When the greatest powder days of the year roll around, the possibilities and opportunities feel endless. But anyone who has spent time in Jackson knows our best days are made possible by the tireless, often unseen work of the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol — and by the unwavering support of the Rendezvous Peak Patrol (RPK).
They are the first ones up in the dark and the last ones down when the lifts stop running. While most of us are still pouring coffee or pulling our boots on, patrollers are already out there — assessing snowpack, mitigating avalanche danger, setting routes, and making the terrain safe. Explosives in hand and radios crackling in the cold morning air — this is work that requires precision, courage, and deep respect for the mountain.
These are not just professionals doing a job. They are skiers and riders, parents and partners, friends and neighbors. They are part of the fabric of this community. They are the ones who you share a chairlift with and the ones who show up when things go wrong.
And this past week has reminded us, in the most heartbreaking way, just how fragile life in the mountains can be.
The tragedy at Castle Peak has shaken our community to its core. Our hearts are with friends, families, and loved ones who are carrying unimaginable loss right now. No words can soften the weight of that grief, but we stand in it together — a mountain community bound by love, memory, and shared respect for the wild places that shape us.
Moments like this bring clarity. They remind us that risk is real and that the work of patrollers is not routine — it is essential, and it is often dangerous. Supporting RPK means honoring the skill, sacrifice, and humanity behind every safe opening, every rescue, and every long day in brutal conditions so the rest of us can experience joy.
If you’ve ever had a perfect powder day in Jackson, you owe a piece of it to them.
Please celebrate with us. Donate if you can. Attend fundraisers. Wear your support. Say thank you when you see a patroller loading the tram with tired eyes and a frost-covered face. Teach the next generation who these heroes are and why they matter.
Because great mountains don’t just have great terrain.
They have great people watching over it.
To the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol and RPK:
Thank you for your bravery.
Thank you for your dedication.
Thank you for giving us the gift of safe adventure.
And to those grieving after the Castle Peak tragedy — we hold you in our hearts. You are not alone. This community stands beside you, now and always.
Ski safe. Love big. Support your patrol.