Deer Valley Resort ski patrol director Chris Erkkila spoke with Leslie Thatcher of KPCW about the resort’s new efforts to prevent backcountry skiers from entering the resort’s terrain.
Erkkila said that ski patrol has encountered backcountry skiers and riders while performing avalanche mitigation with explosives.
Deer Valley Ski Patrol fears that an unknown backcountry rider could get caught in a slide, or hurt by the explosives themselves.
The majority of the instances are happening in the Empire Canyon zone of Deer Valley Resort. Backcountry skiers are hiking from the Bonanza Flat Conservation Area, and dropping lines into the resort property.
Erkkila said that ski patrol has new ropes in the area, and reminds that ducking a rope and entering resort property from the backcountry is illegal at Deer Valley Resort.
He also said that Ski Patrol plans to install more permanent ropes and fixtures in the near future.
Friendly reminder that uphill travel or access of any kind is not allowed at Deer Valley Resort.
You can listen to the full interview here.
