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your credit card to the reservationist at the front desk. Guest bills
will be E-mailed and available the morning of departure, or slipped
under the door, and check-out will be contact free.

Food Service
Resorts are going to want you to minimize time spent in buildings, due to the space capacity limitations. To maximize time spent
by guests outdoors, additional outdoor seating will be provided for
food service. Expect to see outdoor heaters and tents. Also, you can
expect an addition of " pick up and go " food service. Guests will be encouraged to avoid the peak lunch rush, and might find it advantageous to bring their own water and snacks to enjoy on the mountain,
to avoid waiting to enter a food service area.
Ski resorts are offering some attractive lodging and booking incentives right now. For example, Steamboat has a " Plan with Confidence " program for the season ahead, offering the VIP Vacation
Package to lock in low early season rates. It also has an attractive
cancellation policy, should your plans change or should the resort be
closed due to COVID-19 during any part of a planned vacation. The
booking guidelines have been changed to offer guests a 10% lodging
deposit with final payment due 30 days prior to arrival or 45 days
prior to arrival for stays between December 18, 2020 and January 3,
2021. Whitefish Mountain Resort has a policy that if a governmental
agency restricts recreational travel to or from Montana or the state,
province or country from which the travelers reside, they will be issued a full refund for lodging and lift tickets if the effective date of
the restrictions take place prior to the traveler's arrival.
Looking forward to some fine dining at your favorite resort restaurant? Best to make an advance reservation. Spacing will be limited due to social distancing guidelines. However, fine dining might
be a more satisfying experience for an evening, rather than being exposed to a higher risk in attending an après ski party. Sun Valley Resort's Sanitation Guidelines highlight some changes: pre-set silverware
pre-rolled in linen napkins, bread and butter will be provided upon
individual guest request since bread baskets are not permitted at this
time, salt and pepper will be delivered upon guest request, and ice
water will be present with meals and covered with a disposable cup.
So, we know more about what to expect regarding the basics. What
other changes can you expect this winter? What are some of the
commonalities among the resorts regarding protection of guests, employees and the community?

What Else to Expect
You will see sanitizing stations located throughout the resort, in
the parking lots, in hotels and restaurants. There will be temperature
checks - for employees and guests. EPA approved disinfectant and
sanitation products will be used on all commonly used surfaces and
cleaned at regular intervals. UV lighting might be used in the sanitizing processes, especially in guest rooms.
In all parts of the resort operation, you will be expected to have
a face covering. This includes on the shuttles, in public areas in a
lodging facility, when loading and riding on lifts and in gondolas, in
all buildings at the resort including the ski rental area, during lessons,
and while out and about in the community and entering businesses
and stores. While on the mountain and in lodging and community
facilities, expect to see plexiglass between you and the employee.
There will be a promotion of physical distancing in all aspects
of a resort, and an effort to minimize crowds. You can expect that
there will social distancing guidelines on lifts and gondolas. Even
though the distance traveled is limited, and everyone is in open air

and wearing masks, caution will be taken to reduce the risk. Only related parties will be able to ride together on a lift. Otherwise, individual skiers, will be appropriately separated on a two, four or six
passenger lift. Gondolas will also minimize occupancy. Windows can
be pulled down to provide fresh air, but caution will still be a guideline.
Some other amenities you are used to might be available for purchase online only, such as equipment rental and lessons. There might
not be space availability, if lessons are conducted, due to social distancing. Day lockers might not be available.
You are probably used to signing a waiver if you rent equipment
or take a lesson. Be prepared for a possible COVID-19 waiver when
you purchase your season pass or ticket online. If you belong to a ski
club, expect to be signing a waiver before the group travels. Trip insurance is also a good idea!

Planning a European Ski Vacation?
It is expected that those planning a European Ski Vacation will
take a watch and see approach, and will not be booking as early as in
the past. Airlines have been deemed quite safe in preventing the
spread of COVID-19, with their HEPA filters and everyone with a face
covering. However, as Europe faced another wave of COVID-19 cases
in October, the question will be whether the borders will be open to
international travel.
Skiers and boarders took advantage of summer skiing at glacier
resorts in Europe when they re-opened for the fall season. However,
due to a marked increase in corona infections, most of the glacier ski
resorts in the Alps have been closed again for at least the month of
November. Jimmy Petterson, renowned author of " Skiing Around
the World Volumes I & II " , noted that most European countries and
ski resorts have not been following and do not plan to follow the same
policy as in the US. People will not have to make a booking in advance. They will be able to walk up to the counter to buy a ticket, as
always. However, the number of guests will certainly be impacted due
to difficulties involved in travel, fear of the virus and quarantines imposed on people returning to their home countries.

Resorts Are Ready
Peter Plimmer, President and CEO of Big White Ski Resort, expressed for his resort what all resorts probably want you to know. He
stated, " Everyone in our Resort has done a huge amount of work, we have
a really strong and amazing winter product, and I want us to convey to our
guests that their skiing experience will not be compromised. We are doing
our best. "
Be sure to check your resort's website for information specific to
the resort, and stay flexible, because policies and procedures might
change. Stay safe. Stay well. Let's go skiing and boarding! And, get the
chair lifts and gondolas moving again! ss
Let's get
back to the
mountains!
Make your
plans now to
head to the
reopened
slopes. FWSA
Ski Week
Sun Valley,
Idaho.
Join us!
photo courtesy
of Sun Valley

Far West Skier's Guide 2O2O - 2O21

2020 - 2021 Far West Skier's Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2020 - 2021 Far West Skier's Guide