Introducing Cascade Backcountry Alliance

Hi All,

After much backroom discussion, Western Washington is finally getting its own backcountry ski and snowboard advocacy group. Myself and other members of the CBA have watched backcountry usage skyrocket in recent years, as good winters and improved gear have fueled a renaissance all along the Cascade crest. Along with more crowded skintracks, attendant access issues have started to plague our community: difficult parking situations, conflicts with other snow travelers, and reduced uphill travel options at our local resorts.

Currently, there is no united voice for skiers and riders to speak with land managers, resorts, and fellow winter recreationalists. While backcountry users generally seek a solitary experience, our lack of organization has begun to hurt us. A trend of reduced access and diminished user experience is the fate of every recreational group that fails to organize once it hits a critical mass.

We believe that the time has come to present a united voice in addressing these issues. However, we want to hear from the TAY community about what issues they feel are of greatest importance. Beyond simply getting our name out and establishing relationships, our #1 priority for this year is to plow the PCT trailhead at the commonwealth basin. We have ideas and things we hope to address in many areas- time will tell what is feasible for us and what our priorities should be. The point is that we are a new organization and now is the time for YOU to have your voice heard.

Check out the website at cascadebackcountryalliance.org and let us know what you think. For projects in your area, look in the current projects tab and then give us some feedback. What issues do you think are important? What should we focus on as an organization? You can email us, or comment here-- we'd like this thread to be a place for some productive conversation.

Lastly, if you enter your email into our mailing list, we will keep you informed on our events and projects. We are excited to hear from the core community before we gain a more public face, and we appreciate your time and your words.

Welcome!

It would be important to me to know who at least the key organizers are and if the organizers and the alliance have any affiliations outside of other non-profit public service groups.  Thanks, abc 


I do think it is well past the time when such an alliance should have been formed--thanks for forming one. I look forward to updates.

Hi All,

our #1 priority for this year is to plow the PCT trailhead at the commonwealth basin.

This seems like an interesting priority to me, given that backcountry skiers have been parking for free at the Snoqualmie Summit/Summit West lots for at least a half century.

Can you illuminate the factors that where used to identify this as a top priority?

It would be important to me to know who at least the key organizers are and if the organizers and the alliance have any affiliations outside of other non-profit public service groups.  Thanks, abc 

Andrew,

Thanks for the response. The CBA has no affiliations besides the Winter Wildlands Alliance, which is a national nonprofit group that has helped us organize and get our paperwork in order.

As far as the primary members: I currently work for International Mountain Guides. The past 4 winters you may have seen me at Pro Ski and Mountain Service in North Bend, where I worked in the shop. Some of our key members are also in the industry, and work for guide services such as Mountain Madness and Alpine Ascents, as well as Ascent Outdoors in Seattle. Others work at resorts, other retailers, and at gear companies.

To be very clear: we do not represent the interests of any of these institutions as the CBA. We are all avid recreational skiers who want to help address the needs of the recreational community. While obviously the industry benefits from more skiers and more backcountry users, the point is that we as recreationalists have a political voice- for-profit entities already have the means and resources to advocate for themselves.

I should have signed the first post, apologies.

Cheers,
Conrad Wharton

This seems like an interesting priority to me, given that backcountry skiers have been parking for free at the Snoqualmie Summit/Summit West lots for at least a half century.

Can you illuminate the factors that where used to identify this as a top priority?

Hi Randy,

There were a few things that went into this decision, and it is by no means set in stone. First, to your question about why this is even a concern: Snoqualmie Pass is the closest and easiest access to touring from Seattle. The status quo of resort parking use, which is taken up not only by touring folks but snowshoers and other user groups, has a few problems. First, the increasing number of free-riders cannot continue forever- the competition for resort parking will eventually become a serious issue. Second, the number of people wandering under the overpass to access the commonwealth is a safety concern.

The large number of public land users and the presence of an existing parking lot means that it is in everyone’s interest to plow this lot: the resort wins because more parking spaces are freed up for paying customers, the forest service is better able to serve the demands of its users, the DOT has fewer concerns about pedestrians and illegal parking, and we as a user base gain easy access to a popular touring area without being beholden to the generosity of the resort.

In other words, this seems like a logical project with clear benefits and  a reasonable scope. We certainly are aware of many other pressing issues, and are open to pursuing as many as we can.

Cheers,
Conrad