Slackcountry trap?

IMHE, the less informed, more careless, and happy-go-lucky the skier/rider, the less likely an avalanche is to happen even on a slope the most experienced would run away from quickly. It it generally the most experienced who get caught (they just are out there more often). We watched 3 snowboarders today skiing next to slopes that slid yesterday, whooping and hollering, and unable to even make turns, so they gave up and started building jumps in an area always frequented by novice and intermediates skier (slopes 15-20 degrees). The older, experienced folks (us septuagenerians) just skied the perfect powder on 20-30 degree slopes.

Hey Folks,
I just had a bit to add about the policy that Mt Baker Ski Area operates.  I am not an employee but have close ties to many of the people that are trying to keep that place safe.  Here is their official policy,

www.mtbaker.us/safety-education/mtn-safety/backcountry-policy

anything else that I am saying is my personal view/opinion.
Mt Baker Ski Area operates under the guidelines of an open boundaries policy.  This means that they never open/close their boundaries; they are always open.  They also have no "Gates."  They have information boards in key locations.  On busy backcountry days they often post a patroller on the rope line and check for the 5 required elements before leaving.  This allows them to separate themselves from the liability assumed when areas choose to have gates that open and close. 

The concept is that they draw the line at their ropes and cannot deny you access to any of your National Forest Land (they can deny you entrance to the Canyon and Gunnar's Bowl from the ski area.)  Be warned about entering those areas when closed from the BC because they expect you to travel back to the ski area on certain routes (as in don't come down from Hemispheres and expect to ski the Canyon.)  Since the ski area is not able to deny you access to the BC they are therefore not responsible for your actions/rescue outside those ropes.  If able, they will attempt to preform a rescue outside those ropes, but that is up to available resources. 

I am glad to hear the OP assessing how other's actions may have altered his own.  We all need to keep that in check.  I also understand how quickly the inbounds can get tracked out and how easily lift access BC can begin to look like an easy alternative.   I wanted this group to understand that beyond those ropes is Backcountry.  The word usage of "slackcountry" implies some sort of safety and hazard mitigation.  No control is done beyond the ropes except when special conditions present themselves and Mt Baker Management can prove to Forest Service Officials that without control, the ski area's infrastructure could be damaged.  (Yes, I am aware of the Heli bombing, but that is not their standard operations.)

One last thing; The folks that play in these zones would appreciate referring to this zone on the Arm as "Heli Line."  It would help in changing the perceptions that first time visitors often have. It allows them to make line choice decisions for themselves rather than just the easiest sounding one. 

Stay Safe, Tripp

Thanks for all the input. I don't spend a lot of time up there. It has been a decade plus since I had been out on the arm from the area. It brought back lots of great memories though.

As someone who frequently uses the gate-controlled terrain at Alpental, I feel like any time the gates are open it's an okay decision to go out there. I have had some perspective-altering moments, mostly in Elevator, where if I was in a true backcountry situation, I would likely not choose to ski down such terrain. I've seen someone go for a long ride down Mach's Couloir in the spring, I've triggered slabs myself on the rolling, convex terrain and I've watched cornices fall across the High T. Fortunately they've all been learning experiences in how to select terrain, manage sluff, etc. which have greatly improved my decision-making in the backcountry.

I feel the same way about the Southback at Crystal and Cowboy Ridge at Stevens. There is the potential for death and serious injury, but those areas, when open to the public, always feel safer to me than being out with just your partners miles away from the end of a forest road.

That is kinda getting at my question more directly. It was a long time ago again that I frequented the alpy bc but I agree with you. Explaining it to someone made me feel a bit of a hypocrite tho. Maybe I am one?

It isn't entirely the same though. Alpy BC Is in-bounds skiing all the way to draft dodger ridge. Cornices on the ridge are controlled and major runs are typically cut. That doesn't mean stuff can't slide on you, especially in elevator.

The real eye opener is that all of these things can you happen to you on-piste inbounds as well. Of all the avalanches I have personally been involved in both were inbounds at ski areas. One was in the ski area's maintained Slackcountry(Not Alpy) and the other was on a main run. I have witnessed at least two others from a distance that were inbounds. Skiers compaction plays a huge role. As a result some folk are less risk averse in areas that are directly accessible from a lift.

But I guess my point is that when you go out Nash or Elevator gate you aren't leaving the resort similar to the King and Southback and Crystal. That isn't "backcountry" like leaving baker resort and skiing the arm. The irony with Alpental is the easiest runs out of the resort is to actually leave the resort all together and ski out of No Fog or Big Trees.

[EDIT] Another note and a key advantage to a resort's inbound slack country but also an advantage to lift accessed backcountry/nearcountry. People are more willing to take risk when they are around other people. Not necessarily from a groupthink sociological perspective. Some people recognize that the effort level to get help during an incident in near country is far more effective. If you are way out in the BC, like skiing off the summit of vesper peak, and take a tumble down headlee pass, it will take major logistics to get you out and it will be a long and slow process. OTH if you take a tumble on the arm just out of the ski area or say in Great Scott bowl at Alpy there is a significant amount of infrastructure and people in the vicinity available to help you. So it is easy to judge but really these are wise decisions. You ski more aggressively closer to resort. Ideally you are skiing most aggressive terrain in the resort. You should be skiing more conservatively the further out you go.