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Ski Patroller Pair Continue To
Serve NSP - Make Comeback After Tragic
Accident & Hits Slopes Again
By Mark Andrews
Ken Hall and Kathy Riley Hall have collectively
devoted over two decades of service to the
National Ski Patrol (NSP). Both have
maintained membership with the Massanutten
Ski Patrol and the Shenadoah Nordic Patrol. The
husband and wife team have also devoted
countless hours as Outdoor Emergency Care
(OEC) Instructors teaching the NSP- Outdoor
Emergency Care course to patrollers and new
candidate patrollers. The two have also helped
organize and instruct at the required annual
OEC refresher course for all members of the
Massanutten Ski Patrol. Ken and Kathy also
fulfill their patrol duties covering aid room shifts
and on-the-hill patrol requirements. If this is not
enough, they have raised a beautiful 16 y/o
daughter, Emily who is very responsible, and a
good skier in her own right.
In the summer 1996, the couple were in a
serious near fatal automobile accident. In the fall
of 1996, Ken suffered a brain annuerism which
doctors believe was caused by the car accident.
Presenting with functional deficits similar to a
hemiplegic with sensory-motor deficits primarily
on the right side of his body,and some cogitive
processing problems, Ken has continued to work
hard receiving physical, occupational and
recreational therapy as well as vocational
retraining.
 One thing that has motivated Ken throughout his
rehabilitation process is his love for skiing and
patrolling. Kathy and Emily have supported Ken
as he has worked through many transitions in
adaptive skiing.
Andrews, Director of Massanutten Adaptive
Snow Sports and a Senior member of the NSP,
introduced Ken to the new challenges and joys
of adaptive skiing. According to Andrews, Ken's
persistence and hard work has paid off. He has
made significant gains in the progressions of
skiing in a Bi-ski with an attached fixed
outrigger and one hand-held outrigger. That was
not enough for Ken. He kept his sights set high
and his goals focused--to do whatever was
necessary to once again ski standing up! Ken put
in a lot of time on the snow with Andrews and
other fellow patrollers. Success! When it was all
said and done, Ken 4-Tracked down the slope
-"Southern Comfort" with minimal assistance.
Throughout the winter, Ken now splits his time
between instructing for the ski patrol,
performing first aid room duties, and adaptive
skiing (4-track & Bi-ski). Recovery and
rehabilitation continues and the Hall family
meets life's challenging transitions the only way
they know how - head-on and with a passion to
leave a lasting imprint.
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