Dec. 12, 2009
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Skiers and boarders heading for Castle Ski Resort for its season opening today will pass by the Avalanche Area/No Stopping sign north of the ski hill entrance as they always have.
It’s a stark reminder dangers lurk in our backcountry playground. The slope west of the sign is out of skiers’ range, but a heightened focus for resort operators this year reminds visitors of potential dangers near the ski runs.
Each of the 1,400 season pass holders will receive a copy of the policy emphasizing that “Closed Means Closed.” Skiers buying day passes will also be warned.
“We have a zero tolerance for stupidity,” says Andrew Rusynyk, resort assistant general manager.
From the top of Huckleberry Chairlift on Haig Ridge, mountain safety manager Tom Ross points to potential dangers already at the Chutes on the Gravenstafel Ridge south slope. He explains how the cold weather increases the risk of avalanches and that he and his Pro Patrol crew of 16 check daily for signs.
When they find a likely area, they’ll use explosives to reduce the risk.
Tom, who has been doing this for over 20 years at the resort, says the patrol gets avalanche control training through the Canadian Avalanche Association.
So, starting today, they’ll be put it to use enforcing ski area boundaries and permanent or temporary marked closures. Andrew says skiers will lose lift and other facility privileges and face prosecution if the go into closed areas.
“Every year, you get a few people who figure it won’t happen to them, so they go under a rope,” he says.
“Last year, a guy took his daughter in a closed area and started an avalanche that just about took the lives of two of our avalanche rescue dogs, who were swept over a ridge. They survived, but were severely traumatized.”
Despite the risks, Castle Mountain is one of the best Great Escapes for Southern Albertans. Andrew and the 110 full-time and 40 part-time resort staff have been buzzing this week preparing for today’s opening.
“A reasonably controlled first day would be 1,000 visitors,” he said following training sessions. Since the resort changed from West Castle to Castle Mountain Resort in 1996, it attracts about 80,000 visitors a season. The ideal would be about 125,000.
“We want the place to be sustainable. We don’t want to see it overcrowded. One of the attractions, other than its beauty, terrain and snow, is that the guests are like family. We have a community of diehards that love showing it off. But, they won’t wait for you.”
Wilf Giese has been skiing at the hill for 30 years, parking his trailer in the resort lot and “playing in the snow while friends are down south in Arizona.”
The Huckleberry Chair on Haig took it from a regional hill with intermediate and expert runs to making it accessible to everyone, including beginners. The big mountain offers runs from “mildly discomforting to terrifying,” says Andrew.
The Chutes really are scary, says Wilf who has traversed them once with his son. So he sticks with the groomed runs.
“But my first and last runs of the day are on Haig.
“It’s beautiful.”