We participated in the weekly Ski with a Ranger day last weekend. Here is the snippet fromthe Beaver Creek site:

Guests of all ages are invited to join one of our Forest Service Rangers on a 45 minute guided tour of beginner and intermediate terrain.

The trails featured during the tour will vary by week and ability of the group and will include a brief introduction and orientation at the Environmental Learning Center.

Topics included in the tour include:
Winter Wildlife Adaptations (What do they do to survive?)
Lifecycle of the Mountain Pine Beetle
Local History: From the Native tribes to today's communities
Avalanche Awareness (Behind the scenes with Beaver Creek Ski Patrol)
Fire's Role in Nature with special guest Smokey the Bear

Tours depart from the Environmental Learning Center at the top of Cinch Express chairlift (#8). Participants must have a valid lift ticket.

We had our first session of training with the CSAR group on training avalanche dogs. Dogs that are trained in Avalanche Resuces can easily pick up the human scent (since the naked eye can't see the covered person). An avalanche dog is trained to track a wide area of snow-covered space in a rapid zig zag pattern. When the dog locates a scent they sound an alarm and start to dig down.

The first session the handlers were buried in a shallow grave under the snow - the training takes many weeks. Teamwork is essential between the handler and the dog.

We were pretty excited with Lola's progress - for a little dog we still feel like she can cover a good amount of ground (She is a Jack Russell after all!).

Yes, that's bargains spelled backwards. If you are looking for great deals check out the annual sports authority's SNIAGRAB. Its last years stuff and killer prices.

At our last meeting we discussed what it would take to be an instructor at the mountain. I took the action item to find out for Vail and Beaver Creek and here is what I could locate ...

(from the Vail Website)

Applying for a Job:

• Vail Resorts only accepts applications/resumes for current posted positions. Application instructions vary depending on resort and position. For information on how to apply for our positions, find the position you are interested in and select 'How to Apply'.
• Most positions require an in-person interview for an applicant to be considered for employment. If you reside outside Colorado, visit 'Recruiting Events' to review our recruiting schedule. If you plan to travel for an in-person interview, please contact the Human Resources office at one of the resorts to speak with a recruiter.
• The interview process can take up to two (2) weeks or longer, depending on the position and the time of year. Please plan accordingly and contact the Human Resources office at one of the resorts to inquire about the best time to apply for a position.
  • A standard interview process will include a screening interview with a recruiter in Human Resources of the resort to which you are applying and one, two or even three interviews with supervisors/managers in the specific department to which you are applying.
  • These separate interviews may or may not be able to take place on the day you come in to fill out an application.
• Most positions will require a seasonal work commitment. To be considered for a position, you will need to be aware of the starting and ending dates of the job and be able to meet that commitment.
• Employee Housing is offered by specific departments and is not available for all positions. Please contact the Human Resources office at one of the resorts to speak with a recruiter regarding Employee Housing. For additional information, visit  Housing.

read the rest here