Safety Tips

Follow these helpful hints to make your on-mountain experience even better!

• Look ahead and be aware of other skiers and terrain. You are sharing the slope with others.
• Listen to your body. Stretch and warm-up properly before pushing your personal limits or skill level.
• Take it easy late in the day when you begin to tire; this is when most accidents happen.
• If a trail feels overcrowded, carefully pull off to the side and let others clear out. Often people ski/ride in waves and if you just wait a minute or two, you will have the trail all to yourself.
• If you fall in steep terrain, stop immediately by digging in your skis, feet, hands, poles, whatever you have to prevent a long slide down the mountain.
• When in need of Ski Patrol, take off your skis and cross them in the snow above you.
• The new carving equipment enables more people to carve turns and ski faster. Be aware of your speed, and watch for skiers all around you.
• Think of a ski run like a street. You wouldn't park in the middle of the street, nor would you pull into traffic without looking.
• During flat or low light, ski or ride slower and with extra caution.
• Keep your equipment in good condition. Skis/Boards with rough edges and scarred bases can behave erratically.
• Never leave the scene of an accident. Send someone to call Ski Patrol and wait for their arrival.
• Eat and drink during your day on the mountain. Staying hydrated and well fueled is important, especially at high altitude.
• Know and abide by Your Responsibility Code. It has seven points - learn and understand them. Click Here to view the Your Responsibility Code.
• Slow down when riding over knolls or blind spots to ensure you can avoid any unseen objects or people below you.
• Terrain park users remember to inspect the jumps before taking them. Know your landings are clear and clear yourself out of the landing area.
• Yield to kids. Give them extra room. Kids ski/ride unpredictably, and often do not know right from left.
• Look 3 seconds ahead of you and where you want to go, not towards objects you are trying to avoid.
• When loading/unloading a chairlift with small children, ask the lift attendant for assistance.
• If you ever fall in a wooded area or toward a fixed object, get both of your feet below you to protect your head and upper body.
• Never stop or stand under the chair lift.  People can accidentally drop things from the chair.
• Ensure that while riding the chairlift your equipment is well fastened. Don't lean out of a chairlift to try to retrieve a falling piece of clothing or equipment.
• When skiing/riding in groups, be sure to stop on the sides of trails to avoid blocking an entire trail.
• Consider wearing a helmet, they reduce the risk of head injuries. Skiing/riding in control is the key to avoiding accidents.
• Go slow in Slow Zones! They mark areas of congestion or cross traffic, so respect others and reduce your speed.
• Slower skiers/riders on catwalks or narrow trails should leave room for others to pass.
• When riding a chairlift, always pull down the bar/footrest after notifying other passengers.
• Remove your skis from your shoulder when walking in congested areas.
• Exercise care when walking in ski boots, they are slippery! Use handrails on stairs and watch for slick surfaces.
• When loading and unloading lifts, hold poles in 1 hand. Pay attention to the lift attendant.
• Know how to use lifts safely. When in doubt, ask for help from the lift attendant.
• People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
• Obey all closures. Trails are closed for safety reasons and ignoring closures exposes you to real risks, the least of which is losing your ticket/pass.
• Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
• The more people that are on a trail, the slower you should go.
• Never ski in trees without a partner, and exercise caution.
• Look uphill and yield when entering a slope.
• Should you ever lose control while headed toward an object, sit down immediately, putting your hip into the uphill side of the snow.
• Know your limits and stay within them.
• Read and obey all signs.
• Use your peripheral vision to be aware of objects, terrain changes, and people around you.
• When passing on a catwalk, call out "on your left" or "on your right" to alert the slower skier/rider of your presence.
• Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and avoid others.
• Stop only where you are visible from above and be sure you are not obstructing a trail.
• If you are listening to music, take extra care to stay aware of your surroundings at all times. Be responsible.