By Bill Deaton
Outdoor recreation may be one of the few things Pennsylvanians can do while the Commonwealth is still in the grips of the pandemic. Some of the safest winter activities, from a COVID-19 standpoint at least, are skiing and snowboarding. Before you head off to the slopes, you should consider a few things that will come into play this season.
Regardless of the resort, most places in Pennsylvania will require
- Mandatory masking inside and outside.
- Physical distancing in lift queues, ticket lines, rental shops, and cafeterias.
- Daily employee wellness checks.
- Increased disinfection and cleaning.
- Adherence to state and local regulations as they change.
Every resort will have specific guidelines in place as well. Many of these protocols deal with indoor lodge capacity and seating for meals. By and large most resorts throughout the country are implementing or asking guests to do the following:
- Stay home if you feel ill.
- Boot up at your vehicle as ski bags will not be allowed in most lodges.
- Purchase tickets in advance.
- Purchase season rentals if you feel you will need rentals more than four times during the season.
- Utilize Ski Patrol for accidents and emergencies only. If you show signs possibly related to COVID-19, please proceed to a medical facility.
Skiing and riding in 2021 will undoubtedly be a different experience but if everyone pulls together we can still have a safe and enjoyable winter, and hopefully be back to normal next year.