New Boundry Markings?

[megatron]

OK, but if the signs in the base lodge are also new......they, as of yesterday, indicate that Gore has three designated backcountry areas. If Gore considers all OB backcountry areas as off limits, they certainly shouldn't claim them as designated parts of the resort in posted signs and materials. In fact, you would think that such a sign should indicate that skiing beyond area boundaries was forbidden, rather than claiming to have designated areas. I didn't take a picture of the signs in the base lodge, but I don't believe they indicated that the "three designated backcountry areas" were off limits (but I could be wrong), they just talked about the risks involved (how cold it gets, yad, yada, yada).

I guess I'm a little confused as to whether you can ski something like the Chatiemac backcountry without getting into hot water. No, you can never duck a rope, lest you get your ticket pulled (if you get caught). But if the rope isn't up, the current signs indicating the boundary let's you know you are going outside the posted limits of the resort, but I don't think they say "YOU CAN NOT GO HERE". Which, if they don't say that and Gore currently claims these to be "designated" areas, gets back to the question of whether the rope will ever be dropped, but if you want to claim to have them it would be silly to never have them skied.

But here is what I saw yesterday, and seem to be taking away from the conversation.

1. Gore now has posted, at certain locations on mountain, signs that indicate the ski area boundary. I don't recall that those signs said anything about your ticket being pulled if you went beyond said sign.

2. Gore currently has posted in the base lodge numerous signs that indicate that the resort has three designated backcountry areas, in addition to numerous glades. These signs seem to be intended to highlight the risks of skiing in such areas.

Maybe someone can post a picture of both of these signs to show whether they state that skiing beyond the boundary or in the three designated areas will result in having your ticket pulled. Otherwise, notwithstanding the rope issue, these facts wouldn't support that these areas are strictly off limits.

Actually, I hadn't been to Gore in more than 20 years and we had a blast yesterday. I will be back, and I just want to know where I can ski. I'll post some pics tonight from our day trip.

Call 518-251-2411 and ask to speak with the mountain manager. He would be happy to explain the "new policy" and while your at let him know what a great time you had, where you skied, and most of all all that you will definitely be back
Hope that helps!

[adksara]

Hmmm... but isn't Gore on state lands? Some areas are bordered by private lands are are therefore in my mind off limiits unless you talk to the owner about skiing through. But don't we have access to all state lands??? That whole 'paying taxes and setting aside wilderness for the enjoyment' of generations nonsense.

I'm wondering where 'GORE' ends and regular state backwoods starts - Gore can restrict trails and such where they have a boundary, but where is that?

ADKSara

By the way - the woods elsewhere that aren't roped off are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

[SKIdds]

Call 518-251-2411 and ask to speak with the mountain manager. He would be happy to explain the "new policy" and while your at let him know what a great time you had, where you skied, and most of all all that you will definitely be back.

Already did that, including the part about telling him where we skied and what a good time we had. Actually, I'm not sure who it was I spoke to but he indicated that backcountry areas were no longer designated on the trail map (did they used to be on the trail map last year?) and that there were no longer designated backcountry areas where skiing was permitted. He said if it isn't on the trail map you shouldn't ski it. He was going to look into the signs that currently hang in the base lodge that address the designated backcountry areas and make sure there was no information in them that conflicted with current policy.

Interesting that he should say "if it isn't on the map you shouldn't ski it". Yesterday we found a couple of well travelled glades and asked some of the people in them which glades they were, and they had a name...........but they must of been unofficial names as they weren't on the map.

While it is difficult for a mountain to maintain, espcially one that is state run, I love the idea of an open boundry policy, and an anything goes (within reason) policy within bounds as well.

[takeahike46er]

Interesting that he should say "if it isn't on the map you shouldn't ski it".

He's just trying to keep people out of his stashes.

Seriously though, Gore has some great glades, many of which are not on the map. While Gore does not actively promote an open boundary, there is enough skiing off-piste that it can feel like an open boundary at times.

[skiguy14]

gore should make a policy similar to the vt mountains.....you can ski anywherre inbounds as long as you enter and exit from an OPEN trail....

[takeahike46er]

I agree that Gore should adopt an open boundary policy-- if it's possible. There are a lot of hardwoods on the mountain that are easily skied with little or no maintenance. Some have put forth the notion that liability is the reason that the state areas haven't adopted an open boundary. I'm not so sure about that. I suspect it might have to do with environmental impact combined with limitations put in place when the ski areas were created.

[megatron]

I agree that Gore should adopt an open boundary policy-- if it's possible. There are a lot of hardwoods on the mountain that are easily skied with little or no maintenance. Some have put forth the notion that liability is the reason that the state areas haven't adopted an open boundary. I'm not so sure about that. I suspect it might have to do with environmental impact combined with limitations put in place when the ski areas were created.

It has everything thing to do with Article 18 of NYS skiing laws. it puts the OB liability on the ski areas. Whereas VT, has a legal policy that states that individuals ski at their own risk.
That is why you will be charged to be rescued in Vermont, and no charge, but possibly arrested for going OB in NY.

I am done with this thread

[takeahike46er]

There are skiing laws?

Kidding.

Never realized that was the official policy. That is ridiculous. Obviously, Vermont has a more logical policy because it holds individuals accountable for their risk-taking.

[takeahike46er]

Just read the full Article 18. Here is what relates to boundaries and responsibilities:

18-105. Duties of Skiers
All skiers shall have the following duties:
1. Not to ski in any area not designated for skiing;

8-103. Duties of Ski Area Operators
Every ski area operator shall have the following duties:
14. To have present at all times when skiing activity is in progress, individuals properly and appropriately trained for the safe operation of on-slope vehicle; trail maintenance equipment; tramways; tramway evacuations; implementation of the reckless skier policy; first aid and outdoor rescue



If there was an open boundary, then the mountain would be responsible for first aid and outdoor rescue for those areas as well? That's what I am concluding.

[skimore]

Also Wed morning I noticed a posting about skiing out of bounds and how it gets cold at night.

Curious thing about those signs posted in the lodge and elsewhere. It says that Gore has numerous marked glades and three designated backcountry areas. What are those designated backcountry areas? I did see the posted signs in a couple of areas around the mountain indicating it was the ski area boundry. One of those was by the entry to what I'll call the Chatiemac backcountry, which was roped (and was sweet yesterday).

Maybe the designated baccountry areas are something different, but if those designated backcountry areas are places like the OB area off Chatty, it would seem the mountain has made those official in some way (hence the "designated"), and therefore skiable. I suppose they would only be skiable if the rope was down, but will it ever be down? It wasn't yesterday at about 12:30.

The designated backcountry areas do not exist anymore. They originally included the Burnt Ridge Loop, Twister/Tahawus Glades, and Chatiemac/Straightbrook glades.

They already ruined the Burnt Ridge area clear cutting a bunch of lame trails anyway