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Yosemite, CA – The Yosemite Winter Club today awarded Yosemite National Park Superintendent Mike Tollefson its annual Nic Fiore award. The award is given to an individual who demonstrates enthusiasm, commitment and a love of winter sports in the spirit of legendary ski school director, instructor and ambassador to Badger Pass Nic Fiore. Nic Fiore spent more than 55 years at Badger Pass teaching generations of families to ski and to love the Park. “Like Nic Fiore, Superintendent Mike Tollefson is a strong emissary for winter sports at Yosemite National Park,” said Kirstie Kari, President of the Yosemite Winter Club. “Mike has been an ardent supporter for Badger Pass ski area, the Curry Village Ice Rink and backcountry ski huts. His passion for winter sports has played a very important role in retaining the opportunities for recreation in Yosemite National Park.” Tollefson was also an alpine ski instructor when he was younger and living in Washington State. More recently, Tollefson spends his weekends recreating at Badger Pass and the surrounding backcountry. He has completed the incomparable Trans-Sierra across Yosemite in the winter. Tollefson is also the first Superintendent to escort a member of Congress into the backcountry to Ostrander Lake Ski Hut. “Mike has been a strong proponent for the backcountry and the various huts throughout Yosemite,” said David Guy, CEO of the Yosemite Association. “His efforts led to a new arrangement with the Yosemite Association to keep the Ostrander Lake Ski Hut open to the public. Additionally, he has worked with backcountry enthusiasts and the Yosemite Fund to restore the Snow Creek and Buck Camp Cabins, as well as with Delaware North Companies to provide access to the Glacier Point Hut. These efforts now provide unparalleled opportunities for visitors to explore and enjoy Yosemite’s backcountry during the winter.” Superintendent Tollefson’s active participation shows visitors the importance of winter activities and the joy that these winter sports bring to families. Currently, only a small handful of National Parks have ski areas inside their boundaries. Badger Pass Ski area’s continued operation is in large part due to the support of Superintendent Tollefson. “Superintendent Tollefson truly embodies the spirit of the Nic Fiore award,” concluded Kirstie Kari. The Yosemite Winter Club is a non-profit volunteer organization that has been encouraging family winter sports in Yosemite National Park since 1928. The Club’s membership participates in alpine and nordic skiing, ice sating and hockey and many fun social events inside Yosemite National Park. Source: NPS

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