Safety on the slopes during pandemic
TIPS FOR SKIING IN COVID TIMES
If you head out to some of the ski resorts in the region this season you’ll find that there are many things you can expect to see and experience that you’re used to. However, there will also be many aspects that are very different this year to ensure your safety on and off the slopes.
The sport naturally lends itself to be COVID-friendly given the expansive areas to easily safe distance, natural air circulation in the outdoors, along with coldweather gear like goggles and gloves. But there have still been many measures resorts have had to take to address things like crowd control and cleanliness.
Learning about the changes in advance will save you time, headaches and even money.
“It’s different than we have done in the past,” said Gary Kline, director of marketing and guest experience at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie. “The biggest concern we have is for the health and safety of our guests.”
In addition to implementing a new cleaning and sanitation program at Bear Creek, the resort received guidance from the National Ski Areas Association that enabled them to determine how they would operate differently this winter.
“The ski industry as a whole has been good about skiing and best practices,” he said. “The association had weekly podcasts or zoom meetings where they would bring all resorts together.”
Blue Mountain is another popular resort in the region that has made major adjustments to make the season possible.
“As we begin to follow both state and CDC guidelines there will be many changes around the protocols,” said Jim Daily, general manager at Blue Mountain in a video posted on the resort’s website that reviews their COVID response plan.
One major change at both Bear Creek and Blue Mountain requires visitors to pre-plan, meaning you no longer have the luxury of just heading to the slopes on a whim because like many businesses these days, ski slopes have to operate at a reduced capacity.
“We are requiring everyone to buy tickets online,” Kline of Bear Creek said. “We are sold out basically every weekend.”
One of the perks of pre-planning and purchasing tickets as early as possible is lower pricing.
“We have dynamic pricing this year,” he said. “The earlier you buy the price is less.”
Many have chosen to bypass any hassle of days being sold out by purchasing a season pass.
“We have seen more season pass sales this year than we ever have before,” Kline said. “You don’t have to make a reservation if you have a pass.”
Despite the resort running at limited capacity, the flexibility people have in their schedules this year due to remote learning and more people working from home has the weekdays more utilized than in previous years. Kline said that weekdays are almost just as busy as weekends.
“Because we are filling up on weekends more are coming out during the week,” he said. “Business has not suffered at all.”
Once you get to the slopes, be sure to bring and wear a mask because they are required this year. Also, plan to ride chair lifts only with those in your party or household and when standing in line you need to abide by the 6-foot safe distance rule. Also, you’ll have to think differently about what to expect when dining there and storing your belongings.
Bear Creek’s lodge is open on a limited basis so you can’t hang out inside to use your computer to kill time while your kids are skiing, or store things under the table or even in lockers.
“You should use your car for storage,” Kline said, adding you can save yourself a trip back to the car by storing your belongings before you enter the resort.
For a dining solution, Bear Creek has equipped their outdoor areas with more fire pits and heaters. They also made their own food truck to offer outdoor dining.
Despite all of the changes, Kline said that guests have been very cooperative. Daily of Blue Mountain said that the resorts are doing their part.
“Resorts are doing what they can to not lose out on the season due to COVID,” Daily said, later adding in the video that guests who are feeling sick should not visit the resort.
Kline encourages everyone visiting Bear Creek to help be the reason for them to have a successful and safe season.
“We encourage everyone to respect the rules and help us keep everyone safe,” Kline said. “If everyone abides by the rules we have all been living in, we will have a successful season.”