Ducking Ropes to be Criminalized in Washington State
By Rocky Thompson on April 8th, 2011
The state house in Washington voted to make it illegal to ski on clearly marked closed runs. Those caught will receive a $1000 fine and have a misdemeanor on their record. They could also lose their season pass, which is as much a hit to the pocketbook. Now the bill has to work its way back through the senate and get signed to law (that’s how it works, right?), and all signs point to this happening. Washington – making skiers outlaws again. Every other state take note, it is not currently illegal to duck ropes and ski out of bounds (though it is unwise).
Tags: ski, washington
Dear Washingtonians: maybe in Oregon we can’t pump our own gas and our speed limit is 5mph lower, but at least it’s not illegal to ski sidecountry. You lose. Forever.
@Scott: I don’t think the bill covers “sidecountry.” From the article: “The bill applies to runs that are inbounds at ski areas but have been intentionally marked and closed off for safety reasons.”
Good job scott. if you would READ you would find this “…The bill applies to runs that are inbounds at ski areas but have been intentionally marked and closed off for safety reasons…” This does not include side country.
Really I cant see what good will come of this because it doesn’t even address the problem that they stated. They want to prevent “… volunteers from the neighborhood that are sometimes spending days to find someone … and endangering their lives…” but again if this only effects run that are in bounds but closed. Andi have never heard of someone getting lost inside the resort boundaries.
Anywho keep on being second best oregon
First, a great deal of sidecountry is still within the confines of a ski area lease from the forest service; Snowqualmie, for example, has not developed all of its leased land so doing sidecountry at Alpental would fall under the auspices of this law (though who wants to do sidecountry in the rain?). Second, you really think that local ski patrol and law enforcement is going to care about that clause in the law and enforce it as such? Hell, SPD gives out tickets for riding on the sidewalk even though it’s perfectly legal in Seattle. Sure you won’t have to pay the fine in the end, but enjoy your court dates! I’ll be spending the time I would be spending in court skiing more.
Your right about snoqualmie. Still i dont see this as big of an issue. talking with partolers at both stevens and baker it sounds like they are going to still allow for people making laps in the side country reguardles of this. I think it will be used as an extra scare tactic to keep people who do not belong out there out. (although i doubt this because most of the poeple getting into bad situations are normaly way over thier heads and are to stupid to realize it.)
Also backcountry can you make the type box larger? In firefox (atleaast) i only have one line to type in… Making longer post super anoying.
Looks like it’s the 1980′s all over again in the ski industry! LAME!!!!
Yeah, it’s really a fairly unenforceable law that allows legislators to thump their chests without addressing any real issues. What ski patroller wants to be saddled with giving out tickets? I can see them wanting something to warn people, though, when I keep reading stories like this:
http://www.king5.com/news/Two-hurt-in-Mount-Snoqualmie-ski-area-119353314.html