"We have to close the backcountry"

**Snow Dog** · 12-31-2011, 02:48 PM

Are people really this stunned? It came up again today with a avalanche death near Revelstoke, BC. The news anchor asked the Revelstoke cop "can't you close the backcountry?". She somehow views the backcountry (all 944,000 sq km in BC) as a park with a gate that can simply be closed. The cop really didn't answer (since he knows 12 officers can't monitor hundreds of logging roads) and talked about www.avalanche.ca instead.

It was the same think on Friday with the death near Whistler. "We should close the backcountry" was a common statement.

I think living in a concrete and asphalt environment dulls the brain.

**powder11** · 12-31-2011, 02:58 PM

More people die in car accidents everyday than anything, but you never hear them talking about closing down the roads after a fatal accident.

**huckbucket** · 12-31-2011, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by powder11

More people die in car accidents everyday than anything, but you never hear them talking about closing down the roads after a fatal accident.

I'm not advocating closing backcountry access, just pointing out that that's a poor analogy. Backcountry is for recreation. Roads are for transportation which in many cases is absolutely necessary.

**BirdRock** · 12-31-2011, 03:03 PM

For some reason this reminds me of John Candy in Vacation. "Sorry folks. Park's closed. The moose out front should have told you."

**powder11** · 12-31-2011, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by huckbucket

I'm not advocating closing backcountry access, just pointing out that that's a poor analogy. Backcountry is for recreation. Roads are for transportation which in many cases is absolutely necessary.

I would argue that recreation is also absolutely necessary.

**huckbucket** · 12-31-2011, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by powder11

I would argue that recreation is also absolutely necessary.

123456

**stuckathuntermtn** · 12-31-2011, 03:10 PM

+++vibes+++

**Skiwurrel** · 12-31-2011, 04:22 PM

there was a death at golden a couple days ago as well................. some after dark tubing or something like that. And a huge inbounds avalanche. Panorama's been killer past couple of days though

**baron** · 12-31-2011, 04:25 PM

death snowtubing also in utah ,on a green run

**SJP** · 12-31-2011, 04:34 PM

Cpl. Dan Moskaluk did and excellent job of talking around that ignorant comment: Very professional in the way he delivers unfortunate news. Much more than can be said for the media in general.

**moose pit** · 12-31-2011, 04:57 PM

Stupid people in the media will always find ignorant imbeciles to give uninformed opinions.

**bean** · 12-31-2011, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by huckbucket

Roads are for transportation which in many cases is absolutely necessary.

So close the roads to motor vehicles, human power only.

**Teh Poacher** · 12-31-2011, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by powder11

More people die in car accidents everyday than anything, but you never hear them talking about closing down the roads after a fatal accident.

Originally Posted by huckbucket

I'm not advocating closing backcountry access, just pointing out that that's a poor analogy. Backcountry is for recreation. Roads are for transportation which in many cases is absolutely necessary.

Originally Posted by powder11

I would argue that recreation is also absolutely necessary.

Roads are necessary for access to recreation, which is also necessary, the circle is complete.

Hugh Conway · 12-31-2011, 10:23 PM

should have just summarily executed her and moved on.

**old goat** · 12-31-2011, 10:32 PM

Isn't there already a thread for gaper quote of the weekend?

**neckdeep** · 01-01-2012, 03:53 AM

The last time someone got killed BASE jumping the bridge in Twin Falls, some lame TV reporter tried the "shouldn't this be closed" story angle with the sheriff and he just smirked and replied "Uh... do you have any idea how many citizens get maimed and killed every year on Idaho public lands just zooming around on their ATVs and snowmachines?"

**skiingnow** · 01-01-2012, 10:39 AM

This conversation comes up all the time.

You can always mitigate your risks, but in the end the mountain doesn't care.

hopefully you've made the right decisions and you weren't in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Its not an exact science. But people chose to be where they are and accept the consequences of their decisions.

99.9% it turns out ok. You don't hear about that on the news.

**powder11** · 01-01-2012, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by skiingnow

99.9% it turns out ok. You don't hear about that on the news.

unles you happen to be facebook friends with Lee & Sharon and then you hear about it every 30 mins or so

**LeeLau** · 01-01-2012, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by powder11

unles you happen to be facebook friends with Lee & Sharon and then you hear about it every 30 mins or so

#1 goal - get home in one piece safe. Best of the year to you, K, and the two best looking bawstan boys ever! That goes double, triple to everyone else we know

**powder11** · 01-01-2012, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by LeeLau

#1 goal - get home in one piece safe. Best of the year to you, K, and the two best looking bawstan boys ever! That goes double, triple to everyone else we know

thanks bud. good to see you guys gettin after it like that. the best way to get through this stuff is to get right back up on the horse and charge. you know the dearly departed's would have it no other way. now if I could only get over this nasty stomach flu!

**skifishbum** · 01-01-2012, 03:33 PM

was part of a slide incident, on a low danger day, came out to sar call out and news crew
Cheating death was mentioned like 6 times
there is no real broadcast journalism intelligence test or prerequisite.
best was "they even had beacons"