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What is a Nordic patroller? Other than the people at the OEC refreshers with the large packs holding everything from saws and shovels to duct tape, tools, bivy sacks and more First Aid equipment than those little fanny packs, Nordic patrollers provide skier safety and equipment services at ski touring centers, state parks and forests, on organized ski tours and at special events.
Nordics must be certified in outdoor emergency care and CPR and pass a ski and toboggan exam. Their practical training prepares them to handle situations where definitive medical care may be hours to a day away. They practice building toboggans with resources available on the trail and in their packs and then tow their loaded creation to safety through a variety of terrain. Nordics are trained and prepared to survive if suddenly caught in a snowstorm, to treat a victim for an extended time and prevent further injuries to a skier down in the cold, lost or disoriented.
The Nordic Patroller is primarily a preventive care giver. They cover large tracts of land, some near wilderness areas, always with an eye towards potential problems. They look for skiers experiencing or about to experience some form of difficulty and provide advice to try to make their experience more enjoyable. This can include suggesting alternate trails, ski technique tips, overcoming equipment malfunctions, providing directions or a map, or advising skiers of impending weather changes.
Within the EMARI region, there are two Nordic Patrols, Friends of the Blue Hills and EMARI Nordic. The Friends of the Blue Hills patrols the trails of the Blue Hills State Reservation. Patrollers with EMARI Nordic can be found at ski touring centers, in various state parks and forests and accompanying organized backcountry ski tours throughout New England.
If you consider yourself an intermediate cross-country skier and think that Nordic patrolling is for you.
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