From a Wasatch backcountry skier:
“On Valentine’s Day, those powder-maggots in their serenity-destroying machines darn near landed on top of my party of three at the top of Day’s Fork. They were so close we could feel the spindrift and were able to have a conversation with the fat guide (he obviously hadn’t skinned up much of anything lately!). I was ready to lay into him and his group for landing so close to us and for imposing on our experience so rudely, but my nicer and calmer friend held me back because there was a couple in the group- it was, after all, Valentine’s Day.
I’ve heard that there is a 500′ berth they are required to give touring parties. It certainly wasn’t given to us. I’ve also heard there is a forum for complaints, but can’t find it on the web. Do you have any suggestions?
Keep up the good fight! Let me know how I can help.”
(name withheld upon request)
A few pertainent issues here…
1) There is no designated landing zone distance. The Wasatch Powderbird Guides land within inches of their clients, so they feel it is therefore safe and acceptable to land or fly within 50′ of a touring party. Regardless of what the the Powderbird Guides say, under their annual Operating Plan, they are under no obligation (aside from common curtesy) to avoid backcountry skiers, and if it is a powder day… you are going to get landed on.
2) Unfortuantely, there is no official office to file complaints with. The Forest Service wants conflicts to be worked out between user groups, which means the WPG will either deny it every happened, or “try” to avoid that situation in the future.