The Canyons Avalanche Photos

Text of NV law is in both state and USA Gov hands right now. You are
100% correct in assuming the media could very well have misinterpreted
the law text. Time will tell.
Meanwhile don't get caught ! !

Absolutely right ! The long politically delayed law WILL lower rescue
team risks and, simply put, permit at least some control over those so
inclined to take such "out-of-bounds" risks.

Who benefits ? All those, usually unpaid, kind and Good Samaritan
Volunteers associated with any rescue efforts regardless of success.
Which Volunteer can predict where/when the next snow/mud slide will
occur ? They could be in the middle of it ! Maybe the Canyons fiasco
will change the way we look at such uncontrolled risks. LH

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 10:18:47 -0500, (L H) wrote:

FYI: Good news this week to the skiers/boarders who enjoy
out-of-bounds adventures that put rescue teams at risk.

In Douglas County, NV on NV-CA border.........YOU WILL BE SENT TO
PRISON, FINED A FEW BUCKS and billed for ALL related search expenses
associateed with personnel, helicopters, gas and oil, search dogs and
equipment.........but, again... ... only if caught out-of-bounds !
Law bcomes activated Thus 1/20/05 in NV.
Kind regards, LH 1/20/05

Read MSNBC News on 1/15/05 below. With any luck similar laws for many
Western States will be in effect in 2005-6.

I've only just read this message. Isn't it ironic how the US presents
itself as the land of the free, and yet (from this european's
viewpoint) inacts more laws to limit personal activity than anywhere
else.

The US has an incredible amount, variety and quality of mountain
terrain. And, as we all know, the mountains can be dangerous. Is it
really the right response to just make it illegal to go there?

Lets just hope the articles referenced are wrong.
--
Champ

Yeah, it just comes out of the whole liability craze in the states.
Fat and happy lawyers looking for someone to sue for damages, IMO. As
soon as this accident happened, the media reports were all asking who's
fault this was. Could they blame the resort? The state (whatever body
owns the land) The snowboarders? If this thought process didn't go on
there wouldn't be so much of a craze to have legislature protect
everyone.

Because of the fear of getting sued, potential defendents want to make
sure there are clear laws for everything so it can only be the
individual's fault if he is injured. That's what it comes down to.

The Canyons provides great lift served access for people with
backcountry skills and equipment. Post accident, critics argued that
The Canyons uses their backcountry access as a marketing tool and then
washes their hands of any liability because they issue stern warnings
on the gates. So what? This is a good service for people with
backcountry skills and they probably offer training options as well if
people are looking for it. Not to mention, on high risk days there are
also usually ski patrollers around verbally warning people to stay in
bounds.

Switters wrote in
:

Which book did you get?


Free Riding in Avalanche Terrain
by Jamieson & McDonald
ISBN 0-9685856-0-4

(L H) wrote in news:6579-41EFCBD7-229@storefull-
3253.bay.webtv.net:

FYI: Good news this week to the skiers/boarders who enjoy
out-of-bounds adventures that put rescue teams at risk.

In Douglas County, NV on NV-CA border.........YOU WILL BE SENT TO
PRISON, FINED A FEW BUCKS and billed for ALL related search
expenses


I'm not adverse to them trying to reclaim some portion of
the expense of doing a back country rescue. On the one hand,
you don't get billed when you call for a cop, but on the
other these places are well off the beaten path. We all
pay through taxes for the rescue squads to even exist so
I can't see billing the whole thing.

As for prison and fines... thats a bit right out. Prison
or any arrest certainly. If you are making use of public
lands (ie Federal Forest) there are no constraints. Its
similar to saying they will send you to jail if you fall
off a ledge while hiking a trail. I might be persuaded
about a fine if you were to go out on a day where the
risk had been posted as extreme, but that opens the door
to bogus warnings.

Mike M. Miskulin wrote:

I'm not adverse to them trying to reclaim some portion of
the expense of doing a back country rescue. On the one hand,
you don't get billed when you call for a cop, but...

actually, while you don't pay for a cop, you do pay for any standard
rescue. if you know anyone that has gotten billed for an ambulence
pickup or medivac flight, they bill you heavily and you just hope your
insurance was able to pick it up.

fwiw

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 21:10:58 GMT, "Mike M. Miskulin"
allegedly wrote:

Which book did you get?

Free Riding in Avalanche Terrain

Any good?

I like Snow Sense for the easy reading, and Avalanche Safety for Skiers,
Climbers (and snowboarders) for the detailed information.

- Dave.

--
The only powder to get high on, falls from the sky.
http://www.vpas.org/ - Snowboarding the worlds pow pow -
Securing your e-mail

The Snowboard FAQ lives here - http://rssFAQ.org/

Switters wrote:

Free Riding in Avalanche Terrain


Any good?

I like Snow Sense for the easy reading, and Avalanche Safety for Skiers,
Climbers (and snowboarders) for the detailed information.

Free Riding in Avalanche Terrain is a good introductory read - more
practical and less theory than your two above. It starts with a detailed
account of the big Mt Baker avalanche on the Shuksan Arm in around 98.
Rumble Gully - the gully that's out of bounds to skiers right from chair
8 - got filled - something to bear in mind when you're poaching lines
down there...

Iain

id wrote:
Switters wrote:

Free Riding in Avalanche Terrain


Any good?

I like Snow Sense for the easy reading, and Avalanche Safety for
Skiers,
Climbers (and snowboarders) for the detailed information.

Free Riding in Avalanche Terrain is a good introductory read - more
practical and less theory than your two above. It starts with a
detailed
account of the big Mt Baker avalanche on the Shuksan Arm in around
98.
Rumble Gully - the gully that's out of bounds to skiers right from
chair
8 - got filled - something to bear in mind when you're poaching lines

down there...

Iain

I was there that day -- scariest thing I've ever seen. Second sunny day
after 30 days of non-stop snow on top of January Ice. Large cracks
opening in the UNDER the lifts. Hundreds of people out bounds --
really. The break was 15 feet deep 80-100 wide and half mile long. It
filled the gulch. If it had not hit during lunch it would have killed
20 people, as it was we lost two. A kid died twenty feet from his dad.
They had him out in ten minutes but too late. The other guy was maybe
50 feet under. They found him in the spring, I think. Golly, it was
sad.

Changed everyone's attitude around here.

I joined the Mountaineers that spring -- they are very anal about snow
safety. I admire that.

Edog