Ski and Mountain Trauma Conference Returns to Sun Valley, Nov. 5—7

Three-day event delivers hands-on training for rural EMS, ski patrol, and first responders

In rural communities and on mountains across the West, every second counts when it comes to emergency medical care, and delays can mean the critical difference in a patient’s journey.  

EMS response times in rural areas average 20 minutes longer than the national standard, with nearly 40% of calls involving patients with complex, traumatic injuries. While approximately 75% of U.S. ski patrols require Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) certification—a nationally recognized standard for providing emergency medical care in outdoor environments—only about half of the agencies currently have a designated medical director. This presents an opportunity to enhance clinical support and ensure ski patrollers receive consistent guidance and ongoing training, ultimately improving emergency response and patient outcomes in remote, high-risk settings. 

To strengthen the frontline from rural trauma care to the ski slopes, the Saint Alphonsus Ski and Mountain Trauma Conference returns to Sun Valley from November 5-7, equipping full-time and volunteer first responders with advanced, life-saving training tailored to the unique challenges of rural environments. 

From immersive simulations to hands-on workshops and expert-led lectures, the conference will deliver cutting-edge training and tactics to Emergency Medical Technicians, paramedics, firefighters, ski patrol members, law enforcement officers and search and rescue teams.  

“First responders are the cornerstone of every trauma patient’s journey,” said Dr. Brian Coates, Saint Alphonsus Medical Director of the Trauma Service Line. “Their informed, boots-on-the-ground decision-making lays the groundwork for the care we provide at our Level II Trauma Center, and this conference is one way to help keep them moving fast, sharp, and showing up ready for the moments when everything is on the line.”  

During the conference, now in its eighteenth year, more than 300 first responders from across the country will come together to learn from clinically renowned speakers, instructors, and presenters including Keynote Cody Byrns, Saint Alphonsus Trauma Surgeon Dr. Ethan Taub, and Sun Valley Ski Patrol Medical Trainer Tess Alphas.   

The in-demand conference sees many returning participants and new faces alike. Dr. Pete Muskat, a Bogus Basin Volunteer Ski Patrol Leader and retired trauma surgeon, is one of the first-time attendees of the conference.  

“I’m looking forward to seeing what’s being taught to pre-hospital personnel and how it applies to our ski patrol environment,” said Dr. Muskat, ski patrol leader, retired trauma surgeon, and educator who has led the Bogus Basin Volunteer Ski Patrol for the past two seasons. “I’ve heard great things from colleagues who’ve attended in the past, and with 12 of our patrollers signed up this year, it’s a unique opportunity to learn and grow together.”

With nine seasons on the mountain and a deep commitment to professional volunteerism, he’s proud to lead a diverse team of over 120 weekend volunteers, including physicians, PAs, nurses, carpenters, and executives. All patrollers are EMT-level professionals, and the team is constantly training in mountain safety, medical response, and toboggan handling. The conference offers a chance to deepen those skills, especially for patrollers without formal medical backgrounds. It expands their capabilities in real-world scenarios and builds confidence in the field. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing how this conference builds on the strong foundation we’ve created,” Dr. Muskat said. “It’s a way to elevate our team’s readiness and reinforce our mission to be a highly qualified, responsive patrol.”