Alpental Rando Rally results

Hmmm, "world ski mountaineering championships" and no one had a shovel?? Interesting. Thanks for the link.

<br><br><br>I found that interesting too.... I saw the skiers diging with their hands? At least everyone made it out ok. <br><br>Thanks for the video link!

Larry - prep and strategy included procrastinating until day before to decide to go, making it to start line with about 1 minute to spare, fumbling with my bindings while getting started, following a woman (Karen Kingsley?) up the hill first lap with RONA (Really Onery Nordic Athelete?) advertised on her back end, coming out of my binding on upper International, helping get some people back on the course on Rollen (some of these people beat me (next time post friend to mis-direct fellow competitors), retrieving ski pole for Seth (who also beat me so next time throw pole further down the hill instead). I am sure drug injections of some sort will help me next time.

Being a dope is not the same as doping, Garth.

Garth, thanks again for getting my pole.<br><br>Seth

Races and competitions are great in my view and I'm glad people put them together. I enjoy running 10Ks for example. From the view of someone trying to ski that day, and the race a couple years ago, many of us were furious by what it did to our day. There was excellent powder to be had in Alpental's BC, but these people had the nerve to hold the event on a Saturday. Have it on a week day for god's sake! The result was International not being open until noon and BC closed until 1:00 - ish. Many of us loyal season pass holders work on week days. We got screwed by both of these races. If it's truly a randonee/bc race, there's tons of terrain you could do it on and not ruin many skier's day. Have it on Silver Peak for example. Get a map and stop being so selfish, please. Thank you, I feel better now.

Avoiding the conflicts you describe is difficult.  Most of the people who participate in these rallies are weekenders too, so holding the event on a weekday isn't practical.  The organizers run them at ski areas because there is logistical support handy (e.g. ski patrol) and they can re-route the course onto avalanche controlled slopes if the backcountry is unsafe.  This has happened at previous Alpental events.  Holding the event in true backcountry would be a risky prospect.  Chances are you'd have to cancel or postpone the event 50% of the time.  I've organized a few backcountry events and you can get an ulcer fast worrying about whether the conditions will allow it.  I think that's what killed the Silver Skis race on Mt Rainier back in the 1940s.<br><br>The crux of the problem at Alpental is that the ski area is too small.   Rally skiers and recreational skiers are competing for the same terrain.  As long as they run rallies at Alpental, this will be a recurring problem.<br>