In 1938 Mt. Spokane had a single rope tow on the west face. The Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol was organized and began providing their services to area skiers during the 1938-39 season. In the seven decades that have passed the Patrol has covered Mt. Spokane with an all-volunteer system. The ski area has evolved, grown and expanded around the mountain to 5 chair lifts and the addition of night skiing. The first aid room, starting in a corner of Cook's small log cabin, has moved from site to site until the completion of our present Ski Patrol Building.
One of the many stories Ken had related about the first days of this patrol took place on a November evening in 1951. Three B-29 bombers were flying in formation over Mt. Spokane. One plane was about 50 feet too low and crashed into the Bald Knob area. Just a few minutes earlier John Linder had passed through with his snowplow. Ken and Al Carlsen were first at the scene, finding two men alive in the tail section. They also carried out the body of the co-pilot. There is a ski run in this area still named the B-29. Ironically, in 1967 another Fairchild KC 135 returning from Hawaii crashed near the same area. The ski patrol was again involved in the search and rescue, but no one survived the crash.
Starting in 1951 the Spokesman Review sponsored a Ski School program, sending numerous buses up to the mountain with as many as 1200 young people in one day. This many kids, without their parents offered a real challenge to the ski instructors and the on duty patrollers. The auxiliary patrollers were challenged with sometimes as many as 10 to 15 new young skiers in the first aid station at one time. Trying to locate their parents in town and find transportation down the mountain, could be an all day job. The four auxiliaries at this time have now expanded to 18.
Since 1965, the Patrol has purchased all of their equipment and first aid supplies with the funds raised from the annual fall Ski Swap. The original idea started with Al Provost who had just transferred from Colorado. Jack and Edna Fruit and Marlen Guell spearheaded the beginning of this project. Bruce Robertson joined the crew the following year and served as Swap director for many years - he is still very much involved. The Swap is now an awaited fall event for many skiers and snowboarders who sell their outgrown or used equipment and purchase new. The site has moved many times, outgrowing the space every few years. The present location utilizes three large buildings at the Fair Grounds. A large group of Patrollers spend countless hours with the organization and planning of this event. The number of items registered for sale this past season was over 19,000. This past season over 240 patrollers, alumni, family, and friends volunteered over 3100 hours for this three-day event.
In 1970 Lee Bratcher, Patrol Director, started printing a seasonal monthly news bulletin, named Toboggan Tracks. The name originated from a contest, which was won by Vance Rauer. With the increasing membership, this publication was a most useful tool in the organization and implementation of the duty roster, scheduling, training and testing and arranging special functions. Toboggan Tracks has continued over the next 32 years, growing, improving and, will soon be sent via e-mail.
In 1976 two runs had lights in place and night patrolling started. This necessitated a rapid recruitment and training program. From this date to 1989 the Patrol cover the area 7 days and 7 nights. After 1989 the mountain was closed on Monday and Tuesdays.
The lack of snow in 1981 prompted our first and only Snow Vigil. The Patrollers pledged to man the top of the mountain until there was enough snow to ski down. The abandon living quarters in the KXLY tower station proved more comfortable that the stone open vista house. One patroller would climb to the top, packing skies and supplies (the lifts were not running) and stay 24 to 48 hours until they were relieved by another patroller. Twice a day a local radio station would call for a fun weather report. This memory is most vivid, since my two Irish setters and I spent a beautiful weekend all alone with a 360-panorama winter view. This continued for a couple weeks - the last person skied down. Elaine Cairns earned that honor.
In 1985 Lu and Elaine Cairns started the wheels turning to implement a Young Patroller program. It has been an active program since then and is now under the direction of Kathy Tribby-Moore. Starting at this same time, Elaine Cairns, Patrol Director, also started working on forming a Nordic Patrol.
In 1987 the Nordic Patrol was in place to cover the nearby Mt. Spokane State Park cross-country ski area located a couple miles from our building. This area encompasses approximately 18 miles of maintained trails. The Patrol has supplied toboggans, first-aid equipment, radios and a snowmobile to cover this area. At present there are 11 Nordic patrollers covering weekends and holidays.
The patrol has also been actively involved in volunteering at many events away from the alpine ski slopes. In August of 1979 the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol along with the Bloomsday Road Runners Club sponsored the first annual Mt. Spokane Mile-High Classic, a 10-mile loop run near the top of the mountain. In April 1981 Tim Viall, Patrol Director, spearheaded The Mountain Man Marathon with 234 participants. This 36-mile April event started at the top of Mt Spokane on skies, 16 miles on a bike and a run the last 7.5 miles to River Park in downtown Spokane. For the past 23 years the Patrol has helped with the Langlauf cross-country ski race. For the past 6 years the patrol has participated in the Wild Moose Cup - a World Cup qualifier for Nordic racing. Another more recent event was Climb the Mountain, sponsored by the American Heart Association. Also, there have been two NORBA mountain bike qualifying races - the Jeep Nationals and the Selkirk Challenge.
After 25 years of saving and planning, the tremendous task of finally building our very own Ski Patrol facility started in 1992 after two years of meetings and paper work. The Chairman and structural engineer was Craig Lee, an active patroller. The architect was a patrol alumnus, Glenn Cloninger. Proceeds from the Ski Swap and donations from many local businesses financed this three level, 5,800 square foot facility. The area manager gifted season passes to many of these donors. With well over 10,000 volunteer hours, by January of 1993 the first aid room was ready for occupancy. Another two years of interior work completed this impressive building. Everyone is most proud of our state of the art facility.
For some adventuresome souls, Mt. Spokane terrain lends itself to a few lost skiers every now and then. This has lead to several all night search and rescue missions. For outstanding dedication, performance of assigned duties and community involvement, this Patrol has twice been awarded the honor of being named Outstanding Patrol of the Nation and came in second place one more time. Over the years there have been countless Division Awards for outstanding patrollers in different areas, as well as, over 34 awards from the National Level. In addition, there have been 4 patrollers who have been named Outstanding Alpine Patroller of the nation. Those four are Gordon Berk, Marlen Guell, Doug Rider and Lu Cairns. Jackie Bratcher has received the National Outstanding Auxiliary Patroller award. Marlen Guell, director of the Mt. Spokane in 1964-67, also served as National Director for many years.
This Patrol is one of the few in the nation that has always covered the mountain on an all-volunteer basis. For many years this area was open seven days and seven nights with coverage being provided by up to 165 patrollers each year. Today, Mt. Spokane operates 7 days and 4 nights. From a patrol of probably 5 or 6 in 1938, it has grown to 130 active patrollers and mailing to 226 alumni.
The Ski Patrol is always looking for new members, which include Young Patrollers, Auxiliary Patrollers, Nordic Patrollers as well as alpine skiers. First the candidate must pass a skiing competency test held in the spring. Then complete 60 hours of Outdoor Emergency Care first aid training in the fall before the season starts. Following that, there is 10 days of on the hill training. The Young Patroller may start at 15 ½ and joins the patrol with a mentor until he reaches 18. The Auxiliary Patrollers must complete all the training and testing with the exception of the on-the-hill skiing and toboggan testing. Their duties are to take charge of the patients once they are delivered to the patrol room and relieve the patroller to return to his/her duties on the mountain. They can also assist with first aid on the hill.
