A Plea to Ski Resorts on Safety

The month of January is the National Safety Awareness Month for skiers and riders. Previously it was a week, but in recent years the National Ski Areas Association has decided that the safety of its skiers and riders was of such great importance to them, and likely to their respective insurers, that the week needed to be extended to an entire month.

There has been a tremendous focus in recent years on improving the safety and increasing awareness of skiers and riders. These efforts extend from the resort, through to the side country, and beyond in the back country. The community benefits immensely from the resources pumped into making skiing and riding a safer and more enjoyable activity for everyone involved.

The NSAA website published what I can only imagine they believe to be a comprehensive list of things skiers and riders need to consider before engaging in these inherently dangerous sports. The list ranges from clothing and gear choices to proper sunscreen application practices and everything in between. They also present what they have deemed to be the "Responsibility Code." This list includes the following points and is plastered on the wall in every resort I've ever been to:

Always stay in control.

People ahead of you have the right of way.

Stop in a safe place for you and others.

Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and yield.

Use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

Observe signs and warnings, and keep off closed trails.

Know how to use the lifts safely.

These are all undoubtedly important things to think about when headed out for a day tearing up the slopes, but I can't help but notice that they have failed to contemplate what is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous aspects of skiing on resort. This safety issue is not isolated to any one resort but affects each of them equally.

I am of course talking about taking a trip to the bathroom with ski boots on. The resorts have all but abandoned their patrons here. There are a couple issues I have with this I would like to discuss.

Firstly. Why are all bathrooms located in the basement of the lodges? We are talking about a sport that requires its patrons to step into boots that severely restrict the articulation of our feet, crippling all but the most experienced users. So many times I see skiers struggling to navigate the treacheries of what are almost guaranteed to be a set of stairs with at least 1 harrowing switchback. Some of these people look like they could benefit from some fixed ropes and a belay from above. Human Avalanche debris at the bottom of the stairs is a good indication that conditions are unsafe. Alternate routes should be sought. Know Before You Go might want to update their awareness course.

Secondly. Who decided it was a good idea to end the rubber mat pathway at the bathroom door threshold? This yellow brick road leads directly to the restroom and then you're pretty much on your own after that. Good luck, have fun. You know whats the absolute worst? Rushing to the bathroom (probably because you were too worried about falling down the stairs on the way to the bathroom that you held it and are now faced with the consequences) making the turn through the door and just eating it because for some reason your rubber mat red carpet has mysteriously ended right where you need it most. I have injured myself more in the bathroom than I have from actually skiing. There is nothing more embarrassing than just stomping a landing under the lift line, getting cheers from the chairs passing over you, only to get the insincere, "You okay, bud?" from one of those same people as you lie flat on your back on the bathroom floor. You're never really the same after that, but you carry on pretending like everything's alright. Probably best not to look in the mirror on your way out, if you do ever actually leave that place...

The resorts have imposed a "Responsibility Code" on their patrons. I would like to propose a Responsibility Code for the resorts to adhere to. Its simple and looks something like this:

Restrooms must be located on main floors.

Rubber mats must continue into the restroom.

If this code is not adopted, it may be a good idea to reassign some of the ski patrol to both the bottom of the stairs and at the entrance of all restrooms. Avalanches may occur where you least expect them. Wet Slide avalanches are some of the most devastating. If you hear a "hootie hoo" coming from the bathroom, please send help ...or just ignore it.

Stay safe out there,
MSki Hammer