Recklessness can't be avoided

SNOWMASS, Colo. -- He was out on the trail early, the lone rider on the first quad up the mountain. First runs are chilly and his muscles were stiff, so he chose an easy groomer to warm up.

A perfect morning. The first few turns came easily, though a little mechanical compared to the third run of the day when the muscles are loose and warm. But to compound the crankiness of ''first-run syndrome," his goggles fogged up and he skied over to the trailside to wipe them.

The morning was cloudless with the sun just clearing the eastern ridge. Within this ambient beauty he was aware of just one other skier on the trail, a 30-yard wide stretch of groomed corduroy that ran straight for a quarter mile. The skier up the hill was making turns down the edge of the trail where he stood cleaning his goggles. Surely, the other skier would pull out onto the trail to go around him.

Thousands of runs over years of experience informed him subconsciously that this is what would happen. So he was surprised when the other skier closed fast.

He wondered if the guy was skiing while asleep. He yelled.

''What the hell you doing?" The other skier apparently intending to squeeze between him and the trail edge -- where the snow is generally thicker, though not this time of day -- suddenly panicked. Seeing how little room there was, the other skier hit his right edge hard to try to turn sharply into the open trail. But it was too late, and just as he tried to get out of the way by twisting backward, he felt the hard thwack on his upper shoulder, a collision of such force he was propelled out of his bindings.

The other skier, a young teenager, stopped for just a moment, but poised for flight. The kid asked if he was all right, then made an unbelievable comment.

''You got right in my way. I couldn't do anything," said the kid before taking off.

By the time he got collected and back into his skis, the kid was disappearing around the bend of the trail. He thought of giving chase, but decided against it. What would you do, anyway, except scream at him, words that would go right over the kid's head? Besides, his back hurt so badly from trying to twist out of the way he didn't feel like skiing at all.

Given the number of skiers on the slopes on any given winter day, such collisions are uncommon. Happily, such stupidity is rare, but it does exist.

The Skier Responsibility Code, posted all over ski areas, including on tickets and ski school walls, should by now be drummed into every skier or snowboarder's head, right? Parents might just check this out by asking their kids if they can recite all seven points in the code next ski trip.

The code is little more than common sense, but its points are often ignored.

Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.

A no-brainer, right? But maybe a bit more subtle than it seems. Like drivers who tailgate without consequence, the habit gets ingrained. Then the one fateful moment occurs when the edge-of-control skier must stop to avoid a collision, leading to a disaster.

People ahead of you have the right of way. It's your responsibility to avoid them.

How many times have you been berated for cutting off another skier or rider? Everyone has been there at some point. But, related to the first point, if another skier or rider veers into your lane, it's your problem to deal with, not his. It can be annoying, but the uphill skier has to control the brakes in this situation.

You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.

Most skiers are pretty good about clearing to the side of the trail when stopping to check a map or equipment, or just to catch a breath. But not always, especially in the case of falling in a blind spot on the trail.

Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.This is a nearly automatic response in most skiers, and seems a contradiction to the uphill skier rule. The burden to yield falls on the skier entering a traffic flow, something that is most logical to all except Boston drivers entering a rotary.

Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment. Skis have brakes that grip when the binding is released. But if you're skiing fluffy powder out West, don't rely on brakes to help you locate a ski that submarines in the snow. You need a leash in such conditions.

Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.

There are scofflaws at every area. Best sign is at Killington: ''These woods will be as cold and lonely tonight as they were 200 years ago."

Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride, and unload safely.

Oh, and be prepared to have the ski school director in the chair ahead stick you with a couple of rugrats that you must help off at the top.

The rules seem simple and straight forward enough. But if one needs any extra incentive to take them seriously, remember they are the basis for many lawsuits in the course of a year.