Warning: don't go outside!

Warning: don't go sledding, don't have fun, don't risk anything!

I really don't want to post this photo, because it will give away one of my favorite snurfing hills (it will also give away a really cool PHNX Board prototype!).  But the photo needs to be seen because it's really pretty sad.  Is the slope steep? Well, that depends...on your age, on your skill, on how high up you climb, on what you are sliding on.  Is the stopping area short? Well...if you hit a tree (yes, there are trees) then I guess any stopping area is too short. But otherwise, as you can see in the photo, it's a very long way from the bottom of the hill to the sign (also, not shown in the photo, but on the left is a wide open area that spills out onto a long flat field).  Plenty of stopping area.

Yeah, I know, the town is seeking to avoid a lawsuit.  Aside from asking why don't they maintain it to make it safer (i.e. clear some of the trees to open it up a bit more), do we really need signs everywhere?  Warning: don't play in traffic! Warning: don't put dynamite in your mouth!  If we absolutely must have a sign, how about: Warning: this area is not maintained, have fun but use at your own risk.  Even that is pretty obvious.  Can't we just teach our kids to be careful?  And if we scare everyone off with these signs, how are they going to learn?  Only stay inside?  Only play in safe spaces?  Only do safe things?  Where does it stop? Can we just use common sense?

By the way, what else you don't see in this photo, which you will only find if you explore this area further, is that it used to be a ski hill.  And, if you hike up to the top...a top that is much higher than it looks from below...you'll be rewarded with a couple of secret trails that are still clear enough to snurf first tracks after any new snow.  Yeah, you have to hike them, and most people just aren't willing to sweat it.  For those who do, it's a hidden gem.