Woodstock Early Birds. Lest you be in doubt by the above headline, we are appalled at those from down-country (or nearer by) who think they can head for the trees out of bounds in a snowstorm and think if they run into trouble they’re gonna’ be rescued just fine.
In this case at Pico, they were. In the other two cases this weekend at Killington they also were. But these search and rescue operations put everyone at risk, including our local responders. While responding is what they are trained for, these operations cost money and take our local and state police and ski patrollers away from helping thousands of others who may need it for very real reasons.
If you need to be in the trees, Killington and other ski areas offer plenty of in-bounds fun. If you must be “off-piste”, prepare for it as if you might be cold in the woods for a few days WITHOUT RESCUE. Maybe it’s time ski areas and law enforcement in the East started charging for the time spent on rescue operations. -WEB
VERMONT STATE POLICE
PRESS RELEASE
CASE#:12C107144
TROOPERS: Trooper Daniel Hall and Trooper Aron McNeil
STATION: VSP Rutland
CONTACT#: 802-773-9101
DATE/TIME: 12/29/12 @ 1354
LOCATION: Pico Ski Resort, Killingotn , VT
VIOLATION: N/A, skier rescue
ACCUSED:
AGE:
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE:
SUBJECT: Scott Barbarossa
AGE: 50
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Norwich, CT
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
At approximately 1354 hours, the Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks received a report of a lost skier. Scott Barbarossa called 911 to report he and his 11 year old son skied into the woods off the Giant Killer ski trail at Pico Mountain and were lost. Scott maintained phone contact with the Rutland State Police until approximately 1514 hours when he advised he observed a sign for the Catamount Ski Trail. The VT State Police Search and Rescue Team, Fish and Wildlife Game Wardens, Killington Ski Patrol, and Killington Search and Rescue searched the area for Scott and his 11 year old son. At approximately 2217 hours, the lost skiers were located in a snow cave they created. Search and rescue personal walked them to Wheelerville Road in Mendon where they were evaluated by Rutland Regional Ambulance . Scott and his son did not have any injuries.
Vermont State Police highly urge skiers to abide by ski resort rules and stay on marked trails, avoiding out of bound areas while on the slopes.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 
Posted by Emily Schanck on December 30, 2012 at 08:51
You’re preaching to the choir.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4GLTE smartphone
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Posted by Careen on December 30, 2012 at 12:46
Why wouldn’t they be charged for the rescue effort ?
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Posted by Mike Wolfman on December 30, 2012 at 13:52
I’ve known Scott since we were kids. He is an excellent, very experienced skier and VERY wise man. My response is basically shut your pie hole unless you know the whole story….It would be the same thing as me assuming that since you blog, you’re an IT wuss hiding behind a computer spouting out frustrated opinions because you know better. Thank you to the people are there to help in times of need, ie. ski patrol, Coast Guard, EMTs.
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Posted by Julia Carlisle on December 31, 2012 at 19:40
WEB NOTE:
Of course, we’re glad your friends made it out OK and thanks to the good people who responded. Snow cave evidence of some good thinking.
Your disrespectfully delivered comments are directed at someone who has SERVED as a volunteer EMT with Woodstock Ambulance rescue squad, SERVED as a National Park Service Ranger, SERVED as a volunteer with AVADogs Alaska Avalanche Search and Rescue,Eaglecrest Ski Patrol and trained and volunteered with Juneau, Alaska Capital City Fire and Rescue.
WEB also served Killington Resort communications as its News Bureau Director.
We have been on scene with Killington Ski Patrol and Vermont State Police for multiple similar incidents.
We write only in support of our colleagues from first-hand knowledge of such operations.
WEB
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Posted by marsha on January 1, 2013 at 08:32
At Killington/Pico there’s no skiing out of bounds by mistake – it requires a conscious effort to leave a trail and head for the trees. This too often ends up with lost skiers with no back country experience panicking and calling 911, thus dragging volunteers out of their beds and homes to go out looking for them in very difficult conditions.
I can understand that there is currently no charge to the rescued for these operations because the area doesn’t want negative publicity. If this keeps up, however, I fear a loss of volunteers who don’t want to keep having to respond to this sort event, which is almost always fully preventable.
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Posted by Careen on December 30, 2012 at 15:21
It’s a collective ” they” not intended to be specific to your friend. Sorry to offend .
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Posted by Jeanna on December 30, 2012 at 17:00
The “why aren’t they fined” comment is directed at those intentionally drifting off of the intended path. Calling 911 when you don’t need to. Every time any equipment is used for something easily preventable, it is taking away from the people who may actually need it. I’m glad your friend and his son are okay, we don’t need any more tragedies in the area.
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Posted by Court on December 31, 2012 at 13:19
No…I do not agree that people should be charged….To me a life in danger is a life in danger..I think anyone who calls 911 thinks and feels that “their” danger is real.. And the good news is that they came out of it fine….Isn’t that what all these rescue people are for?
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Posted by Joan Rothstein on January 1, 2013 at 18:50
When you ski at Killington/Pico aren’t that what ski trails are for? When one purchases a pass to Killington/Pico, it is for skiing within the boundaries. Off-trail skiing isn’t cell phone skiing.
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Posted by Matt on February 22, 2013 at 06:10
Hopefully there were charged for the rescue. Skiing out of bounds is irresponsible, most especially if you do not know the terrain.
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