In today’s episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandra and Sandy welcome veteran ski patroller, avalanche expert, and Assistant Director of Ski Patrol on Aspen Mountain, Samantha Haberman, to the podcast. Together, they delve into the intricate and high-stakes world of ski patrol and avalanche control, the physical and mental challenges of working in harsh, high-altitude environments and the importance of risk management in her line of work. Their conversation also touches on Haberman's personal journey to becoming a ski patroller, including her background in Aspen and her decision to take a solo bike trip across the country after college.

Throughout the interview, they look at the various techniques and tools used to mitigate the risk of avalanches, including the use of explosives, ski cuts, and skier compaction, as well as the importance of self-care for ski patrollers. The diverse and dynamic role of ski patrollers, including their responsibilities in emergency medical care and lift evacuations is also examined, and Samantha shares some of her experiences responding to medical incidents on the mountains, some of her most memorable and unusual experiences as a ski patroller, and the importance of being prepared for the unexpected. They conclude today’s fascinating episode by highlighting both the challenges and rewards of working in this field, the tight-knit culture of ski patrollers, the importance of trust and humility in the job, and the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated profession.

The Finer Details of this Episode:

• Samantha’s background and her path to her current occupation
• Her working environment and the risk management involved
• Ski Patrol requirements and responsibilities
• Avalanche control and some of the practices involved in it
• The mental challenges and adaptability involved in her work
• The importance of self-care
• The challenges and adrenaline-pumping moments of lift evacuations
• The diverse range of medical emergencies that ski patrollers may encounter
• The tight-knit community to which Samantha belongs
• Some of the more memorable experiences in her job

Quotes:

"I was actually extremely bookish and I loved reading and sitting by the fire. Then I went to college and when I graduated, all of my classmates seemed to have plans. They were going to grad school or they had prime jobs already. And I did not. And I panicked a little."

"So, half of my family was talking to me at the time, and the other half was like, 'we're like cutting you off because that's super dangerous.'"

"Risk management is crucial in ski patrol, as it involves ensuring the safety of skiers while also maintaining the integrity of the mountain."

"The work of ski patrol involves a combination of physical labor and decision-making under pressure."

"So we ensure that we get a good explosion, which is what we're looking for."

"Mental and physical self-care is important for ski patrollers who work in high-stress environments."

"Mountain conditions and weather can change rapidly and ski patrollers must be adaptable."

"It varies every time, so you don't know exactly what you're going into."

"I've been in an incident where you're holding a blanket over a paramedic so that they can intubate somebody."

"Going out with explosives definitely puts you on your game."

Links:

The Adrenaline Zone Homepage

The Adrenaline Zone on Instagram

The Adrenaline Zone on Twitter

The Adrenaline Zone on TikTok

Samantha Haberman LinkedIn