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MOUNTAIN SAFETY

MOUNTAIN SAFETY GUIDE

All resort personnel, along with dedicated safety professionals, address safety every day and in every facet of operations. The industry carefully develops safety measures by using the vast experience of safety professionals, history, and forethought.

The industry is committed to ensuring the safest experience for guests while maintaining the history, integrity, and nature of snow sports. PNSAA member resorts focus on and invest considerable resources in safety measures to create a balance between enjoyment of the natural mountain environment and mitigation of the sport’s risks. As an industry, we stand behind our experience and collective efforts to reduce injuries, promote safety, and educate the skiing public.

MOUNTAIN SAFETY IS A PARTNERSHIP

The Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association and its member resorts in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana have adopted the Ski California Mountain Safety Guide to educate our guests on how to ski and snowboard responsibly and safely while having a fun experience. Learning and practicing what is contained in this guide, using common sense, and making good decisions will contribute to your safety and the safety of all guests.

BEFORE YOU SKI & RIDE

So, you’re ready to ski or snowboard. Whether it was family or friends, the beauty of the mountains, or love for outdoor recreation that brought you here, PREPARATION will help your trip to the slopes be both enjoyable and safe.

KIDS & SAFETY WITH JEREMY JONES

SAFETY FOR NEW SKIERS AND RIDERS

ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET

Wear a properly fitted helmet with the chin strap securely tightened to help prevent or minimize injuries.

Helmet Safety, Brain Health & Innovation

USE PROPERLY MAINTAINED EQUIPMENT

Have bindings inspected and correctly adjusted by a certified technician.

DRESS FOR WINTER

Dress in water– and wind-resistant outerwear and layers to accommodate changing conditions.\

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM UV RAYS

Use sunscreen and wear goggles or sunglasses. The sun at altitude is intense, even on cloudy days.

TAKE A LESSON

Every experience level can benefit from professional instruction.

For even more info on how to do your part to stay safe while visiting the mountains visit https://safety.pnsaa.org/

Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
People ahead or downhill of you have the right of way. You must avoid them.
Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
You must prevent runaway equipment.
Read and obey all signs, warnings and hazard markings.
Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each othger and a ski area employee.

KNOW AND OBEY THE CODE. IT’S YOUR RESPONSBILITY!

If you need help understanding the Code, please ask an employee.

Remind your guests about these common points to help them have a more informed experience on the chairlift. This list complements the skier and rider Responsibility Code.

- Be familiar with the type of lift you are riding, and ask for help if you need it.
- Before loading, remove backpacks and secure loose items. Remove pole straps from wrists.
- Look over your shoulder to watch the chair approach.
- Sit all the way in the chair, with your back to the seat rest.
- If the lift has a restraint bar, wait until everyone is seated, and slowly reach up and lower the bar. Do not attempt to lower the bar if you cannot reach it! Adults should always help kids to lower the bar.
- Be aware of your surroundings while riding the lift. If you drop something, let it fall! You can always ask ski patrol for help retrieving the lost item.
- As you approach the top terminal, prepare to raise the bar. Look for signs advising you to do so to help with your timing.

Video resources

TIPS FOR AVOIDING COLLISIONS

By doing these three things every run, you’ll be helping keep the slopes safe and enjoyable, for you and everyone else.

1. Be Ready

Be ready to slow down or avoid objects or other people at any time. Ski and ride in such a way that you are always able to control yourself regardless of conditions and avoid others and objects you may encounter on the run, groomed or otherwise.

2. Stay Alert

Stay alert to what’s going on around you, especially other skiers and riders. Being aware of those around and changing conditions will help you have a fun and safe day on the hill.

3. Plan Ahead

Ease up at blind spots, check uphill when merging onto trails, and give other skiers plenty of room when passing. Look out for spots on the run where traffic merges or you can’t see what’s coming next. If you are unfamiliar with a run, take it easy the first time down it and make note of places where you’ll want to slow down, such as cat tracks and rollers. Also, give other skiers and riders lots or room, especially if you are passing them. There’s plenty of space out there, so there’s no need to crowd each other.

TRIANGLE OF SAFETY

Ride Another Day

Five year-old Elise Johnson was just learning to ski when an out of control rider struck and killed her. Elise’s parents, Kelli and Chauncy Johnson, wanted to help prevent such accidents befalling other families. The Johnson family generously offered a donation to create the #RideAnotherDay campaign in partnership with NSAA. The campaign encourages awareness, responsibility and common sense to reduce the risk of on-mountain collisions between skiers and riders. Watch and read the video and article below to learn more about the Johnson’s story and what you can do to help make ski slopes safer.

Stay away from padded and other marked objects

Our view on helmets

NSAA promotes the use of helmets on the slopes. We urge skiers and riders to wear a helmet – but to ski or ride as if they are not wearing a helmet. NSAA views skiing and snowboarding in a controlled and responsible manner as the primary safety consideration for all skiers and boarders. A skier’s behavior has as much or more to do with the safety of the sport as does any piece of equipment.

Helmet Safety, Brain Health & Innovation

Helmet Usage Data

Helmet usage has grown drastically over the last two decades. The overall percentage of skiers and riders wearing helmets increased from 25% in the 2002/03 season to 90% in the 2021/22 season.

Lids on Kids

In 2002, only 63% of kids age 9 and under wore helmets while skiing or snowboarding. Kids 17 and under? Less than half!

NSAA developed the Lids on Kids program to help ski areas educate their guests on helmet use in skiing and snowboarding. The campaign included FAQs about helmet use, fit and sizing information, general slope safety information, related articles and games, and testimonials about helmet use from well-known athletes, including U.S. Ski Team members. The tagline, “A Helmet-It’s a Smart Idea,” is printed on posters and promotional cards at resorts nationwide.

The result? A demonstrable and significant increase in kids wearing helmets. Nearly 100% of kids age 9 and under reported wearing a helmet while skiing or riding – without state or local mandates. This past season (2021-22), about 95% of all kids age 17 and under wore helmets on the slopes.

What's next?

NSAA is focusing its efforts on young adults, ages 18-34, to encourage further adoption of helmets within this group. While approximately 86% of people in this age range report wearing helmets, our data shows that most of our opportunity to increase usage lies here (especially with male skiers and riders). NSAA encourages all ski areas and state associations to maintain helmet safety messaging, and recommends targeting this group to help increase helmet adoption.

Park Smart Terrain Park Safety Program Messages:

START SMALL – Work your way up. Build your skills.

MAKE A PLAN – Every feature. Every time.

ALWAYS LOOK – Before you drop.

RESPECT – The features and other users.

TAKE IT EASY – Know your limits. Land on your feet.

Spreading the message is important. Don't go if you don't know!

Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS hazards)

Skiing and snowboarding off the groomed runs and in deep powder is one of the most exciting and appealing parts of our sport. However, if you decide to leave the groomed trails, you are voluntarily accepting the risk of a deep snow immersion accident. A deep snow or tree well immersion accident occurs when a skier or rider falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized and suffocates. Deaths resulting from these kinds of accidents are referred to as an SIS harzard or Snow Immersion Suffocation.

Skier and Rider Education

Become educated on how to reduce the risk of SIS hazards through your own action and awareness. ALWAYS ski or ride with a partner within viewing distance. The website www.deepsnowsafety.org is an excellent resource designed to assist all skiers and riders in educating themselves about the risks and prevention of deep snow and tree well immersion accidents.

Resources for ski areas

NSAA has made available for distribution Tree Well and Deep Snow caution signs and brochures for resorts to use in their efforts to educate skiers and snowboarders about the hazards of tree wells during deep snow conditions. Ski areas are able to download the artwork and have signs made to fit the conditions at their resorts, either for on-mountain signage, printed in trail maps, posted on websites, or utilized in other mountain media.

90% of people involved in Tree Well / SIS hazard research experiments could NOT rescue themselves.

What Is a Snow Immersion Suffocation?

A tree well/ snow immersion suffocation accident can happen when a skier or snowboarder falls – usually headfirst – into a tree well or deep loose snow and becomes immobilized and trapped under the snow and suffocates.

In an inverted position you can become trapped under the snow. Breathing becomes difficult as the loose snow packs in around you. Without immediate help from your partner, you may suffocate.

Prevention of falling into a tree well or areas of deep snow is all-important because the odds of surviving deep snow immersion are low.

90% of people involved in Tree Well/ SIS hazard research experiments could NOT rescue themselves. If a partner is not there for immediate rescue, the skier or rider may die very quickly from suffocation – in many cases, he or she can die as quickly as someone can drown in water.

MT. HOOD SKIBOWL UPHILL TRAVEL POLICY

(Uphill travel is allowed up Cascade, Lower Bowl, Low Road, High Road and Skyline only)

Due to safety concerns, Mt. Hood Skibowl reserves the right to limit uphill traffic within the resort boundary at any time.
Mt. Hood Skibowl is closed to uphill traffic during periods of avalanche control, which typically occurs early morning, but may occur any time throughout the day.
The alpine resort is closed to uphill traffic any time there is an active winch cat operating anywhere in the resort.
Dogs must be on a leash during operating hours.
Call 911 in the event of an emergency.
Uphill activities may present a high danger of personal injury.
Hazards may exist and you assume all associated risks of injury and or death.

Motorized vehicles, snowmaking & other ski area operations may be encountered.
Stay towards the right side of the trail when ascending unless otherwise noted per uphill travel route.
Position yourself so that you are visible from above.
Wear brightly colored clothing.
Obey all pertinent signage.
Avoid all areas where machinery is operating.
Exercise best practices for backcountry travel and adventure.