not only are the slides hit or miss but last time i checked in order to get past the ski patrol gate you needed a group of 3 and avygear(probe, shovel, but don't think they required a beacon).
structure will help the base channel water away, but more importantly a warmer wax will allow you to slip right over the water. If i were you i would be using a 40degree and up wax.
I wish I could have been their this past weekend, unfortunately I had to go to a forestry conference in Syracuse Thursday and Friday which put me behind in school work.