John Mletschnig

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science, University of Utah.
Major: Geography
Emphasis: Environmental and Physical Geography

Graduate of Lyme-Old Lyme High School, Old Lyme, CT

EMTB- University of Utah, 2004, 2008.
BLS- University of Utah, 2004- present.

USA Level I- equivalent- Snow and Avalanche, University of Utah
USA Level II-III- equivalent- Snow Dynamics and Avalanche Studies, University of Utah, Alta Utah.
USA National Avalanche School-19th
NZ Approved Handler (Explosives)

EXPERIENCE

Ski Guide, Points North Heli Adventures, Cordova Alaska, 2008.

Snow Safety and Ski Patrol Director, Mt. Olympus Ski Area, Canterbury, New Zealand, 2008 to present. Work entails forecasting slope stability and the need for avalanche control measures for safe operation of the ski area and access road. Daily record keeping and in-depth analysis of the snowpack and meteorological factors are essential in effectively managing the ski area and for contributing to the public avalanche advisory through the Mountain Safety Council. Managing both professional and volunteer ski patrols while organizing and conducting medical, avalanche rescue and avalanche control training for these entities highlights the job.

Ski Guide, Park City Powder Cats, Weber Canyon, Utah, 2007 to present. Work consists of guiding groups snowcat-skiing on the Thousand Peaks Ranch in northern Utah’s Uintah Mountains. A normal day includes ski guiding, snowcat driving and/or maintaining infrastructure while keeping a daily record of weather and snowpack observations. These observations are then disseminated to help forecast slope stability and maintain the upmost of group safety. Passive avalanche mitigation techniques are the norm.

Ski Guide, Exum Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2008 to present. This Part-time work is contract based and entails guiding backcountry ski tours within the Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood and Mill Creek Canyon areas of the central Wasatch Mountains, Utah.

Snow Safety and Ski Patrol Director / Lead Cat Ski Guide, Mount Potts Backcountry, Canterbury, New Zealand, early winter 2007. Work entailed forecasting slope stability and the use of passive and active avalanche control measures for safe operation of the helicopter accessed cat ski area. Guiding clients around the ski area in small groups and driving the snow cat constituted the daily norm.

Ski Patrol, Mt. Olympus Ski Area, Canterbury, New Zealand, late winter 2007. Avalanche control, emergency medicine, backcountry rescue and overall public relations highlighted the job.

Snow Safety and Ski Patrol Director, Mt. Cheeseman Ski Area, Canterbury, New Zealand, 2006. Work entailed forecasting slope stability and the need for avalanche control measures for safe operation of the ski area and access road. Daily record keeping and in-depth analysis of the snowpack and meteorological factors were essential in effectively managing the ski area and for contributing to the public avalanche advisory through the Mountain Safety Council. Managing both the professional and volunteer ski patrols while organizing and conducting medical, avalanche rescue and avalanche control training for these entities highlighted the job.

Ski Patrol, Solitude Ski Resort, Solitude, UT, 2003 to 2006. Work entailed keeping the slopes safe to ski and helping the public as they need. Avalanche control, emergency medicine, backcountry rescue and overall public relations highlighted the job.

Ski Guide, Solitude Backtracks, Solitude, UT, 2005 –2006. Work entailed guiding touring parties in the backcountry accessible from Solitude.

River Guide, Living Waters Recreation, Mount Shasta, CA, 2005. Work included guiding single and multi-day raft trips on the Klamath and Sacramento rivers in northern California and southern Oregon. River sections were rated from class II to IV+.

Ski Instruction, Solitude Ski Resort, Solitude, UT, December 2003. Work entailed teaching youth how to ski and ski better.

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council Info-Ex Contributor 2006 to present.

Craigieburn Range, NZ, Avalanche Rescue Scenario Organizer 2006. Organized an annual avalanche rescue scenario, this particular time held at night for seven ski areas of the northern South Island to practice skills and determine trouble area for future avalanche rescues.

Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, member in the central Wasatch Mountains, 2004 to 2006.

SKI MOUNTAINEERING ZONES

Central and Northern Wasatch Mountains, UT.
Uintah Mountains, UT.
Stansbury Mountains, UT.
Snake River Range, WY.
Teton Range, WY-ID. Including a ski traverse of the Teton Crest
Absaroka Range, WY.
Sawtooth Mountains, ID.
Sawatch Range, CO.
Front Range, CO.
White Mountains, NH.
Chugach Range, AK.
Heney Range, AK. Including a point to point tour of the length of the range.
Chilcat Mountains, BC.
Selkirk Mountains, BC.
Purcell Mountains, BC.
Craigieburn Range, NZ.
Potts Range, NZ.
North Cascade Range, WA

Cascade Range, CA, WA Volcanos:
Mt. Shasta, CA. Avalanche Gulch to the Trinity Chutes, three summit ski descents / Casaval Ridge to West Face ski descent / Sergeants Ridge to Mud Creek Hourglass Couloir ski descent/ Hotlum Glacier summit ski descent / Hotlum-Wintun Ridge twice, summit ski descents / Hotlum -Bolum Ridge ski descent.
Mt. Shastina, Diller Canyon summit ski descent.
Mt. Lassen, NE Face summit ski descent.
Mt. Adams, South Spur to Southwest Chutes summit ski descent / South Spur.
Mt. Baker, Boulder Glacier summit ski descent.
Mt. Rainier, Fuhrer Finger summit ski descent.
Mt. Shuksan, Sulphide Glacier ski descent.
Mt. St. Helens, Worm Flows summit ski descent.

OTHER INTERESTS

Rock Climbing
Canyoneering
Sailing
Diving
Rafting
Photography
Eating