Mountain Safety

Your Responsibility Code

Afton Alps is committed to promoting ski safety. While visiting Afton Alps, you may be joined on the slopes by traditional alpine skiers, snowboarders, telemark or cross-country skiers, skiers with disabilities, and snowshoe-ers.

Always show courtesy to others and be aware that there are elements of risk involved with skiing and snowboarding that common sense and situational awareness can help reduce.

Know your ability level and stay within it. Observe “Your Responsibility Code”—listed below—and share the responsibility with others.

1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
2. People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
3. Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
4. Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
5. You must prevent runaway equipment.
6. Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
7. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
8. You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
9. Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
10. If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

Winter sports involve risk of serious injury or death. Your knowledge, decisions and actions contribute to your safety and that of others. If you need help understanding the Code, please ask any ski area employee. 

 

SMOKING IN THE LIFT LINE IS PROHIBITED

Be advised that Afton Alps Ski Area does not mark all potential obstacles or hazards. When marked, poles, flags, fencing, signage, padding or other forms of marking are used to inform the skier/rider of the location of a potential obstacle or hazard. These markers are no guarantee of your safety. It is part of your responsibility under the Your Responsibility Code to avoid all obstacles and hazards.

Learn More
 

Please Note
It is unlawful to access Afton Alps lifts without a valid lift access card or season pass. Skiing or riding without a lift access card or pass or with a fraudulent lift access card or pass will result in prosecution. Lift access cards are non-refundable.

First Aid Services
For immediate assistance and to report all accidents, please call the Ski Patrol at 651-436-5245 ext 6636 or 6637. Emergency Phones are available with all lift operators. All parties involved in a collision must exchange information and contact the Ski Patrol.

Slow Zones
Certain areas (indicated on the map in yellow) are designated as SLOW ZONES. Please observe the posted slow zone areas by maintaining a speed no faster than the general flow of traffic. Space and speed are especially important in these areas. Fast and aggressive skiing will not be tolerated and may result in termination of your resort privileges.

Freestyle Terrain
Freestyle Terrain may contain jumps, hits, ramps, banks, fun boxes, jibs, rails, half pipes, and other constructed or natural terrain features. Prior to using freestyle terrain, you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with all elements and landings and obeying all instructions, warnings, and signs. Freestyle skills require maintaining control on the ground and in the air.

Backcountry Warning
Skiing and Riding off Open and Designated Trails: The ski area assumes no responsibility for skiers and riders going beyond the open and designated trails at Afton Alps. Areas beyond the open and designated trails are not patrolled or maintained. Unmarked obstacles and other natural hazards exist.

Afton Alps Off Trail Policy
Wooded areas between designated trails within the ski area boundary are not patrolled and have no skier/ snowboarder services. If you ski/ride in wooded areas that are not designated trails, you are solely responsible for yourself. You must enter from and exit onto designated trails that are open to the public for skiing/riding. Failure to do so will result in the loss of your skiing/ riding privileges. Wooded areas are recommended for expert skiers/riders, in groups of three or more. Do not ski/ride alone. Unmarked obstacles exists throughout.

Snowcats and Snowmobiles
CAUTION – snowcats, snowmobiles and snowmaking may be encountered at any time.

Sun Protection
We recommend eye protection and sunscreen/suncare products to ensure protection from UV rays. 

 

Additional Safety Information

Afton Alps promotes the use of helmets on the slopes. We urge skiers and riders to wear a helmet - but to ski or ride as if they are not wearing a helmet. Afton Alps views skiing and snowboarding in a controlled and responsible manner - not helmets only - 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.
For safety reasons, recreational drone use by any guest or member of the public, for any reason, is not permitted on or over any of our property. Likewise, commercial use is also prohibited on Vail Resorts' property, except in limited circumstances when an approved operator has obtained an FAA exemption and received written permission from the resort. This includes use associated with special events, marketing and in film/photo applications.

SKIS: Allowed with a working brake binding system or a retention device

SNOWBOARDS: Allowed with a retention device (snowboard binding considered ok) and metal edges

TELEMARK SKIS: Allowed with a retention device or a working brake system. (Please be aware of releasable telemark bindings as they typically do not have a retention device)

MONOSKIS: Allowed with a working brake system or retention device

SNOWBLADES (figgles): Allowed with a retention device

SKIBIKES/SNOWBIKES: Allowed under following parameters:

  • Bike must have no more than two (2) skis
  • Must have metaledges on skis
  • Must have seat
  • Only one (1) rider per bike
  • Must be designed to load lift without slowing or stopping
  • Must be loaded within envelope of chair; bike counts as a rider on chair lift
  • No homemade bikes
  • NOT allowed in Terrain Parks
  • MUST wear a leash at all times (on lifts and on slope)
  • May be restricted in certain areas and lifts for safety concerns

SNOWDECKS: Allowed, but must have metal edges and a leash

 

 

Below are a few examples (including, but not limited to) of what Vail Resorts does NOT allow*:

SNOWSKATES

SNOW TRIKES: neither sit down nor stand up versions (too wide of a foot print to load/unload chairlifts safely

SNOWBIKES (bicycle conversion): bikes are not allowed to have gears/chain/wheels/tires or crank assembly

PLASTIC SNOWBOARDS: without metal edges

SLEDS/DISCS

SNOWSCOOTERS

TOBOGGANS/TUBES

GHOSKY

AIRBOARD

BODYSLED

*This list is subject to change at any time

Vail Resorts takes the safety of our guests and employees very seriously. All skiers and riders are responsible for skiing and riding responsibly, complying with the Responsibility Code and avoiding collisions with other skiers and riders. The Resort may suspend or revoke skiing/riding privileges for reasons including but not limited to the actions listed below:

Careless and Reckless Skiing or Riding

  1. Violating the Responsibility Code
  2. Violating federal, state or local law
  3. Skiing/riding in a manner that is dangerous or irresponsible.
  4. Causing a collision resulting in physical injury or damage to property

Inappropriate Behavior

  1. Including but not limited to: vulgar language or gestures, deliberately knocking down barriers, jumping fences, spraying guests with snow, spitting on guests/employees, verbal altercations, harassment.
  2. Destruction of Resort Property
  3. Skiing or Riding in Closed Terrain
  4. Failure to Present Valid Ski Pass
  5. Failure to Stop or Yield to Resort Personnel
  6. Impairment by Alcohol/Drugs
  7. Underground Teaching
  8. Violent, Intentionally Harmful, or Destructive Acts
  9. Egregious Behavior or Multiple Infractions of Safety Standards

For ski/ride related infractions, the guest must complete the period of any suspension and attend a violator class presented by the Resort before skiing/riding privileges are reinstated. For non-ski/ride related infractions, the guest must complete the period of any suspension and meet with a member of Resort Management before skiing/riding privileges are reinstated.

The Resort may also ban violators from one or more resorts and other company properties, on a temporary or permanent basis. The Resort reserves all rights to pursue the recovery of any and all damages, including through legal action.

  • No Uphill access allowed at any time.
  • No Sledding

(Including Construction, Heavy Machinery, Man-Made Objects, Variable Conditions, Avalanches, & Other Hazards)

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Lids on Kids
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Afton Alps promotes the use of helmets on the slopes. We urge skiers and riders to wear a helmet - but to ski or ride as if they are not wearing a helmet. Afton Alps views skiing and snowboarding in a controlled and responsible manner - not helmets only - 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.

Learn More , opens in a new window