Mother Lode Region

Welcome Visitors

Welcome to the Mother Lode Region Web Page!

If you are not yet a member of the NSP, we hope this site provides you with the direction and inspiration to join us. Our region is proud to offer award-winning bike patrols (both Urban and Alpine), Nordic patrols, and lift-served Alpine patrols.

As you explore the site, be sure to check out the eleven patrols that make up the Mother Lode Region. Our region stretches from the mountains east of Fresno, up the Sierras, to the Central Valley Sacramento Area, and all the way up to the Cascade Mountains of Shasta.

The MLR is composed of primarily lift-served Alpine ski patrols, ranging from very small patrols to larger ones in terms of member numbers and resort size. I hope you find something that sparks your interest, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Welcome Members

As of July 1st, we’ve entered a new fiscal year and are gearing up for a new season of recruitment, bike patrolling, training candidates, and starting OEC classes. Patrol Representatives, their assistants, and instructors have much to do before the snow flies! But for now, enjoy the summer activities.

Please make sure to check the region calendar frequently on the website. It mirrors the Far West Division calendar, but also includes dates and events unique to our region.

Patrol Representatives: Summer & Fall To-Do List

As we move through the summer into fall, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Summer Meeting: You are voting members and will make up the quorum at our upcoming Summer Meeting on August 12th at 6:30 PM.

• Financial Reports: Please submit your financial reports to Treasurer Ri Chan before August 1st.

• Leadership Changes: Report any changes in your patrol's leadership to myself or Julie Winter as soon as possible, so we can update our contact lists and share with the Division.

• Annual Refresher Dates: As your patrols select dates for your annual refresher, please submit them to me or Julie to ensure they’re added to the MLR calendar.

Thank you, Patrol Reps, for all the work you do! You have one of the toughest jobs in the NSP.

Important Dates & Events for All NSP Members

• Instructor Continuing Education (ICE)
  Date: September 6th
  Location: Sacramento
  More details will be shared soon. Please note that instructors must teach at least one class and complete the ICE course every three years.

• Far West Division Awards
  Date: September 6th
  Location: Courtyard Sacramento Midtown
  More details will follow soon.

Miscellaneous Updates & News

• Time to Level Up Your Patrolling Skills?
  How long have you been a member? Is it time to level up your game? Consider honing your skills and teaching the future members of the NSP and your patrol's OEC. Better yet, if you're not yet a Senior-Level patroller and it has been a few years since your candidate year, maybe now is the time to go for it!

Closing Thoughts

It has been a privilege to serve as your Region Director for the past three seasons. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many members of the MLR. Together, we’ve trained on toboggans, pushed our limits as instructors and trainees, and worked with both Alpine and Senior Candidates. I’ve participated in OET/SEM clinics and refreshers, meeting NSP members who have become vital parts of my extended family.

I look forward to another season of training, evaluations, challenges, and adrenaline-fueled moments of accomplishment. Remember that no matter the outcome of your NSP endeavors—successful or not—you’ve won. You’ve pushed yourself, become a better patroller, and, most importantly, a better person.

All the Best,
William J. Borelli
Mother Lode Region Director