the Eastern Division by the National Ski Patrol. Brian Bamberger, who has been a member of the local ski patrol for 27 years, said the Eastern Division is comprised of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York state.
There are 7,500 to 8,000 patrollers in the Eastern Division according to Bamberger, who added that the McCauley Ski Patrol went on to take second place in the small mountain patrol National Division. “Our patrol is up to 28 people—all volunteers,” he said.In related news, McCauley Mountain played host to 25 Ski Patroller Trainer Evaluators over Winter Carnival Weekend, February 4 and 5, who were involved in a Ski and Toboggan Training Clinic, a requirement for their recertification. A dozen Eastern Division staff members conducted the training clinic.
McCauley Mountain was chosen for the training sessions because of its interesting terrain, Bamberger said.
“They actually had someone from Maine come here to look over the terrain to make sure it’s challenging enough so that the testing is equal for everybody— and it certainly was. McCauley Mountain Manager Steve Uzdavinis and his crew did a great job, for the amount of snow we had to work with,” he said.