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From KXLY.com:
SPOKANE -- It's the beginning of October and there's no snow on the peak of Mt. Spokane. But that hasn't stopped Mt. Spokane's Ski Patrol for gearing up for the upcoming ski season.
"This is my 36th year on patrol," said Gregory Peck. Peck has spent more than half of his life on the ski patrol at Mt. Spokane. "It's a passion, a way to give back to society," he said.
Even he says he needs a refresher course every once in a while, to get back into the mindset of ski season. Sunday's lesson: ski lift chair evacuations.
"If a chair happens to break and there are people on it we've got to get them off," said Randy Foiles, a 27-year ski patrol veteran.
From 70 feet in the air, the ski patrol is able to slowly lower skiiers to the ground. The training was especially useful last year when one of the mountain's lifts had a mechanical failure.
Patrollers also brushed up on first aid and search and rescue skills. "It's extremely important, we provide safety for people who are skiing." said Foiles. It's all a reminder that ski season is just around the corner.
"All we need is a little white stuff falling from the sky," said ski patrol member Jill Hoff
Mt. Spokane is set to open Thanksgiving weekend. The ski patrol is having their annual ski swap fundraiser on October 24th, 25th, 26th.
