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Show _ ' 5 ; Loteagaini melo _—— << eee eae t ee Country Ettiquete: a 0 Sg Back woe A RR WP SP a to Avalanches are a problem because they sometimes cause us to die. Global overpopulation is a problem because there are not enough natural resources. Unfortunately two wrongs don’t make a proverbial right, and avalanches aren’t the answer to overpopulation. But with avi danger extreme in the Wasatch these days, and an ‘increasing number of inexpe-- rienced backcountry skiers and snowboarders heading out mrcolin Ng "ae ita ‘a e eee . of bounds unprepared, we will Meath hdl eral - 7 March 1995 te See ee ‘ i See Page 10-Wasatch Canyon Reporter, 22 remem soon have more food for Third World countries, and morticians will be in great demand again. It is not our intention here at WCR to wax melodramatic or to point any -McCarthyesque fingers, but backcountry ineptitude is a boil that needs lancing forthwith. Word has been filtering down from Brighton Ski Resort that snowboarders in particular have been flouting the unwritten statutes of backcountry safety. Since we are known far and wide as an objective paper, we decided to eschew Straight to ber of the ten years ~ for the rumors and go the source. A memBrighton Patrol for and a paid observer Utah Avalanche Forecast Center, Craig Gordon seemingly would qualify as that source. After spending two hours with Gordon basting on “Millie’s Beach,” a Brighton melanoma deck where barechested locals worked on. their tans and a few tourists gawked on in New Jersey pallor, it became obvious that the man knew his shit regarding the backcountry. It was evident in his equipment: he carried more tools than the Village People, from ropes to knives to a shovel to what looked like a ribspreader. It was plain in his jargon: he used terms that most back- country skiers have heard _ (hasty pit, depth hoar) and some that sounded Aramaic (Rutchblock, recrystallization of supportable crust layers). And by the way other similarly-garbed backcountry skiers talking in the same Aramaic deferred to his judgement of stay trail ledion and snow conditions every ten minutes, his Guruhood was confirmed, at least by this reporter. Anyone who has been to Brighton has noticed a preponderance of snowboard skiers (please pardon the oxymoron, but it’s an official term nowadays.) Snowboarders tend to be alive. the veterans. Some technical aspects of snowboarding are also suspect in terms of avalanche safety. Boarders are hiking out of bounds in large . groups of eight, ten, or twelve, which is a heavy scene, —diterally. “Snowboarding is very social, hanging with your buddies to by Dave The way Peck ‘ty. “When was the last time you saw skiers in a Warren Miller film dig a snow pit, or practice using their Pieps with their partner?” The sad truth. is that catastrophe may be the best education right now. Gordon refers to the incident in Red Mountain Pass a few years back when a small party of skiers ignored the high Gordon -led: a clinic at Brighton in cahoots with the Utah Snowboard Association. ‘Sixty-five people attended, boarders and skiers alike. “The response was very posi, tive. I got it across that if snowboarders abide by the rules, people will respect them as riders, and respect their sport as well.” A second younger than the general ski- watch them strut their stuff. avalanch conditions, telling free clinic will run Sunday, ; ing population, and as the ‘But all that weight can be another party who was turn- March 5 at 5:30 p.m. on the learning curve is (arguably) lethal to the snowpack.” ing back “Today, we ski to third floor of the Alpine Rose much steeper than with skiGordon suggests that if backdie!”” Admirable bravado, to at Brighton. Everyone, even ing, riders without years of country groups can’t be minibe sure. Unfortunately their monoskiers, is urged to experience have the skills to mized, at least the members next of kin didn’t agree, as the attend; call Craig Gordon at go into the backcountry. should go one at a time and. whole party died in an 532-4731 for further details. Brighton Ski Resort has a then get clear of a potential avalanche. Gordon’s final message to plethora of good backcountry slide area. This is especially Thankfully for all but the skiers who cannot accept terrain, most of it extremely crucial under a “windlip” or unemployed morticians, Craig snowboarders in the backeasy to access; an opencornice, which draw _air-ori- Gordon and others are making country, and these are really boundary policy enables ented boarders like flies but efforts to educate in a less his own words, “Don’t hate, egress and reentry from any should be avoided out-ofpermanent manner. Recently educate! point. Somewhere in school bounds. “These groups will we learned that A+B+C+D=E air a big cornice, and then (mathematicians need not watch or take pictures from respond to our editor), in this below. What they don’t realcase, E= unprepared, inexpeize is that they’re acting as rienced youngsters, specificalbody-bombs to set off the ly snowboarders, in the backavalanche.” Another techSince 19359 country endangering themnique to avoid is excessive selves and others. traversing, particularly in big Gordon, unlike other groups, particularly in sepa* Lodging- “Alta Ring is the quitidelon Alta accommodation king Magazine, 1994. Brighton skiers with whom I rate traverse lines, particularly spoke, has no qualms about midway down a big snow weeknight and Saturday pris fixe dinners are superb, but snowboarding specifically. bowl. “All this Point A to Chef Paul Raddon’s lavish Sunday night buffets are show “Although I personally only Point B backcountry riding, or stoppers.” Utah Holiday, January 1993. Drop in for lunch; telemark, the backcountry is using the terrain to get some~ Reservations, please, for dinner. anyone’s playground as long place else instead of using the ** Alta Lodge General Store & Gift Shop - unusual, as they respect it. It’s great to fall line, is just board-carving hard-to-find gifts & necessities. Featuring unique see a really good boarder rip- the snow pack, especially Western artists. ping the powder; it looks like when the traverses cross other ** Full Service Conference Facilities, Weddings & a hoot.” But he does point out tracks. You’re hanging yourGroup Dining (June to October) 3 several characteristics inher- self and your whole party out Call 742-3500 or 322-4631 (from Salt Lake City) ent to snowboarding that raise in the wind.” If traversing is the call - "Danger, Will necessary, put in one traverse, Robinson!” The first is youth and then go one at a time. and inexperience. “In the old Snowboarding aside, days, anyone you saw hiking there is a growing danger in out-of-area had been doing it the backcountry in general for years; they had the right due to the “extreme” attitude. equipment, they knew the In Europe, extreme skiing Ski Rentals Sales and Accessories conditions, and they followed generally means if you fall, the rules. Today most backyou die. Death has a funny » country snowboarders have way of commanding respect been doing it for 2-4 years at over there. To Americans, most, and then taking their extreme skiing has come to 8:00 amto 7:00pm Mon- Fri inexperienced peers back- mean “an extreme amount of country. This is not exactly air,” an attitude fostered by the “College of Knowledge.’” “magazine advertisements and S.L.C. #1 Ski Repair Center Gordon doesn’t admonish the ski movies by the likes of ¢Mounting *Stone Grind Ski Tunes less experienced from seeking Warren Miller and Greg ¢Delaminations *Waxing *Engraving the virginal backcountry Stump. Whereas they are -Rentalssnow, saying “If I were that entertaining as hell and depict 1?? ‘GiAle Locke Dahing Roses "Te “To be sure, Alta Lodge’s | SKI AND RAFT SPECIALIST 3025 East, 3300 South SLC, UT (801) 486-9424 Business Hours: 8:00 -6:00 Sat- Sun. age, I’d probably do it too!” the ballsiest skiing most of us yet he urges them to be properly equipped and learn from have seen, they do little or nothing for backcountry safe- -24 hr. Repair-— All Ski Equipment 20%-50% Off |