Safety month underway at Aspen resorts

Safety month underway at Aspen resorts

The National Ski Areas Association Safety Month has officially kicked off at Aspen Snowmass featuring a monthlong activity schedule that rotates between all four mountains, with the goal of increasing safety awareness and education for skiers and snowboarders. Aspen Highlands began its safety programs Jan. 4 and continues through Sunday, followed by Buttermilk from Jan. 11 to 17, Snowmass from Jan. 18 to 25 and Aspen Mountain rounding out the month from Jan. 25 to 31. Each mountain will showcase safety through an array of demonstrations, activities, contests, prizes, kid’s safety parties and more.

At Aspen Highlands, activities will include demonstrations such as an avalanche dog performing a practice rescue, the opportunity to ski around with patrol, and education in how to self-rescue during a “slide for life.” Each activity will take place every day throughout the week at 11 a.m. with participants and on-lookers meeting at the mid-mountain guest services cabin located next to the Merry-Go-Round restaurant.

Buttermilk activities include helmet decorating, patrol barbecue including a meet-and-greet with the new avalanche dog Zara, tours inside a snowcat machine, a s’mores-safety, après-ski children’s party, safety poster contest, first tracks with a ski pro and binding checks at Four Mountain Sports.

Snowmass takes the lead for Safety Month on Jan. 18 to 25 with each department presenting daily activities and demonstrations at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola. Departments such as ski school, lift maintenance and lift operations will cover everything from how to safely unload and load a chairlift, how the lifts work, avalanche dog demonstrations, skier responsibility code, how to avoid a collision and more.

Rounding out Safety Month on Jan. 25 to 31, Aspen Mountain will feature a theme of the day from “always stay in control” to “stop in a safe place” with coinciding daily events such as a safety tent at the top of the Silver Queen Gondola, Patrol Beacon Park and avalanche dog demonstrations. The Beacon Park will be located just east of the safety tent granting guests the opportunity to practice safely with beacons from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. In addition, patrol will be on hand every day to answer questions, pass out stickers, showcase safety materials and hand out free hot dogs to those who participate in the safety program and educational opportunities.

For a detailed schedule of events for all four mountains, visit http://www.aspensnowmass.com/the-power-of-four/safety-and-responsibility/safety-month.