A pair of Crystal Mountain Resort skiers are lucky not have been blown to bits after ducking a rope and poaching the “Southback” zone while ski patrol was doing avalanche mitigation work in the area reports The Yakima Herald.
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Instead, the two skiers will both face $1,000 fines for violating a law that strictly forbids skiers from entering into closed areas– especially while patrol is bombing. After the skiers entered into the closed area, two explosive charges were used very close to their location. The first of which triggered a small avalanche above the skiers and the second of which triggered a larger nearby avalanche. They were lucky not to be caught in either slide.
Ski patrol director, Kim Kircher will enforce the law moving forward in order to create a safe environment patrollers, mountain ops personnel, and the skiing/riding public. One of the skiers was an employee of the resort who has since been fired.
Find the entire Yakima Herald article here: Skiers face fines, charges for skiing in closed terrain