Photo credit: Adam Kruzyna
Accountability
Skiing and Riding in the backcountry requires good judgment and personal awareness.
Access in and out of these areas is challenging. There is no ski patrol in the backcountry.
NEKBC works hard to prepare and maintain BC zones. However, there is no guarantee that the glades are free from hazards as conditions are constantly changing. It is your responsibility to understand the hazards that exist including rocks, fallen branches and trees, slippery ledges, etc. Recreate within your skill set, and be prepared for a worse case scenario.
Access in and out of these areas is challenging. There is no ski patrol in the backcountry.
NEKBC works hard to prepare and maintain BC zones. However, there is no guarantee that the glades are free from hazards as conditions are constantly changing. It is your responsibility to understand the hazards that exist including rocks, fallen branches and trees, slippery ledges, etc. Recreate within your skill set, and be prepared for a worse case scenario.
- Know your gear. Know your limits.
- Know what to do if there is an emergency.
- Don’t ski/ride alone.
- Have a plan and be prepared to change it.
- Learn about the zone before you go – become a member – volunteer.
- Leave no trace.
Park Responsibly
Irresponsible parking is second only to illegal cutting as a threat to current and future BC zones. Use common sense and consideration when parking.
- The first vehicle sets the pattern. Park to optimize the number of vehicles.
- Do not block other cars, gates, driveways, other trails such as VAST, plow/sand truck turnarounds.
- Have a Plan B. Be prepared for an alternate activity or location if the lot is full. Go to town and get some coffee and return if you feel lucky.
- Membership dues help pay for plowing and parking enhancement.
Social Media Etiquette
Social media has become an excellent tool for connecting with like-minded enthusiasts and an avenue to share information. It also can have unintended consequences, some of which bring negative impacts related to overuse. For many of us, there is nothing better than sharing our love of backcountry skiing. This social media etiquette is not intended to dampen that joy, but to ask users to consider the impact that posts may have – promoting sustainable growth over exponential, unmanaged growth. Of course, how you utilize social media is entirely up to you, but the NEKBC recommends the following etiquette to help backcountry skiing grow sustainably.
- When you make a social media post and you are in a NEKBC zone, please tag #NEKBC and #CTA and better yet – make a post directly to these pages. This provides an opportunity for those inspired by your post to engage further with these organizations, recognizing that these zones do not appear by magic or mother nature alone, but are the result of hard work & coordinated efforts between land owners, volunteers and CTA and NEKBC.
- Leave something for discovery for the wide audience who will see your post, aligning with the spirit of backcountry travel. Avoid tagging or referring to a specific location, trail name, or zone.
- And of course, share the love. The world needs more of that!
