Backcountry access from WA ski areas

I am not a lawyer, rescue professional, etc, but find this topic interesting. <br>

As Randy posted, "Mission Ridge and Steven's have signs about no avalanche control out of bounds and rescue (when availible) being peformed by the Sheriff's department at a $1000 minumum charge."<br><br>A little drift here, but a point-as far as I know, responsibility for rescue is with the county sheriff (except within a certain distance of State or Federal highways, where WSP has jurisdiction). No charge for rescue is allowed in the law. <br>

<br>I seem to recollect hearing the same thing from someone involved in a professional rescue organization. The relevant code seems to be <br> RCW 38.52 <br>, which does not explictly allow for charge backs, except in the case where the rescue was caused by intoxication (38.52.440), in which case the maximum charge is one thousand dollars.<br>

<br>A ski area may bill for a rescue, but that has no legal standing. I think it is a cheap shot by small minds to put up a sign saying so much per hour for rescue. Such signage started at Mt Baker ski area.<br><br>All said, I would be grateful and appreciative if I needed a rescue and someone helped. However, it is traditionally done with volunteer labor. I would be happy to help if I am around someone in need, as I have, and would assume others feel similarly.<br><br>On the other hand, if the US had organized rescue by Guides or other professionals, as in the Alps, I would happily pay for my card to subscribe to such a service.<br>

<br>The American Alpine Club provides rescue insurance for their members. I had joined specifically for this reason when climbing overseas, but have since let my membership lapse.<br>

<br>It appeared the upper gate off Internationale was closed there today (I could be wrong about that as I didn't look closely), but many (mostly without packs that I could see) were seen coming out of the access trail near the parking lot. It's always too bad when the foolish ruin things for the thoughtful whether it's BC skiing, seasonal explosives or......?

<br><br>There is a low traverse cut from Elevator Gate that goes well beyond Trash Can. As far as I know, that's all kosher. When I did it on Sunday, most of the tracks coming in from above were close to the gate.<br>

After one reads the RCW quoted above, one may understand some of my ideas below.<br><br>In general, the posting of signs at ski area boundaries claiming the potential for fees, death, etc. are cya for the ski areas. Long and costly litigation may follow a death of a skier that passed a ski area boundary. Issues of litigation could include questions about appropriate signage delineating the ski area boundary, whether or not a rope line was or was not in place or indicated, etc. WA ski areas generally have feared the rope line because of the cost of maintenence and generally dismiss it as unfeasible.<br><br>Remember that the goal of a ski area business is to relieve the skier of as much $$ as is possible. Whether that skier lives or dies outside of the ski area is of little concern, except for liability to the ski area or for a show of public relations. <br><br>In regard to rescue, we are fortunate to have such a great many dedicated individual volunteer rescuers,and a limited number of professionals also, who train, buy their gear, give their time, and submit themselves to risk in order to rescue someone in the backcountry. Thanks to them. <br><br>The signs at ski areas claiming the right to charge for backcountry rescue, in light of the efforts of the real rescuers, is a chickensh** threat. Those ski areas would theoretically be eligible for reimbursement from the local authority for costs of an authorized rescue (**if they ever need to rescue me, I would be grateful, but the thought stands. Somewhat unlikely, since I like to avoid ski areas).<br>

I believe that if the gates are closed, patrol should play by the rules too. It is pretty hypocritical and certainly not respecting the resort's guests to close a place and then ski it. There is a difference between closing it and going in to do some control / check conditions and closing it and be the only ones lapping it.<br><br>drC

It seems with all your years of patrolling expierence at Alpental you know the job better than they do.