Top of Chair 2 at Alpental

alpental volunteer ski patrol

Come Join Us

Enjoy skiing, the outdoors, and helping the skiing public? Interested in Ski Patrolling? We're looking for candidates. Now is the time to start planning for next year.

Deb Armstrong's Favorite Ski Areas

Deb Armstrong discusses some of her favorite ski areas. As one might imagine, Alpental is mentioned. Take a peek; she mentions some intriguing areas.

Financial Support

The Alpental Volunteer Ski Patrol is a 501(c)3 organization. We accept charitable contributions in support of our mission to provide education and emergency services to the skiing public. Donations may be made to AVSP, PO Box 110635, Tacoma, WA 98411.

Interested in What it Takes to Run a Toboggan?

Take a look at the video put together for the Alpental Toboggan Trainers. (click on the title)

Need Avalanche Practice/Training?

Do you know About "Beacon Park" at Alpental?

Beacon Park is a self directed transceiver search practice area near the Alpental Ski Resort. Bring your transceiver and probe (if you don't have a probe, fixed length probes are available). The park is East of, across the road from, the main Alpental Ski Area parking lot. A control box is located on a pole on the right hand side, about 25 feet uphill. The control box allows you to select easy, medium, and expert scenarios (e.g. single and multiple burials). When you find a victim with your probe (please no digging!), a light flashes and horn sounds at the control box. When you have found all the victims, the control box will tell you how long it took to find each victim.

Beacon Park at Alpental is funded and maintained by the Alpental B.A.R.K. organization. The park is open 7 days a week during the winter, dependent upon snow. The park is also used by the Forest Service, Kittitas and King County Rescue groups, Alpental Ski Patrol, and other professional guiding services.

In addition to self directed use by interested individuals and groups, classes are taught on companion rescue and good backcountry practices. The classes include: proper beacon, probe and shovel usage, practice two person burials (one meter deep), and simulated rescue (recovery in 15 minutes or less).