Do you poach?

[djspookman]

yup. frequently. It pays to be cautious though. First time I poached, I didn't look around first and got busted.

now, it's a quick looksie, duck under, and charge!

 

[Madroch]

Best poach was HS, poached a liftline during HS ski trip-- thigh high, got caught- ticket ripped-- bought a ticket from people leaving- patrol recognized us (yellow pants!), ripped our new tickets and took our skis to the Patrol shack-- took us to the bar- nooded at the bartender and asked if he could keep us occupied-- free beers all afternoon with the bruins on.... picked up our skis when we left.

 

[skidmarks]

My best poaches have been at Mt Snow. Olympic gets closed but the woods next to it are good.
What else could we do?

Under a closed chair at Killington was fun too (Needle's Eye) but got busted on the 5th run. Since it was
my first offence, a friendly Ski Patroler offered me a donut, and told me to stick closer to church-oriented social activities.

 

[billski]

Best poach was HS, poached a liftline during HS ski trip-- thigh high, got caught- ticket ripped-- bought a ticket from people leaving- patrol recognized us (yellow pants!), ripped our new tickets and took our skis to the Patrol shack-- took us to the bar- nooded at the bartender and asked if he could keep us occupied-- free beers all afternoon with the bruins on.... picked up our skis when we left.

Now that's tough "punishment" :lol:

 

[powhunter]

yep

 

[JD]

Used to. There seemed to be an unwritten rule at Stowe, if you were skiing something well, you'de prolly get off. More then a few times I've skiied out past patrol, watching us ski a closed trail. People seemed to be smart about it and stuck to trails they know well and had descent cover down one edge or another. Lately, I've head that they are really cracking down. It was in the snow report to "not poach" the other day, and it seemes people are not really using their brains. Not only are they poaching, but people are poaching and ducking into glades at Stowe with 12" at the stake! Now I know that places like Tres and The Grill, and the Gaper Glades are well buffed, but c'mon. sit on a stump, break an ankle, blow out a knee in there and it's party over. Patrol will have to come get you. Shit like that brings the heat down on everyone just out to have a good time, not trying to be a famous internedt skiier....then posting pictures of it on TGR? I don't get it. Sure we all want the powpow, sure we all want to be communing with our favorite flora, but self control for the greater good should be practiced when skiing off the lift at an opened area.

So the short answer is yes, with prudence.

 

[SteveInCT]

I poached last year by accident! Does that count? I was at Berkshire East and, instead of ropes, they have these little "Closed" signs. I never saw it and headed down some trail. It was off to the left looking up the hill (or to the right when coming down). Anyway, it was my first run of the day and my first time ever skiing BE so I had no idea of the trail or how this mountain treats its trails. The first part of the trail was normal. Then I got deep in and the trail started to deteriorate. Before you know it, there is a little S turn in the trail and it changed from "wow, these conditions suck" to "Holy crap, what is that?!?" The entire trail was comprised of ice chunks the size of bowling balls or bigger. It is like the trail was completely ice and they just chopped it up (which is probably the exact thing that happened). Remember now, I did NOT know I was on a closed trail at this point so in my head I am thinking "I can't let a blue square beat me" and skied it anyway. I made it through about 300 yards of ice boulders before it smoothed out. It was hairy. I still look back and wonder how I found a line and stayed on my feet through that crap.

On the second run, I saw the sign. "Ah... that explains things"... :idea:

 

[bvibert]

I poached last year by accident! Does that count? I was at Berkshire East and, instead of ropes, they have these little "Closed" signs. I never saw it and headed down some trail. It was off to the left looking up the hill (or to the right when coming down). Anyway, it was my first run of the day and my first time ever skiing BE so I had no idea of the trail or how this mountain treats its trails. The first part of the trail was normal. Then I got deep in and the trail started to deteriorate. Before you know it, there is a little S turn in the trail and it changed from "wow, these conditions suck" to "Holy crap, what is that?!?" The entire trail was comprised of ice chunks the size of bowling balls or bigger. It is like the trail was completely ice and they just chopped it up (which is probably the exact thing that happened). Remember now, I did NOT know I was on a closed trail at this point so in my head I am thinking "I can't let a blue square beat me" and skied it anyway. I made it through about 300 yards of ice boulders before it smoothed out. It was hairy. I still look back and wonder how I found a line and stayed on my feet through that crap.

On the second run, I saw the sign. "Ah... that explains things"... :idea:

Ski Patrol encouraged us to ski a closed trail at BEast one time, he even skied down to the bottom (on a different trail) to make sure we made it down alright. He thought we were nuts, but there was some good snow on one side of the trail.

 

[Greg]

Ski Patrol encouraged us to ski a closed trail at BEast one time, he even skied down to the bottom (on a different trail) to make sure we made it down alright. He thought we were nuts, but there was some good snow on one side of the trail.

That was great. Cool patroller.

I don't make a habit of it, but I have and I probably will again if the risk/reward is there.

 

[bvibert]

That was great. Cool patroller.

I don't make a habit of it, but I have and I probably will again if the risk/reward is there.

I don't do it a lot either, but I will from time to time, if it seems worth it.

 

[drjeff]

Used to. There seemed to be an unwritten rule at Stowe, if you were skiing something well, you'de prolly get off. More then a few times I've skiied out past patrol, watching us ski a closed trail. People seemed to be smart about it and stuck to trails they know well and had descent cover down one edge or another. Lately, I've head that they are really cracking down. It was in the snow report to "not poach" the other day, and it seemes people are not really using their brains. Not only are they poaching, but people are poaching and ducking into glades at Stowe with 12" at the stake! Now I know that places like Tres and The Grill, and the Gaper Glades are well buffed, but c'mon. sit on a stump, break an ankle, blow out a knee in there and it's party over. Patrol will have to come get you. Shit like that brings the heat down on everyone just out to have a good time, not trying to be a famous internedt skiier....then posting pictures of it on TGR? I don't get it. Sure we all want the powpow, sure we all want to be communing with our favorite flora, but self control for the greater good should be practiced when skiing off the lift at an opened area.

So the short answer is yes, with prudence.

The advent of modern online TR's has undoubtedly fueled the poaching epidemic of recent years. Many have the skills and on hill smarts to pull it off(and feel like they're entitled to). Many don't (but think they're entitled to). Probably just a matter of time until we hear of a poach gone tragically wrong. Camera's pointed at someone (both still and video) more than will lower a person's IQ by a good 30 or 40 points

 

[BigJay]

The advent of modern online TR's has undoubtedly fueled the poaching epidemic of recent years. Many have the skills and on hill smarts to pull it off(and feel like they're entitled to). Many don't (but think they're entitled to). Probably just a matter of time until we hear of a poach gone tragically wrong. Camera's pointed at someone (both still and video) more than will lower a person's IQ by a good 30 or 40 points

Same stuff up here. Use to be able to ride anywhere on the mountain and Jay encouraged it a bit too much... After the whole Big Jay thing and skiers getting really hurt in Timbuktu early in November (perfored lung and/or spleen), now ski patrols realized there was way to more "heroes" out doing stupid stuff. Now they are more strict about it and you can read it on the snow report to "respect the ropes".

That being said, i poached through the years on many occasions (and sometimes with patrols) It's easy for them to claim they're checking the trail to see if they can open it... Knowing the mountain is key... so you don't end up trying the chutes in December or anything like that... but Jay is pretty fast on opening stuff... and normally stuff that is closed is closed for a good reason.

But when you do a lot of BC stuff... "poaching" is part of the sport... cause the place you're riding is never open or close.

 

[WWF-VT]

I don’t poach. Sugarbush is very aggressive in opening on the map trails that a lot of other mountains would not open so it’s very rare that a trail is closed and worth the risk to your equipment and body. I figure that if ski patrol isn’t willing to open a trail then they must know more than me about the real conditions.

 

[snowmonster]

All the time. I sort of have a BC ethic. I make my own judgments of the conditions and live with the consequences of my actions. This also means skiing a little conservatively when you don't know what to expect around the next roll-over.

 

[JD]

All the time. I sort of have a BC ethic. I make my own judgments of the conditions and live with the consequences of my actions. This also means skiing a little conservatively when you don't know what to expect around the next roll-over.

EXACTLY....http://www.famousinternetskiers.com/trip-reports/09-10/the-labyrinth/
While the trs are sick, 12 inches at the stake and this is what's going on...
Sure, none of my business, and who cares....until someone get's all fuct up out past by pass and HT and Stowe ski patrol have to drag their ass out... Asking for a beat down IMO. With the potential to bring too much attention to a few people who think they live in Utah. Just my .$02 here....

 

[Talisman]

So for me it depends. Areas that are agressive about dropping the rope and putting up a 'thin cover' warning, I respect the ropes. An example would be Magic, a few times the 'thin cover' sign is on the top ramp of the red chair and if a rope is up it is likely the trail has virtually no snow and is just rocks and ice.

Other areas that wait to groom out deep powder before opening the trails will find me making a few poaching runs. Early season, I'm not risking a broken bone, blown knee or wrenched back to ski some manky glade.

 

[BigJay]

EXACTLY....http://www.famousinternetskiers.com/trip-reports/09-10/the-labyrinth/
While the trs are sick, 12 inches at the stake and this is what's going on...
Sure, none of my business, and who cares....until someone get's all fuct up out past by pass and HT and Stowe ski patrol have to drag their ass out... Asking for a beat down IMO. With the potential to bring too much attention to a few people who think they live in Utah. Just my .$02 here....

I'm kind of glad you're talking about it... Of course, they have good skills, no doubt about that. But this time of year, you need to be extra cautious. I ride at a very slow speed these days with such little snow... No time to be a hero or become famous because of a broken leg on a fallen tree or a perforated lung because of a branch sticking out. It's pretty dangerous when there is no snow.

If i feel like getting out in the woods early in the season, there is plenty of stuff that is low-angle and sees regular maintenance. Of course, i won't have photos of other people hucking down a cliff with ice and all... but i know my crew will be safe and still enjoy the day.

But then again, the TRs are impressive...

...and some kid will try and duplicate what they see online.

 

[Shock]

I might or might not have poached for the first time last Friday. IMO, it was well worth it to hit fresh powder, and only once did I encounter a small problem area where it was a little patchy.

 

[gpetrics]

you do realize that we hiked for those turns, right JD? we were making backcountry skiing decisions. not poaching decisions.

 

[andyzee]

you do realize that we hiked for those turns, right JD? we were making backcountry skiing decisions. not poaching decisions.

Ignore the ignorant for they know not what they say.