Biographies: Course Instructors

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Co-Instructors of Record ("IOR")

Despite the volunteer status of the two lead instructors (since they earn their livings off the snow), they bring many professional credentials to their teaching, as well as many years of ski touring experience. And in addition to their NSP instruction in avalanche safety and also mountain travel/rescue courses, both have undergone additional avalanche instructor training from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (“AIARE”), and both are members of the American Avalanche Association.

Mark Renson is a National Ski Patrol Alpine Senior Patroller and member of the Mad River Glen and Mount Washington ski patrols. His U.S. avalanche training includes Level 1 from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, Level 2 from Chauvin Guides International, Level 3 from the American Avalanche Institute, and the National Avalanche School. He also has a Canadian Avalanche Skills Training (“AST”) Level 2 Certificate via the Ski Mountaineering Leadership Course from SME. In addition to the Northeast, his ski touring and ski mountaineering has mainly been in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies.

Jonathan Shefftz is a National Ski Patrol Nordic Patroller with Northfield Mountain and the newly formed Thunderbolt Ski Patrol. He is also a PSIA-certified alpine ski instructor, PSIA-certified nordic ski instructor, U.S. Ski Association alpine race coach, and organizer of a ski mountaineering race series. His avalanche training includes Level 1 from the National Ski Patrol and both Level 2 and 3 from Chauvin Guides International. In addition to the Northeast, his ski touring and ski mountaineering has mainly been in the Sierra and Pacific Northwest. He has published extensively on the assessment (both quantitative and qualitative) of avalanche incidents also written comprehensive reviews of avalanche beacons and other ski gear.

Assistant Instructors

Robert Duris will assist at the Fall Session. He is the Assistant Patrol Representative at Northfield Mountain and a recipient of the NSP Yellow Merit Star award for his many years as an avalanche safety instructor, mountain travel/rescue instructor trainer, nordic instructor trainer, and Outdoor Emergency Care instructor. As a private pilot, he is especially interested in mountain weather, and as an electrical engineer, he actually understands how avalanche beacons work.

Eric Zaharee will assist at both the Fall Session and Winter Field Sessions. He patrols for both Ragged Mountain and Mount Washington, and is the NSP NH Region Advisor for mountain travel/rescue training. His training includes military advanced survival and land navigation, ski mountaineering with the Austrian Army, and combat life saver. In addition to his NSP instruction in both avalanche safety and mountain travel/rescue, he has provided military ski training, as well as training to Iraqi police forces.