Mountain Safety

The Snowbasin Ski Patrol staff consists of full-time and volunteer members dedicated to providing quality customer service and emergency first aid to our guests. We have Ski Patrol stations at John Paul Lodge, Needles Lodge, the top of the Strawberry Express Gondola, and Porcupine Chairlift as well as a location near the Grizzly Center in the base area.

Contact Ski Patrol: Call the main dispatch number 801-620-1017 or ask any Snowbasin employee to contact Ski Patrol for you.

Skiing can be enjoyed in many ways. At ski areas you might see people using alpine, snowboard, telemark, cross country or other specialized equipment such as that used by the disabled. Regardless of how you decide to enjoy the slopes, always show courtesy to others and be aware that there are elements of risk in skiing that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Observe the code listed below and share with other skiers the responsibility for a great skiing experience.

1. Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
3. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.
4. Whenever starting down hill or merging into a trail, look up hill and yield to others.
5. Always use devices that help prevent runaway equipment.
6. Observe posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
7. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

Know the code! It’s your responsibility.

We urge skiers and riders to wear a helmet – but to ski or ride as if they are not wearing a helmet. NSAA advocates 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. In 2002, Lids on Kids debuted as a resource for consumers to learn about helmet use in skiing and snowboarding. This site contains 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 US Ski Team members. The site has received nearly 2 million hits since it was created. The tagline, “A Helmet-It’s a Smart Idea,” is printed on posters and promotional cards at resorts nationwide. For more information, visit the Lids On Kids web page: www.lidsonkids.org.

Using a chairlift or gondola while skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, or even just sightseeing, is an exceptionally safe and secure mode of transportation. Nonetheless incidents and accidents can happen – especially when people are unaware of loading, riding and unloading procedures. Educate your children about loading, riding and unloading lifts. Be sure to emphasize courteous behavior and utilize these Tips for Responsible Lift Use to get your points across. Slope safety and personal responsibility should be discussed prior to hitting the slopes or using a lift.

Keep in mind, when your child loads a lift chair without you, they may not always be riding with another adult. Remember, it’s your responsibility to know how to use and ride the lift safely as well as your child’s. Having the knowledge and dexterity to use the lift properly will ensure fun for everyone.

For more information, please visit kidsonlifts.org.

In our commitment to safety, Snowbasin is pleased to present our Avalanche Rescue Training Center. Built in cooperation with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue and the “Are You Beeping” and “Stay On Top Of It” public awareness campaigns, the center offers backcountry enthusiasts an opportunity to sharpen their rescue skills in the safety of a controlled environment. Located at the top of Littlecat lift, the Avalanche Rescue Training Center allows users to practice finding one to four buried “targets” in the snow using their avalanche transceivers (provided by user) and probes (provided by Snowbasin). A flashing light and siren indicate when a target has been found, and the rescue time is displayed. The training facility is free to the public and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information on Avalanche Awareness, please visit utahavalanchecenter.org

The National Ski Areas Association and Burton Snowboards would like to welcome you to the “Smart Style” Terrain Park Safety initiative. The Smart Style video along with TerrainParkSafety.org work together to emphasize the importance of safety in terrain parks across the country.

Please visit www.TerrainParkSafety.org for a comprehensive look at the Smart Style program.

Know the code! It’s your responsibility.

As Partners in Recreation with the US Forest Service, Snowbasin Resort’s Uphill Travel Policy allows access for uphill travelers. Across the country, increasing uphill traffic within ski area boundaries has driven the implementation of uphill policies. While uphill travel within ski area boundaries may seem innocuous, it poses significant safety risks and concerns for uphill and downhill recreationalists, ski area operations and ski area staff. For this reason, uphill travel is not permitted in any fashion at many ski areas. Snowbasin’s policy reflects our commitment to seek a balance between mitigating safety concerns of uphill travel as a recreational use within the downhill ski area/Special Use Permit area with the reasonable needs of operating a sustainable and successful alpine ski area, for which we have been granted a Special Use Permit from the US Forest Service. Snowbasin continues to work closely with the Ogden Ranger District, Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest and local organizations, to build awareness and provide public education regarding uphill travel and recreational uses. Our Goal is to find a reasonable balance between and among user groups who share a common interest in recreating within the Snowbasin Special Permit area in a non-confrontational and sustainable manner while establishing safety rules for users designed to reduce the hazards and dangers related to such usage.

All uphill travel must follow these rules:

• When traveling uphill, please stay in the middle of the trail
• If you come to a sign that reads “Winch Cat Above This Point”, this ends your ascent. Do not travel around winch cats.
• All uphill travelers must be equipped with lights, front and back when traveling in the dark
• Only stop where you can be seen from above and below
• No dogs are allowed on the mountain

Uphill Travel Status is updated at 4:00am and 4:00pm each day to alert guests if the conditions are green or red.

Snowbasin Mountain Policy – During the Season & During Operating Hours Uphill travel by the way of foot, snowshoes, trax, or skis is not allowed between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:30 pm except on the designated Strawberry route.

Snowbasin Mountain Policy – Pre and Post Season Safety considerations, maintenance or operational requirements, grooming operations, snowmaking operations, special events, avalanche hazard reduction work, wildlife or resource considerations, or construction, may cause public risk management issues to exist. To protect the public from potential hazards that may exist, prior to the opening of the ski season and post season, the ski area is authorized, with Forest Service pre-approval, to close areas subject to those potential hazards and to post signs at typical uphill access points closing those areas.

Snowbasin Mountain Policy – During the Season & Outside Operating Hours Outside of operating hours, there may be circumstances in which the ski area may prohibit uphill traffic, or limit or restrict uphill traffic by designating specific times, days or routes that will be available for such use. These circumstances might include safety, maintenance or operational needs; grooming operations; snowmaking operations; special events; avalanche hazard reduction work; wildlife or resource considerations; or other reasons. The ski area is authorized, with Forest Service pre-approval, to perform any or all of these actions as deemed reasonable and necessary by the ski area. There is no ski patrol available outside of normal operating hours. You are responsible for your own safety and rescue. All participants within the permit boundary are considered skiers and are subject to Utah Skier Safety Act. Daily updates of current uphill route restrictions (RED DAY/GREEN DAY) will be posted within the snowbasin.com mountain report as well as listed on the (801) 620-1100 snow phone.

UPHILL TRAVEL PROTOCOL DURING OPERATING HOURS (SKI AREA OPEN) During Snowbasin operating hours (9:00 am - 4:30 pm) the only approved uphill travel route will start at the gate on the Strawberry summer road. The travel route is up the Strawberry summer road to Penny Lane and up Penny Lane to Willow Springs. Then head up Willow Springs to the top of Becker Lift. This is the end of the uphill route during operating hours. From the top of Becker you can ski down any direction. Be aware and stay out of closed areas. Anyone found riding the lifts without a valid ticket will be prosecuted for theft of services. When parking on the highway please be aware of the white fog line on the shoulder and park completely off the highway travel lane to avoid a ticket, collision or being towed by the Sherriff or Highway Patrol. Do not block the Strawberry summer road gate access. No dogs allowed on the mountain. RED DAY/GREEN DAY restrictions apply during operating hours.

UPHILL TRAVEL PROTOCOL BEFORE OR AFTER OPERATING HOURS GREEN DAY = Uphill travel permitted. Only approved route is up Powder Puff to the bottom of School Hill and then up Snowshoe to Bear Hollow and up Sweet Revenge to the Needles Lodge. Use the same route downhill unless the mountain is open after 9:00 am. All uphill travel must cease by 9:00 am unless you are using the approved Strawberry access uphill route. DO NOT travel uphill on City Hill, Wildcat or Porky areas. Please do not go off the approved route. This is for everyone’s safety. RED DAY = No uphill traffic permitted (usually avalanche reduction days). Yield the right of way and stay clear of ski area machinery, i.e. grooming machines, snowmobiles and snowmaking equipment. You are responsible for your own safety. When encountering winch operations, re-routing away from the winching operations area is required for your safety. Expect to always encounter ski area machinery and employees at anytime and anywhere on the mountain. Mountain users should wear reflective clothing, headlamps and blinking lights when possible. Adhere to Trail/Avalanche Closures. No person except a member of the ski patrol, employee of the Forest Service, Sheriff or ski area operator employee working in the course and scope of his employment shall enter or go upon any closed area. No dogs allowed on the mountain for their safety. If you pack it in, please pack it out. Help us keep the Forest clean for future users.