Marmot Basin Public Safety specialists are catching more skiers and boarders in out-of-bound areas this year, as record snow falls are tempting skiers to find fresh lines.

On Saturday (Nov. 21), officials revoked more than 30 passes, all for skiing out of bounds. Most of the trespassers were caught near the Eagle East chairlift.
It’s a trend ski hill officials want to stop, as there are several dangers to skiing in out-of-bound areas.

“We were busy Saturday, as people were looking for fresh lines. But people are entering avalanche terrain,” said Jeff Andrews, head of public safety at Marmot Basin. “It’s pretty precedent setting.”

Marmot public safety crews have been busy reducing avalanche dangers, and said there is a genuine risk to those travelling in out-of-bound areas.

“They could trigger an avalanche and we could have explosives there... We’ve used more explosives this year than all of last year,” Andrews said.

Avalanche crews bury explosives ranging from 2.5 kilograms to 13 kilograms in the snow when performing avalanche control.

A weak basal layer is ideal for slides, as avalanche crews have been out every day trying to mitigate the hazard. The ski hill has received 225 centimetres of snow in November. In comparison, Marmot Basin received 285 centimetres of snow in total last season.

Those who have their day passes revoked are banned from the hill for 24 hours, while season pass holders lose their ticket for two weeks. If an individual is caught skiing in the out-of-bound area a second time, they face a lifetime ban.

“People generally get out after one warning,” Andrews said.

The hill also has the option of pressing trespassing charges, which come with fines ranging from $2,000 to $5,000.

Skiing in out-of-bound area endangers the individual and the public safety crew, Andrews said. He warns culprits to think of the consequences to themselves and to others.

“If they get injured, we have to send our staff and endanger them as well,” he said.