Trail Poaching

[ski_adk]

That Wildcat idiot was, well, an idiot. And I know that the patrollers can't readily tell which poachers are/aren't a toy short of a happy meal, so, I know you're in an unenviable position. I guess I'm just a big fan of Darwinism and personal responsibility. We really need to change our laws so that we can get away from the nanny state we've become.

I guess what I'm saying is that the ski areas shouldn't be held accountable for every herb that uses their terrain. I know that what I'm saying is not and probably will never be reality, but what can I say, it helps to vent every once in a while, you know?

With that said, don't poach/go bc solo. That automatically puts you in the top running for a Darwin Award. If there's less than a foot of snow out there, with no base, don't poach/go bc. If it's a trail that's closed with snomaking on it, don't poach...you have no idea whether there will be hoses, equipment or snowmaking personnel out there.

I know it's not a common trait and I'm sure most folks in this community don't need to hear it, but use some common sense...you know?

 

[loafer89]

Speaking of skiing on a closed trail with snowmaking, there was a skier at Killington on saturday who ducked the rope on Upper Dreamaker and skied right into a bunch of snowmaking hoses that were resting unused at a junction with Skyeburst. The skier got his ski's tangled in the hoses and did a perfect 10 point sumersault I saw this from the lift, and while he was unhurt, I bet the snowmaking hoses recieved some damage to them from his edges.

 

[GadgetRick]

So I guess the popular - Dropping off the back of Belleayre onto the old Highmount is illegal...

Technically, yes.

Have you done it? i know lots that do...

I have not personally done it but I, too, know of many others who have done it. I understand there are some nice turns there. That property is not a part of Belleayre Mountain so, technically, we're not supporting that area. However, I have a funny feeling, if something happened, we'd be the ones called.

I guess I misinterpreted what you were trying to say about unmarked trails. It sounded like you were saying that if an area (in this case the woods) isn't marked then it shouldn't be skied. With open boundary policies, these woods aren't marked, maintained or patrolled but are still skiable.

Not a problem. I have no problem with unmarked trails being skiied as long as you're supposed to/allowed to ski the area. I like that kind of skiing myself, part of the reason I like it out West so much.

If you go beyond the ski area boundary, that should technically be out of their jurisdiction, right? For example, the Church, Big Jay, the Chin, etc.

It's kinda sticky there. If it's, "out of bounds," but on the mountain property then we are responsible for helping anyone in trouble there. If it's not on the mountain's property, technically, we aren't responsible.

I do lots of things that are wrong..

I don't get the feeling you complain if you get caught though.

I'm talking about situations where trails turn into private playgrounds for patrollers but nobody else. That's awfully annoying to the paying customer, to see a trail closed because of snowmaking on it but then seeing 10 snow covered patrollers skiing it for 3 hours, telling folks they're "testing it out". That's just BS.

I agree with you 100%. If that's what was happening then it's just as wrong.

Well, I think we're all on the same page now! I'd rather be making turns than talking so seriously. :beer:

 

[dmc]

So I guess the popular - Dropping off the back of Belleayre onto the old Highmount is illegal...

Technically, yes.

Have you done it? i know lots that do...

I have not personally done it but I, too, know of many others who have done it. I understand there are some nice turns there. That property is not a part of Belleayre Mountain so, technically, we're not supporting that area. However, I have a funny feeling, if something happened, we'd be the ones called.

My buddy Jason live across the valley in Flieshmans - he's an old Highmounter that now skis Hunter... I acuatlly know a bunch of guys that learned there.. We plan on hittting it at some point this season...

Promise not to call you if anybody needs help... Wanna come?

 

[dmc]

I do lots of things that are wrong..

I don't get the feeling you complain if you get caught though.

yup..... I'm cool - I'll face the penalty of weasle my way out of it by dropping names and whatnot...

I have nothing but respect for patrol... I never poach if there's a patroller around...

 

[GadgetRick]

Promise not to call you if anybody needs help... Wanna come?

Well, if I wasn't patrolling...maybe....

I have nothing but respect for patrol... I never poach if there's a patroller around...

Good answer! I can't tell you how many kids I see do dumb stuff right beside us. Remember, we're the guys with the BRIGHT red jackets and the BIG white crosses on the back. If I don't see you doing something I can't very well yell at you, can I?

 

[JimG.]

If I don't see you doing something I can't very well yell at you, can I?

My motto is "out of sight, out of mind".

The lack or respect you guys sometimes have to deal with must be annoying at times.

 

[dmc]

Promise not to call you if anybody needs help... Wanna come?

Well, if I wasn't patrolling...maybe....

I have nothing but respect for patrol... I never poach if there's a patroller around...

Good answer! I can't tell you how many kids I see do dumb stuff right beside us. Remember, we're the guys with the BRIGHT red jackets and the BIG white crosses on the back. If I don't see you doing something I can't very well yell at you, can I?

We got yelled at from the lift last weekend by a patroller while poaching Upper Crossover at Hunter... I waited for a while looking down the quad line for any red jackets... Was also around the time Patrol assembles for sweeps..

Felt bad - cause it's such an open poach... Didn't want put any of my friends on patrol in any bad posistions....

It WAS awesome though...

 

[riverc0il]

It WAS awesome though...

and that all goes back to my biggest point...