Day at McConkey's

On this very chilly morning around 11, we were finally able to open the McConkey's area. Yes, it took us a little longer than we had hoped....we had planned to be open by 10. The weather over the last 48 hours had delayed our efforts a bit. With the current avalanche conditions, it was no surprise that our morning explosive work released a couple large potentially dangerous slides. 

As has become our custom when we open an area for the first time each season, we parked ourselves at the top of the bowl in the sub-zero air and waited for the first chairs full of public to arrive. Most often you, our skiing-riding guests, greet us with joyous gratitude as you slide by and jump into snowy bliss. This morning though, the first person off the chair did not show gratitude or joy. He was a lone skier who just passed us by and said, "looks like you had all the nice turns" before jumping into the bowl (for a sweet uninterrupted line I might add). No thanks, no happiness, just an ungrateful attitude that revealed his ignorance. 

Now here I have to say that our days of boot-packing, ski cutting, explosives, and avalanches left the bowl far from a pristine alpine powder run. And to the untrained eye attached to a person, such as this individual, who perhaps has never taken an avalanche awareness course, it may look like we had indeed kept the area "to ourselves" before opening it. I like to think that most of you know that is not what we do.

If this were mid-season after a foot or so of new snow to cover up the moguls, yes we could open with just a couple shots and ski cuts. And for the most part the area would be open looking fairly untracked. Early season is a far different animal, especially in the midst of an natural avalanche cycle like the Wasatch is experiencing right now. Many patrollers over the course of a week spent many hours, often out in full conditions, working to prepare the area for opening. We shoot, ski cut, dig pits, perform stability tests, and do it all over if new weather comes in (as was the case this week). Not to mention the ropes, signs and pads that need to get in place. Over that time period we put ourselves at risk to transform a backcounty area with backcountry hazards into "in-bounds" terrain that you can enjoy. 

We work hard, we love our job, and we do the best that we can to ensure that you have an positive experience at our resort. As the next round of storms roll in over this upcoming week, we should be moving on to new areas. If you are one of the lucky ones to get first chair at Jupiter or the first to hike to the East Face gates as they open and you see one of us standing at the top or waiting in the run out, please take a moment to show your joy and gratitude as you slide by into powdery bliss.

Comments

[Green]

406: A big thanks and the warmest holiday wishes to you and the rest of the folks who keep us safe and smiling. THANK YOU!

[Craig]

We skied McConkeys about 11:20, and it was great. We did the right side. Going up the chair we wondered out loud if we were looking at little rocks showing until someone on the chair explained that was residue from the charges that were set off.

Thanks for getting it ready. And the drop down Pioneer at opening was very nice as well!

[pacer521]

I agree. That guy wouldn't have his faceshot if it wasn't for you guys.

Its snowing!

406 replies:
As I mentioned in my post, I was guessing that MOST of our guests understood what we do. I'm happy to see that I was right. Thanks for your comment!

[Andy in FL]

One bad apple, ignore him! I'm just happy to see someone complain about a skier for a change. The conspiracy theories some people hold about PCMR motives are right out of an Oliver Stone movie or the "911 was an inside job" crowd. 99.99% of PCMR guests whether locals or tourists greatly appreciate the incredible effort that goes into making the mountain safe and ready every single day of the season. Heck, the early season lack of snow is already a fading memory, it's snowing as far out as the forecast can see, and its only the 1st day of Winter. And if in the process of getting terrain ready you happen to get in a sweet run or two, god knows you deserve it! There's enough snow for everyone. Keep up the great work.

406 replies:
Andy, your words make me pleased on this first night of winter. You seem to understand. And yes, more snow is on the way.

[tom c.]

it's a good post with a good point, 406. one thing i would add ... it's been a frustrating early season on the consumer side. the early election night dump set a lot of us up psychologically for an early season ... which wasn't to be.

the thing that has eaten at me is the lack of communication coming from the resorts. park city does a way way better job than the others on this front ... but even here there was never a post about exactly what the patrol was busy doing to get the high terrain safe & open. i'm talking details like you mention in this post above. the more details, the better. it helps us put things in perspective to know more of the story.

i'm not excusing the surly comment from this skier you mention, but i am suggesting that more communication will be appreciated by the people.

thx for the hard work!

406 replies:
You make good points yourself Tom and thank you for your comments. I'm sure you understand that the lack of snow is what has kept the upper mountain closed so far.
As for the communication issues, through this BLOG I hope to keep everyone in the loop from the patrol/snow safety end of things. I'll try to do more.

[Texas Ski]

Pretty sure I won't be lucky enough to be one of the ones greeting you off the first few chairs on Jupiter (whenever that may be), but here's my thanks for all the hard work you guys do to get the great terrain at the top of the resort open! Not all of us have the time to develop the backcountry skills to be able to safely ski the kind of terrain you guys have at the top of the mountain, so we certainly appreciate all the work you guys put in to help make the mountain as safe as possible up there. And if you want to take a clean line down after spending a few days up there in the kind of freezing temps and snowy weather you guys have been having recently, I say go ahead.

Thanks for all your hard work and see you the second week in January.

406 replies:
Thank you for your good thoughts. Perhaps we'll meet up in January; HOPEFULLY the snowfall will cooperate and we'll have Jupiter open when you're here.

[Eric Hoffman]

I have been fortunate enough to have a couple of opportunities to follow the PCMR Snow Safety Team during their control work, and I will attest that their priorities are safety first and foremost and secondly getting as much terrain open as quickly as possible.
You can hopefully get an idea of their dedication in this video that I took on New Year's Day 2008 http://parkcity.typepad.com/park_city_mountain_resort/2008/01/new-years-day-m.html
Thank you - and that goes for all the snow safety men and women that make the slopes safe for the rest of us!

406 replies:
Thanks for the kind words Eric and of course, thanks for getting my new picture up; love to show off the new pup!