Time for new Alpental BC rules?

"I think that the poachers who get worked into a lather over untracked lines should either get some climbing skins and burn off that pent up energy far away from the ski areas, or quit their jobs and get a low paying, high risk job that allows them to be the first to break trail to Piss Pass, cut off a few slides, maybe take a ride or two and get a few turns before the paying public gets a chance to experience a "controlled" backcountry experience. "

Very well said.  I can't agree more with you. 

I came across this nice photo-map of the Alpental BC: 
www.alpental.com/snow-h.htm


It would be nice to have something similar for Crystal.

It would be nice to have something similar for Crystal.

They have a hard copy version....you can get it at Wapiti Woolies in Greenwater for $5.

That alpental.com website was put together by Chris Foy, a onetime Alpental regular until he skied Shot 4 and got banned. It's funny that his website should be mentioned in this thread, though. When he chose to ski Shot 4, he knew exactly what he was getting himself into (prospect of being banned and all), and took a calculated risk. For breaking the rules, Chris got what punished - rightly in my opinion, since had he gotten hurt or stuck up there, patrol would have had to risk their lives to rescue him.

Conversely, hundreds if not thousands of people ski the Alpental BC every season who have no idea where they are going or what they are doing. Many do so when the BC is closed and suffer no consequences whatsoever. Likewise, every gaper who skis the BC, when it's open or not, ultimately puts others' lives at risk due to their own ignorance and carelessness (I have personally witnessed people fall off of 40' cliffs, get stuck in dead end chutes and have to be rescued, fall into 10' deep creek beds etc).

When the BC is open, I think it's fair game for gapers to be there. The back country is on Alpental's trail map, and I guess that means it's just like another marked run (right?). However, I do think that enforcing the BC pass requirement again would be a good step forward. Better would be to require shovel, probe, transceiver, and partner.

When the BC is closed, though, it is wrong that the multitudes who daily violate the rules should go unpunished. They are putting their own as well as others' lives in danger and ultimately ruin (or at least postpone) the experience for everyone else.

I finaly got to say something- I and several other Ski Patroler have been reading this other topics like this.

I used to Patrol at Alpental- used to partly because of this stuff. I don't really like the Alpental BC- find much better places to tour; but it is quick and easy for others that can't or won't earn their turns. The Patrol tries to stop the poachers- I will not risk my life to save an idiot- let Darwin rule. Often times we set up lines of patrolers to stop them and they ski through us. For the general patroler to pull a pass or ticket is a pain- if we catch them. A few places we spend more time controling rope lines- safety issues.

You want to ski reckless go to Europe- ski any where any time and yes they have more fatilities- off Piste no problem- buy insurance. But they also have professional rescue staff with helicopters waiting for the call.

Go to Utah, some of the resorts have the county mounties there full time, cut a rope, ticket issues- get a ride down town. Alpental/Snoqualmie needs to do something- send them a letter or email. Maybe you have a good idea or how to control it, maybe become part of the solution- join the Alpental Ski Patrol- they have lots of openings. Fresh powder, first tracks, carry 80 lb packs of explosives, 50 lb bundles of bamboo and don't forget all the rope it takes to mark the lines. Risk your life to protect and save others from themselves.

Alpental BC is a junkshow. At least 50% of all the people cruising out there have no idea of any avalanche conditions, and obviously no equipment because they don't have backpacks on. Secondly, most practice horrible BC etiquette, by traversing under the cornices, stopping, gaping, all skiing together, having lunch? Who know's, my point is that there are completely clueless people cruising out into the BC like it's one of their freshly groomed blue squares. I think that a strict BC Baker policy should be in affect, whereby you have a buddy, shovel, PROBE and beacon. (And you know how to use it!) I saw a Volly patroller out on the high traverse last week, and a Summit Ambassador, neither with a backpack. I take that back, the Volly had a fannypack, whoopdy doo! WTF? Aren't these the exact people that are supposed to be setting the example? No wonder there are gapers galore out there. And the Patrol is definitely part of the problem, ie. how on high avy days, they add to their signs, "Skiing in closed areas will result in loss of skiing priveledges." Well...what does that mean for all the other days when things are closed? That it's okay to do? As last Saturday showed us, their own lack of enforcement for cutting ropes almost got them killed. Regardless of whether it's on the trail map or not, it is the backcountry, which means that you go there prepared for things to go wrong, and you might have to stay the night. You have your 10 essentials, and you are knowledgeable with BC terrain, and someone else knew where you were going. Because let's be honest, Alpie BC can be gnarly, and it's easy to get cliffed out, and that's why we love it. How often do you get pissed off when you have to stop your run to give directions to some idiot, or help someone out who clearly shouldn't be there? How cool would it be if 50% of the people that skied it now wouldn't be allowed to, because they are a f'in moron? Think about all that pow pow for the rest of us... Definitely, something needs to change.
-Jake Millan