Backcountry access from WA ski areas

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>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>

I believe members of the American Alpine Club get worldwide rescue insurance as part of membership. From what I've seen though, the circustances of the rescue play a big part in whether you get charged. If you are prepared and the sh** still hits the fan, and you treat the rescuers with gratitude and respect during and after the incident, I think in most cases they won't try to charge you. That does not mean a hefty donation is inappropriate, something the rescued often seem to overlook.

As an almost daily Alpental junky, I agree that Alpental needs to develop a better gate system. This season there has been some days that would have been great in the BC, with low avalanche danger, but only the patrollers were allowed to do laps. In talking with the patrollers the main argument for not opening the gates were holes in the BC and the fact that they felt once the gates were open, anyone could use them. They seemed concerned that small kids might go out and have troubles. Whilst there were some hole issues earlier this season, they were mainly in the elevator gate area. The area they opened first. Also there are always holes in trash can and don't forget the cliffs that are ever present. I do not understand why they are unwilling to adapt a BC policy like Mt. Baker. That would be a way to minimize the inexperienced people. On the flip side, has anyone ever died in Alpy BC? I do know people that have skied the BC without incident for twenty years and never needed beacons and shovels. I know some people are going to disagree, but I feel our snowpack is typically so bomber that there is very little avalanche danger, if the BC is avoided during storms and warming events. The patrol does bomb the cornice line above the main traverse. Whilst I am impatient, this year has seen an incredible amount of snow, and few non-snow days. Typically in the past, one could expect the BC to open up shortly after a storm cycle. Unfortunately, we have had a lot of storms. At this point, it does look like the gates will open as soon as the next storm cycle is done. Unfortunately the patrol seems unwilling to police the rope-line or staff the gates. I would like to see the patrol take a more visible approach to their job. They seem to work in the morning to get everything open, then they dissappear into the top patrol shack for the rest of the day. It would be nice if they would try to be more approachable, instead of hiding in the shack maybe they could be giving BC tours. Certainly earlier this year when they had a beautiful high traverse put in, they could of offered to do guided BC tours to avoid the "holes". I think that if the gates were always open, as at Jackson Hole then the num nuts would go out despite the avy danger. I do not think the culture, here, is the same at Jackson Hole where basically the skiers WILL NOT go out the gates if the avy danger is rated high. I think in other parts of the country, with higher avalanche probabilities, the skier, is a little more concious of that danger. Sorry about the long ramble, watching the ski patrollers do laps earlier this season in the BC was really annoying. I have a beacon, area knowledge and avalanche training. Why is it safe for them and not me?

I agree with everything you've said except...<br><br>"Unfortunately, we have had a lot of storms. "<br><br>Keep 'em coming!<br><br>It is unfortunate the general alpine skiing culture here is less aware of avalanche dangers. One could make the arguement that years of managing in-bounds "backcountry" areas may have led to that. A more stable maritime snowpack certainly is part of it too, but that is no excuse for the recreational skier to have a fearless attitude toward avalanche danger. In pretty much every other state I have skied in, all but the most clueless skiers had a healthy respect for how dangerous terrain outside the ski area can be.<br><br>Alpental could help their case by enforcing the policies they have in place better, and by educating their own patrollers about how the system is supposed to work. The "backcountry pass" system isnt a bad idea, but I've met very few people who actually have one or know how to get one. Simply presenting a beacon, probe, and shovel and answering a few questions would be enough to keep a lot of people out of danger.

In years past the Alpental patrollers issued BC passes. I still have one from 2001. There was no requirement for equipment (interestingly enough) at that time, but they did insist that you stop at the shack, talk with them a bit about where you were going and your skiing skill level and then would issue a liminated and numbered card with a piece of fabric laminated in, supposedly to deter counterfeiting. <br><br>When I spent a couple of seasons slinging drinks at the pass and skiing Alpental daily in the early/mid eighties we would often stop by the shack and ask for a tour and were rarely if ever refused. It was fun to ski with those guys as they knew the territory so well and they were good skiers (it was certainly a different generation of ski patrol), and they were always up for taking a few folks on tours provided you weren't too much of a knucklehead when you asked. Has anyone tried this recently? Hard to believe there aren't any Alpental patrollers reading this board. It would be interesting to hear their comments. <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>...I guess baker does bomb the hemispheres, but the can't do any avy control on the arm, right?

<br><br>Generally- this is correct.<br><br>Due to the infamous 1999 avalanche on the Arm, I believe the ski area can now perfrom some control work on the Arm, but only under certain extreme situations. I don't know any of the particulars, though..