Peter Snyder

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Pete Snyder’s first experience skiing in 1942, at age four, was the beginning of a lifetime of involvement in winter sports and serving the public and other members of the National Ski Patrol. Pete’s NSP career began in 1952 as a junior patroller, when he followed in his father’s patroller footsteps. Pete’s son has also followed his father, and is a long-time NSP member, as is Pete’s spouse. As both a Senior level Nordic and Alpine Patroller, Patrol Director, Instructor, Instructor Trainer, Region, Division, and National Advisor, the contributions made by Pete Snyder are legendary within the NSP. In 1983 Pete was awarded National Appointment number #6243, one of the most significant national awards sponsored by NSP and he has also received numerous other significant awards, including the Eastern PA Region and Eastern Division Outstanding Patroller Awards, which are named in his honor.

Pete was responsible for starting a number of ski patrols at various nordic/cross country ski areas throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. He was also instrumental in creating the NSP Eastern Division “Nordic Fest”, which is a major conference/training session focusing on Nordic and cross country skiing and outdoor survival skills. Always interested in involving more individuals in the outdoors, patrolling, and just having fun, Pete has taught, and served as an advisor, for virtually all of the educational courses offered by the NSP. Pete was responsible for the beginnings of what is now the NSP Instructor Development Course, a nationally recognized instructional course to train lay persons to become instructors. He has served as an instructor for the NSP Outdoor Emergency Care first aid course. He works with the Mountain Travel and Rescue Course, which teaches outdoor survival and search and rescue techniques. He was a major contributor to the text utilized for that course and the Nordic skiing training manual, as well serving on the NSP National Nordic and MTR Committees. Over the years, Pete has also served as an advisor and on numerous committees, representing NSP region and division training disciplines. Pete was also responsible for introducing Nordic skiing skills to the NSP Eastern Division Junior Patroller Training Seminar. For many years, he also has served as a presenter for the “Hug-a-Tree and Survive” program, which teaches children and “larger” children how not to get lost and how to survive in the outdoors. Pete also serves as a NASAR Search Manager for Wayne and Pike County Search and Rescue, in cooperation with PA State Police.

Pete earned a BS degree in Mechanical engineering at the University of Vermont and went on to fulfill a long career utilizing those skills. He also worked in a few other “careers”, such as marina owner/operator, carpenter/contractor, farmer, sheep shearer, and maple syrup producer. Pete’s service also includes a stint in the US Army, including serving in Germany during the Berlin Crisis, and many years of contributions to organizations such as the Northeastern PA Audubon society, the Wayne Conservation District, the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District, the Lake Township Planning Board, and the Boy Scouts (Pete earned the rank of Eagle Scout at age fifteen).

Pete enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including skiing, camping (all seasons), canoeing, kayaking, fishing, sailing, hiking, traveling, and tennis. Truly a “Man for all Seasons”, outdoor recreationalists can hope to benefit from Pete’s contributions for many years to come.