I understand the theory, but a snowboard boot rarely will leave a mark on a groomed trail. I don't walk in groups. Either alone, or with one friend. I was told by a groomer to just use snowshoes and they can't complain to me, so I will just attach the smallest snowshoes I have to my feet and walk up the groomers to access the powder. Not a huge deal..... It is just the attitude of 'intolerance' that I run into on the back trails that gets me. Sort of what the skiers used to do to me 20 years ago when I was riding up the lifts. An alpine skier has no more rights to the nordic trails then a snowboarder, but the patrol won't bother them if they see them on the trails. They might laugh, but they won't bother them.
Last winter me and my buddy Ed were heading back to our homes and the crossover trails had not been groomed (and were closed) so we hiked up to Grand Junction to get access back. As we zipped by the shack a couple patrol came out and yelled and I just yelled back "I'm going home" and they said "oh, ok" and left it alone. Maybe it was the gray hair (I am not a kid) that got them to not hassle us. All we wanted to do was get home.
It would be nice if the ski area would groom the crossover trail so residents could get home without having to take the bus or do like I did and hike up to the nordic trails. I'd much rather do the crossover and not deal with the hassle.
Ok, time for someone else to use this soapbox!
Hyak Ski and Snowboard Adventure
On the World-Wide-Web since 1997
