You know, I hate the helicopters flying around while I'm huffing to the top of something, But after ruminating for a couple days, the only negative I can come up with is that they are noisy. Basically, I ended up seeing them like snowmachiners, and those folks aren't allowed on FS land, I believe. So that's what I put in my letter to the FS: As far as disruption, helicopters are similar to snowmachiners, and should be treated in a similar manner. Outlawed.
WasatchGirl
· 1 year ago
Ed, Thanks for the thoughts. I greatly appreciate them. So, are you against heli-skiing in general? Or you just think it shouldn't be allowed in the Wasatch? Cheers. Rach
boarding
· 9 months ago
I don't hate at all, I just love them flying around, for the matter of fact, I am the one that flies helicopters, so I just love it!
katieC
· 1 year ago
Well thought out points, Rachel, though I'd never expect otherwise from you, miss smartypants. As a dedicated backcountry skier (and wife of the creator of the revamped Heli-Free Wasatch stickers), I'm uber passionate about this, and it's always good for me to listen to a non-biased argument. The topic is SO hot here in the Wasatch (hot to the point of downright nastiness), that I get tunneled in, and I can't always see the forest for the trees, or however that expresion goes. I don't think I've ever used it till now.
Of course the non-profit could be better organized; you're absolutely right. I felt the same way when I got those emails and had to craft a thoughtful letter in, like, an hour. That said, while I in no way oppose heli-skiing in places like Alaska and Canada, I think it's completely freaking stupid in the Wasatch. It takes, like, 45 minutes to skin to the places these birds are dropping people. Come on, fat man from Texas. Learn to walk uphill. Also, from what I've seen and from reports from other, very credible longtime Wasatch bc skiers, the Powderbirds have been known to land pretty much on top of parties of backcountry skiers, which not only sucks for those skinners who get their tracks f$cked up, but is also dangerous and, as Ed mentioned, noisy and annoying. My opinion? Heli-skiing in HUGE, remote mountain ranges is awesome and enables us to ski bigger, badder stuff. Heli-skiing in the Wasatch makes you fat and lazy and lame.
Not YOU, of course, Rachel. You know what I mean.
Sorry for the rant. HEATED stuff. Thank you for posting thie PSA, though. xoxo.
Brad
· 1 year ago
Here is a link to some view points of why the Wasatch Powder Birds should not be allowing the Wasatch.
I have no problems with heli skiing in very remote places but in the Wasatch where from pretty much any peak you can hike to from the highway?
So big issues with the Powderbirds in the Wastach are:
1) Explosive control work in the backcountry. Big arguments that explosives actually make the BC more dangerous due to not letting the snowpack naturally stabilize and become strong. Repeater slides on slopes that have been unnaturally controlled with explosives are a problem and someday will kill.
2) Noise. They add a lot of noise to the backcountry. A place most people like to go to get some peace and quiet. On a typical weekend it is not uncommon to be "buzzed" more than a dozen times.
3) Safety - they land on top of peaks that other skiers are ascending.
4) They leave trash all over in the Wasatch. Streamers tied to twigs so the pilot can get a sense of wind direction and speed. This is just plain trash. I always pick up the trash and offer it back to guides when i see them. If you don't like trash in the backcountry I recommend you do the same.
It isn’t about them “taking first tracks”, it is just the Wasatch is a crowded place that support helicopter backcountry skiing.
Brad B
Brad
· 1 year ago
the last sentence should read
It isn’t about them “taking first tracks”, it is just the Wasatch is a crowded place that DOES NOT support helicopter backcountry skiing.
WasatchGirl
· 1 year ago
Brad and Katie, Wow... thank you so much for posting up your thoughts. I was hoping that you backcountry folks would stop by and tell me your thoughts on the issue. Being a non-backcountry folk, I didn't quite know all the issues and concerns and was hoping to be enlightened. I thoroughly appreciate the bullet point breakdown and link. Plus, I completely agree with the argument of mountain size in the Wasatch comparison to Alaska / Canada. Thanks again for taking the time to post up your thoughts! Rachel
All Comments
Thanks for the thoughts. I greatly appreciate them. So, are you against heli-skiing in general? Or you just think it shouldn't be allowed in the Wasatch?
Cheers.
Rach
Of course the non-profit could be better organized; you're absolutely right. I felt the same way when I got those emails and had to craft a thoughtful letter in, like, an hour. That said, while I in no way oppose heli-skiing in places like Alaska and Canada, I think it's completely freaking stupid in the Wasatch. It takes, like, 45 minutes to skin to the places these birds are dropping people. Come on, fat man from Texas. Learn to walk uphill. Also, from what I've seen and from reports from other, very credible longtime Wasatch bc skiers, the Powderbirds have been known to land pretty much on top of parties of backcountry skiers, which not only sucks for those skinners who get their tracks f$cked up, but is also dangerous and, as Ed mentioned, noisy and annoying. My opinion? Heli-skiing in HUGE, remote mountain ranges is awesome and enables us to ski bigger, badder stuff. Heli-skiing in the Wasatch makes you fat and lazy and lame.
Not YOU, of course, Rachel. You know what I mean.
Sorry for the rant. HEATED stuff. Thank you for posting thie PSA, though. xoxo.
http://helifreewasatch.com/
I have no problems with heli skiing in very remote places but in the Wasatch where from pretty much any peak you can hike to from the highway?
So big issues with the Powderbirds in the Wastach are:
1) Explosive control work in the backcountry. Big arguments that explosives actually make the BC more dangerous due to not letting the snowpack naturally stabilize and become strong. Repeater slides on slopes that have been unnaturally controlled with explosives are a problem and someday will kill.
2) Noise. They add a lot of noise to the backcountry. A place most people like to go to get some peace and quiet. On a typical weekend it is not uncommon to be "buzzed" more than a dozen times.
3) Safety - they land on top of peaks that other skiers are ascending.
4) They leave trash all over in the Wasatch. Streamers tied to twigs so the pilot can get a sense of wind direction and speed. This is just plain trash. I always pick up the trash and offer it back to guides when i see them. If you don't like trash in the backcountry I recommend you do the same.
It isn’t about them “taking first tracks”, it is just the Wasatch is a crowded place that support helicopter backcountry skiing.
Brad B
It isn’t about them “taking first tracks”, it is just the Wasatch is a crowded place that DOES NOT support helicopter backcountry skiing.
Wow... thank you so much for posting up your thoughts. I was hoping that you backcountry folks would stop by and tell me your thoughts on the issue. Being a non-backcountry folk, I didn't quite know all the issues and concerns and was hoping to be enlightened. I thoroughly appreciate the bullet point breakdown and link. Plus, I completely agree with the argument of mountain size in the Wasatch comparison to Alaska / Canada.
Thanks again for taking the time to post up your thoughts!
Rachel