Alta Master Plan

Good point by stan about patrol. Control work is best done from the top down. I read this was an issue during the 2 years Jackson didn't have a tram. And Fernie before the Polar Peak chair was notorious for taking days after a storm to get Currie Bowl open.
 
stan":2277bomn said:
I am told by friends and relatives on patrol that it takes almost the entire patrol to open Baldy Chutes. Getting patrol up there would get more skiers to compact the snow and allow Alta to open the chutes more frequently. It would also allow patrol to more easily control above Ballroom, which is really intermediate terrain.
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Which brings us back, almost full circle, to one of my earlier thoughts:

flyover":2277bomn said:
I'm curious about how ASP might feel about it. On the one hand, it would provide easier access for them. On the other hand, it would provide easier access for everybody else.
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Tony's not wrong about there being an awful lot of DFU zone up there. It seems to me it's likely the hike filters out a not insignificant number of skiers that would be in over their heads very shortly after getting out of the tram, some of which would ultimately require the attention of patrol.

Marc_C":2277bomn said:
The High Shoulder isn't all that DFU.
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True, as long as you get skiers' left soon enough coming out low shoulder. Ski parallel to Main Chute for too long and you're threading your way through some complicated terrain. Don't ask me how I know this.

Marc_C":2277bomn said:
Main Chute isn't significantly riskier than High Notch, Highboy, or Eagles Nest and some other lines in North Russ.
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Also true, but the traverse/hike and the entrances do some duty as gate-keepers, and, in the event of second thoughts just before full commitment, bailout is more obvious and doesn't lead to Snowbird.
 
That last thought is what intimidates many about Main, in addition to the exposure. Once you're in, you're in.
 
Somewhat surprised they don't have an update to their plan since 1997. Approaching 20 years since then. A lot of things would probably be modified in a new plan compared to 20 years ago. Isn't 20yrs the max allowed between plans in today's USFS world?

Or that might only be for some of the NFS lands in Colo. Not quite sure...
 
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