Courtesy/Common Sense...Maybe?

[byronm]

This week I paused at the top of a nice blue groomed run, licking my chops as it was void of traffic. Figuring to let my skis run a bit, on the way down. I could see all the way down the run except for a short section below a shelf where the pitch increased. I gathered up and slowed a bit on approach but still with a fair amount of speed, crested the shelf and immediately put my skis on as "high-an-angle" as my skinny legs would allow, scarved around and leaned in again to meander casually through four young snowboarders sprawled in a neat line across the entire run. In the "attack position" of course.
 
I stopped long enough to say, "hi fellas, great day hugh"? They responded with "awsome". They appeared to be nice young men so in my most non annoyed tone and rendition of cool old guy, "hey, I can dig you guys kickin back, but I'm not sure everyone coming over that ridge will enjoy it as much as I just did". It took a couple seconds, then as one, they turned their heads and looked up the hill, then back to me.    They got upright on their boards quickly (another relative term), one of them saying, "our bad dude". I just couldn't resist, "no worries braw". 
 
On the flip side, in the infamous words of Ron White, "I told you that story so I could tell you this one". My daughter lost a brand new droid phone out of her pocket, perhaps when she took a spill.  Didn't realize it until hours later. We retraced the runs we had taken in search of. Nearly giving up hope as the mountain was busy, I asked the lift operater if anyone had turned in a phone. She asked, what kind of phone. I said, "one of them [smart] ones, but not smart enough to stay in her pocket"   She pulled out a phone and asked, "like this one". Daughter's eyes got wide as she exclaimed, "yes"! We asked who turned it in but the operator could only remember that it was a couple. The best we could do is leave our name and number on the chance she might see them again, in hopes at a minimum we could thank them personally.
 
So just when I was doubting any measurable amount of common sense or courtesy on the slope might still exist, I found out it does!! Although, it may be a bit sporadic at times...

[Gary]

Nicely done...I do think that in the case of the boarders, your being civil kept things calm and respectful...

I personally think all skis and boards should come with stickers with 2 key courtesies...


1) Always look uphill FROM ANY TRAIL/WOODS/JUMP you are entering from

 2)If stopping to talk or rest,  go to the edge of a trail and be in full view of uphill traffic

Simple Right?   


   
       

[byronm]

Yes...Safety stickers might work....I was having too good a time to let a bit of drama ruin it. De rather than escelate seemed to be apropos in this case.
Truth is....scared me more than them. They were pretty much oblivious but quite amicable, perhaps because the snow in that particular area seemed to be emitting an odor "similar" to cannabis. They may have been unknowingly affected by the fumes.