opinion about breaking rules and closed trails

[gincognito]

Somehow I knew that pic would make it in here. Good show, Mulletizer.

Sick and ashamed and happy (and bad_roo is one of the best extreme skiers in the world. If he said he'd ski it, we said we'd shoot him),
d.

[keepontruckin]

Go check out this forum over there on epicski. It's where the cool people are.

It gets better, there is more --> http://forums.alpinezone.com/about6626-0-asc-0.html

[Endlessseason]

I, too, really like the policy of other countries. European resorts are amazing in that they allow riders to take that personal responsibility.

Canada is much like that as well. Last January, I was leading a little gang of us around Whistler on one of the really good pow days. As we cruised by one area I remembered this really cool chute I'd found a few years before. I had us all duck a rope into the area that I remembered. It was totally untracked and deep before us. Testosterone was high, the sun was just popping out, viz was fantastic, the slope disappeared just a few feet in front of us, just the way I remembered the blind entrance to the little coulie. Everything looked like a go except for the nagging feeling that it had been a long time since I had been here and I wasn't 100% positive we had ducked in the right spot.

Several hundred feet along the ridge above us a lone patroller was making his way down the rope line, pulling the rope out of the snow and tightening the slack between the 'boo as he went along. He had been observing us we ducked the rope. I watched him watching us as we moved closer to the edge of what I remembered to be a pretty good-sized cornice. He didn't call out or warn us or anything. He just watched us. Even though I was getting pressure from the rear, and all kinds of opinions, including charging ahead "since he isn't acting like we're in danger," I decided to have us wait until he came within earshot to ask about the terrain.

When he could hear us, I yelled to him to ask if there was anything below us to worry about. He didn't answer, even though we knew for sure that he heard us. He just kept pulling and shaking the ropes as he made his way towards us. When he was good and ready he answered the last question which had been called out. Someone had yelled, "Is it okay for us to drop in from here?" As he drew nearer, he calmly said, "Sure....if you want to die today." He told us we had missed the entry to the little coulie by almost 30 meters and if we had gone in from where we were we would have gone over a cliff and landed on the uncovered rocks below.

He didn't berate us. He didn't yell. He didn't even act like he thought we were stupid (probably because we had the sense to wait and ask), he simply stated that we were in a very wrong and dangerous place. I liked that. Personal responsibility. The part I didn't like is that he didn't even act like he cared. I'm assuming that either he would have been willing to watch us all drop to our death, or, he would have let us go a few more feet before reacting. I'll never know, unless maybe he's a maggot and reads this post and has a comment.

Can you imagine what the reaction would have been at a US resort? It was a great learning experience.

[Lurch]

I, too, really like the policy of other countries. European resorts are amazing in that they allow riders to take that personal responsibility.

Canada is much like that as well. Last January, I was leading a little gang of us around Whistler on one of the really good pow days. As we cruised by one area I remembered this really cool chute I'd found a few years before. I had us all duck a rope into the area that I remembered. It was totally untracked and deep before us. Testosterone was high, the sun was just popping out, viz was fantastic, the slope disappeared just a few feet in front of us, just the way I remembered the blind entrance to the little coulie. Everything looked like a go except for the nagging feeling that it had been a long time since I had been here and I wasn't 100% positive we had ducked in the right spot.

Several hundred feet along the ridge above us a lone patroller was making his way down the rope line, pulling the rope out of the snow and tightening the slack between the 'boo as he went along. He had been observing us we ducked the rope. I watched him watching us as we moved closer to the edge of what I remembered to be a pretty good-sized cornice. He didn't call out or warn us or anything. He just watched us. Even though I was getting pressure from the rear, and all kinds of opinions, including charging ahead "since he isn't acting like we're in danger," I decided to have us wait until he came within earshot to ask about the terrain.

When he could hear us, I yelled to him to ask if there was anything below us to worry about. He didn't answer, even though we knew for sure that he heard us. He just kept pulling and shaking the ropes as he made his way towards us. When he was good and ready he answered the last question which had been called out. Someone had yelled, "Is it okay for us to drop in from here?" As he drew nearer, he calmly said, "Sure....if you want to die today." He told us we had missed the entry to the little coulie by almost 30 meters and if we had gone in from where we were we would have gone over a cliff and landed on the uncovered rocks below.

He didn't berate us. He didn't yell. He didn't even act like he thought we were stupid (probably because we had the sense to wait and ask), he simply stated that we were in a very wrong and dangerous place. I liked that. Personal responsibility. The part I didn't like is that he didn't even act like he cared. I'm assuming that either he would have been willing to watch us all drop to our death, or, he would have let us go a few more feet before reacting. I'll never know, unless maybe he's a maggot and reads this post and has a comment.

Can you imagine what the reaction would have been at a US resort? It was a great learning experience.

Or maybe you where in the right spot and he made up that story to keep tourons out of his stash.

[board]

Endless that is without a doubt the most interesting thing I have read on here in recent memory. Wow ! I would really love to know why he reacted in such a nonchalant manner.

[Endlessseason]

Or maybe you where in the right spot and he made up that story to keep tourons out of his stash.

Heh. That's good.

We did enter from a different spot and it really was certain maiming or death terrain. He wasn't kidding.

[powstash]

I'd personally like to see an "EpicSki Post of the Week" up at TGR.

yyeeeeaaaa, rrriiiggght. Did you get the memo?

It gets better, there is more --> http://forums.alpinezone.com/about6626-0-asc-0.html

Two feet in or two feet out - make a decision. We don't care much what goes on over there or anywhere for that matter. You can't ride two trains at once.

[ptavv]

After I lived in Europe for two years and came back to skiing at Mount Hood it was brutal. I learned the hardway that in my time on the other side of the pond Mt Hood's policy had changed from, "You're not allowed to duck ropes, but we won't give you a hard time if you do, as long as you've got the gear and knowledge." to "If you duck a rope I will take your pass and eat your children."

Luckily knowing the right names to drop saved my season pass and left me and my buddy with a severe tounge lashing.

I'm much more a fan of the c'est la vie attitude. If you duck a rope, you certainly know that you're doing so... just be prepared to pay for your own rescue and a hefty fine (in Hood River County anyway).

[bbirtle]

We don't care much what goes on over there or anywhere for that matter. You can't ride two trains at once.

I'm just say'n one of us should take one for the team, search around the other site, and post a weekly "Funniest EpicSki Thread" over here. It'll get us through the days where I'm not posting recommendations to ski legends and when CatJockey is out jockying his cat.

[surfsnowywaves]

Ducking ropes? Please. You all think youre such badasses. Well you just wait until I hit the spots marked as "thin cover"

[0BernhardFranz]

In bad weather you may not see ropes.But I did not know you are not allowed to cross them.I thought they are barricades to keep weak skiers of dangerous patches so they don´t fall into such regions.Are they illegal to cross in the US ? But hell if there is 5 good resorts then why risk it ? And if it is really closed for avalanche savety then you should not get into " a big one " .But for example at Valley Blanche doodes were saying securite securite after me meaning harness required.But I just got in the gondola.Who gives a shit if they don´t physically stop you what they are saying ? Burble burble burble blub. I ran into the same 2 Cham guys bbritle ran into trying to get in the park.I am among many things a cop - but when skiing you might get a little quick in your decisions.You got to understand them -imagine a mob of freaking freeriders going down a closed slope under VALLUGA BAHN for example in LECH - the guys get their descent shot, shouted at, pull out and flee for their skipasses while a white disaster is going down the mountain side ! Or such stuff ... they just say "The weather was bad, we did not see the markings !" - Well, I hope everyone at their resort will be checking on THEM that they are doing their duty at any time !

[Tuckerman]

Here is what the other side is saying on breaking rules.

"I have ventured outside of open runs in the small eastern resort I used to ski. I have received more than one "stern" talking to regarding my actions. I would NEVER do it now that I live out west."

Its good to hear the weatern folks are law abiding citizens and not like the bad ass eastern skiers.

Damm straight sometime we ride the chair lift with the bar up all the way to the top and have been known to ride platter pulls, 'T' bars or 'J' bars with no hand and zig zagging.

Don't tell..

Did you go to school at Wheaten or is it weatern?

[wildstyle]

I have skied in europe since i learnt 20 years ago and i have never skied in the US/Canada. I have got into freeriding a few years ago and spend a lot of time off piste which generally involves ducking ropes in europe and taking a few risks.

Reading this post makes me think that if i go to an American resort and try and do the same, i'll get tackled by 5 patrollers, tarred , feathered and put in the stocks at the bottom of the main lift to be spat at by small kids while the patrollers burn my pass in front of me......

I assume if they are this strict, there are plenty of in bounds off piste stashes to be found at the major resorts otherwise i'm heading to Canada when i come across the pond.

Whats the Patrollers opinion of going through the ropes for a days touring away from the pistes ?

Somebody reassure me pls.....

[KANUTTEN]

Reading this post makes me think that if i go to an American resort and try and do the same, i'll get tackled by 5 patrollers, tarred , feathered and put in the stocks at the bottom of the main lift to be spat at by small kids while the patrollers burn my pass in front of me......

Nah. More likely you will be thrown into a dungeon and fistfucked for two days by three bearded nuns without as much as a courtesy lick.

On the positive side, it can be quite enjoyable.

[wildstyle]

Nah. More likely you will be thrown into a dungeon and fistfucked for two days by three bearded nuns without as much as a courtesy lick.

On the positive side, it can be quite enjoyable.

Does this mean i should 'break myself in' before i get there to prevent tearing ... ?

[Smooth Johnson]

I'm always looking for the corderoy.

Good man, good man.

PM me your number. I used to be the Managing Editor of Corduroy Ripper Magazine.

I'm assuming you only use those BanditXXX's when there's a few inches on the corduroy...otherwise you and me will be in "Olin Country".

[surfsnowywaves]

I assume if they are this strict, there are plenty of in bounds off piste stashes to be found at the major resorts otherwise i'm heading to Canada when i come across the pond.

Whats the Patrollers opinion of going through the ropes for a days touring away from the pistes ?

Somebody reassure me pls.....

The vast majority of resorts out west will have access gates. This will mean you go there, check in with ski patrol, and then you can leave the boundaries. They will make sure you have avi equipment (beacon, probe, shovel) and that youre with a partner(s). The ropes everyone talks about (for the most part) are in-bounds ropes, where they close of cliff/avi/sketchy terrain.

[KANUTTEN]

Does this mean i should 'break myself in' before i get there to prevent tearing ... ?

The only advice I can give is; DON'T VISUALIZE!!!

[altagirl]

I have skied in europe since i learnt 20 years ago and i have never skied in the US/Canada. I have got into freeriding a few years ago and spend a lot of time off piste which generally involves ducking ropes in europe and taking a few risks.

Reading this post makes me think that if i go to an American resort and try and do the same, i'll get tackled by 5 patrollers, tarred , feathered and put in the stocks at the bottom of the main lift to be spat at by small kids while the patrollers burn my pass in front of me......

I assume if they are this strict, there are plenty of in bounds off piste stashes to be found at the major resorts otherwise i'm heading to Canada when i come across the pond.

Whats the Patrollers opinion of going through the ropes for a days touring away from the pistes ?

Somebody reassure me pls.....

Yes - there are gates you can use to access out of bounds areas for touring.

And there are plenty of off piste areas that are open. A few here and there are permanently closed, but most are just temporarily closed while they perform avy control or it is too dangerous. That you don't want to mess with. Aside from the fact that skiing into an area that is actively being bombed would be dumb, if you're ducking into a closed area... you would certainly be yelled at, your pass pulled, etc.

If you're ducking a rope to move from one open area to another open area it's no big deal.

[crashnburn'd]

I'm just say'n one of us should take one for the team, search around the other site, and post a weekly "Funniest EpicSki Thread" over here.

...and I think powstash is say'n that most of us don't give a shit what goes on over there, funny or not.

[Tippster]

Duck a rope in Coloraddy and you can go to jail. Have I done it? Sure, but it's usually only worth it if you're ducking the resort boundary. Inbounds ropes have reasons, most of them good. The main inbounds roped off areas I poach are the race courses after a dump. They're just gonna groom that shit anyway, and probably half the time the Patrollers couldn't care less. The other half I use my gift of gab.

[Meadow Skipper]

...welcome to the world of "real" skiing....

Heh. There aren't any ropes in "real" skiing.

[wildstyle]

Yes - there are gates you can use to access out of bounds areas for touring.

And there are plenty of off piste areas that are open. A few here and there are permanently closed, but most are just temporarily closed while they perform avy control or it is too dangerous. That you don't want to mess with. Aside from the fact that skiing into an area that is actively being bombed would be dumb, if you're ducking into a closed area... you would certainly be yelled at, your pass pulled, etc.

If you're ducking a rope to move from one open area to another open area it's no big deal.

Ok , thanks. I was getting worried...... I'll keep my 3 week trip next year in mind then .....

[skieurmalade]

when i first moved into alta i lost my dishwashing job at the rustler for repeatedly hucking a cliff in keyhole that i snuck into off wildcat. in the trees on whodunnit I took my jacket off, stuffed it in my helmet, and got onto the tram wearing my fleece everytime, feeling quite smart. finally they were just waiting down there for me. No problem i thought having had my pass autographed by the entire santa fe and taos ski patrols growing up. WRONG for the JONG... they called the cops and i was disgracefully expelled from LCC for a year until things blew over. the judge was nice but from what i hear the new one is NOT... there keepontrucking you have a real answer

[SLAYER]

The classic "let me see if I can touch the top of the cornice with my pole before it crushes me" point