Bald Mountain & Dollar Mountain: (208) 622-6262
In 1936 the Union Pacific Railroad company opened the doors of Sun Valley, America’s first four season mountain resort. Billed as North America’s premier mountain recreation destination, Sun Valley became the standard for all mountain towns to follow. Concurrently, the Sun Valley Ski Patrol (SVSP), one of America’s first and longest-tenured ski patrol, began skiing the slopes of central Idaho’s Pioneer and Smoky mountain ranges.
More than three quarters of a century later, the SVSP continues its tradition of world class service to our guests. Trained in skier safety techniques, advanced first aid, snow science, lift evacuation, avalanche mitigation and rescue, toboggan handling and mountaineering skills, members of the ski patrol are highly certified and skilled individuals.
Originally the ski patrol was led by members of the U.S. Army’s famed 10th Mountain Division. In fact, Nelson Bennett, one of the SVSP’s original Directors, actually cut many of Sun Valley’s most famous runs by hand. Over the past eight decades, the patrol has continued to be an industry leader in the development of best practices within the ski resort profession. These advances range from the invention of the ski patrol toboggan in the 1940s to technological advances in computerized dispatch systems today.
The ski patrol staff encompasses 67 highly trained professional men and women who average approximately 17 years of service with many exceeding 40 years on the job. This unequalled level of service is one of the many shining lights of the Sun Valley Company brand. The team consists of world-class skiers who are dedicated to enhancing our guests’ experience on the slopes of world-famous Sun Valley.