Grand Targhee Leash Law: Abolish it!

I have held a season pass

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…

Duc Tape

Just my opinion here,(I am a certified W-EMT-B multiple first aid classes etc.) My father is a surgeon, and I have been attending wilderness medicine conferences for well over five years, what I am about to say reflects many of the opinions of what these guys are saying at the conferences; DUCT TAPE

I am a big fan of just duct tape, or even really high quality athletic tape, and here's why. First aid kits come with all kinds of jargon, bandaids, blister pads, tylenol, blood clotting agents, gauze, "sterile" wipes tweezers and bandaids, tourniquets, bee sting kits (ive never seen a bee at 10,000' in winter, have you?) sissy scissors (just use your multi tool) bla bla bla. But honestly, what can any of these accomplish that duct tape can't? How often do you use that shit? How often is it destroyed when you actually need it? (we witnessed a perfect example with the OP), and how much money is wasted on it? Chances are it will all go unused, serves only 1 purpose, and until it is needed it will degrade and fall apart in your pack. Furthermore, 90% of the price you paid probably went to the packaging or case. The rest is just fancy toilet paper. I've never seen a first aid kit remain new and un-damaged from being carried around for a season. It's gonna get soiled if you take it with you. That means your "sterile" guaze isn't really that clean anymore, neither are your shears etc. You're only as clean as your dirtiest item and it's pointless to worry about being "sterile" when you are mere hours from rescue. Our bodies can handle a lot, and the riggors and hazards of a day in the BC can easily be met, and dealt with in the bc with duct tape.
Look at items that you actually need, and then sort through what might be luxury. Ibuprofin might be nice for a headache, but it won't make the difference between getting out or staying the night. Its simply comfort related. We are in the mtns, if you want comfort go rent a suite at the Holiday Inn. Regular grade bandages are junk, fall off if wet at all, and have limited coverage anyways. Any cut small enough for a bandaid probably isn't serious enough to get ansy about, if it is use duct tape. You shouldn't have to worry about any horrible bacteria environments in the BC, and if you are planning on leaving within a day, there isn't enough time for a huge infection to start either. DO you wash you're hands after taking a piss in the woods? I don't either and I haven't gotten sick yet, chances are it won't hurt the guy you're helping. Cleaning the wound off would be great, but clean water will do just about as much good as saline, which is all they'll use in the E.R. anyway. It's not like you are going to wipe to wound out with an alcohol pad, so why carry one? I'm not super concerned about transmitted diseases because I know most of my pals pretty well, their habits and history, that might be of importance if you're sketched out, but chances are if someone gushing enough blood out there to get on you, you will be far more concerned with stopping it and rubber gloves won't do much to keep yourself isolated anyway. This may sound selfish, but I carry what I need for me and my group only, I'm not taking care of the rest of the hooligans out there. I'll stop and provide as much assistance to a person in need as I can, but I'm not lugging around stuff JUST for them and some scenario that happens once every ten years.
Duct tape can be used for splints, slings, repairs, tourniquets, blisters, face mask barrier for mouth to mouth, you name it. And its better at those jobs than any of the specific commercially sold items with one purpose. If you are desperate for something to soak up blood with use extra clothing or a handkerchief. Most of us will be carrying an extra layer around anyways so use that, with duct tape. Don't worry about getting cold cuz you're probably working you ass off to get yourselves out (unless this is a remote multi day thing) The only exception is pain killers, but lets be honest, if some dude busted his femur out there I really doubt a few soggy ibuprofen will make a difference(unless the entire bottle is ingested) you're better off getting your hands on a bit more powerful potion or you may as well not carry anything... Even duc-tape can be fashioned into something to bite onto, hell, if they don't shut up, put some over their mouth.
Please keep in mind that if you are really remote then its a whole other ball game, but I haven't ever had the need for anything other than duct tape. I can't really foresee a situation where I wouldn't need it. Also remember that prevention is the best medicine, smart thinking and practice eliminates accidents (shit can still happen) and when it does you've got duct tape. Knowing who you are with and their needs is also important, and you should adjust accordingly. The strongest selling point in all this is duc tape has multiple uses, it's also capable of assisting in fashioning a shelter, and repairing broken gear ie: torn coats, zippers, broken boot buckles etc. It will get you out of there. I heard glucose mentioned, but can't a pack of gu energy gel double?
Once you start adding things to cover every scenario you head down the endless tunnel of preparedness and you'll en up lugging around ten pounds of supplies. If you're like me you'll know that carrying a ton of crap around isn't fun, especially stuff that you'll more than likely not use. Do yourself a favor, ditch the first aid kit and invest in a roll of duc tape.

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