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Skiing Gray Diamonds

By Jan Nesset

We're not criminals. I swear it. But this time, which was just days ago, legal or illegal my 6-year-old daughter and I were going to ski the city-run ski-area we had just climbed, the same slope that we frequently pay to ski. On this day, however, the area is closed. Eager for a small adventure, we went for it anyway. After the fact, my inquiry to the city informed me in an e-mail that skiing the area is okay when the ski hill is closed but a lift ticket is necessary when the lift, a tow rope, is open. Makes sense. We enjoyed the run without the risk of becoming fugitives. Dodged a bullet there, I suppose, in the campaign of right and wrong.

Gratefully, my little skier and I now have something fun and different to do together, if we want to. Something active, something free, although I'm certain we'll spend more days paying to ski the hill when it's open than hiking it when it's closed. Am I leading her astray, down a dark path? It's legal here, so no. Frankly, I'm hoping our little adventure turns into a habit, an after-school run on our municipal ski slope, which is barely two blocks from our home. Ten minutes of climbing, less than a minute down. Fun stuff, all free, except for the sweat we pay for the climb.

Writer Eric Carlson knows what it means to sweat it. In his story, "Earning Our Turns," pg. 10, he takes a look at "poaching" ski runs. He discovers that each Four Corners ski resort has a policy regarding hiking up and then skiing without purchasing a lift ticket. Poaching ski runs, and it's not always poaching because hiking up and skiing down is not illegal at every ski resort, is unlikely to become popular or cause an uproar, unless somebody skiing without a ticket gets hurt or causes trouble. Could happen. But, who doesn't like to ski for free, even if it means it'll cost a bucket of sweat for just one run? Go backcountry skiing, you say, that's free. True, but some people are more comfortable on groomers or are not yet ready for powder. To each his own.

Carlson ponders and conjures compelling points in his story. And ideas. What if, say, for a minimal fee, resorts made it possible for skiers to hike up and ski their slopes? Perhaps even creating special pathways for them to stay off slopes and away from downhillers? Not bad P.R., I say. And, after earning a run regardless of how it's paid for, the price of a resort burger, fries and a beer is always justified.

- Jan Nesset/Editor