53 replies to this topic

[Snoqualmie guy]

Oh, I got ya Skier. But why do you need to have a BACKCOUNTRY pass to go into the SIDECOUNTRY if it's in bounds? I agree that every mountian is BACKCOUNTRY, but Crystal's and Alpental's stuff should be called BACKCOUNTRY.

[skierdude9450]

There's no such thing as a backcountry pass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Peter]

Snoqualmie Guy, you need the backcountry pass at Alpental for legal reasons to cover their ass if you get hurt. There are not backcountry passes even at Crystal. They don't want to be liable, so they call it backcountry. I am sorry, but you are just wrong. Areas that are avalanche controlled and patrolled can not be considered real backcountry.

[Snoqualmie guy]

Whoa, Watch your words! Also we are both right in our own eyes, we should respect our opions.

[liftmech]

Simmer down, all.

What we have been discussing does have, in fact, a general definition used by most people who ski backcountry. Crystal and Alpental confuse the issue by proclaiming that they have so-called backcountry skiing. In Colorado this terrain would be listed as the double diamond with an EX in the centre and not called 'backcountry'. It is, at least at Crystal, still in-bounds, still within the permit area. Crystal could have put lifts out there years ago had it wanted to, it's not legally any different from the terrain under the Midway Shuttle. Crystal can close the terrain any time it wants since it's inside the ropes; this allows them to concentrate on keeping the main lift-served areas safe and open and this is why there's the big sign at the beginning of the Northway Traverse and at the saddle below the Throne.
The conventions used by most skiers (and all ski patrol/mountain rescue types) refer to skiing outside of any established and regularly patrolled ski area as backcountry. Chinook Pass is backcountry. Alpine Lakes Wilderness is backcountry. The hills behind my house are backcountry. This has nothing to do with respecting opinions or being right, it's just the way it is and has been. When you refer to skiing in the backcountry, most people assume you strapped on skins and went for a hike before skiing back down.

[skierdude9450]

Maybe such a thing does exist...

http://www.skiliftforum.com/index.php?act=...st&id=11121

This post has been edited by skierdude9450: 02 May 2007 - 03:16 PM

[Carl]

Which category terrain do I prefer? It all depends on the snow.

Some days I would rather ski the "blue" runs if the snow is bad.
Some days the Black Diamonds are just right but the Double Blacks have
all slid out and are trashed.
There are those occasional days when the Double Blacks are supreme!

Backcountry? Try skinning up several thousand vertical feet to "earn your turns".

JMHO,

Carl

[Ontariodude]

skierdude9450, on May 2 2007, 07:15 PM, said:

Maybe such a thing does exist...

http://www.skiliftforum.com/index.php?act=...st&id=11121

Cool thats my picture Yeah so there is at least one out there that I know of. They are definetely Extremely rare. The reason why this section of Le Charleviox is a triple black is because of the run it is, the Canadian National Training run in Quebec. Access A is litterally a artificial mountain on top of the alreay big mountain Its not open to the public that I know of but Access B is and the year I was there it was groomed and considered a triple-black. Max pitch: 62%. This year, it was not open at all.

As for me I love intermediate and black diamond cruisers.

Will T. (ontariodude)

This post has been edited by Ontariodude: 06 May 2007 - 10:38 AM

[Snoqualmie guy]

Whats the point of having a triple thats never open???

[Ontariodude]

I'm not sure if access A is ever open to the public... it hasn't been for the 4 days I have been there over the past two years... The lower accesses are sometimes considered triples and the time I went year before, it was open from Access B down. Was extreme. Bombed part of it and edned up in a wipe out from turning to the point of my shoulder basically hitting the snow.

Will T. (ontariodude)

[cjb]

You forgot to list 'terrain park' as a type of run, that would be my choice.

[Snoqualmie guy]

Yes, but Terrain Parks are normally rated "Blue" or "Black" so I didn't think that as a rating.

[Allan]

Terrain parks have features that are rated S/M/L/XL... I don't think they are rated with the circle, square or diamond rating system.

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[cjb]

They are marked with an orange oval but S,M.L.XL is very subjective depending on the resort and area just like not all 'black diamonds' are the same. Many resorts don't use the S.M.L.XL designations at all.

[Allan]

Yeah, we don't have the S~XL markings, but were required to post these at each entrance to the park.

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[Snoqualmie guy]

Yes parks have their own ratings but they are placed on a run that has one.

[Peter]

Well that is how Snoqualmie does it, but you are assuming that all resorts are like Snoqualmie, which is not the case.

[Snoqualmie guy]

I don't mean to start another argument but I've seen it on the: Sun Peaks; Mount Hood Meadows, even at Crystal their halfpipe is on the Quicksilver run which is a "circle" run.

[Peter]

You are right, Many ski areas do it that way, but not all. I am just saying don't assume that all of them are like that.

[Callao]

Ski this backcountry--

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