NPS avy gear census at Crystal Southback

What tactic, Not answering.???.. that's my perogative but hardly a tactic!!!
As to your theory......... yeah right. : : : :
If you beleive that my friend I have a unicorn I'd like to sell you!

Fantastic, my daughter loves Unicorns!

I dont know all the politics, but if I owned land that people we tromping around on, I would be more inclined to let them do so if I knew they were equipped for the activity, and less of a liability to me. That may, or may not, reflect the NPS thoughts. If it does, then might you consider that by refusing to answer you are actually working against your goal of southback access?

Just a thought

As to why the Crystal/MRNP boundary is an issue, here's the party line, snipped from:  www.powdermag.com/onlineexclusives/crystal_110504/

"MRNP asserts that ticketed skiers who enter MRNP from Crystal Mountain do so not as individuals, but as Crystal Mountain customers and therefore as an extension of Crystal's business in the park."

"Uberuaga also pointed to the expected increase in skier visits at Crystal Mountain as its master plan is executed.   He concluded that regardless of any perceived lack of present data, statistically the numbers of skiers entering MRNP from the ski area will only increase, thus further extending Crystal's business into the park. Combined with charges of observed "vegetation manipulation" and "the cutting of branches" on or near major chutes in the park, Uberuaga insisted that closing the boundary today was paramount to protecting the future of MRNP's pristine wilderness."


The RMI scenario is not originally mine, Scotty, but has been Ashford gossip for years.  I was amazed on re-reading the above article to encounter this:

"For its part, Crystal Mountain is looking at ways to appease backcountry users without drawing the ire of the park. 'We'll look into applying for a commercial use permit,' said Kircher, 'like how Rainier Mountaineering Inc. operates within the park.' (Rainier Mountaineering Inc. is a popular guide service that operates under a contract with the National Park Service.) 'There's no real commercial value for Crystal, but in the spirit of backcountry skiing, we like it. There's a hardcore group here and it would be nice to make everybody happy.'"

"Presented with such a hypothetical situation, Uberuaga seemed intrigued. 'That's one scenario that may work,' he said..."

Apparently, protecting the 'pristine wilderness' was paramount, unless there was some money to be made, eh?  Of course, this was all before the NPS lost that lawsuit; surely their motives are pure now?

You my friend are absolutley dead on and if all the optimists that think the survey was with good intentions ,
(see Jaun's post above) you are going to be crying in your coffee when access is once again denied in the not to distant future by the NPS. Our apathy is going to allow this to happen. I call for civil non-violent protest. Any suggestions Gary?

I dont know all the politics, but if I owned land that people we tromping around on, I would be more inclined to let them do so if I knew they were equipped for the activity, and less of a liability to me. 

The NPS don't own the land.
They just act like they do.
I thought that all Americans understood this?
Hoped it's why they make people like me (and Scotty) take a test when they let us in?

The NPS don't own the land.
They just act like they do.
I thought that all Americans understood this?
Hoped it's why they make people like me (and Scotty) take a test when they let us in?

I failed the test... three times.... that's why they won't let me be a citizen..... I dream at night of finally being able to change my avatar from Scotsman to..... Americanman! One day!
Good point Brit , the park belongs to you Americans and recreational users and that's part of the reason that the NPs was founded. You set the policy of the NPS, it's the NPS's job to reflect what the consensus of the public wants which admittedly changes over time.


Edit to add. No "vegetation manipulation" was conducted as part of this post.

Has anyone asked her / NPS / Crystal Patrol about the purpose of the survey?

Why don't you ask her?  I get nervous talking to hot girls too, but she would tell you what is actually going on, and you could quit spending your evenings writing about conspiracy theories on the internet.  This is pretty funny stuff though.

Marcus, can we put Uberuaga's Snow Soldier on the cover?