In a letter to the editor appearing in The Aspen Times on Monday, January 16, Thomas Azar apologizes to the Aspen Highlands ski patrol for ducking a rope on Tuesday, January 10. The ski area, nestled in Colorado’s rugged Elk Mountains, reported 16 inches of new snow overnight, and significant avalanche mitigation work was being done to get the mountain open. Azar admits to limbo-ing underneath a rope to access a zone near the Deep Temerity lift.

Now, on the one hand, it’s understandable that being barred from accessing some of the most delectable, arousing powder stashes on the mountain could drive any skiing-obsessed human insane. Who among us hasn’t, at one time or another, weighed the pros and cons of sneaking under, around or over a boundary to access our favorite lines? However, Azar did put himself, the Highlands patrollers and others in danger by ducking the rope. Regardless of the circumstances, worst-case scenarios were avoided, and the man was riddled with enough guilt to write an open apology.

To reiterate, while ignoring rope closures that prevent access to deep pockets of snow may seem like a good idea in the moment, the powdery spoils will still await the patient.

Azar’s full open apology:

“Dear Aspen Highlands ski patrol,

Aspen”