NPS avy gear census at Crystal Southback

Scotsman, what if the NPS is more likely to leave access open once they understand that the people hiking out the southback are properly equipped ??  Your tactic may backfire in that case?

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!

Dare I point out that these Crystal survey wages could go toward staffing an earlier Sunrise opening than the currently scheduled June 25?  Plowing to Sunrise could also begin sooner at little extra cost if the Park would let the Paradise Valley road just melt out.

Doesn't Jackson Hole have an open boundary arrangement with Grand Teton NP?  Anybody know if the rangers there get paid to count tracks & beacons?

As for conspriracy theories, smoke this one in your pipe, Scotty:  Skiing down to 410 will eventually be limited by requiring expensive guides to enter the Park from Crystal.  RMI has under-utilized personel, vehicles & insurance, as well as a long, cozy relationship with NPS management... 

I'm smoking Gary but nothing but black smoke coming out!!! Your scenario extremely frightening and dare I say possible. God forbid ( if there was a god)

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

Good Point. I was going to stop to ask but I'd have lost my place in the bootpack or been run over by the herd!

This is your enemy.

Hawt or maybe just cute or not and no matter her good intentions of protecting the sleeping furry forest creatures with her cheery beacon banter she is working for the dark lord Sith......  [size=20pt]Uberuaga[/size]

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?

Heck, maybe there'll even be heli-skiing?
www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/upload/ATMP%20...%20Release_Final.pdf