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and deadfall have been cleared away have ages users to practice leave-No-trace
eliminated the understory of the forests, and to respect private landowners.
he says, threatening their stability and “I think a lot of the basic elements
ability to regenerate.
are already there,” she says. “We just
“If you’re looking to make a glade need to find a way to share them in a uni-

sustainable, the only way to do it sensibly fied way with a broad audience.”
is to define spaces instead of individual some are advocating for a back-
stems. that way, there’s diversity in age country skiers advocacy group that would
classes, [and] diversity in species,” he says.
act as a unified representative body. ja-
the solution, he maintains, is a son duquette-Hoffman, co-founder and

compromise.
owner of Vermont-based ski company
“I like to think that there should Worth skis, says a dialogue between poli-
be something for everybody in the spec- cymakers and the trail users is necessary.
trum,” he says. “some people love to ski skiing the steep, open backcountry in areas like stowe can be extreme both in terrain and weather. “What I hear from people that have
tight little wormholes. some people like access to the backcountry, issues of liability, safety and rescue are all matters that have recently moved access to policy development is that they
to the fore for backcountry enthusiasts. Photo by Brian mohr/ember Photography.
to ski wide-open spaces. the fact that as don’t understand what we need and they
much trimming goes on right now indi- don’t understand how to translate it into the business of making enough money to “We’ve lost the public relations
cates that there is a demand for some- policies that make sense on a statewide pay the bills, and if you have a group of battle,” Blackman says. “Other users
thing somewhere in between what a com- basis. What we really need to do is help free-loaders getting first tracks down our of backcountry land are assumed to be
mercial ski area offers and what any of us them. this (meeting) gives them a sense runs, and skiing for free down our steeps, virtuous—hikers are wonderful stew-

can achieve by being industrious.”
of who we are, but we really need to step it takes away from our loyal customers.”
ards of the environment, [while] skiers
NatO’s Hall says the procedure up and give them that advisory capacity.”
Friedman says mad river Glen, are dirtbag criminals. We need some-
is unnecessary. For him, it’s all about mendell says the solution is a little and other resorts, are happy to allow body to change that.”
knowing where to go.
more basic.
backcountry skiers access to their terrain amy Keley, executive director
“thirty percent of where we live is “everyone needs to step up and pre-season and post-season. some resorts of the Catamount trail assocciation,

forest wilderness,” he says. “Go some- communicate what we all do,” he says. also allow skiers access after the lifts have points to the lists of standards rang-
where where you don’t hit brush. I could “We love what we do and that commu- shut down for the day, but there needs ing from the snowsports Industry of
show you glades [where] you could get nication is key. do we want to keep it in to be a general understanding of what america’s Backcountry Code to the
200 turns with trees eight feet apart in our back pocket or do we want to share the guidelines are per each resort before Vermont trail ethic from the Vermont
pristine powder today.”
it with someone? It’s not a secret, it’s all backcountry skiers “poach” groomed trails and Greenways Council. the

Image control
about the fun.”
terrain.
Catamount trail association encour-
that said, the resort community
in Vermont as a group does not have a
after the disastrous cut at Big jay and a formal policy on backcountry skiing, ac-
rash of lost skiers, notably at Killington cording to Vermont ski area association

resort in the past year or two, the back- President Parker riehle, who would say
country community finds itself lumped only that the association and ski resorts
together with chainsaw-wielding outlaws would likely keep an “open mind” on the
or down-country wannabes ducking issue and try to address upcoming discus-
sions with “flexibility.”
ropes to ski out of bounds.
It’s an image problem that some at- What all agree on, however, is
tribute to steroid-injected ski publications that the actions of a few have affected
or films that raise lofty expectations of the entire community. last year, a bill
what a ski experience should be, while presented to the Vermont legislature by
Killington-area representatives last year rikertnordic.com
others point the finger at resorts that offer JOIN US
an exclusively “backcountry” experience.
would have charged skiers for the cost of
From the resort’s perspective, it’s their own search and rescue missions.
a mishmash of experiences that yield a It failed for several reasons, with at the Bread Loaf Campus in Ripton, Vermont for
unique policy at each resort. With the sev- the state police and backcountry rescuers WINTER FAMILY FUN!

en resorts that have leased land on state both opposed to the law, including the
forests, areas like stowe have been some- likelihood the victims and their families Ongoing programs ~ check website for details ~ PSIA instructors
what lenient in the past, allowing limited would be hesitant to call for help sooner
access during limited times to the top of and might, therefore, put more people—
mount mansfield and surrounding ar- and rescuers—in danger. Goodman says

eas. Other resorts, like mad river Glen, the law was also misguided.
which is built in its entirety on private “When they proposed the law, I Our snowmaking system will keep
land, has seen a change in attitude over don’t think they were even thinking about the fun in winter all season long!
the years because of past abuse. mrG’s backcountry skiers,” he says. “they were
Vice President of Communication eric thinking about kids from New jersey

Friedman recently said the resort used to ducking out-of-bounds and getting lost.
be more lenient—selling single ride lifts the only thing is, in that big net that they
for a nominal fee, for example—but had threw out, the real thing they pulled in
to stop because too many skiers were when the net came up was us.”
taking multiple rides on their single ride NEW! Snowshoes and snowshoe trails for youth and adults
policing their own?
NEW! Snowmaking on 5K Race Course
ticket. “It was just too difficult to enforce; season passes ~ equipment rental ~ day passes
it wasn’t worth the aggravation.”
and, Friedman says, “those are even though the bill failed, many view it rikertnordic.com
our people,” a nod to the backcountry as a warning. With that in mind, rasta open 7 days a week 8:30 – 4:30, Dec. – Mar. • 802-443-2744
skier mindset that thrives on less mate- has begun to discuss ways of cleaning up

rial things, not more. “the problem,” the image of off-piste enthusiasts and po-
Friedman says, “is that we have to be in
licing themselves.

December 2013
VtSportS.com 27