Mountain Works

PNSAA sits down with Vince Arthur, whose inspiring journey from the Marine Corps to the ski industry showcases the unique parallels between military service and ski area operations. Vince shares his story, from enlisting in the United States Marine Corps to finding his passion in the ski industry as a ski patroller and eventually leading mountain operations at Stevens Pass, WA Learn some components of the WWII 10th Mountain Division and its foundational impact on the US ski industry. Vince and PNSAA president Jordan Elliott explore the gap between the military and the ski industry workforce, discussing the untapped potential of veterans transitioning into ski area careers. Learn practical steps to establish a recruitment pipeline, leveraging local military units and the unique skill sets veterans bring. This episode is packed with insights on leadership, career transitions, and the importance of a healthy culture in ski resorts. Whether you're a ski industry professional or a veteran, this conversation offers valuable perspectives and inspiration. Keywords: Military to Ski Industry, Veteran Recruitment, 10th Mountain Division, Ski Area Operations, Leadership, Career Transition, Ski Patroller, Stevens Pass.

A ski area general manager, a mid-level manager, a ski patroller, and an industry rookie walk into...... a room full of 450 people. Origin stories unfold. Greg Pack, Cody Howe, Hannah Besso, and Megan Keating talk about their career paths in the US ski industry.   Collaboration episode with Ski Area Management's podcast, PodSAM.  SAM editor, Dave Meeker, leads this panel discussion at the 2022 Mountain Works Conference.  

Climate scientists Dr. Sarah Myhre and Dr. Nick Siler are joined by Gwyn Howat, CEO of Mt. Baker Ski Area, and Adrienne Saia Isaac from the National Ski Areas Association to talk about ocean health and the ski industry's risk management efforts in regard to climate change. Accompanied by PNSAA president, Jordan Elliott, and emcee extraordinaire,  SHANAN KELLEY. Recorded LIVE at the 2022 Mountain Works Conference.  Supplemental Graph: Earth Temperature Timeline.  NSAA's Sustainable Slopes program info > HERE

Chris Hagar (Backcountry Hunters & Anglers) presents the history of public lands in the US. Shawnee Hinman (USFS Region 6) presents a history of how ski areas came to be part of the public land system. Finally, Kent Sharpe (SE Group) joins Shawnee and PNSAA President Jordan Elliott on the couch to talk about how ski area special use permits are administered within the national forest system. Recorded Live at the 2022 Mountain Works Conference.  Chris Hagar's Slide Deck HERE  Shawnee Hinman's Slide Deck HERE Skijoring Storyboard HERE

The Oregon employment department's Damon Runberg details the vocational makeup of the region's ski industry workforce. He provides data on what COVID-19 did to the macro hospitality workforce and then follows us through industry type, time, and space while highlighting the "other season" jobs that also rely on water.  Recorded live in front of nearly 500 PNW ski area staff members at the 2022 Mountain Works Conference.  Special emcee shoutout to Shanan Kelley. Damon's slide deck is here  

Part 2 of the rebuild story from Timberline's 2020 icing event. Mt. Hood and industry veteran Tom Scully talks about extreme weather impacts on ski area operations and provides key tips on how to perform line work safely, whether you are de-icing or performing regular maintenance.  Special guest Augie Eischen of the Sandia Peak Tramway.  Slide Deck Here -Scroll down for Tom's slides.  New Zealand De-icing Incident Learning Video Here

In 2020 Timberline Oregon's Palmer ski lift stood up to a planetary weather event and lost.  In 2022, Timberline's Mt. Ops crew told this story to a room full of ski area operators and maintenance experts and detailed what the rebuild process was like. This is their story. A black diamond episode to be sure.  Timberline GM, Rose Phillips. Timberline Ops team- Mike Fair, Sean Keeran, Logan Stewart.  As well as industry veterans Augie Eischen and Tom Scully.   Slide Deck Here Video from Timberline Here

Tiny Crystals, Global Impact is a touring museum exhibit about snow and the vital role it plays in the global climate system. Dr. Matthew Sturm presents at OMSI's Science Pub, and speaks with PNSAA President, Jordan Elliott.   Follow along with this slide deck. A virtual tour of the exhibit is here: Ourwinterworld.org How Much Water Comes From Snow and What is it Worth? 

Steven Stenkamp talks about his research into Lost Oregon Ski Areas. 

Jeff Kohnstamm, of Timberline, OR, takes the PNSAA board of directors on a tour of the ski area and goes over the expansion plan to connect Government Camp with a gondola.  Palmer Storm Recovery. Show and tell of several historical buildings on Mt. Hood.  Wind affected audio edit, best listened to with earphones. "A" for effort? 

This is the last run of The Mountain Podcast.  It will be rebranded as, Mountain Works.  We are not going back into previous episodes to change titles/edits.  Consider them the archive. More episodes will be coming in 2022 on the same feed.  Just with a new name now, and a little more integration into the ski area staff scene in the Upper Left.  www.pnsaa.org

Parker Bohon (The Blade Dive Podcast), and Connor Lyons (Crystal Mountain Resort, WA) -   Moderate this roundtable discussion with Alpine and Terrain Park Grooming Leaders throughout the US.  It's long.  It's worth it.   

Instructional Designer, Daniel Powers, goes deep on how he built the next generation of Ski Lift Technician Technical Trainings. Partner Episode with The Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy at Oregon State University - Cascades.  Promo Video of the training program here: https://vimeo.com/557877984 Training Brochure here: https://pace.oregonstate.edu/content/orei_main/skilift_21b/story.html FREE demo of course a module here: https://outdooreconomy.oregonstate.edu/ski-lift-technician-training-landing-page Register to take the course here: https://outdooreconomy.oregonstate.edu/level-1-lift-maintenance-training-course-outdoor-recreation-economy-oregon-state-university    

The Next Generation of Lift Technician Training.  Partner episode with Oregon State University.  Course brochure HERE Follow along with THIS SLIDE DECK Sign up for the course HERE  

Hundreds of business cards put to use. Random surprise guests show up in the zoom room for a quick chat.  - Dr. Anders Carlson, Carlson Climate Consulting - Roz Reynolds, Wyssen Avalance Control 

Hundreds of business cards put to use. Random surprise guests show up in The Mountain's zoom room for a quick chat.   - Land Tawney, President & CEO, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.  - Bill Barron, Citizens' Climate Lobby.  

The Mountain talks staff mental health with Matt Troskey, VP of People and Learning @Mt. Hood Meadows.  Why Deaths by Suicide Are So High in Ski and Snowboard Towns (nationalgeographic.com) Seattle was the saddest metro area in the nation last month, survey shows | The Seattle Times For Some, Suicide May Be The Price Of Living In A Ski Town Paradise | Colorado Public Radio (cpr.org) Episode Sponsor: Betterhelp.com/themountain

PNW ski industry adjusts to covid-19.  Mt. Baker CEO, Gwyn Howat.  Wear your mask. 

The Ground Up Series tells the stories of how each ski area in the northwest came to be. This episode walks through The Washington State Ski and Snowboard Museum with John Sutherland. The WSSSM will serve as a knowledge resource for the Ground Up Series of the pod. Also, what day of the week is it? 

Mountain Operations. Company Structures. Career path conversations with Mountain Ops Leaders; Scott Bowen, Crystal Mountain Resort and Jake Smith, Hoodoo.  Chair lift talks at Mt. Baker. 

A peek at how pre-season happens, requires traveling back in time.  Job Fairs.  Snowvana 2019.  Ramping up for 2020. Chats with Timberline Lodge. Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Bachelor, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Silver Mountain Resort, Hoodoo.  

Insider intel on how ski areas happen. By and for ski area employees in the Northwest. Interview with Annie Fast of Ski Oregon, former editor of Transworld Snowboarding Magazine. Chair Lift thoughts inspired by Goggy Foggles. Lift Ops. Ski Patrol. Lift Maintenance.  Grooming. Rentals. Retail. Ski and Ride School. Food and Beverage. Hospitality.  Parking lots.  Accounting.  Human Resources.  Marketing.  The list goes on.