May 24, 2008, Alpental

I look forward to skiing with you guys again! Dale had a great B-day ski, he is still glowing. Me to from the sunburn on the back of my head!

Yeah man...
I propose a Alpental/Crystal powder day exchange program next season...

however the worst of it seems to come at the end of season, when the non-regular crowd who only ski Alpental at the end after everything else is closed shows up to party (with apologies to all the cool people who showed up and skied sober and didn't litter).

What total and absolute sanctimonious b***s**t. Most of the people partying  where regulars who party in the lots every year as a tradition.
The only people I rode the chair lift with (and I was riding alone so I rode the lift with lots of people) who drank while on the chair lifts where regulars because they told me so during conversation and I met two. Both where not drunk, friendly and offered me a beer which I declined. None of them threw their bottles on the ground. I saw nobody skiing drunk or out of control and so what if a few had partaken of a few drinks, that has always been part of skiing and always will be, as long as they are in control .I've seen just as much drinking and littering at Crystal when we have a more sunny spring closing. Alpental has had the closing weekend festival feel for about a month since they have been closing down every weekend for about a month.

I have seen regular partying and drinking  at the TAY Slush Cup. I have seen plenty of the regulars who post here enjoying a drink at the annual Crystalfest and while touring and at the end of the trip. I have seen a lot of pot smoked at Crystal and even more in Bellingham and some by a whole bunch of regulars on the High Traverse at Alpental .No harm , no fault. The littering I can't defend but it happens at Crystal aswell. I know as I've picked up the stuff recently while touring.

Your attack on non-regulars and accusations are typical of some of the PC hysteria that sometimes affects this site to it's detriment IMVHO.
Stop judging everybody by your standards and revel in the diversity of personalities, values and behaviour that humans posses.
Build a pulpit if you want to preach!

What total and absolute sanctimonious b***s**t. Most of the people partying  where regulars who party in the lots every year as a tradition.

Your attack on non-regulars and accusations are typical of some of the PC hysteria that sometimes affects this site to it's detriment IMVHO.
Stop judging everybody by your standards and revel in the diversity of personalities, values and behaviour that humans posses.
Build a pulpit if you want to preach!

Attack, accusations? ???
Why all the hate and judgment?
Please read my post again.

You'll note that I used the word "seems"...
This is my interpretation based on observation, which means it might be right, or it might be wrong.

Drinking and smoking does happen up here all the time, and there are a few that venture past "just tuned up"... There just seems to be a lot more of it at the end, and it's not just the regular lot 3, lot 4 crowd. Did I say that I care about this one way or the other?

So, you want me to revel in the diversity of personalities, values and behavior that humans posses? This should include littering and drinking to access? Or do you mean something else?

This post was not meant to judge others, sorry if you (or anyone else) took it that way. It is also not meant to say that we have any kind of issue with "non regulars", or maybe to put a better way, "our friends that ski at other areas." As far as I'm concerned, Spring/closing is the second season where I get to ski with a whole different set of friends (and their buddies) that I don't see the rest of the season because they hold passes at Crystal, Steven's and Baker.

By the way, the pulpit is taken, you're standing on it.
:

PS. We see and hear about accidents that happen up here all season where alcohol is a factor. Skiing with a buzz on is one thing, skiing drunk is another.

You blamed a whole lot of behaviour that you deemed unacceptable on  " non regulars from other ski areas "and seemed to me to be "holier than thou" regarding drinking while skiing.
I took it personally as I was one of the regulars from other ski areas frequenting Alpental.

1) The characterization  that this behaviour was being carried out mainly by non-regulars is from my observations incorrect and my main beef with your post.

2) The reports of drunk skiing and mass littering seemed to me to be exaggerated and overblown.I saw nobody skiing drunk but a lot of people drinking and skiing and there is nothing wrong with that IMVHO. All I saw was a lot of people having good-humored fun in the sun.

3) Littering is unacceptable  and I saw some of it, but not that much and again I think it was exaggerated. You  implied that this was being carried out by " non-regulars". Seems to be problem with all ski areas not just " non regulars from other ski area"

4) You seem to be preaching against drinking while skiing and if that's they way you feel that's OK by me, but don't turn your nose up at people who do. I have no problem with drinking and skiing or smoking dope and skiing. I think both activities are acceptable and can add to the skiing experience as long as they do not reach the point where they endanger others.

5) You went to a ski area on the last day of the season and then complained about partying, duh!
If you wanted a pristine skiing experience, there was plenty of backountry where partying and drinking would not have affected your refined sensibilities.

6) TAY , IMVHO seems to attract preachy types which your post seemed to imply you where who feel the need to comment on the behaviour of others and sometimes it just get to PC for me and I push back.

I'll be happy to join with you to go up to Alpental  one day and walk the lift lines picking up litter after all ,complaining is easy, doing something about it better.

Live long and prosper!

For what it's worth, maybe I didn't express myself very well, and as a result you are assuming some things on the basis of your interpretation. Regardless, for the record, I'm OK with drinking, smoking and skiing and the Spring crowd. I'm not OK with out of control drunk skiing or littering.

I'll be happy to join with you to go up to Alpental  one day and walk the lift lines picking up litter after all ,complaining is easy, doing something about it better.

You're on. I'll bring the beer, you pack the pipe.

10-4 brother! hugs and kisses