Green Mountain Club member and Backcountry Magazine editor Adam Howard has responded to Ben Rose’s recent article in VTsports.com about the Big Jay cut. Adam presents many of the common themes and arguments that are representative of the backcountry perspective.
Howard suggests that Rose is missing a key opportunity to lead rather than posture on the issue. Specifically, the article suggests that the Green Mountain Club could utilize the Big Jay issue to attract backcountry skiers to the GMC, increase club membership, educate the backcountry skiing community, and utilize the good will to mobilize efforts to promote legal and sanctioned backcountry cutting activities. This sounds like a win-win-win solution rather than a cease and desist ultimatum.