This winter, skiers and snowboarders at Mount Snow, Stowe and Okemo will be required to wear masks and make reservations to get on the hill, under new guidelines released by Vail Resorts, the national ski resort company that owns the three Vermont mountains and 31 others across North America.
Rob Katz, CEO of Vail Resorts, wrote an open letter Thursday laying out the ski areas’ plans for winter.
In March, Vail — like most ski areas — closed all its resorts for the remainder of the 2019-20 ski season because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Vail’s Vermont resorts have since reopened for summer activities, and are now prepping for the winter ahead.
At Vail’s resorts, masks will be required for anyone loading and riding chairlifts and gondolas, when inside all buildings, and during all ski and snowboard lessons.
“No one will be permitted on the mountain without a face covering,” the letter states.
The letter also noted that masks will be “encouraged” in all public spaces throughout resort towns, and Vail will encourage communities to make them a requirement.
Additionally, all mountain-goers will be required to make a reservation before skiing or snowboarding. Katz said that’s necessary because, in some cases, the number of people on the mountain will need to be managed to make social distancing possible.
“For the vast majority of days during the season, we believe everyone who wants to get on our mountains will be able to,” Katz wrote. “However, we are not planning for the majority of days; we are planning for every day of the season.”
On holiday weekends or days with unpredictably good weather, Katz said it won’t always be possible to let mountains operate at normal capacity — which is why Vail is mandating reservations. Katz acknowledged the possibility that, during the season, the company could decide the reservation system isn’t necessary at every resort.
Vail also recently announced opening dates for all of its resorts. Mount Snow will open Nov. 14, Stowe on Nov. 20 and Okemo on Nov. 21.
Early season skiing will be reserved for passholders only. Lift tickets won’t be sold to the general public until Dec. 8.
Other new rules include a limit on the number of people allowed in resort restaurants, a ban on full-service bars at resorts (though packaged beer and wine will still be sold), daily health screenings for all participants in the Ski and Ride School, and reorganized seating on gondolas and lifts, so only related parties ride together.
Katz wrote that the future remains largely uncertain, and the current plans could change at any time, especially if state and local regulations change. But for now, he said, this is how Vail hopes to keep its resorts open this winter.
“There is no doubt this season will be different, but we are committed to what matters most: working to protect your safety and well-being and providing you with great skiing and riding this winter,” he wrote.
