Winter First Aid Training Supports Safe Slopes at Libby’s Turner Mountain

Libby’s Turner Mountain Ski Area brings out many locals for winter fun. With some of the lowest prices in Montana, it also increasingly attracts skiers and snowboarders from around northwest Montana. The growing interest is a challenge for the mountain’s all-volunteer ski patrol, which relies on donations and fundraising for its equipment and training. To better keep skiers and their families safe, volunteers with Kootenai Winter Sports Ski Education Foundation Inc. had the idea to host a winter first aid course for ski patrol members and other local first responders with limited winter emergency experience. LOR’s funding will help the group purchase textbooks, hire instructors, and put on a 24-person wilderness first aid and CPR training, imparting valuable skills that will improve rescue techniques and ultimately improve safety at Turner Mountain.