There's been an unprecedented number of lost skiers in Vermont's backcountry, and the Stowe Mountain Rescue team says social media and impulsive behavior are largely responsible.

It started innocently enough this summer with a viral social media post that launched "cow-mania" as hordes of tourists descended on Stowe in search of the undeniably cute Highland Cattle at The Trapp Family Lodge. There was nothing to lose then, according to Stowe Mountain Rescue, but now there's a more dangerous trend happening where TikTok videos of whooping skiers in knee-deep powder are luring inexperienced skiers and riders into Stowe’s backcountry at a time of year when the snow pack is unreliable.

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