Safety.

Stowe Mountain Resort is committed to promoting ski safety. In addition to people using traditional alpine ski equipment, you may be joined on the slopes by snowboarders, telemark skiers or cross-country skiers, skiers with disabilities, skiers with specialized equipment and others. 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. Observe the Your Responsibility Code listed below and share with other skiers the responsibility for a great skiing experience.

• Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
• People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
• You must not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.
• Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
• Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
• Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
• Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

Be advised that Stowe Mountain Resort does not mark all potential obstacles and hazards. When marked, poles, flags, fencing, signage, padding and other forms of marking are used to inform skiers and riders of the location of potential obstacles or hazards. These markers are no guarantee of your safety. It is part of your responsibility under the Your Responsibility Code.

Warning

Skiers and riders should be advised that a green circle, blue square or black diamond trail at Stowe Mountain Resort is not necessarily the same as a green circle, blue square or black diamond trail at other resorts. The system is a relative rating of trails at each resort and does not compare trail difficulty between resorts. Skiers and riders should begin with the easiest terrain and then move up in difficulty as their ability permits, in order to understand the relative rating at Stowe Mountain Resort.

Extreme Terrain

Extreme terrain contains cliffs, very steep slopes, rocks and other hazards. Skiing and boarding Extreme Terrain is for experts only.

Electronic Devices

Vail Resorts strongly discourages the use of electronic devices, including cell phones, personal entertainment and communication devices and any other electronic equipment that utilizes head/earphones while skiing and snowboarding, or loading and unloading lifts.

Caution

Snowcats, snowmobiles and snowmaking may be encountered at any time.
Slow Zones

Certain areas (indicated on the map in yellow) are designated as slow zones. Please observe the posted slow areas by maintaining a speed no faster than the general flow of traffic. Space and speed are especially important in these areas. Fast and aggressive skiing will not be tolerated.

Helmet Use

Stowe Mountain Resort encourages our guests to educate themselves on the benefits and limitations of winter sports helmets. Regardless of whether or not you choose to wear a helmet, every winter sport participant shares responsibility for his or her safety, and for that of others using the ski area facilities.

Employees in uniform are available to assist with safety questions and are empowered to suspend or revoke the skiing or riding privileges of anyone demonstrating reckless or inappropriate behavior.

For any additional information, call  (802) 253-3000 or email stoweinfo@vailresorts.com.

• These areas contain many increased risks and hazards, many of which are hidden and/or may lie at or under the surface.
• It is easy to get lost. Know where you are going and never go alone.
• Weather constantly changes in the mountains. Monitor weather forecasts. Be prepared to bring extra supplies.
• You and your party are on your own. Night falls quickly in the winter. If you head out too late in the afternoon, you may get caught in the dark, which can turn small problems into very big ones.
• Call 911 in an emergency, but remember call services may be limited or unavailable in some areas.

• Don't go in alone and maintain line-of-sight with your partner(s). Use the leapfrog mentality when skiing with a partner or partners.
• Know where you are going.
• Wear a helmet.
• Stay away from the base of trees and low-lying areas such as stream beds.
• Don't enter the woods late in the day or in bad weather.
• Carry a fully charged cell phone. Cell phones can be helpful, but there is no guarantee that you will have service in the mountains.

• Do not panic—struggling and thrashing can make the situation worse.
• Carry a whistle in your chest pocket—one's voice can be lost within minutes of yelling.
• Save Ski Patrol's phone number and enable voice command if your device is capable. This can assist with hands-free calling when immobilized, but never rely solely on you cell phone for emergency response.
• If possible, try to create an air pocket in front of your face.

Uphill Access Parking

For Perry Merrill and Nosedive access, park in Lot B, located below the Midway Lodge.

For Toll Road access, park in the dirt lot across from Toll House Conference Center (on the right of Route 108 North).

Be aware that snow removal operations take place overnight, and may affect surface and snow conditions around your vehicle.

Know Before You Go

• Make yourself visible Wear bright, reflective clothing and a head lamp. If you approach a snowmobile or grooming machine, move to the side of the trail and direct your headlamp toward it so that the operator can see you.
• Uphill routes are identified with reflective markers along the side of the trail, visible from the point of view of uphill travelers. Look for these markers to help guide you up your route at night.
• Pets are not permitted on resort property, including overnight. Please leave dogs at home.
• Be aware of the location of any winch operations. Signs that winching may be in progress include a red beacon on the ground or on a snow cat, mounds of snow that have been piled at the top of the trail that is being winched, or a posted warning that winching is in progress
• Stay away from snowmaking equipment. Never ski over or step on hoses.
• Resort emergency services are available during operational hours, and not overnight. In the event of an emergency, you will need to dial 911.

Additional Information

Uphill access is a privilege, not a right.  Stowe Mountain Resort maintains a lease with the State of Vermont that permits the resort to restrict access to resort trails at any time to mitigate safety concerns.  The resort needs to make snowmaking, grooming and maintenance are essential resort functions that occur primarily overnight.  From another perspective, without these services, no one would be skinning on resort trails, so please allow us the time and space to do our jobs so that you may enjoy the trails as a passholder does.

Skinning at Stowe is enjoyed by a vibrant and connected community.  Please help educate fellow participants who are new to the sport and don’t know the rules, or who are choosing not to obey them.  If uphill users do not follow guidelines and put themselves and resort staff and operations in jeopardy, then the resort may be forced to restrict access.