there have been like 8 skiers who have skied out of bounds and gotten lost this year.
brundage has an interesting policy. Once a skier leaves the skiing area, Brundage figures it isn't their problem, and refuses to send ski patrol to go look for them.
Further, all will agree that in the early season the boundaries were not well marked. Lately the boundaries have been much better marked.
One attitude is that brundage sold them a lift ticket, so brundage has SOME responsibility to make at least a rudimentary search for the lost people.
Another attiude is that Brundage EXPECTS snowmobilers to go look for lost skiers cuz Brundage can't be bothered.
Another attitude is that Brundage has NEVER been a friend to shared use or getting along with snowmobilers, and is kicking us off Public Lands so they can Cat Ski privately on public lands, why should sledders help them make more money????
The real story. When brundage loses a skier, the forest service makes an effort to go find them. If they can't find them in short order, Search and Rescue is called, and Search and Rescue ALWAYS sends a large number of sledders to go find the lost people.
Will this continue? Absolutely.
Search and Rescue NEVER sends a bill for our efforts.
I'll leave it at that, and I'll imply some pretty serious discussions are occurring in the background between the big cheeses.
I'll also say thanks to the many sledders who have gotten out of their warm houses to go find the confused skiers who crossed boundaries and didn't know it, and the Darwin candidates who don't understand the concept of gravity.
