Hyak Ski Area Status

As you may have surmised, Hyak will not be getting a new chairlift this year, but the slopes will be ready when we do. The slide area has been re-contoured from the switchback down through the road at the base of Keechelaus and the refuse hauled away. The big pit still hasn’t been worked on yet. Keechalus and Dinosaur towers and cables have been removed. On the Hidden Valley side, trees and brush have been cut for what will be the new run there. Look at www.hyak.net under ‘Photo of the Week’ and also click their ‘Flikr’ link for photos of the work done so far.

Patrol Operations

The Hyak Patrol will be responsible for staffing our Aid Room and Radio when the Nordic Center is in operation. The Board will be advising the specifics of how we will provide FAR staff soon.

We will also be patrolling the Nordic trail system along with the Nordics from Central. John McKissick will be in charge of our Nordic operations. I encourage everyone to spend at least a day or two out on the Nordic trails and assist our Nordic team. I did last year and it was an enjoyable experience.

Alpine patrollers will be assisting the other three areas on the pass by signing up for duty shifts in those areas. The program will change from what we did last year after the slide. Area Management is starting a new system this year using area supplied cards to record duty shifts at other areas on the pass. Hyak patrollers will not be required to sign- in at Hyak first and will instead go to the area where they will be patrolling that day to sign -in.

You will need to be there and sign-in when the rest of their patrol does and attend their morning meeting, or be there in time to be signed in for evening or swing shifts they may hold. That also means we will stay on duty there until their area shift is over. Then, if you have the time, return to Hyak to stay the night and share the day with fellow HYAKers.

We will advise later on signing up for shifts.

In order to maintain our Hyak relationships, expect to hold Patrol Pot Lucks on a regular monthly basis and look for other opportunities to train and socialize together periodically.

By making our contribution to the other patrols we maintain and develop our skills (and likely improve our FA skills through more accidents), learn more about how they do things, make new patrol friends, and prepare to be ready at a high operational level when our own area is back in operation with increased lift capacity. What counts now is to have a good attitude, contribute 100% wherever you are, and enjoy the experience.