Originally Posted by
MakersTeleMark
Nomenclature anomalies do a huge disservice. Years ago ('03 maybe) I attempted to merge the old patrol EV map with the actual usage of terms of the lines.
Folks, we are talking a couple hundred yards (maybe) difference here. While Brian can say NBA, he doesn't consider it as I do (the center of Old Man's off the cornice).
It's easy to throw down NBA, Tuts, 3rd bowl, CDC, Tweeners, Gunshot, Marvs, West Marvs, West Wall, Tele Trees, Hidden Trees, Water tower, Water tank, Bighorn, Racquet Club, Guinevere's, etc. unless we share a nomenclature. We all know these zones from experience, but I've been striving to come to consensus for safety sake.
When you're up there you know what you are skiing (I hope), when you have to pick up a phone, who the fuck in dispatch, VMR, or patrol has a clue (none). Don't even bother. That's OK and that's the way it will probably be, but it shouldn't, but still.
Language is a start. Quite honestly, if I say KA, two people are going to think different places. One, timber falls, the younger kids, the others, the older folks, way lookers left.
If we can start the normalizing process of nomenclature, then I believe that is a start to something positive in terms of education and extraction. Everyone knows not to ski CDC on a considerable day, but how many people know or agree where Charlie, who is very much alive, has his death chute?
I remember when I first started skiing EV over 10 years ago (not long). I got in touch with a man who wrote a scientific article from an engineering/planning/architectural perspective about where to build in EV. I'll never forget him returning my phone call about what went into his paper, and we had a great 2 hour chat about risk mitigation and multi-year avis in each path. This was back in the early 70's that he wrote his paper, and it was good to catch up with a founding scientific partner. Good times.
Unfortunately, to my demise in the premise of my post, when shit rips, it usually in the last few years, goes big, so line names really don't come into play, it's obvious. But we can at least, say, skier x,y,z entered from tweeners, skier a, b, c, dropped NBA and speak the same dialog.
Just a thought I've had for a long time. RIP Tony, and I'm glad it wasn't 4.
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