Posts from Ski Federation for 08/14/2018

Nonprofit Plans to Install Avalanche Forecasting Devices in Tetons ♦
Should We Pay Ski Patrollers More? ♦
NSCF August Newsbeat ♦
VOLCANO ERUPTS AT CHILEAN SKI RESORT ♦

Nonprofit Plans to Install Avalanche Forecasting Devices in Tetons

The Grand Teton National Park Foundation hopes to raise funds for the $25,000 project by September 1st.

August 2, 2018 By POWDERIn recent years, backcountry skiing has seen a rise in popularity, with more skiers now than ever venturing out of bounds and into the backcountry.According to a study published by Snowsports Industries America on the 2016-17 season, 900,000 skiers and 1.1 million snowboarders reported skiing or riding in non-resort backcountry terrain. Compared to the 11.857 million people in the U.S. who participated in downhill skiing during the 2016-17 season, this number of backcountry skiers might seem minute, but participation has never been higher, and it’s only projected to continue to grow.Grand Teton. Photo: Courtesy of Matt HansenIn Jackson, Wyoming, where the Tetons stand as a backcountry bucket list item for many skiers, the need for more readily available and accurate backcountry information is apparent.The Grand Teton National Park Foundation (GTNPF), a local nonprofit in Jackson, helps fund projects that “enhance Grand Teton National Park’s cultural, historic, and natural resources and to help others learn about and protect all that is special in the park.” Since its establishment in 1997, the foundation has raised over $65 million for projects that benefit the park.Currently, GTNPF is working to fund the installation of two new avalanche forecasting devices, which would help improve the breadth of avalanche forecasts and weather information in the Teton range.“With this project in particular, we were approached by the park service,” says Maddy Johnson, the communications manager and development officer for GTNPF. “As the number of skiers going into the backcountry continues to rise, the park saw the need for putting in weather stations.”Grand Teton from a gaze. Photo: Courtesy of NPSIn partnership with the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center and Grand Teton National Park, GTNPF hopes to raise $25,000 by Sept. 1 to fund the installation of the new devices which will be placed in the central area of the range, where most skiing and riding occurs. If the goal is met, the forecasting will begin this upcoming winter and the information will be integrated into the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center’s forecasts.“The $25,000 will cover the equipment and installation of the devices,” says Johnson. “We need the support of the community in order to make this happen.”As it stands now, the avalanche forecasts from the Teton area do not include specialized weather data from inside Grand Teton National Park’s backcountry. The ski/ride terrain of the Park features big descents on big peaks, with steep terrain, untouched powder, and stunning landscapes, but the terrain can be dangerous. For example, in March 2018, two different ski parties were skiing the same couloir at the same time when an avalanche broke loose.Luckily, no one died, but the increased backcountry use can trigger avalanche activity, emphasizing the need for a localized forecast. However, it is hopeful that the new devices could help mitigate potentially dangerous situations in this area, as skiers would be able to better prepare for various conditions and risks based on the additional data.Grand Teton in it’s winter afternoon glory. Photo: Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons“There’s so many people going out there, which is why we saw the need for more informed avalanche information. We want people to stay safe if they decide to explore the Tetons,” says Johnson.Athletes like Hadley Hammer and Griffin Post, who both call the Jackson area home, have shared their support for the forecasting devices on their Instagram accounts. Johnson stated that so far the fundraiser has been received positively by the Jackson community, with many vouching for its need.To donate to the project, click here. Posted from Powder via Adventure Sports NetworkThe post Nonprofit Plans to Install Avalanche Forecasting Devices in Tetons appeared first on Ski Federation.Read in browser » Should We Pay Ski Patrollers More?Miles Clark | July 27, 2018Telluride Ski PatrolSki patrollers are the most important people at any ski resort. The services they provide are beyond value. Patrollers perform avalanche safety, save lives and limbs, reset boundaries ropes and signage after every storm, decide what can be skied each day, answer an onslaught of questions, work long hours, handle high explosives, rope people off broken chairlifts, fire canons, train dogs to save you, and ski like demons. Patrollers spend everyday on the mountain making sure you’re as safe as possible.Squaw Patroller throwing avalanche bomb. Squaw throws more avalanche bombs than any other ski resort on Earth.What’s fascinating is that we don’t pay nor treat ski patrollers very well here in the US of A.Most ski patrollers in the USA make about $10 per hour their first year and hopefully make about $20 per hour once they’ve been around a long time. They generally receive no benefits, no holiday pay, and have to work over 48 hours per week to acquire overtime pay.Utah ski patrollers using a Howitzer to clear avalanches.Most ski patrollers are only employed about 4 months per year. It’s a big job with huge responsibilities that requires a big sacrifice.Considering all that patrollers do for us and for ski resorts, do we think we should pay them and treat them better? What can ski patrollers do to improve their situation?Patrol.Last March, Telluride ski resort’s ski patrollers voted to unionize. They voted 47-1 in favor of unionization. Telluride joins Crested Butte, Steamboat, and The Canyons as unionized ski patrollers.Is this the first step towards improving pay, benefits, and treatment of ski patrollers is the USA? We certainly hope so. We’d love to see ski patrollers compensated and treated fairly for the work they do. They’re the most valuable people on the mountain.Telluride ski patrol.Posted from Snow BtainsThe post Should We Pay Ski Patrollers More? appeared first on Ski Federation.Read in browser »

NSCF August Newsbeat

August 2018 Timberline Lodge (OR) Purchases Summit Ski Area. R.L.K. and Company, operator of Timberline Lodge and Ski Area, has purchased Summit Ski Area in Government Camp, Ore., which is located on Mt. Hood less than six miles from Timberline. More. SAMUtah’s Nordic Valley Eyeing Huge Expansion. The operators of Nordic Valley, Mountain Capital Partners (MCP), are floating the idea of a massive expansion that would grow Utah’s smallest ski area from 140 skiable acres to more than 2,800. The proposal for the expansion into the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest includes a 4.3-mile-long gondola plus at least 10 more lifts. The development would also raise Nordic’s top elevation from 6,330 feet to about 8,100. More. SAMNew Jersey to Debut Massive Indoor Skiing Facility. Indoor skiing–a popular phenomenon that has taken off across the world in the last decade–will soon make its debut in the States. Located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Big SNOW America plans to open its slopes in March of 2019. More. Powder Magazine via InntopiaMammoth Announces $10 Million in Improvements. Mammoth Mountain continues to evolve as a four-season mountain resort with a new round of investment in summer activities and infrastructure at Canyon Lodge aimed at improving the guest experience. Combined, the Alterra Mountain Company’s new investments in Mammoth total over $10m in capital improvements this summer and include the construction of the tallest zip line in the country and a new Via Ferrata climbing route. Both are now under construction and expected to open later this summer. More. SHOPeatSURF via SIAMore Snowmaking Coming to New York Ski Areas. Ski Areas of New York, Inc. (SANY) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) have collaborated on a new program to help ski areas in the state purchase energy-efficient snowmaking guns. The program will provide up to $5 million for New York ski areas to upgrade and expand their snowmaking operations. More. SAM The World’s Highest Elevation Ski Resort = Chacaltaya, Boliva @ 17,785-Feet | Closed Due to “Unprecedented” Glacial Retreat. The highest ski resort on Earth lives at only 16° south of the equator in the South American country of Bolivia and is called Chacaltaya (bridge of ice in the Aymara Indian language). What Chacaltaya lacks in latitude, it makes up for in elevation. The ski area summit is located at 17,785-feet (that’s higher than the Mt. Everest base camp). More. SnowBrainsPolish Mountaineer Makes History and Becomes First Person to Ski Down K2. Polish mountaineer and mountain runner Andrzej Bargiel, 30 has become the first person to ski down K2 (28,251-feet), the second tallest mountain in the world. More. SnowBrainsNewest Round of Tariffs Hits Sporting Goods. The U.S. Trade Representative released a new round of proposed tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of U.S. imports from China, potentially including sports bags and baseball, softball, hockey and ski gloves. More. SGB Media via SIAThe post NSCF August Newsbeat appeared first on Ski Federation.Read in browser »