These ten points are the mountain’s not-so-subtle way of reminding you that gravity is undefeated and everyone else is also just trying to get to the bottom alive. Read them, follow them, and you’ll dramatically increase your chances of ending the day with all limbs accounted for and no strangers yelling at you.
Always stay in control, which sounds simple until gravity grabs the steering wheel and laughs in your face. Basically, if you can’t stop or dodge people and objects at all times, you’re not skiing, you’re just falling with expensive accessories.
People downhill have the right-of-way, mostly because they can’t see you coming like an out-of-control missile with knees. That means it’s on you to avoid them, not the other way around, no matter how heroic your near-miss feels in the moment.
Stop only where you’re visible from above, not around blind corners where surprise is the least popular sport on the mountain. If you block the trail or put others at risk, you’re not “taking a break,” you’re auditioning for someone else’s emergency saga.
Look uphill before starting downhill, because charging blindly into traffic is rarely a solid life strategy. Yield and merge safely so your entrance onto the slope feels less like a demolition derby and more like a controlled, dignified decision.
You must prevent runaway equipment, because skis have zero loyalty and will absolutely try to escape without you. Secure your skis, boards, and poles so they don’t slide downhill on their own and clothesline an innocent bystander who just wanted a peaceful day.
Read and obey all signs and hazard markings, even the ones you’re convinced are just being dramatic. They exist to keep you and everyone else safe, not to test how well you perform in a surprise physics experiment.
Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas, because “Do Not Enter” is not a riddle meant for your personal growth. Respect the closures, they’re there for your safety, not to lure you into a rescue report with your name on it.
Know how to load, ride, and unload lifts safely, because dangling awkwardly is not an advanced technique. If you need help, ask the lift attendant before your chair ride turns into an unscheduled public performance.
Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs, because the mountain already provides enough thrills without bad decision-making fuel. Impairment raises the risk for you and everyone else, and ski patrol is not impressed by confidence that smells like a bar.
If you’re involved in a collision, share contact information with the other party instead of vanishing downhill in a cloud of denial and dignity. It helps ensure proper care and follow-up, and keeps your day from ending as a mysterious “skier in a red jacket” legend.
