Some MT Ski Resorts Staying Open amid COVID-19 Crisis
By angelamontana

Posted: March 18, 2020

Here are messages from Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Snowbowl, Big Sky Resort, Blacktail and Lookout Pass:

LOST TRAIL POWDER MOUNTAIN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 OUTBREAK – CLOSED AS OF 3.18.2020

Dear Lost Trail Guests, Skiers and Snowboarders,

Since our last update, the COVID-19 impact has continued to accelerate. Lost Trail is committed to managing this situation with care for the well-being of our guests, employees, and community. We are continually consulting health experts and government officials to help inform our decisions.

Winter recreation, including skiing and snowboarding, is undoubtedly a wonderful activity for not only our physical health but also improving psychology surrounding difficult circumstances. We know you share in our sentiment that opening the slopes would be the escape many are looking for. We will get there, but today, it does not look prudent to open the ski area.

Lost Trail will continue to monitor the situation for possible openings at a later time period this spring. At this time, there are no details on when skiing and snowboarding can resume. We want to thank everyone that has made this such an awesome season and we are excited for future seasons at Lost Trail.

Thank you,

The Grasser Family

What to do if you have symptoms or think you may have the virus:
– Consult the CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
– Call the COVID-19 Hotline for the State of Montana (888) 333-0461

IMPORTANT SNOWBOWL COVID-19 VIRUS POLICIES – STILL OPEN

The safety and health or our guests and employees are of the utmost importance as we strive to keep our mountain open.
To do this we MUST heed the directives of the Health Department and the CDC.

Following the Health Department directive and to limit congregation and the spread of the virus, the Lodge and Last Run will only serve food and beverages for take out.
Eating inside whether purchased at Snowbowl or brought from home is not allowed at this time. Also there can be no lines for ordering or pickup—Social Distancing is very important.
Please eat outside, on the slopes, on the lifts, in your vehicle or the parking lot. Use of the facilities will be limited to brief warm ups and use of the restrooms.

Please remember to follow CDC guidelines:
 Social distancing –give each other extra space, 6 feet is recommended
 Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and wash them frequently
 If you are feeling sick stay home
 Limit congregation to no more than 10 persons
 Avoiding touching your nose, mouth, and eyes

Enjoy recreating outside on the snow in Montana!

LOOKOUT PASS SKI AREA COVID-19 RESPONSE & ACTION ITEMS – STILL OPEN

As the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) begins to have an increased impact on our community, we feel it is important to connect directly with you to share more about the steps we are taking across our facilities to help our guests, our employees, and our community stay safe and healthy. The health and safety of our guests and employees has always been our top priority. This is a rapidly-evolving situation that we will continue to monitor. Please note that our facilities are open and we are running on our normal schedule, but we have implemented the following precautions to prevent the spread of the virus:

  • Our facilities are cleaned and sanitized daily as part of our normal course of business. Over the past few weeks, we’ve increased the frequency and extent of those cleanings.
  • Hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed throughout our buildings.
  • Employees are reminded to use proper hand washing techniques and we have posted proper hand washing techniques at all sinks.
  • CDC education notices have been placed in prominent locations.
  • Employees showing any signs of illness are instructed not to report to work, and these absences will be excused.
  • We have created more space between tables in the lodge & in the Loft bar by removing seats and tables to create an appropriate buffer area between guests.
  • We have changed the self-service pizza & soup/chili service to now be exclusively served by our employees.
  • Lifts will upon request limit the number of people loaded onto a chair. So Guests do not have to ride with a stranger.
  • We are limiting the number of guests that will be admitted into our buildings at any one time. These include Food Service, Rentals and our Snowsports School. We are doing this so you don’t have to feel you are trapped in a line to access these areas. Suggestion – Choose to take your breaks or grab some food at an off time suggestion eat early 11 am instead of noon or hold off till 1:30 pm when other have transitioned back out on to the slopes.
  • We have added more outside seating on our back deck. If the weather is to your liking enjoy a casual break outside. The virus does not like sunshine. So enjoy sitting outside absorbing more vitamin D. You can also make a choice to eat at your vehicle. We are even looking at changes to the menu to create options that are more grab and go reducing your time in an enclosed space.
  • Food service will have more grab and go options so you again don’t need to wait inside.
  • All our spring events are being suspended for this winter. We will be enjoying the slopes but our fun spring events which usually result in a bit of a crowd gathering to watch (like pond skimming, the Cardobard Box Derby & our Easter Egg Hunt) will unfortunately not take place this winter. These will be back on the schedule next spring but we just don’t want to have people gatered around watching these events.
  • If any guests are planning to visit and feel sick we implore you to make a prudent decision and stay home. Making some awesome spring turns is not worth putting others health at risk.
  • If you have recently traveled to an area with a heightened risk we also ask you to stay home.

All of these practices are based on guidance provided by the CDC and WHO, along with guidance from local, U.S. government and public health agencies.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a cold or the flu, if you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or if you have traveled out of the country in the last two weeks to an impacted area, we ask that you please reschedule your planned visit to the ski area. 

We are happy to assist you with questions or group reservation rescheduling needs. Phone: 208.744.1234

THANK YOU

UPDATE ON BIG SKY RESORT OPERATIONS – suspended operations – More info here: bigskyresort.com/covid-19

After careful consideration of the quickly changing circumstances around COVID-19, Big Sky Resort will suspend operations after skiing on Sunday, March 15, 2020. As always, our top priority has been the health and wellbeing of our guests, team members, and community, and this is undoubtedly the right decision given the current situation.

In addition to ski operations, all retail rental shops and Solace Spa will cease operations as well. Food outlets will remain open based on situational needs and a commitment to social distancing. Lodging properties will remain open while guests in-house make alternate travel arrangements. All lodging properties will close by Sunday, March 22.

Seasonal team members will be paid through Sunday, March 22.

We sincerely apologize to all guests currently at Big Sky, or planning to come for a ski trip. Given the short notice, we have relaxed our cancellation and refund policy, and guests are encouraged to visit our website for more information. We will automatically process refunds for future arrivals. We expect our teams will be overwhelmed with calls – but rest assured – there is no urgency to call to discuss cancellations. We will continue to honor this relaxed policy throughout the coming months.

We will evaluate reopening at a later date, and look forward to welcoming guests back to Big Sky as soon as conditions permit.

NOTICE That Blacktail Mountain has suspended operations at this time.  More info here: blacktailmountain.com

Operations Suspended

Blacktail Family:

It is with much consideration and a heavy heart that we suspend operations at Blacktail Mountain Ski Area.  As the situation has developed over the past week, we have weighed each piece of new information and ultimately decided to accept national recomendations to limit gatherings by closing our doors.  This is currently a suspension of operations not a full closure; time and conditions will determine what we do next. Please know that we are always acting with the safety and wellbeing of our staff and community in mind.  We thank you for your support and friendship and look forward to skiing with you again.

 

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