Trail Maintenance Crew

Vail Resorts•Mount Crested Butte, CO

2d•$20 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

The Crested Butte Ski Patrol is hiring paid boot packers to support pre-season snow compaction in Crested Butte Mountain Resort avalanche terrain. Boot packing involves walking downhill through avalanche start zones, usually without skis, to break through and compact snow layers and help create a denser, more cohesive snowpack. This is strenuous outdoor work at high altitude in severe winter conditions, comparable to mountaineering, with risks that include falls and possible avalanche involvement. Snowboards are unsuitable because the work requires extensive traversing. Applicants must be expert skiers. This is a winter seasonal position for 2026/2027, with full-time hours available but irregular and weather-dependent scheduling. Work begins when sufficient snow is available; in past seasons it has started as early as December 1 and generally finished before mid-February. The position requires at least 60 paid hours and no more than 120 paid hours. If the minimum is not met through boot packing, employees must complete the remaining hours in a secondary department, likely Lift Operations and scanning. Housing is not available.

Requirements

At least 18 years of age.
Expert skier able to move safely through very rocky, steep terrain, often with little snow.
Adequate, working, modern ski equipment that passes an equipment check; equipment will receive heavy use.
Ability and willingness to walk on and over rocks in skis or ski boots.
Ability to work at least 60 paid hours and no more than 120 paid hours.
Flexible availability seven days a week from mid-December through early February, with scheduling dictated by unpredictable weather, snowpack, and ski-area operational objectives.
Ability to perform extremely strenuous outdoor work in severe winter conditions at high altitude, with the inherent risks of falls and possible avalanche involvement.
Wear a modern avalanche beacon (less than five years old) each shift; a beacon will be assigned if the employee does not have one.
Wear full winter clothing suitable for entire days outdoors.
Provide a suitable backpack and personal lunch and water; personal avalanche gear may also be carried.
Use sturdy-soled ski boots; alpine touring or telemark boots are identified as ideal footwear.

Nice To Haves

Alpine touring or telemark boots are ideal footwear.

Responsibilities

Walk downhill through avalanche start zones, generally without skis, to compact the snowpack.
Work scheduled boot-packing shifts when weather, snow conditions, and ski-area operations allow.
Complete at least 60 paid hours, using any combination of three-hour shifts, and do not exceed 120 paid hours.
Assist with on-mountain work projects as required, which may include shoveling and carrying gear weighing up to 25 pounds while riding surface lifts.
Complete remaining required hours in a secondary department, likely Lift Operations and scanning, if fewer than 60 hours are completed through boot packing.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Wear the company-provided safety vest during every boot-packing shift.