Snow Angel patrollers, Courtesy NSP

In 2025, I wrote a story about the lifesaving app, Airflare (https://highonadventure.com/hoa25may/lynn/airflare.htm). This cell phone app is used by ski patrol teams and outdoor adventurers across the North American continent. It enables searchers to locate lost people in trouble and ultimately save their lives, and is used mainly in ski areas and the outback.

Airfare has been so successful in its mission via its app to locate adventurers in trouble and save lives, it has recently teamed up with the Snow Angel Foundation to strengthen both organizations' commitment to promote safer skiing and snowboarding through education, awareness, and user-friendly technology.

	The nonprofit Snow Angel Foundation was founded in 2023 by Kelli and Chauncy Johnson, whose lives were tragically changed by a Christmas Eve preventable collision with a speeding snowboarder. The crash resulted in the death of their five-year-old daughter, Elise, and left Kelli with life-altering injuries, including a severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Driven by their commitment to preventing similar tragedies, Chauncy, who previously partnered with the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) to promote the “Ride Another Day” safety campaign, established the foundation to bolster safety education and promote responsible recreation. Visit https://snowangelfoundation.org/. According to Chauncy Johnson, founder of the nonprofit Snow Angel Foundation, “Our mission...is to transform our pain into positive action. Partnering with National Ski Patrol allows us to reach a wider audience and amplify our message of safety. We believe that by working together, we can help prevent future tragedies so that everyone can enjoy the mountains safely.”
			Snow Angel founders Kelli and Chauncy Johnson, Courtesy Snow Angel Foundation

“This partnership with Snow Angel Foundation is a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to safety,” said Stephanie Cox, CEO of National Ski Patrol. “Chauncy and Kelli’s dedication to preventing collisions, born from their own profound loss, is truly inspiring. By combining their passion with NSP’s expertise, we can create a powerful synergy that will benefit the skiing and snowboarding community.”

Snow Angel Ski Patrol, Courtesy Jackson Hole Ski Patrol

National Ski Patrol (NSP), is a nonprofit education and membership association, and the leading authority of on-mountain safety. NSP is dedicated to serving the outdoor recreation industry by providing education and training to emergency care and safety service providers. With more than 30,000 members across 650 patrols, and affiliated organizations in Canada, Europe, and Asia, NSP is one of the largest organizations committed to safety and rescue education for the outdoor industry. Members include trained patrollers, as well as mountain and bike hosts, alumni, associates, and doctors, all working on behalf of local ski/snowboard areas and bike parks to keep outdoor enthusiasts safe. Founded in 1938, NSP continues to advance its commitment to safety by using education and the latest technology and practices. Visit https://nsp.org/, and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Lynn Rosen is an Emmy award-winning TV broadcaster, producer and director, and has been on the Journalism and Theatre faculties at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. She’s also a theater critic, travel writer, published author, fearless skier and belongs to the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) and the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).