Hall remembered by family with generous donation

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Mary and Carter Hall are donating $2,000 to the Ski 4 Life Program in honor of their son Nick Hall, a climbing ranger, who was fatally injured last summer on Mt. Rainier in a rescue attempt to save stranded climbers.
    The Nick Hall Memorial Fund will fully fund the first eight, first-time Katahdin elementary skiers for the season during the Ski 4 Life Program at Bigrock Ski Area in Mars Hill.
Contributed photograph
DONATION — Aaron Hall, left, brother of the late Nick Hall, presented Katahdin Elementary School Principal Chris Cunningham with a $2,000 donation to be used for Katahdin students. Also in the photograph is  Aaron  Hall’s daughter, Avery.
    Hall was a graduate of Katahdin High School in Stacyville and went on to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving six years as an avionics technician, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He then went on to complete a bachelor’s degree focusing on outdoor recreation and business at Western State College in Gunnison, Colo.
    Hall’s obituary stated he had a great passion for the outdoors and mountainous areas drew him to the Rockies where he studied and honed his alpine skills coinciding with his adventurous spirit. Hall worked as a ski patrol/EMT at North Star near Reno, Nevada and later Stevens Pass in Washington State. He also worked for the Bureau of Land Management in remote areas of Utah spending numerous days on the Colorado River. Finally, Hall became an avalanche forecaster for Yellowstone National Park, as well as being a climbing ranger at Mt. Rainier National Park in the summer seasons.
    Hall began downhill skiing at Bigrock in Mars Hill with his family at a young age and developed a true love and skill for the sport. His family would like to help foster that same passion for skiing in others.
    Hall’s enthusiasm for the outdoors and mountaineering was matched by few, often spending in excess of 100 days each year on skis, according to his obituary.
    “Last season, the Ski 4 Life Program provided opportunities for hundreds of youth from Caribou and Limestone to Ashland and Houlton and to the Katahdin area, and almost every town in-between,” said Mark Shea, coordinator for Ski 4 Life Program. “Students were able to get outside and be active in the winter.”
    The Ski 4 Life Program is offered to K-12 students, with family members skiing at the reduced rate of $10 per person.
    The Big Rock Ski for Life Program in Mars Hill provides an opportunity for students to develop skiing and snowboarding as a lifetime sport.
    “There are also opportunities to incorporate other educational elements into the program such as environmental education, outdoor leadership and team building,” said Shea. “The Ski 4 Life Program is a structured lesson program. Safety is the number-one priority of Bigrock Mountain Ski Area. All students in the program will be skiing with an instructor for at least 60 minutes.”
    The cost for the 2012-13 season increased to $10, including lift ticket, rental equipment, and instruction.     Lessons last a minimum of 60 minutes and at least 45 minutes should be allowed after lesson time for the students to practice the skills learned and to have some fun, added Shea. All students will be required to wear a helmet.       
    According to Shea, the program is structured for a series of weeks, usually six to 10 weeks, depending on the school or recreation department. This is an instructional program and lessons are provided for all skiing and snowboarding abilities.
    Anyone wishing to donate to the Ski 4 Life Program or if a school/group wants to sign up, call the Bigrock Ski Area and talk to Shea at 425-6711.