One time we hid a speaker behind a “Clear Unload Area” sign and recorded ourselves saying all kinds of stuff and sped it up/slowed it down.
“Please vacate the premises!” In chipmunk voice, “Get out of the ramp.....you could die....” all slowed down in an impression of the boss, we had a spicoli looking/sounding lift op record some ridiculous stuff....
it was late spring, we were all over it, everyone’s bodies were finished and we just said fuck it. It got a littttle loose. We’d hide in the shack, giggle like children and peek over the wall through the window and watch people’s reactions.
but the satisfaction of seeing people confusedly look towards the sign and speaker and then the dawning realization that they were being told to get out the goddamn ramp was definitely worth it.
how much time can you actually spend saying “excuse me! Hi there! Could you please not look at your trail map/take group selfies/debate whether to go left or right/decide to “fix your binding” in the middle of the ramp? There are folks behind you about to unload..” before you just start being an asshole?
this was our solution.
my favorite is when vis is zero, and people still decide to ride the chair at 12,700 ft , above tree line with basically no visual markers. These people usually end up calling 911 LOL. And then, 911 transfers them to us and we have to go find these people and either escort them down, provide counseling and therapy, or toboggan them down.
ive talked to a guy in his early 20’s who was literally crying because he had “fallen off the mountain” (aka slipped off the catwalk a few feet and just gave up and was ready to die in place), who tried to pretend like he wasn’t upset and make a joke out of it. It’s like....dude...you called 911 and begged for help...you can’t play that off, bro LOL.
Just remember, if you have an interaction with a patroller who seems a little impatient or grumpy, they might have just had to drag a grown man in a sled to the base area from the highest point on the mountain because they were scared to navigate a groomer in poor visibility with a rope line right there to guide them and provide some depth perception.
patrolling is an amazing job and helping people is very satisfying and fulfilling, but you deal with some stuff that can be pretty damn frustrating.
