Mountain Safety
Essential Mountain Safety Tips
In addition to people using traditional alpine ski equipment, you may be joined on the slopes by snowboarders, telemark skiers, skiers with disabilities, skiers with specialized equipment and others. All equipment must have metal edges. Use of any other equipment, such as sleds, toboggans, tubes, trays, saucers, etc., is strictly prohibited on resort premises, unless previously authorized by management. Always show courtesy to others and be aware that there are elements of risk in skiing and snowboarding that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Know your ability level and stay within it.
Please note the following:
- Adult passengers carrying children in their arms, or in any type of pack, may not ride on chairlifts.
- Snowmobiles, grooming vehicles and snowmaking operations may be encountered at any time. Be advised that all poles, flags, fencing, signage and padding on equipment or objects, or other forms of marking devices, are used by the resort to inform you of the presence or location of potential obstacles or hazards. These markers are no guarantee of your safety and will not protect you from injury. It is your responsibility to stay away from marked areas.
National Safety Month
January is National Safety Month at Pico and Killington.
Along with the National Ski Areas Association, Killington/Pico educates skiers and riders about slope safety awareness throughout the month of January by promoting, #rideanotherday, The Snow Angel Foundation, Your Responsibility Code, Uphill touring etiquette and safety, and other programs aimed at increasing awareness of the elements of safe skiing and riding. We will also be collaborating with Mammut to offer special promotions for safe skiers and riders, which can be accessed at on-hill activations throughout the month of January.
Learn More about National Safety Month
By encouraging awareness and responsibility across these topics, Killington/Pico hopes to influence guests to make their best decisions on the hill and create an enjoyable environment for our entire community. In support of this goal, Killington/Pico will hold the following events this January in addition to other educational initiatives:
Killington Resort and Pico Mountain will also make a donation to the Snow Angel Foundation in support of the Ride Another Day Campaign.
Your Responsibility Code
National Ski Area Association (NSAA) developed Your Responsibility Code to help skiers and boarders be aware that there are elements of risk in snowsports that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce.
How To Use the Responsibility Code
- Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
- People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
- Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
- Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
- You must prevent runaway equipment.
- Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
- Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
- You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
- Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.
Objects Are Closer Than They Appear
NSAA developed the "Objects are Closer Than They Appear" campaign to shine a spotlight on the first tenet of Your Responsibility Code: Always stay in control and be able to stop and avoid other people or objects.
- Check Your Speed
- Warning, Objects Are Closer Than They Appear
- Fixed Objects Don’t Move – You Do!
- Factoid – At 27mph You Need 60 feet and 1½ Seconds to Avoid a Tree
- Defensible Distance – Do You Have It?
SMART Style
Along with the NSAA and Burton Snowboards, we would like to welcome you to the "Smart Style" Terrain Park Safety initiative. The Smart Style Terrain Park Safety Program has Four Main Messages:
1. Make a Plan
Every time you use freestyle terrain, make a plan for each feature you want to use. Your speed, approach and take off will directly affect your maneuver and landing.
2. Look Before You Leap
Scope around the jumps first, not over them. Know your landings are clear and clear yourself out of the landing area.
3. Easy Style It
Start small and work your way up. (Inverted aerials are not recommended.)
4. Respect Gets Respect
From the lift line through the park.
Practice Park Etiquette
Do not stop or ride through landings. If there are boards or skis in front of a jump, the jump is closed so go around the feature. When not using features, stay off to the side of the trail, out of the way. Use features in the manner in which they are intended. Don't jump off the sides of the takeoffs.
Reporting Skier Collisions
VERMONT LAW requires any skier or snowboarder involved in a collision with another person that results in injury to provide his/her name and local and permanent address to any other party in the collision and to proceed to a ski area first aid facility and provide the same information to ski area personnel on duty.
Helmet Use
Along with NSAA, we promote 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. NSAA 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.