EXCERPT FROM THE POST GAZETTE                                    

LAUREL HIGHLANDS' EMERGENCY SERVICES WORKERS KEEP SKI TRAILS SAFE

 BAKERSVILLE -- The snow-covered parking lots were filling up quickly with carloads of enthusiastic cross-country skiers Saturday at Kooser State Park, a few miles east of this Somerset County community.

While some unloaded skis, poles and boots from their vehicles, others headed to the nearby ranger's office that serves as the weekend headquarters of the Laurel Highlands Nordic Ski Patrol. The short walk took them past shoulder-high piles of snow plowed from the parking lots.

As the visitors entered the cabin, they were greeted by patrol director Jerry Timcik of Bakersville and eight other members preparing for a busy day of patrolling up to 38 miles of cross-country, also called Nordic skiing, trails in Somerset and Westmoreland counties.

Several visitors asked for maps that designate cross-country trails with a series of green dots. Two women, pleased to find indoor plumbing, joined a short line for the restroom. Other visitors who filled the room asked about snow conditions.

"Great," Timcik replied. "The season got off to a slow start in early December, but the Laurel Highlands has received more than 40 inches of snow since New Year's Day. It's been absolutely wonderful."

The patrol, formerly the Hidden Valley Nordic Ski Patrol, moved to Kooser this season. "Park manager Mike Mumau welcomed us with open arms," Timcik said. "We're delighted to work closely with him and district forester Ed Callahan."

The patrol trains with the Laurel Hill Nordic Ski Patrol based on Laurel Mountain.

Timcik, 62, of Bakersville, a carpenter who sports a Santa Claus beard, has been an Alpine, or downhill, skier and Nordic member of the National Ski Patrol for more than 30 years. He also has taught Alpine and Nordic skiing. He

 

 

serves as a Nordic adviser to the Western Appalachian Region of the national patrol.

He introduced several members of the patrol, including assistant director Fred Fargotstein of Morningside, Diane Murray of Bakersville, Eleonore Randolph of Morgantown and Dave Shaeffer of Wheeling, W. Va.

Murray tells visitors that Nordic skiing is easy.

"If you can walk, you can ski. And we'll gladly provide a lesson at no cost."

Fargotstein, a trim 50-year-old architect and former Alpine patroller at Hidden Valley, has been a Nordic patroller for six years.

"The extensive medical training appealed to me," he said, referring to training that is the equivalent to EMT-B certification.

"The state recognizes us as emergency medical responders," he said. "We also receive specialized training related to delivering care in remote situations where assistance and support facilities are not immediately available."

Patrollers also are trained in backcountry skiing, mountaineering, orienteering, survival, search and rescue, avalanche safety and winter camping.

Fargotstein carries a 25-pound backpack that holds first-aid equipment and basic survival gear including water bottles, ropes for low angle rescue, webbing, splints, a tarp, lightweight blanket, fire-starting materials and powdered cider and tea to ward off hypothermia.

Schaeffer, a patroller for 35 years who looks a decade younger than his 80 years, said the most common injuries are blisters and sprained wrists and knees. If an injury is serious, the patrol uses cell phones to call for backup from state park and forest personnel.

For information on becoming a Nordic patroller, contact Timcik at 814-445-6734 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Kooser State Park, which has three miles of beginner trails, is on Route 31 about halfway between the Donegal and Somerset exits of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information, call 814-445-7725.

Intermediate and advanced trails can be found in Forbes State Forest.

 

Thrifty Ski Rental in Donegal (724-593-6404) and Route 31 Bike, Board & Ski in Somerset (814-443-1282) are the closest places to rent a skis, boots and poles. The cost is $18 and $15.99, respectively.