Crater Lake...

[Sol-Flyer]

I just thought i'd mention that the rangers are not to receptive about snowkiting at the Crater lake national park. I dont think it was much about enviromental impact. It would seem there more worried about type of image kiters would bring to the park.

If you go, be sure to be a role-model for our sport. make it a point to be courteous, and leave a good impression.

note: Not much good terrain near the lodge, Most kite-able terrain is on the northen side of the park, access is by snowmobile trail and its about a 2-3 mile hike from hwy138.

[kitekid]

id send a letter in and talk about the issue and ask if there is any service you us kiters can do such as help clean up the park some times or help put stuff in. you see were im geting at

[Sol-Flyer]

That's a good idea,

once people become more aware that kiting is polution free, and for the most part impact free(as opposed to snowmobiles) it will be easier to get access what is "resricted".

i'll look into that.
-matty

[SOLKITE]

funy "rangers not receptive"??
well as far as i remember we kited ther 5 times or so & saw the
rangers THEY THOUGHT IT WAS COOL!! thats what they said to us !
"mat & i" so i not sure what mat is saying about "NOT RECEPTIVE????"
rangers very receptive!!
peace!
what did they say 2 u matt??
"NON RECEPTIVE???"

[Sol-Flyer]

jason,

must i refresh your memory about getting harrassed when mike was arrested and they wanted to search your truck? do you not remember the old bald ranger looking very stern and saying.....im gonna have to look into this kiting thing.
as for being receptive, i sure dont remember them saying where we could kite in the national park. but i sure remember them saying where we could'nt
lets see,...there's
no walking up the road to the lodge, no hiking backcountry due to avalanches. and no dogs.

ever throw rocks at a bee's nest? thats how i figure crater lake is for snowkiting at the present time.

is that ok?
Until the forest service see's kiting as a safe, impact-free and polution free sport. there is a slight posibility of ruining the oppritunity at crater lake before it even starts.

thats why i want to make sure that any kiters going up there have a positive outlook, and know they represent the future of kiting @ crater lake.

[SOLKITE]

sure is odd, the diferent ways people percieve a situation?

[Sol-Flyer]

the truth is the truth

[kitezombie]

Sounds like the rangers were really bored that day! Matt, if you got a hair cut they probably wouldn't have hassled you and maybe why Jason had the better experience.

I've never heard of backcountry closures due to avy danger. Inbounds is another story. Roads are sometimes closed but that doesn't mean you can't use the backcountry. Usually there is an "avy warning" and it's left up to the individual to determine whether it's prudent to tread on certain aspects. If I stayed out of the backcountry due to high avy risk I would have to give up some of the best ski days. I just stay on less extreme terrain away from avy run out zones, etc. and avoid "blue sky syndrome". So, don't become a victim. That would give us a bad rap. That being said I will post this caution courtesy of our local avy rangers:

Backcountry travelers should make terrain, weather and snowpack evaluations as they travel over snow covered terrain. Remember that seemingly insignificant slides may be dangerous. Almost half of all avalanche fatalities occur in slides traveling less than 300 feet!

BTW, the first issue of Backcountry just arrived! The white stuff is just around the corner....except I'm breathing smoke from the forest fires! Sure hope this winter is wetter.

[holman]

Hey your skipping over this Mike got arrested thing.

[kitezombie]

I was wondering the same thing but was afraid to ask....

[gobagirl]

Access or avy danger aside...I can't wait to kite on snow!!!

[Sol-Flyer]

Matt, if you got a hair cut they probably wouldn't have hassled you

lol! thats why I stayed in the truck i dont deal with "authority" very well...

Ok, Mike was arrested for a duii that happened like 8 yrs ago. He was a dumbass for thinkin he could get a ride with a ranger and not get his name ran thru the system. you see, mike and I grew up in a small town where cops abuse there power and use the "good ol boy" system. It gave me an negative outlook on law enforcement.

that being said, i felt like it was not a positive image that we we're bringing for the kiting community. As jason says, we all percieve the situation differently. But for the future of kiting within any notional park, it seems best to be "stewards" of the land we use. Make sure they know we are there to help-out,...not destroy.


-matty

[kitezombie]

But for the future of kiting within any notional park, it seems best to be "stewards" of the land we use. Make sure they know we are there to help-out,...not destroy.

Amen! National park, national forest, blm land, private land, etc...respect it all.

[kitekid]

LOL! there just mad cause they got a crapy job and a fat wife. oh well the worst they could do is yell at you right?