Special Section: Ski Northwest—Your Guide to Skiing During a Pandemic

Skiing During a Pandemic

What to expect at ski areas this anomalous season

written by Kevin Max

BY MARCH OF 2020, the winter ski season was already in play. Though a long eight months separated the onset of the pandemic in the United States and the opening of ski areas in the Pacific Northwest, two things came into focus: this virus wasn’t going away soon and ski areas would have to make significant changes if they wanted to safely open to guests for this anomalous 2020-21 ski season. Also, in a perverse way, this could be the best year on record for ski area season passholders.

Being on a mountain, in the open air, is one of the safest places to be during these times. Skiing and snowboarding are essentially individual pursuits of recreation in the great outdoors and a psychological savior through the duration of winter.

“As ski season approaches, resorts are incorporating virus prevention into their winter operating plans, again turning to science and also learning from summer operations in the U.S. and from our peers in the southern hemisphere,” Kelly Pawlak, president and CEO of National Ski Areas Association, said in this year’s annual report.

So what’s different this season? What changes should winter warriors expect during the pandemic?

Shred safely at Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor.

Anelise Bergin/Mt. Bachelor

SEASON PASSHOLDERS RULE

The first change is how ski passes are being sold and marketed this year. Prices are lower and forgiveness is greater. Day passes are all but gone.

At Crystal Mountain in Enumclaw, Ikon Pass renewal fees were discounted by $200, double the discount from the prior season. The Ikon Pass includes more than thirty resorts across the United States, including Crystal Mountain, The Summit at Snoqualmie and Mt. Bachelor in the Pacific Northwest. Under the Ikon Pass, passholders who didn’t use it this season, for whatever reason, have the option of deferring until the next season, no questions asked.

Mt. Bachelor created a new Passholder Promise for this season, under which passholders receive a voucher for ski days if the mountain is closed for extended periods and full refunds before November 20 for any reason.

Passholders rule at many resorts, especially this year. Because of social distancing and maximum crowd regulations, ski areas such as Stevens Pass make online reservations for onmountain time mandatory. Under its season Epic Pass, Stevens Pass (and others) allows passholders priority for reservations. Using a time-based reservation system will also help ski areas manage parking, which has been a pain point due to the popularity of skiing and snowboarding.

Seek solitude at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Idaho.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

TRANSPORTATION WILL REQUIRE PATIENCE

Mountain shuttles and buses will be the front line for civility or chaos. Those who opt for communal transportation should expect less capacity, longer waits and, possibly, reservations required.

FACE COVERINGS ARE MANDATORY

No matter how you get to the ski area, remember your face covering. The NSAA is requiring its member ski areas to follow CDC mandatory mask guidelines for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Local, state and federal guidelines apply to all ski areas. Plastic shields do not meet the standard at ski areas. The good news is that many snow riders are already accustomed to wearing face coverings while on the mountain, so making it mandatory should not significantly change the culture.

Face coverings will be mandatory on and off the slopes this season.

MAINTAIN A SKI’S-LENGTH APART

Social distancing meets skiing. One obvious change is how lift lines are managed. Nary a resort has used fluid dynamics well to manage the herd of riders in lift lines. This season, skiers and snowboarders will be required to maintain at least 6 feet in buffer to the next person, creating a seemingly long tail. All things considered, the tail of one set of skis to the boot of the next set of skis is typically around 6 feet. This may not seem like a derivation from the norm unless you’re counting time. Snowboarders queuing before dropping into terrain parks should also maintain at least 6 feet from the next boarder.

LIFTS WILL CARRY FEWER PEOPLE UPHILL

If you’ve put on 15 pounds for COVID-19, fear not. Ski lifts will feel more roomy this season. Because of social distancing guidelines, those who are not family could be limited to one per chair, or two per quad chair. Vail Resorts, of which Stevens Pass is a member, announced at the end of August that masks will be required in all areas of their resorts and lifts will either be single or double occupancy for quads. Ear buds with music, podcasts and audible books are made for this. You may wait a few minutes longer, but no longer than a Tim Ferriss podcast humble-brag.

Though resorts in the Pacific Northwest have many chairlifts, there is only one enclosed lift—the Mt. Rainier Gondola at Crystal Mountain. Expect to see that gondola loaded with fewer people to conform to state and federal guidelines.

As always, maintain a safe distance from other skiers and snowboarders on the way down.

Gondolas like this one at Crystal Mountain will also be subject to social distancing.

Crystal Mountain

FEWER INDOOR AND MORE OUTDOOR TABLES AT RESTAURANTS

On-mountain eateries, if open, will look like phase 3 restaurant seating—farther apart and outdoors as much as possible. NSAA calls for increased cleaning and disinfecting for restaurants, restrooms, ticket offices and rental shops.

If your ski vacation contemplates patronizing local bars and restaurants, consider making that pasta dish or trying a new steak rub at your accommodations instead of putting yourself and others at risk in the general population.

For many, this season will test your ability to maintain civility. Always try to be the better person and ski and ride with a clear and open mind.