Open Boundary Policy

Snowboarder: Jeremy Jones    Photo:McKoy

     Skiing outside the resort’s boundary is serious business, for several reasons. First of all, no avalanche reduction is performed outside of these gates, so Mother Nature holds all the cards. Second, all the other services and benefits of the ski patrol and the resort are not guaranteed. And that leaves rescues to be coordinated through the Teton County Sheriff’s Office or Grand Teton National Park, each a step away from the at-hand services of the resort itself.
     So, if you still decide to ski or snowboard the OB, you should be equipped with ALL of the following:
KNOWLEDGE
     Know the area and the terrain you plan to ski. Know and understand the weather and ski conditions. Know how to read changing conditions. Know how to use your rescue equipment. Know where the JHMR boundary gates are located. Have avalanche rescue training. Get the Bridger Teton National Forest avalanche hazard and weather forecast information.
SKILL & ABILITY
     Make safe, conservative choices. Have competent backcountry skills. Possess good route-finding skills. Are you an expert skier? OB terrain is expert skiing, especially in adverse conditions. Know how to use your equipment to rescue someone caught in an avalanche.
EQUIPMENT & COMPANION
     Have a selective, safety-conscious attitude and conservative judgment. Always carry a transceiver, a shovel, and a probe. Have the proper clothing for extreme weather conditions. Ski with a partner. If you are going to be out for the day, bring extra clothing, snacks, and lots of water. Tell someone who isn’t going OB where you plan to ski and when you plan to return. Don’t forget to check in when you return. Above all, do not go alone!

—Cindy Budge, Jackson Hole Ski Patrol

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The Jackson Hole Skier is a free visitors’ guide published annually and distributed at hundreds of locations throughout Jackson Hole, Cody, and other regional communities. To receive a copy in the mail, send $5 to Jackson Hole SKier, P.O. Box 1930, Jackson, Wyoming 83001.

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Copyright 2004 by FPI (Focus Productions, Inc)., P.O. Box 1930, Jackson, Wyoming 83001. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publishers.

Publishers: Bob Woodall & Wade McKoy, dba Focus Productions, Inc. (FPI)

Editors: Mike Calabrese, Wade McKoy, Bob Woodall

Art Direction & Ad Design: Janet Melvin

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