 Poster: A snowHead
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Picked it up at Lyon. Beyond the nice thing that SmallZooKeeper managed to plug his skills and shop (Yaay!) I found the whole thing a little disturbing.
Given the Grauniad's audience and their likely skiing capability, how helpful are lots of comments and details about where to go "under the rope"? Might this not, especially to younger snowboarders who have the physical capabilityof going off piste much quicker than skiers have unwanted and tragic side effects.
Do national newspapers carry contingency insurance? "I read it in the Guardian so assumed it must be safe", springs to mind.
Beyond dangerous, is it even useful?
I was not much impressed...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Isn't it down to the individual to determine whether they can cope? What if said Grauniad reviewed Saw II, the film, and said it's worth a look? What if they review some scuba diving sweet spot that is only really for experienced - not just qualified - experienced divers?
I suspect The Guardian has rather accomplished skiers among its readership that will look at the article and think, "Pffft. That's for newbies."
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Hmm, fair enough, but I just kind of feel that the Guardian has misaligned it's audience with the resulting product. I don't know Cham' terribly well, but I got virtually nothing out of 4 (?) pages of print, other than confirmation that SZK works at Footworks.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Is this article online anywhere?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Honestly, there is far too much babysitting in our world. People need to take responsibility for their own actions. If someone does something that puts themselves in harms way, and they get hurt, then it's their fault, even if they did read about it in the newspaper.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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ponder, you are absolutely correct in principle. However, IMHO, sadly there is way too little responsibility - and where mountains are concerned, understanding of risk. Snowboards and to a lesser extent modern skis allow people off piste much earlier in their skiing experience than before - and before they accumulate any sense of why a particular slope never gets tracked by the locals.
Speaking to instructors and ski patrol in the areas I frequent there is a definite perception that there are more people in dangerous areas - because they can get there but know no better.
So, if you read in what passes for a well regarded newspaper these days that a given route skied by someone is there and doable, there are many out there who will go and do it. A bit like following a single set of tracks into a couloir you've never seen before really.
I don't care about the outcome for the individual at fault, the gene pool needs a bit of cleaning now and again, but I am concerned about the well being of the rescue services and any others who come to harm because of that individuals lack of care, thought and, yes irresponsibilty.
Anyway, I suppose my point is really that the Grauniad hasn't contributed anything to the world of skiing and may have done harm. NOt a good risk/return profile is it.
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Is it any different from Phil Ingle publishing his pictures and routes on this site?
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Kramer, Probably, because most  are keen skiers, and those who are novices have access to loads of advice about what not to do. Anyway, Phils pix are so scary that more would definitley be put off than encouraged I feel.
This is a perennial problem in the alps, many people are killed every year in accidents (not alkways off piste either), and in the majority of cases it's pure stupidity that causes it. Tough - common sense is a commodity sadly lacking in the modern world.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| David Murdoch wrote: |
| Hmm, fair enough, but I just kind of feel that the Guardian has misaligned it's audience with the resulting product. I don't know Cham' terribly well, but I got virtually nothing out of 4 (?) pages of print, other than confirmation that SZK works at Footworks. |
Do i? 
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Kramer, I think so, at least marginally.
One's reaction to Phil's stuff should either be "I can do that (and maybe I think I have enough experience that I don't need a guide) let's go," or "You must be mad." I think the pictures and routes are reasonably self selecting. You'll only make the mistake once however anyway, no matter the outcome
As a thought experiment then, picture someone not experienced believing that something written in the Guardian is fine to "do". They do no more research and follow a hypothetiocal green path as directed which slowly gets steeper and steeper (not indicated in the article) until they're in the jaws of a Phil Ingle type full on alpine descent.
Oops...
As the old joke goes, "Precipice?" I thought you said "Piece of p1ss?"
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hmmm... a lot of Phil's stuff, you not only need to find it first (not always straightforward) but then you actually have to climb up it. I think this all acts as a pretty good filter.
As far as the Guardian is concerned, you could argue that somewhat vague descriptions of routes encourages people to get into things they shouldn't. However, I reckon that even if the Guardian pulled those articles, these people would find some other way to kill themselves - following someone else's tracks without knowing where they lead to for example
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Arno, probably... I think I'm just rather disaffected with this whole "democratisation" of journalism thing. Leave rumours and opinion up to us SnowHeads and let's have journalists who do a proper professionally researched and corroborated job!
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