What’s In Your … ski patroller backpack
-
Aspen Highlands ski patroller Mike Spayd.
Anna Stonehouse/The Aspen Times
-
The contents of Mike Spayd's ski patrol backpack.
Anna Stonehouse/The Aspen Times
Aspen Highlands ski patroller Mike Spayd has a little bit of everything in his bag for when he gets out on the hill. There are a variety of situations patrollers come across on any given day on the mountain, so they pack and plan for a little bit of everything.
His most important equipment for the job includes a backcountry collapsible snow shovel and a quickdraw probe for snowpack measuring and avalanche rescue. Also a few feet of extra rope.
When you’re out there all day and it’s getting cold, you have to have a backup. Spayd carries an extra pair of work gloves and mittens, as well as a stocking cap and gaiter. Also in the bag, some liner gloves and goggles.
You never know when you’re going to get a hankering for a hunk of cheese, so Spayd keeps some extra Babybels. Oh, and an extra protein bar is always a must.
To keep his medical supplies dry, the patroller uses a Ziploc bag to pack his bandages and gauze in, along with an extra roll of tape.
While most of the work involves downhill skiing, a set of ski skins is a must for those times when a little (or a lot) of uphilling is called for.
Aspen area included in ‘release zone’ for wolverine reintroduction
The Aspen area has been included in one of three general release zones for the reintroduction of wolverines into the state, according to preliminary information from Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s developing plan.
