I'm a licensed FCC amateur radio operator at the General level, and want to share details on the advantages and benefits of being a licensed radio operator and an avid skier for safety reasons. In the photo to the right is a Yaesu FT-60R that is a radio designed for amateur radio operation on the 2m and 70cm bands. The benefit to having this radio handy is that even without a license, you can monitor the Ski Patrol if you know the frequency they use on the mountain.
Using this radio, you can not communicate with the Ski Patrol, unless there was a member who is also an amateur radio operator, and has a similar radio, and hears you on a licensed frequency. More later on this...
Stay tuned for detailed information on this topic as it seems to be a misunderstood one to say the least. I never ski without a handheld amateur radio in my ski jacket primarily because I ski alone most of the time, and have had two emergencies at the Summit, one involving a tree well, and the other involving a crash that tossed me off-piste down a ravine, and if it weren't for the help of fellow skiers, I cold have ended up in serious trouble.
I've taken the time to study and test for an official FCC license to operate amateur radio in order to aid in potential life-threatening situations I may end up in, or that of other skiers or snowboarders up at the Summit to render any aid possible to my fellow enthusiasts.