S k i

a n d

B a c k c o u n t r y

O p e r a t i o n s

As a result of thischange in policy,patrollers and resort
employees (except ski guides) are presentlyrestrictedfrom
communicatinginformationregarding snowconditions,
avalanchehazards and suggested routes to potential back-
country users.The present required responseto inquiries
regarding thebackcountry is that it is a hazardous areaand
travel in the touring area is notrecommended without a
guide.
Theformermanagement policyallowedthepatrolto
restrictusers(voluntarily)tocertainareasand therefore
allowed access to some areas which were believed to have
a low hazard potential while otherareas which were be-
lieved to haveagreaterhazardremainedvoluntarily closed.
Thispolicywaswell-receivedatthetime.Underthe
presentmanagementplanifagateisopentheuseris
permitted to access any slope they choose.This change in
policyhasultimatelylimitedaccessbytheassociated
stipulation that none of the touring terrain can be opened
until all areas within the extensive forecast regionare con-
sidered to have a low avalanchehazard.
Three avalanche events have been documented in the
touringareas.Nofatalitieshaveoccurredas aresultof
these events.One skierwas seriously injured in an event
which occurredin 1969anda skiercaught ina slidein
1992was buried and rescued with the aid of a ski patrol
dog withoutsignificantinjury.Numerous incidentsof users
sliding or falling into cliff areashave occurredand several
have resulted in serious injury ordeath.

FUTURE ACCESS MANAGEMENTISSUES

Recent increases in the number of tourers and changes in
userhabits have been observed.A discussion of some of
these changesfollows.
Formeraccess managementconsidered thequalityof
theskiinganduserswererequestedtoleavethe
backcountryduringspringconditionswhencornsnow
became too soft and ski surfaces were scarredwith tracks.
Thispolicyresultedinexceptionalearlymorningcorn
skiing during extendedperiods of spring high barometric
pressureand encouraged users to leave the area before the
hazardassociatedwithdailywarmingbecameathreat.
Someoftoday'ssnowboardersand skiersarecontent to
remaininthebackcountrywellafterthewarm-uphas
occurred resulting in an exposure to the hazard from ava-
lanches and causing adverse impacts to the quality of ski-
ing.
The popularity of extreme skiing and snowboardinghas
resulted in the flocking of inexperiencedand experienced
masses tothe extreme aspects of the touring areas.Con-
currently, anincreasingnumber of extremely skilled users
are demanding an open gate policy forthe touring areas.
These people are extremely skilled in avalanche evalua-
tion,selfrescueandroutefinding,andpossesslocal
knowledgeoftheterrain.Someoftheseusershave
organizedand are seekinglegal aid in aneffort to obtain an
open gate policy and to address violation issues.
During the past several years it has become very popu-
lartoaccess thetouringareawhen itisclosed.Skiing
closedareas inWyoming isamisdemeanorviolationof
state law. Numerous undocumentedavalancheeventshave
resulted from these users.None of these avalanche events
have resulted in a fatality to date.Anonymous reports of

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these events are sometimes communicated to the forecast
laboratory.Theseaccountshavebecomeanimportant
source of information for the backcountry forecasters.En-
forcementoftheboundariesistheresponsibilityofthe
JHSC and the TCSD,however the logisticsand problems
associatedwithapprehending and persecutingviolators
in avalancheterrainmake enforcementdifficult andcostly.
The presentconsensusof the Forest Service, the national
park,the Sheriff's Department and the ski resort are that
futuremanagement optionsareopenfordiscussionbut
options are likely to be limited by incident response limi-
tations,liability issues and the potential fora significant
numberof fatalities.

SUMMARY

The increasein use of the alpinetouring areas andchanges
in users habits and demandsare factors which are likely to
havefutureinfluenceuponthemanagement policyfor
publicaccesstotheseareas.Thepotentialforliability
associated with providing access to the areas has already
influenced managementpolicy.The litigationpotential
has resulted in revisionstothe management plan which
have affected the manner in which avalanche hazard in-
formationis communicated to users.The popularity of
the alpine touring areas,changes in userhabits and user
demands have also had an impact on the overall quality of
skiing and have necessitated management reviews which
have resulted in recent changesin access policy.
In the future,it isexpected that injuries and fatalities
willoccurin thetouring areas simplyasaresultofthe
increasing numberofusers,the premise that low hazard
doesnotmean that nohazard existsand the realitythat
the low hazard forecast is in fact just a forecast.It isex-
pected thatincidents willoccurwhen the touringareas
are closed, that theJHSC, GTNP and TCSD will be required
toresponsetoanincreasingnumberofincidents,that
public pressure foran open gate policy will continue and
thatboundaryenforcement islikelytobecomea signifi-
cant issue.
To address these issues public education with respect
to avalancheawarenessandself rescuecapabilitiesare nec-
essary.
Finally,thepresentmanagementscenarioplacesa
unique emphasis on the forecasting of the distinction be-
tween a moderate andlow hazarddesignation.Avalanche
activity within the forecast region versus time,snowpack
settlement versus time, temperature variations versus time,
deep slabinstabilityconsiderations andrecent meteoro-
logical trends are some of the parameters which are con-
sidered in making this evaluation.Although low hazard
iswelldefinedthe transitionfromthemoderatetolow
hazard designation is possibly slowerthan the transitions
from the higher hazardcategories.The BTNF forecastlabo-
ratory often uses the low to moderate designation during
the transition from moderate to low hazard.