Don’t Stand in the Middle of the Trail!

Stopping in the middle of a trail is not good, especially if it’s at the top of a headwall.

Now I appreciate the desire to make a short stop and survey the landscape before proceeding. In some situations, that’s the prudent thing to do.

But I’ve also seen that practice abused.

I was cruising down a trail which split into two directions near the base, heading towards two adjacent lifts. One lift was closer to me than the other. To get there, I had to plan to ride down a headwall, and get there through a relatively narrow section of terrain.

So I’m riding, looking at where I need to go, and … right in the middle of where I want to be is a group of skiers. Three of them. They weren’t looking down the hill, examining their options. That would have simply been a case of bad luck on my part. No, these folks were amiably talking. In the middle of the trail! In other words, unnecessarily blocking my way.

I had to sweep around them, and take a less-than-optimal line towards the desired lift. As a result, I lost a lot of speed and had to skate a ways.

RETURNING TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
This being a Midwest resort, it took me all of five minutes to ride to the top of the lift, five minutes to return to the headwall.

Guess what I saw there? Yup. The social club. Still standing in the middle of the action, blocking my path.

Just as I was going to cut around them (again), one of the three skiers pushed off. I had to alter my path, yet again. Grrrr.

Now, shouting at someone on the hill usually doesn’t do any good, and I did restrain myself. I calmly but clearly said, in the direction of two skiers who were still standing, “Oh, NOW, you decide to go.”

I don’t know if they heard me or not. I hope they do now.