Skiers Blasted For Skiing Over Active Winch Cat Cable At Vermont Resort
Stowe Mountain Rescue was not playing around when they took to Facebook to issue an urgent request to all uphill skiers at Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont just a few days ago.
"This morning grooming operations had to be put on hold because some skiers actually skied over the active winch cat cable on their glory run down. Yes, you read that right."
"Please understand that we’re not just asking this out of respect for the resort’s right to get the mountain ready for their paying guests (though that alone is a valid reason). No, this is a pressing safety issue."
"Winch cats are extremely dangerous because their cable is under incredibly high tension. If that thing were to break in your vicinity, it would kill you in a second. It’s also a horrible clothesline injury waiting to happen. Think about it: the resort saw uphill skiers in their winch cat grooming area and their response was to shut down the whole operation – THAT’S how dangerous it is."
Winch cats work by attaching the 25,000 lb cat to a cable (which is anchored down to a shackle on a steel pole, and then moving the cat up or down the steep terrain by winding or unwinding the cable on a giant spool.
"PLEASE be respectful and stay on the designated trails and away from grooming operations. And please pass this message along to anyone even thinking about skinning the mountain."
Stowe has a strict uphill policy as it is, but now they are probably going to be even more on edge.
Currently, uphill travel is available on Chin Clip & Nosedive as conditions permit. Skiers uphill routes must match their downhill routes.
To learn more, call Stowe's hotline at 802-253-3690 for the most up-to-date uphill travel information.
Can you blame them? If someone dies on their mountain, that's a huge liability issue. And, like they said, they're just trying to get the place ready for everyone to enjoy. That by itself is reason to ask people to please, for the love of open terrain, just stop.
Check out Stowe's Uphill Access Map below.
Are you thinking about skinning at Stowe? Looks pretty tempting.
If any of us do, though, let's all stay far away from those winch cables. As Stowe says, uphill access is a privilege, not a right.
Related: VIDEO: Getting Rowdy on the 'Cliffs of Stowe'
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