JAMBER is celebrating its second year as the official energy bar of Aspen Snowmass. To commemorate this milestone, we sat down with Marlen Wolfe, a longtime ski patroller at Aspen Highlands, to get a behind-the-scenes look at his job and the slopes he calls home.
JAMBAR: Thanks so much for talking with us, Marlen. Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you became part of ski patrol?
Marlen: Sure! I'm originally from the Boulder/Denver area and started skiing in high school, which is actually a late start for someone from Colorado. I’ve been in Aspen now for about 32 years. Twenty years ago a great opportunity at Highlands came up when they were looking for medics. Fortunately, I had my EMT certificate and became a firefighter, so it was a dual thing, a fireman and a ski patroller… what more could you ask for? I’ve just retired from the fire service, so now my main goal is to be the best ski patroller I can be. The camaraderie and the importance of the job keeps us sharp.
JAMBAR: What is your role and a typical day on the job for you?
Marlen: At the moment I'm the ski patrol snowmobile and snowcat coordinator, so I’m in charge of snowmobile training and snowcat training on the mountain. We run a snowcat for our guests to the top of our mountain where you start hiking to the Highland Bowl - it helps the morale of the guests and can make the hike more pleasurable. I also make sure the snowmobiles are in great working order in case any emergencies arise where we need to get there immediately. Patrollers are all cross-trained between avalanche work, high-angle rescues and cable rescues. So yeah - while we have specializations or proficiencies, we're all highly trained in rescue.
We have two sections on the mountain - a top-of-the-mountain crew, and then a midway crew that runs from the middle of Highlands all the way down to the base. On a typical day, we start on avalanche routes. Once we have completed creating a safe environment for our guests, mountain setup commences. We also do ski cutting (intentional traversing across the top and into slough areas of suspected release areas) and if needed, bomb placement for added security.
Once guests are on hand, any injuries that happen are mitigated and handled with the utmost professionalism. We transport them and down to a waiting definitive care unit. This can range from a few calls to many on a really busy day. On crowded days, Highlands can have upwards of 4,000 guests, which is big for us, but smaller than the other Aspen mountain ski hills.
JAMBAR: Let’s back up a minute. Throwing bombs for avalanche mitigation? Does the novelty wear off or do you still get a kick out of doing that?
Marlen: Haa! I have to admit, after so many years, the novelty of that has wavered slightly but there are not many occupations that include explosives in their job descriptions.
But overall, people say to me “you know, I see that you’re a happy squad.” I'm like, well, let me tell you, our job is special. Some things that are kinda awesome are days when hiking up the bowl can seem almost like climbing Everest with high wind blowing, low visibility, and freezing temps. After morning routes, you see some of our guys smiling, knowing they get to share this misery with their closest people, beards just caked in ice and snow. Those images and the joy it brings really make this job so rewarding. It's a beautiful mountain and working here is hands-down the best job in the world.
JAMBAR: As a patroller, what do you carry when you’re working? What do you recommend recreational skiers and boarders bring on the slopes?
Marlen: We have airbag packs, and carry a probe and a shovel. Those of us who are more medically inclined carry trauma dressing, wound care, and other intervention materials. When we head into the bowl, it’s good to have fluids and some kind of nutrition. JAMBARs are a great choice because they don’t crumble, freeze or take up much room. Other things to bring are healthy granola bars, protein electrolytes, things of that nature.
I recommend that everyone bring fluids and basics for a day in the sun - sunscreen, chapstick and good sunglasses/goggles. Snow blindness is a major concern, as is staying hydrated. When you spend time in more difficult terrain, it’s good to have a cell phone or a whistle, in case you lose coverage and need to alert people of your location. Another key thing for more challenging skiing is to take a partner. Finally, you should always wear a helmet no matter what. Things can spiral out of control quickly so maintain situational awareness at all times. Remember - safety is no accident.
JAMBAR: What are the qualities that you look for in hiring someone to join your team?
Marlen: To work a mountain like ours, the first thing we like to see is skiing ability. This is crucial because we can help elevate people's skiing abilities, but it helps to start with a good skill level. Second, a medical certification - either an Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course or EMT certificate- is mandatory. Next is personality. We need team players who will be able to handle the kind of situations that happen on this mountain. At times, they will work in very stressful situations and still need to bring the professionalism we strive for.
JAMBAR: Powder Magazine calls Aspen Highlands’ namesake bowl “the best inbound big-mountain skiing in the lower 48.” Highlands Bowl is beloved by locals and seen as a rite of passage. Can you tell us more about this iconic, hike-to spot? What is the age range of people you’ve seen ski or ride here?
Marlen: Starting small - I’ve taken my own kids, from about age six, and the age range for people goes all the way up to a 90-year-old. It’s definitely seen as a rite of passage. Our local kids start ski school when they are about three or so, by the time they are six, seven, eight, some of them are ready to go. The main factor is it can be a really intense hike. Education delivers the best outcome. If you're in great shape, this hike should take about 30-45 minutes. It can take up to an hour for our more mature patrollers (like myself). When you start putting weather into the equation, it can be rather extreme, so we don’t see a lot of kids making the hike on those days.
The thing that is really iconic about Highland Bowl are the views. Once you get to the top of the Bowl, it’s easily one of the most incredible visuals in North America. It’s simply spectacular.
We actually give out Bowl pins when you hike to the top. You either need a witness or some pictures to prove you made it (sometimes we will take your word for it). You put that pin on your jacket and it’s recognized pretty much around the world! This is how we reward your efforts. It gives you a claim to fame and a way to connect with the other fortunate skiers who have made the trek.
JAMBAR: Does anyone ever make the hike, get to Highland Bowl and decide to turn back? Is that even possible?
Marlen: It does happen, there are times we catch people who really don’t know what they are getting into - either they didn’t do their homework or they realize they are out of their depth. With those folks, we’ll escort them down or take them down a route to make sure they get down safely.
JAMBAR: In addition to its challenging expert terrain, Aspen Highlands also offers some great intermediate runs. What do you recommend for someone who isn’t quite ready for Highland Bowl?
Marlen: We have a great graduated series of bowls and runs for intermediate to advanced skiers. They are awesome in their own right and it also gives people a way to figure out if they are ready for the next level. Steeplechase is still double black, but it’s more wide open and in places also offers an alpine feeling. There's the Olympic Bowl (Oly bowl) with everything from hard blues to single and double blacks; these are also shorter runs so if you get into trouble at least it's over quickly. What this really means is guests can decide what they prefer and what type of vertical to try. If they are still on the bubble about trying Highland Bowl, we direct them to the Oly side and finally Steeplechase. We say if you can ski Steeplechase, you can ski the Highland Bowl.
JAMBAR: When do you eat JAMBARs? What’s your favorite flavor?
Marlen: That’s a tough question! Some days, I’m in the mood for fruit flavors, and others, I want my chocolate or peanut butter fix. When I first tried them, I said, “these guys are on to something.” A lot of times, you’re trying to take as little weight as possible up to the bowl, so these bars pack in the nutrition and flavor and are perfect for the mountain.
JAMBAR: Is there a safe way to ski or board while listening to music or do you recommend saving the tunes for après-ski? Who are some of your favorite musical artists?
Marlen: In my opinion, music should be an after-skiing thing. People get too distracted and we see more collision injuries from folks with headphones on who are not paying attention. Again, situational awareness. People have to remember there are other folks enjoying the same space, and safety comes first on any mountain.
I love music as much as the next person. Listening to a great track by Pink Floyd sets a great vibe, or stepping it up with a little bit of AC/DC or Van Halen is never a bad thing…yep, old school!
JAMBAR: Speaking of après-ski, what do you consider the best local spot to unwind and have fun after a day on the slopes?
Marlen: We are lucky enough to have a great restaurant and bar at the base of the mountain. It’s called Highlands Alehouse and is the best place to relax at the end of a day, definitely a late afternoon hangout for locals.
JAMBAR: Thanks, Marlen - it’s been awesome getting to know you and Highlands. Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Marlen: My best advice for anyone coming to our valley is to do your homework. It will save you a lot of time and energy and will help you find the perfect match for your skill level. We have four incredible mountains - Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. If you’re a beginner, you’re not going to want to start at Aspen Highlands, but you’ll have a great time at some of our other hills. And if you’re a more advanced skier, Highlands is going to be one of the most memorable experiences you’ve ever had on the slopes. I love handing out Highland Bowl pins to JAMBAR fans! Hope to see you all soon.