Petition started for Park City backcountry gate

The backcountry gates at the Canyons remain closed, which has sparked ire and frustration among backcountry enthusiasts. Photo: TownLift

PARK CITY, Utah. — Eight hours ago a petition was started on Change.org by four Parkites.

Megan McKenna, Matt Lindon, Roy Crandall and Brendan Mooney, all self-prescribed backcountry enthusiasts, are hoping to engage like-minded skiers/riders. Signatures are the currency the seek in a concerted effort to convince Vail Resorts, the parent company of Park City Mountain, to reopen and keep open the highly contentious roped throughway backcountry ingress.

At the time of publication of this article 213 people had signed the online petition, almost halfway to its goal of 500.

The 9990 access gate is a popular way for customers of Park City Mountain’s Canyons Resort to get into the backcountry and go even farther into the non-ski patrolled, non-avalanche controlled areas. Following the tragic death of a local man to an avalanche on Square Top Peak earlier in the season, the gates were closed and have remained as such.

The authors of this petition seek to mobilize a collective voice to action ultimately convincing Vail Resorts to open the gate access back up for the end of the current season and in perpetuity. They argue that recreationalists, once they’ve been warned about inherent safety risks, as the signage there accomplishes, should have the right to proceed through the gates. The training for and use of easily obtainable equipment including backcountry beacons, shovels and probes are encouraged by all, no matter what side of the discussion people are on.

The petition can be viewed here

Comment below: Keep the gates closed or open?