House Bill 5186

What... is the capital of Assyria?

Honestly, as it think about this a bit more, do you think that 7b would allow a ski area to post a sign and rope off the base of the ski area either pre- or post- season and if a person crosses that closure they would be subject to a $1000 fine?  I've definitely been known to hit most of the ski areas prior to their opening day and I'd hate to lose that opportunity.

Interesting question.

Uh oh, Imminent thread drift.

Holy Grail quotes.

"Run away,  run away!!!"

I honestly don't get this hate on poachers as long as they are only putting themselves in danger and not patrollers or guests from avalanche danger.
I have always admired poachers that manage to poach a closed line and get away with it as long as the no harm/no foul criteria as outlined above is met.
I have poached and will poach again.
I poached a line that was marked as closed in Japan with my son and he still remembers the thrill of hiding from patrollers and skiing the line and getting away with it in the middle of a busy resort. It was fun and there was no danger to anybody other than ourselves. I am proud to have taught my son how to poach.
Poaching lines and skiing has gone on since ski areas where invented.
This concept of legislating and establishing layer upon layer of rules to protect people from themselves is becoming a distinctly American thing and so far away from the freedom the rest of the world has always associated with the USA. The pussification of America continues unabated by the do-gooders who want to legislate us all into rule abiding robots glorifying in our collective mediocrity and piousness while asking each other if we have done avy 1 or avy 2 classes.

Hear! Hear! Scotsman

FYI - I sent the following to the senator and got a response back from his legislative assistant. Feel free to write to her at this email address sherman.mary@leg.wa.gov if you have an opinion on the proposed legislation.

MY EMAIL

Sen Kastama,

I appreciate what you are trying to accomplish with SB5186.

I have two concerns and suggestions to make your proposal more attractive.

1) As currently drafted, it isn't clear whether 7b applies to closures
only within the ski area boundary or if it would also potentially
apply to closures to back country areas outside the ski area boundary
that may be accessed from the ski area. I think your proposal would
be much improved if you included the clause "within the ski area
boundary" in 7b as in 7a.

2) As currently written, the legislation would allow a ski area to
post a closed sign prior to or after the operating season to prohibit
access to the entire ski area. It is fairly common for back country
skiers like myself to skin up within a ski area boundary prior to or
after the operating season has ended. I don't think the intent of
your bill is to prohibit this activity. I wonder if you'd be willing
to add the clause "during the operating season" or something similar
in 7b?

Thanks for you consideration,

--JJ

THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED


Dear Mr. Jenkins:

Thank you for your suggestions. Senator has asked that we pass your thoughts on to staff for consideration.

Best regards,

Mary Sherman

Mary L. Sherman
Legislative Assistant to Senator Jim Kastama
25th Legislative District
Olympia Office:
Suite 235 John A. Cherberg Building
PO Box 40425
Olympia WA 98504-0425
360-786-7648