When it comes to mixing work with pleasure nobody has it better than the volunteers of the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol. And they've been hard at it for more than 70 years.

Dressed in distinctive red jackets emblazoned with white crosses, the patrollers are the first on the mountain, taking the first and last runs of the day. Swooshing through freshly packed powered, they're always on the lookout for trouble, working hard to keep skiers and snowboarders safe.

“Skiing is my number one passion. It's something I look forward to doing every year,” says Al Berk, 51, who's been a member of the ski patrol for 18 years. It's a family tradition in the Berk family. Al's  father Gordon was honored as outstanding ski patrolman in the U.S. for the 1968-1969 season; his son Ryan, 24, has also taken up the calling.

Working in teams of two, the patrollers’ day starts before the first skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes, making sure safety gear is in place and that out-of-bounds areas are clearly marked. The main job of the ski patrol is responding to emergencies and administering first-aid. “It can be anything from a cut finger to severe back injury,” Berk says, “You name it, we've had everything.”

There are people from all walks of life on the patrol. In his day job, Berk works as a furnace operator for Goodrich Aerospace in Medical Lake. Each of the more than 100 members go through extensive first-aid and search & rescue training.
Age isn't a factor in whether they make the cut; the only requirements for patrollers are a desire to help those in need – and of course, skiing ability.
“You don't need to be pretty, but you need good skills,” Berk says. “All the basic skills come into play when it comes to pulling a toboggan.”
“A lot of the guys on the patrol are retired. If you keep your skills up and stay in good physical shape you could join the patrol at 50 or even 60 years old.”

For their efforts, patrollers receive a season ski pass and the satisfaction of knowing their making the mountain a safer place to play.
Berk tries to get up on the mountain at least twice a week. A lot of times, even when he's not on duty, he'll carry a two-way radio and a backpack with safety gear. “Just in case,” he says,  “you're kind of always a patroller at heart.”

For more information on becoming a member of the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol, visit www.mssp.org
or call (509) 343-1499.