Preparing for the White Ribbon of Death
Posted by Chris Tippie
It is that time of year again here in the rockies - the annual unveiling of the White Ribbons of Death (WROD’s) all across the state. What’s a WROD? It is the one or two “runs” that a ski area opens up in November. A few open up a WROD in October. Basically, what they do is wait until it gets below 32 degrees F and make a ton of artificial snow.
disclaimer: photo of a different ski area
The snow cats push the piles of artificial snow into a carpet or ribbon of snow that runs down a relatively low angle slope at the bottom of the mountain. When enough of the fake stuff has been pushed around they are then able to “open” the mountain. If they actually open the mountain is another thing.
Mountains open up early to either serve the rabid snow starved masses or wait until Turkey Day. Most wait. Crested Butte is in the later category. The snow guns have been running for some time now so the WROD should be getting nice and white. That explains the “W” and the “R”. What it doesn’t explain is the “O” and the “D”. You know - the death part. Well, the death part comes from the fact that when the mountain finally throws open its door you have a bagillion* avid and aggressive skiers who are hellbent on taking out their pent up summer aggressions on the same 15 foot wide strip of snow. Because of the number of skiers, the high velocity and the *ahem* exuberant environment a classic theory of physics is validated each year - two independent entities cannot simultaneously occupy the same space at the same time.
I don’t think I have heard of any actual deaths during WROD season but you get the picture.
Yes. It looks like a bunny slope but it isn’t. If you are novice skier - the WROD is not for you. Just…. don’t. Which is a shame actually because all things being equal, the low angle slope that supports the WROD is the domain of the novice skier. But during this week or two the more experienced skiers steal it away to satisfy their snow lust.
Yes, I feel bad about it. Kind of.
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