March 9, 2011 Take Responsibility For Your Actions

The following was posted on the Blog Crystal: Ski Patrol site 3/8/2011

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On Monday March 7th at 4pm, after six long days of searching for our missing skier, we tired patrollers were looking forward to some much needed rest. We received a cell phone call from a skier lost somewhere in the Mt. Rainier National Park towards Hwy 410. Patrollers were dispatched to search the boundary for tracks. After a phone interview, patrollers narrowed it down to a track traversing into Kempers from Windy pass (back traverse) off of Mountain Top. The team of patrollers finally found the disoriented tired guest in the middle of one of our most notorious slide paths. While much of our boundary with the National Park is open, the Kempers slide path is permanently closed. Furthermore, for skiers venturing into the Park, only those with the proper gear and knowledge should ever try to attempt it. And even then, it should never be attempted at 4pm in the afternoon.

So what went wrong?

Marcus Price ducked a rope. As patrollers, we try to protect our guests. Simply put, we’re on your side. We pad towers, put up rope lines, mark hazards and even throw explosives in an effort to keep our guests safe. No matter what the visibility, if you honor our rope lines and boundary signs, it is very hard to find yourself mistakenly on the wrong side of a rope line. The incident Monday night was a clear case of someone ducking a rope without giving a second thought to his own safety and that of the rescuers that eventually found him.

Like other ski areas, Crystal Mountain charges for out of ski area rescues. Before starting the rescue we clearly explained to Marcus that he would be responsible for the cost of the rescue. However, once back in the base area, Marcus Price decided to shirk his responsibility. This is not about the money or lost time; it is about taking responsibility for your actions and learning from them. I mean, come on here people. If you go under a rope for a few fresh turns at the end of the day, knowingly (or even unknowingly) entering a closed area, then call for someone to come and get you (and agreeing to pay the rescue fee), at least you should hold up your end of the bargain.

Perhaps Marcus didn’t learn his lesson. Or maybe he did. I will never know. But I do hope that others can learn not only from Marcus, but also from our recent tragedy with the disappearance of our friend Paul Melby. The bottom line is this: take responsibility for yourself. 

www.blogcrystal.com/2011/03/articles/clo...ty-for-your-actions/

Sad commentary really.
Happy that the patrol found him without incident, good effort.

Curious, does House Bill 5186 apply to this?

man...Mr. Marcus Price you're a class act...agreeing to the search fee then blowing off the patrol!?!  If that really went down as the Crystal patrol says, I hope that Crystal has a way to blacklist him so he can't get another lift ticket.

The members of the Crystal ski patrol are awesome...the way they incorporated all the volunteers into the search efforts for Paul last week was really incredible. 

is it the Marcus Price of Seattle as found on Facebook who lists skiing as an activity? Maybe we should bombard him with FB messages... Just a thought...

Curious, does House Bill 5186 apply to this?

Should not effect anyone on that side, unless he would have gone into a marked closed area. The sign there just said Ski Area Boundary.
Dumb a$$e$ like this are the ones who muck it up for everyone else. Should make him pay it off by making him a Parking Attendant on powder days.

Once again thanks to Crystal Patrol for pulling out another day of hard work!

is it the Marcus Price of Seattle as found on Facebook who lists skiing as an activity?  Maybe we should bombard him with FB messages...  Just a thought...

im all for public shaming.  historically it has been a pretty effective tool for punishing those who, like Joedabaker says, muck it up for everyone else.