At the risk of telling most of y'all something that you already know...<br><br>there's no reason to risk life and limb to have fun skiing in the backcountry, even with the persistent weak layers that we are experiencing in our snowpack right now.<br><br>A more fun and life extending alternative is to copy the old weenies and stick to the conservative terrain that won't slide when it goes "whump". <br>Our geezer patrol will be sticking to trees and shallow slope angles (< 25 degrees) until the snow pack out there becomes more stable. Unless you plan on doing your own patrol work by triggering slides before and in the path of each intender run, You might consider doing the same.<br><br>Another option is to do some real "tours" and go for distance like TAY Charles and some of the other "fish scale riders" do.<br><br>Where? Well, for starters there's lots of good low angle tree skiing around Mt Catherine and Nordic Pass in the Snoqualmie Pass area, and in the Paradise area at the north end of the Paradise Valley and also up on the top of the Mazama Ridge above Reflection Lakes.<br><br>So gang, in hopes that no more our backcountry brothers and sisters get hurt doing what we love... How 'bout giving up some of your low angle stashes, glades and long, flat and fun destinations? <br> <br>Lots of places out there. C'mon, give it up -- where can you suggest that folks go to ski and ride that has a greater degree of safety in high avy danger?<br>
