at Grand Targhee resort for over 8 consecutive years, needless to say I ski your resort a lot. I am contacting the resort because of their recently aggressive implementation of the required "leash" law for skis without brakes. It has been enforced in the past, and I've been complying until now. I telemark, my bindings do not release, and do not have brakes. I have never accidentally released, and never needed breaks. Leashes put me at increased risk of becoming buried in an avalanche. Ask any avalanche expert and they will tell you the same; leashes are a death sentence in an avalanche because they completely limit the skiers/riders ability to escape his or her equipment in an avalanche; an action that could save your life if caught. While Targhee isn't extreme avalanche terrain, there are areas that have the potential. Yes, I realize that your ski patrol controls for such conditions, however, their work is imperfect. Just look at areas like Jackson Hole, Snowbird etc. These areas have both had multiple avalanche fatalities in the last 5 years, IN BOUNDS!!!! They DO NOT REQUIRE LEASHES! I may stand to be corrected here but I've never been asked to show them, and I've never been turned away for lack thereof. Their patrols are arguably more experienced and better trained than Targhee's is, meaning your resort isn't above everyone else. Targhee has several areas of easily assessable hike-to avalanche terrain, Mary's Nipple and Das Boat to name a few. You have backcountry access gates, which also lead to slide areas. There is a considerable amount of avalanche terrain within and just outside the resort capable of sliding and burying someone; your leash law is completely ignorant and inconsiderate. I understand your current reasoning behind leashes, you are worried about a loose ski hitting somebody. How often does getting hit by a loose ski kill someone verses getting hit by an avalanche? Alpine skiers aren’t required to wear leashes because they supposedly have brakes that can stop the ski. I’m here to tell you I have NEVER witnessed a ski eject from a person and stop because of brakes! Especially in soft snow, which Targhee is rather well known for. Conventional ski brakes are practically useless besides holding a ski in place while stepping in. Alpine skis that release probably account for more injuries than either snowboards or telemark skis. I've witnessed multiple runaway alpine skis and I've never witnessed a runaway telemark ski. Another hazard of leashes is the possibility of getting the leash caught on something while skiing. It’s happened to me multiple times in tight trees, and has nearly resulted in my leg getting ripped off! Once I snagged a tree and was caught practically hanging upside down, I was trapped because I couldn’t reach up and release the leashes. Last, it’s just inconvenient, there are enough people struggling to get equipment on and off at the bottom of the lift, having to struggle with leashes is just one more pain. I see countless boarders going up the lifts without getting checked for leashes, and they obviously don’t have them, while I literally am forced to lift up my ski pants to prove I have leashes.
Please re-think your policy on leashes, whether it is changed to take into account backcountry users or be abolished completely. You won’t allow me to access the ski lift without the leashes, but rest assured I will be removing them as soon as I get to the top of the hill! Your policy is a joke…
