WINTER EXPECTATIONS

A letter from General Manager Ryan Schramm delivered to email subscribers Monday, September 14th, 2020

As someone who has long been committed to an active outdoor lifestyle, particularly as a skier, I can honestly say there has never been a time when I anticipated the arrival of ski season more than this year.  The magic of winter - snow silently falling, the sharp bite of winter on the face and the excitement of linking turns on every unique run are always special. This year it’s safe to say “special” could be expanded to include therapeutic. In a sense, we need this ski season for our emotional and physical wellbeing as much as for our enjoyment. We believe recreation is one of the essential food groups - now more than ever.

I want to share Powderhorn Mountain Resort’s plans for the upcoming ski season. There has been so much uncertainty since the COVID 19 pandemic first upended our lives. Among the many lessons learned are the importance of clear and consistent communication, the setting of realistic expectations, and the need for tolerance for unexpected changes.

The embrace of all these lessons is going to be critical to a successful ski season, as is the recognition we’re all in this together.   A collective effort must be part of the foundation for success as we strive to balance the safety of our guests, employees and the local communities in which we operate our business.

In addition to following all CDC and local regulations, Powderhorn Mountain Resort will require face coverings, will make the necessary changes to allow for physical distancing, and will closely monitor employee health including requiring employees to stay home if they are sick. Similarly, we encourage guests to not visit if they are not feeling well or have any symptoms of COVID 19.  We will implement additional precautions related to ski school, rental equipment, food and beverage, and hospitality as further outlined below.

Powderhorn plans to open for the winter season in early December. As always, this depends on the weather, but our summer work prioritized the installation of the new snowmaking system on Bill’s Run and our hope is for an on-time opening.

As you know, capacity restrictions have been one of the tools used to manage the spread of the novel coronavirus. Skiing and riding at Powderhorn takes place on over 1600 acres ensuring the opportunity to safely recreate. Nevertheless, we will adhere to any limitations imposed by State and local authorities. To what extent we might be required to limit on-mountain capacities is still unknown, however, we are confident any restrictions will be on a limited number of days and all guests will have access on the vast majority of days.

Season pass holders will be our highest priority in managing any on-mountain capacity restrictions. It is our intention to allow pass holders to ski any day the resort is open without reservations or other exceptional requirements. Our primary means to control capacity will be done by limiting the sale of daily lift tickets.

It is possible we may need to control the number of skiers, including pass holders, in the event there is limited terrain open. In such case, Powderhorn will implement an online advance reservation system and requirements for reservations will be communicated on the website, via email, and on the resort app. Pass holders are strongly encouraged to download the resort app and enable push notifications. This will be the quickest and most certain way to stay abreast of changes of any kind.

Face coverings will be required to access the mountain, including in the base area, in lift lines and while loading, unloading and riding on chairlifts.  Face coverings will be required in every part of our operation including inside all buildings and during all ski and snowboard lessons.  We are asking everyone to support these necessary changes and cooperate with resort workers who are in the challenging role of ensuring everyone’s safety. Guests who don’t comply with the guidelines will be asked to leave.

We will do everything possible and practical to allow for physical distancing throughout the resort to help ensure a safe experience. First and foremost, we will manage the number of people on the mountain. Additionally, we will load lifts maintaining social distancing guidelines applicable to each individual lift configuration. We will also manage the number of people entering buildings including base lodges and restaurants in accordance with local guidelines. Currently, the maximum number of people allowed indoors in a gathering space is 50% of normal capacity. This number may change between now and the beginning of ski season or even during the season. We are working to expand areas to comfortably accommodate guests while maintaining distancing requirements and revising menus and service levels that strike a balance between safety, forced capacity limits, and reasonable hospitality. Some of the "new norms" we all have embraced over the summer - online ordering, takeout, grab-and-go and outdoor dining - will be in place for the winter.

Ski school is an important part of every mountain operation because it introduces people to the sport and helps them improve so the sport is more enjoyable.  Our teaching professionals are always committed to safety and enjoyment while learning, and this season that will be highlighted more than ever.  Ski and snowboard school formats will be revised to accommodate either small groups or individual self-paced learning options. Children’s on-snow programs will be the subject of particular emphasis with small class sizes and minimal exposure to larger group settings. Advance reservations will be required for all lessons and programs.

Equipment rental will be available exclusively online with advance reservations. Pick up and drop off of equipment may be modified to accommodate social distancing and to limit the number of people in confined spaces.

There is no avoiding the fact that navigating your way around the resort will be different this winter. Compared to the alternative of no ski season, I hope you’ll agree the changes are manageable and worth any inconvenience.

Powderhorn.com will be updated regularly with the latest info on restrictions and other important information. The resort app, available for both iOS or Android, will be one of the best ways to stay informed through notifications and current status updates.

Advance planning and online advance purchases will be more important than ever. Most products will only be available online in advance. Knowing what to expect when you arrive will go a long way toward minimizing confusion and frustration.

Finally, for those who purchased a season pass for this year but are still uncertain about their preferences this winter, please remember there is the option to defer the use of that pass until next season:

Anyone who buys a Mission: Affordable season pass for the 2020/2021 season can choose to request to defer the use of the pass until the 2021/2022 season.

The request must be made by sending an email to ski@powderhorn.com stating the request between October 1st and November 25th, 2020, and the request must include the pass holder name.

This is not an offer of a cash refund or any other credit offer and only applies to the one-time deferral of a 2020/2021 season pass in exchange for a 2021/2022 season pass.

The pass will be moved to the 2021/2022 winter season at no charge, regardless of a season pass price increase.

As you can see, we are planning lots of changes with the objective of making us all safer and more comfortable this ski season.  While some of the changes will be a little inconvenient, we think it is a small price to accept for safety and the opportunity to have a great season on the slopes.  I look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,
Ryan Schramm
General Manager

1.   Have I been in contact in the previous 14 days with anyone who has returned from abroad? No.

2.   Do I have any symptoms of COVID-19 including sore throat, persistent cough or fever? No.

3.   Do I live in a household with someone who has COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19? No.

4.   Do I agree to practice 2 metre / 6ft physical distancing while at the resort and not congregate with any individuals outside my household group? Yes.

5.   Do I agree to comply with the mandatory mask or facial covering regulation while at the resort? Yes.