This article was created by the Tremblant Ski Patrol team.
At the Tremblant Ski Patrol, the day begins even before sunrise. Around 6:45 a.m., we quietly arrive at the mountain in the dark and stillness, sometimes through gusts of wind-blown snow. The early morning walk through the still-sleeping pedestrian village offers us a peaceful moment before everything comes to life.
Morning Routine
Once we reach our South base—nicknamed the “bunker”—in the basement of the Hilton hotel, we gear up. Some of the team members, however, start their day at the North bunker. Dressed and with coffee in hand, we then head to the gondola or the Duncan chairlift for those assigned to the North side. At 7 a.m., everyone heads up to the summit.
Once gathered at our summit base, the Rendez-Vous, we start with a brief morning meeting to assign the day’s tasks. Each patroller receives the trails they’ll be inspecting, assigned by the supervisor, who’s already been on-site much earlier. He has done a preliminary snowmobile sweep to assess general conditions, reviewed the grooming report from the night before, coordinated any last-minute needs with the lift and grooming teams, and prepared the day’s opening plan.
Getting Ready for Opening
Then, each patroller heads out for their trail checks—usually two or three runs depending on the needs—including sometimes an “adjustment run” to fine-tune details before opening. All 102 trails are inspected every day. During these runs, we assess conditions, identify potential hazards, and put up necessary signage and safety protections.
A second wave of patrollers and safety personnel arrives around 8 a.m. to complete trail checks and assess specific conditions in the glades and mogul runs. On weekends and during holiday periods, a team of volunteer patrollers and safety staff lend a hand. They’re a great help on mornings when the workload is higher or when the First Tracks ropes need to be opened by 8:30 a.m. Some patrollers are brought up by snowmobile to the summit of the Edge sector to open that more remote side of the mountain.
When guests start arriving on the slopes, a team of patrollers is stationed at the summit to provide a visible presence, respond quickly if needed, and warmly welcome skiers and snowboarders.
Spring often brings unique challenges: some ungroomed trails may remain temporarily closed in the morning until the sun softens the hardened overnight snow. We reassess these runs regularly, following the sun’s path across the mountain, and open them as soon as conditions allow.
Typical Day
Throughout the day, our mountain dispatch team receives calls from lift bases, directly from guests, or occasionally from the 911 center. Each call is relayed by radio, and patrollers are assigned based on their location and available resources on the mountain. Dispatch is the hub of operations—every department communicates with them about movements or updates to the day’s operations. They are responsible for coordinating vehicle movements, deploying patrollers when necessary, and ensuring the day runs smoothly.
We work closely with the Mont-Tremblant Ski Clinic and local ambulance services to ensure quick care for injured guests. Depending on the situation, we use various equipment: evacuation sleds, advanced first aid kits, pulley systems, saws, anchors, splints, immobilization devices, and more. Every intervention requires a fast and calm response, tailored to each scenario.
At lunchtime, rotating shifts allow the team to maintain strong coverage across the mountain. This efficient organization, made possible by our large team, ensures we’re always available for guest needs and emergency response. During the afternoon, patrollers also complete various tasks listed on the daily work board: trimming branches, installing signs, adjusting safety gear, and more.
After lunch, calls continue to come in, and we begin gradually closing different areas of the mountain. The Archipel glade, the Edge sector, the Expo area, and others, depending on operational needs, are systematically shut down.
Closing Time
As the day winds down, patrollers return to the Rendez-Vous. We organize and inspect all equipment used during the day: restocking first aid kits, inspecting sleds, and resetting intervention gear. Supervisors determine which patrollers are available to carry out final closures, based on any ongoing interventions.
When the time comes, the team gathers by the indoor fireplace for a final debrief led by supervisors and senior patrollers. It’s a moment to review major incidents from the day, share best practices, and announce upcoming operational changes or important events.
Each patroller is assigned a specific closing route, outlined on a map displayed in the Rendez-Vous. Every sweep includes designated radio check-ins, visual contact with neighboring sweepers, and sometimes forest routes or strategic detours to ensure no guests remain on the mountain after closing.
During these last runs, we remove part of the signage placed in the morning, adjust ropes and bamboo poles according to the nightly grooming plan, and ensure the mountain is ready to welcome skiers again the next morning. Closure leads make a final call to the grooming team to confirm the mountain is clear.
Ski Patrol Training
All Tremblant patrollers complete the official Alpine Patroller certification, overseen by [insert correct institution]. Patrollers are also re-certified each fall to keep their skills up to date and in line with industry standards.
In addition to this required certification, our team takes part in several internal training sessions throughout the year:
- Advanced toboggan transport techniques
- Technical rescues in difficult terrain
- Lift and gondola evacuations
- Backcountry rescues
- Confined space rescue (for specialized patrollers)
- High-angle worker rescues (for specialized patrollers)
These ongoing trainings ensure that every team member is prepared to respond efficiently at any time, no matter the situation encountered on the mountain.
More Than a Job
Being a ski patroller means being part of a tight-knit team that ensures skier safety every day with professionalism and passion. We do it for the love of the job, for the team spirit, and for the privilege of experiencing the mountain in a different way.
Interested in joining our team?
Contact Martin Larose at: malarose@tremblant.ca
