Explosive Handling Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Create Your Experience of a Lifetime!

Come work and play in the mountains!  Whether it’s your first-time seeing snow or you were born on the slopes, joining our team means discovering (or re-discovering!) a passion for the outdoors while building lifelong connections with teammates and guests from around the world.

With 40+ resorts across 3 continents, you can join our team for a season or stay to build a career. From day one, you'll receive some of the highest compensation rates in the industry, free pass(es) along with free ski and snowboard lessons, 40% retail discounts, the chance to grow through Epic Service - our leading training and development experience, and wellness benefits to fuel your success.

Hiring for our seasonal positions occurs on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted until December 15th or until the positions are filled (whichever is first).

Employee Benefits

•    Ski/Mountain Perks! Free passes for employees, employee discounted lift tickets for friends and family AND free ski lessons 
•    MORE employee discounts on lodging, food, gear, and mountain shuttles
•    401(k) Retirement Plan 
•    Employee Assistance Program
•    Excellent training and professional development
•    Referral Program

To Learn More, please review the Benefits Eligibility Summary

Job Summary: 

Our mission is to create the Experience of a Lifetime for our employees, and for our guests. Responsible for promoting the safety and security of staff and guests on the mountain, Ski Patrol are skilled, attentive and dependable professionals with the ability to remain calm in a crisis when incidents arise. 

Job Specifications:  

• Starting Wage: $21/hr - $25.05/hr  

• Employment Type: Winter Seasonal 2026/2027   

• Shift Type: Full Time and Part Time hours available
• Minimum Age: At least 18 years of age   

• Housing Availability: Yes 

Job Responsibilities:

• Providing first aid and basic life support
• Transport and transfer of injured and ill guests
• All appropriate record keeping, written and digital
• Slope safety
• Trail setup, maintenance and tear down
• Mountain Sweeps
• Lift evacuation
• Avalanche mitigation and explosives handling
• Snowmobile operating

Job requirements:

• Be 18+ or 21+ years old before November 1, 2026
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Be an EXPERT skier with the ability to safely and confidently ski all portions of the mountain in any condition. (Keep in mind mountain terrain and conditions in the Rockies can be significantly more challenging than most mid-west and eastern ski areas).
• Participate in and pass a ski test on an assigned date (to be determined) in March or April 2026
• Be able to work in a high alpine environment
• Available to work holidays and weekends
• Work well in a team  
• Have excellent guest service skills
• Work full time (5 days per week) from mid-October 2026 until April 30th, 2027 or longer.
• Participate in and pass National Ski Patrol’s Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course and new patroller orientation. (Courses provided in the fall of 2026).

Preferred:

• Previous ski patrol or ski industry experience
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification or higher
• Avalanche education
• Fluency in a language other than English

The expected pay range is $21/hr - $25.05/hr. This is the pay range we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Individual compensation decisions are based on a variety of factors.

In completing this application, and when submitting related documentation, applicants may redact information that identifies their age, date of birth, and/or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. 

We follow all federal, state, and local laws including restrictions on child/minor labor. Minors hired into this position will not be asked or permitted to engage in any activities restricted to adult workers.

Vail Resorts is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

Requisition ID  515699
Reference Date: 07/14/2026 
Job Code Function: Ski Patrol