PRO PATROL NEWS
Issue 3:2000
Pantheon
Adventure Expeditions
Issue III
Welcome to Pro Patrol News! Its been a few weeks since the last edition to Pro Patrol. Andrew Maillot has been very busy with yet another change in employment. Read more about that in this edition.
Avalanche is such a hot topic these days! A couple of articles on avalanche control, and a Canadian Crusader working to bring even more awareness to the backcountry. Read on...Enjoy, and please let me know what your all up to!!!! Sign the Pantheon Guest Book Please!!
Stuff:
1: Greenchain
New people in the biz, read it and get into the "greenchain" rookie
2000...
2: Soup du Jour
Article of the day...
3: Snow Load
A really cool story of Bombing....Avalanche
4: The Goods
And the goods and bads..all the low-down on rescue stuff, skis, boards, first aid
stuff etc.
5: Wine and Cheese
Mr. Maillot needs a girlfriend! Any ski chicks wanna meet? I'll hook you up here
in BC if you hook me up in Europe!
Green people...This addition is once again about beginning your entrance in the Pro Patrol industry... First off, I don't want to take full advantage of this web page being viewed by people interested in becoming patrollers or anything but....I have a new addition to my company Pantheon Adventure Expeditions, called Pantheon Snow Safety.
This section of Pantheon runs different Avalanche Control Contracts in British Columbia Canada, and to fill in the "blanks" we also have various Avalanche awareness courses, and Backcountry (heli, snowcat, touring, accessed skiing.
Also I have began a small crusade of my own called C.P.S.P.A or Canadian Pro Ski Patrol Association. Unfortunately there is no Web Site up for this link yet but check in at the Pantheon Page listed and it will be up soon. What this CPSPA will offer is full training into Professional Ski Patrol with an international standard. We are offering one select "Trial" course this winter (Spring) The courses will "centralize" other important certifications and training such as local/ International first Aids including occupational F.A./ Pro Avalanche training (Like the C.A.A) Please email for more information regarding Speciality Pro Ski Patrol Course outlines.
On the other end of the Green scale is being a newbie Avalanche controller. Not just any Blaster but a Helicopter Bomber. Oh Ya baby, Bombardier....Its really really cool! Its one of the best jobs I have done. I love it. Indulge with me....6 days of heavy heavy Snowfall in the local range. Lots! Railways, Mining Companies, and Highways are all calling.......Sorry that story is reserved for "Snow Load"
AnyWay...The rookies in this biz...the Official title would be, Assistant Blaster. Now how many positions do you think come up everyday for that one? Not very many but Ill tell you something for sure...The positions do come around. In the first Pro Patrol edition I talked about the typical employment/education catch-22 situation; well the same thing applies here just a little worse. Don't fret. Its all tied together if you are in the industry or getting into it...Ski Hill control, Cornice control Heli Bombing...Avalauncher/Artillery etc. It all requires the same basic Explosives training. However each has significant differences to the other leading into specific training and logged Bombing runs.
Again if interested in information I have a download "textbook" page with full blasting manuals. These manuals have hours of time designing to specific blasting in Avalanche control. It isn't free, a small fee per download on specific information and you must leave valid information such as Official Email, full name Address etc. It is the best first step. Become an expert by reading. Learn fully about these specifics and have a head start on other applying into getting an Avalanche Blasters Certification.
Blasting is not the only information packed into these downloads, but full Pro Patrol specific text Book material just finished writing this past month. All are prerequisites for C.P.S.P.A courses. Please email me with any questions you may have.
So while Volunteer teams are always annually recruiting, sadly Pro Positions are very limited. Even worse is the Helicopter/Rad Control spots. Its a select group of Radio Packin, Oxygen toutin' junkies...But let me give you a strong tip...First Aid room Oxygen makes for a great head remedy for Hang Over. Just don't get caught suckin wind, or the Patrol Leader will have you diggin snow for the week!
This is the Greenchain, and there's more to follow next time...Don't come to work hungover on your first day!
PATROL NEWS FROM ALL THE SOURCES
Nicolas Fontaine----Andrew Maillot
World Freestyle Champion Airials---Patrol
Director/Snow Safety
Former Prime Minister of Canada; Pierre Trudeau's Son died in an Avalanche last year. This year his family makes a World Wide Plea for avalanche awareness and education!
Canadian Ex-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's Son and Wife are currently travelling around Canada and North America promoting Avalanche Awareness. Last year Mr. Trudeau's son died in an avalanche in the Kootenay Glacier region of British Columbia Canada. His son was no different that hundreds of people dying around the globe in avalanches every year. That is what they are promoting. Not that the son of former Prime Minister Trudeau was special but that many people are insufficiently trained and aware of the subsequent dangers waiting in the backcountry. I hope this gets out on a larger scale and people really begin this millennium with a fresh outlook on Safety as more and more people enter the backcountry to play.
WWW.AVALUNG.COM New technology in the life saving biz. Black Diamond spokesperson, Nate Simmons is promoting the new "Avalung" jacket/vest that incorporates a mouthpiece and "lung" system that allows Burial victims approx. an hour to breath under the snow. I know for a fact that while buried under Avalanche snow, the "liquid river " settles into somewhat of a concrete solution, and makes for a difficult lung expansion, let alone flailing to get snow out of the facial area. I thought of this concept many times, but could not grasp how to incorporate an oxygen bottle. Sounds like Black Diamond have done fine job of inventing a "snorkel"/ lifeline combination. Check em' out!
Know about the Backpack that inflates to stay up on avalanches? Send Pantheon the different companies links so we can get those nice units over here! As usual North America is a little behind on the times...Don't know how good these units are but if the do work more heliskiing companies should be in possession!
POWDER MAGAZINE Email and write them and tell them about us! Then tell em to keep up the great work and stay real!
TETON GRAVITY RESEARCH Check out the new film By TGR this season! The TGR people are really cool, and I can tell you, the people behind TGR are 101% hard ass mountain muthars! So check out the website for the latest greatest scenes from around the world...THE REALM is a serious flick! Very heavy skiing! Drop the "Jones Bro." a line on the site and tell em I sent ya!
LA NINA BACK AGAIN?, Unfortunately the big snow was slow in coming in many regions of North American Ski Hills this winter. Europe was sick. It usually is! I'ts all here in Canada now though...Holy! Its heavy now.
Welcome back to the Snow Load. As I was saying in the intro.....The snow has been coming down for 6 days strait. Temperatures have been brutal with high/lows as frequent as snow flakes. Gradients and Temperatures. So much activity and so little sunlight! Days are short but Nights are long...And then 4:00am the phone rings "Ring" ring",!! On the other end of the line is a busy sounding voice not coming in clearly...", Did you get the message?" Said the huredly voice..."Umm, Gee..do I say no with incompetence, or yes and face the fact that I should have responded....Maybe I won the lottery!! "Andrew! You there? The snow has been coming down extra heavy in the Pine run on the Railway the past two days..." "Oh" I say..Ill be there loaded up on the "tarmac" in 30 min.." I eagerly say with little confidence in my own voice as I am still half asleep!
With full inventory (I hope) packed into the back of my 94 Dodge Truck, and canopy I pull out from my stop at getting coffee and heli goodies for the Pilot and myself. Included in these goods are a pack of Colt style cigars (glory smoke) for end of day success! (Ah Still alive..Puff puff) The sky is brilliant for early in the morning and the choice to control avalanche today is a good one! I pull into the local airport and notice the "Ship" is already cleaned of snow and maintained. I open the canopy/tailgate to reveal a typical 40 litre mountaineering pack, and additional small hand pack and Binders swelled with snow/hydrological/ and explosive data.
At the glass door to the "hanger" (a modified Tilden office) George the Pilot-Operator-Owner greets me with a big smile. "You made it!" He exasperates to me.." I think sarcastically," As if I wouldn't be here anyway buddy", and flash a smile back, assuring him I'm mentally stable. I drop my packs and coffee on his desk and run out to the truck for just a couple final touches on required items...Flight helmet, Air Photos, and Hand held radios...and oh ya Colts...
....The whistle and whine of blades over head with smooth engine howl is like candy to my brain. Its time to get going as the weather is epic, and Temperature is a rising Negative 19degrees. Its looking to be clear sailing ahead. The rear of the Bird pulls at restraints as it lifts off and the nose dips radically forward and down! The final communication between pilot and tower is out of the way and white peaks rise infront of us like oncoming storms of the ocean...Are we heliskiing or what? Sure sounds like it but unfortunately its all work baby! But read on and see for yourself why work in this field isn't to far from it!
Railline in front and below us winding away through the steep valley floor we find multiple slides down but nothing extremely large. All normal , and fairly reasonable for the amount of snowfall in the past 24 hours let alone two weeks! We come to a small opening in valley floor clear of avalanche paths, quite remote. Landed and shut down I have already decided on the amount of charges I will be throwing into start zones from our scouting flight in. I dig deep for keys to the magazine holding our explosive cache, and begin my prep process. George discusses clearance with the railway crew at the "avalanche gates".
No train activity is do to roll through for 15 minutes, but then its up to us to quickly blow the hell out of the snow and hope for clean releases. Clear the clean-up crew to come in and clear the tracks...I finish building the last of 6 charges to be dropped in this particular region. Pack the goods into a special box container and carry the works back to the "Ship" George has already removed the rear left door on the chopper, and I insert the box and other equipment. I glance at my clothes to ensure I'm not wearing much for synthetic fabrics. (Could create static leading to pre-firing the charge) (ouch) Anyway the deal is done now as we wont be returning with any explosives...
....The day has been plentiful, three releases out of five, and now the last. A real potential for heavy distribution and possible structural damage to the railway. Has to be done regardless. What follows is the run up to the drop zone, and the communication between Pilot and bomber. The 5kilo charge is "lit" with a Pull Lighter and released when appropriate. I throw it and the chopper veers to the side and away for a view. WHOOOMPH, it is successful. A large (I won't say the class but big) A really nice clean avalanche flows and twists and air blast rips down. It settles nicely and the run is nearly complete.
...The clean-up crew is already on the way, and I have landed and locked the Magazine materials back up safely. Door is on and George and I begin a take off again. Did I mention the day is now bright with sunshine washing in on my sweater, and hands. Warming the cool air and making the snow gleam like diamonds...Or White Gold....That's right , the day is young and the days contract fees and rate for bombing and airtime is paid for by the railway...Only one thing to do as I look to the snow field below the ships nose...
...As I pack the last of my gear out to the truck I meet eyes with George as he pulls out an aluminum thermos with a "stomach warming" beverage to be poured into two styrofoam cups....I light a Colt cigar and sip quietly as I reflect on not the Bombing runs success....But the 4 hours of pure white gold I skied alone with chopper over head. I check the watch on my wrist to get an idea of recorded vertical...I think its maxed out....
"Hey Andrew!" George shouts....I turn and look. " Don't forget...We've got the other rail line tomorrow"....
GEAR This season's hot picks....
www.rossignol.comBindings for all my gear. So maybe next year or another time..... But these Skis and Boots are Good Ya!
Hi Ladies! I'm looking to hook up with one of you lucky chicks (kidden)!! I am actually hoping there are some nice single European girls out there who are into the same stuff I am. I love Europe, and really want to have someone to meet there when I come and vica versa for when you come here if that's the case. If you are at all interested in a dirtbag like me then drop me a line on my email
Vitals: 5'11'' tall, Dark skin, hair, eyes. Family comes from Nice, France. Canadian Citizen, and u know the rest! If ya wanna hang out this season or this summer paragliding in Bella Coola British Columbia or some touring in the Beautiful BC Mountains and stay in my chalet? I'm Yo Man! PS Ya better like to ski!
A bit more about myself; I love to make red wine (Merlot's etc) and a large variety of sports (obviously) I love to travel and have yet to see lotsa world but I've been throughout Europe, Central and South America and North America...I'd love to go back! I'm always working on my company and making changes and improving biz as best as possible!
Ummm Well ..Better email me if anyone's interested! Yep that's why I called it "Wine and Cheese baby!"
Hope to hear from you...Luv, Andrew
Canadian Pro Ski Patrol Association
Remember to sign the guest book below or in Pantheon Snow Safety By signing and leaving your request of information in regards to the CPSPA you better my understanding of potential out there for this very important Association! Thank you for your support.
Canadian Pro Patrol
Association
3831 Loloff Crescent, Quesnel British Columbia, Canada, V2J 6E3
amaillot@goldcity.net
I want your comments and suggestions on what you think about this Webzine news. I am currently accumulating information and data on international Ski Patrol Systems respectively, and would appreciate any info you may have on any Patrol Systems regarding suggested contact people for employment, recommended certifications, other contact people, and local customs and practices etc. If you have a story or article you would like published...Please send your (small) pictures (of Patrol stuff etc) and information to amaillot@goldcity.net
Thank You
Useful Links
Canadian Avalanche Association
Australian Ski Patrol Association
British Association of Ski Patrollers
U.S. Pro Ski Patrol Association
SEAR Search And Rescue Equipment
Canadian Pro Ski Patrol Association
Andrew Maillot, Pantheon Adventure Expeditions in association with Natives
