I stole that title from an editor’s post in Skiing Magazine.  But I am.  I can’t help it.  The image in this post is a parody of those infamous motivational posters.  It is one of my favorites but it does come with a warning.

 

 

We riders all know that some of the best stashes of powder are behind the ropes.  And we all know just how irresistible they are.  Riding the freshies for most of us, is what it’s all about.  But should you cross that line your patrol put up?  When you do, do you understand the risks?  Are you prepared for trouble?  Are you prepared to lose your lift ticket?

This year I bought a season pass at my rather small hill Bluewood.  Rarely do we see runs closed there with the exception of early season.  But there is an outstanding hike to Vintner’s Ridge where you can drop down into a semi-steep, untracked run and if the buckbrush covered near the bottom, all is good.  There is minor avalanche danger and plenty of trees to the side to run out of the danger.  I can do this hill in the worst of conditions without fear.  But the problem is, it is usually posted as closed. 

I ponder the question whether it is worth losing my season pass to take the hike this year.  Or whether I should buddy up with patrol and let them know I am hiking, that I will radio in etc… I still wonder if I risk exposing myself as a ”rope jumper” and therefore a suspect rider.

Many areas I have been to such as Bachelor or Snowbird have gates for backcountry like this where the level of responsibility is put upon the rider to have the right skill level and the right gear to survive a mishap.  This I understand and have generally been well prepared and skilled enough to manage. 

The image above doesn’t exactly illustrate my question.  What this shows is a group jumping the rope in what could be confused as not a closed or gated backcountry area, but rather a run that had been deemed by patrol to be dangerous within the ski area boundaries.  As much as I love this poster, I think that could use some clarification.  If you are a rope jumper like me, I am sure you understand.  When you look down the slope and see a semi-hidden stump or a steep slope with a severe potential for avalanch you always think twice.  Just like hitting the backcountry, you have to know the limits.

But isn’t that just the coolest poster?