Skiing, snowboarding and other activities that take place at ski areas involve the risk of injury. It's important to stay informed as a guest and always follow the Responsibility Codes.
Violation of skiing/boarding policies by Mount Washington Alpine Resort users could result in loss of lift privileges.
There are elements of risk that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Regardless of how you decide to use the slopes, always show courtesy to others. Please adhere to the code listed below and share with others the responsibility for a safe outdoor experience. Be aware! Ski and ride with care.
Our full time Safe Slopes team members are out on the hill day and night during operation patrolling the runs enforcing the Alpine Responsibility Code. They are on the lookout for people who violate the A.R.C. or are being reckless in slow zones or other areas. They are there offering tips and rewards on how to be or for being in compliance but also issuing warnings and suspending skiing privileges in severe cases to those not following the code. Know the Code it is YOUR responsibility! You can help the Safe Slope Team members by skiing or riding in control, by travelling at the same speed as others in Slow Zones, and by using common sense and courtesy while on our mountain.
Tobogganing (using snow disks, crazy carpets, GT snow Racers, garbage bags or any other non-approved snow sliding devices) at any time is NOT PERMITTED on any Mount Washington Property with the exception of the Nordic Tobogganing area at the Raven Lodge. A much better sliding option is the New Snow Tubing Park. The park provides a safe and controlled sliding environment. The best part is you don't have to walk uphill - there's a lift!
Mount Washington Alpine Resort recommends wearing helmets for skiing and riding. Skiers and snowboarders are encouraged to educate themselves on the benefits and limitations of helmet usage. The primary safety consideration, and obligation under the Alpine Responsibility Code, is to ski and ride in a controlled and responsible manner. Lids On Kids
Natural hazards such as tree wells occur within and outside of the ski area boundary. Mount Washington Alpine Resort would like to remind all guests to ski and ride with care, obey all mountain signage, and ski/ride with a partner or group. A tree well is a hole or depression that forms around the base of a tree while snow accumulates. A tree well incident occurs when a person falls, head first, into an area of deep snow around the base of a tree and becomes immobilized. The more the person struggles the more entrapped in the snow they become. The risks of a tree well accident or fatality can be reduced by following these basic practices.
There are a couple of ways. First of all, have a look at our trail map. The Slow Zones are highlighted in green. You will notice that most of them are beginner runs. When you are on the mountain look for 'Slow' or 'Slow Zone' banners.
How fast is too fast?
Many people have a hard time remembering what it was like to be a beginner skier or snowboarder and having to worry about whether there is enough space to attempt a turn. So first off, think about giving people some space. Next, remember that you must always be in control whether you are on an expert run or in a Slow Zone. This is the first point of the Alpine Responsibility Code. If you are in the air, you have no control over your speed or direction. Jumps and hits are not allowed in Slow Zones. The speed expected is relevant to how many people are on the run. If there is no one on the run, you may do short radius turns. When there are more people on the run the 10% Rule is in effect. You may pass people at a speed of approximately 10% faster than the flow of other skier traffic on the run.
Remember to keep you distance as well. Keeping 50 feet or 15.24 meters from other people helps maintain a safe stopping distance and allows for you and others to make adjustments if needed to help avoid other people or obstacles or hazards.
Why can't I go as fast as I want when there's no one else on the run?
The Slow Zones are on beginner runs. One of the biggest users of Slow Zones are kids. Kids don't have a high awareness of what other people are doing and are easily distracted. They might be on one side of the run and see something that they want to take a closer look at on the other side and just veer over and cross the run without checking to see if anyone is coming. Kids and adults that are learning to ski also tend to fall on terrain transitions (knolls) and can be trying to recover from a crash in an area that can't be seen from above.
Mount Washington does not allow uphill travel on any of our Alpine runs at this time. Uphill travel is restricted to select Nordic trails only. This does not include areas specifically designated for boot packing, not on runs.
Always use and wear the appropriate device to prevent runaway equipment. The use of the following equipment is not permitted at Mount Washington Alpine Resort: snowblades, snow bikes, snowscooters, snowskates and boot-skis. It is also forbidden to slide down the slopes on a sled, crazy carpet, a three-skis or a toboggan. The use of mini-skis or snowskates is NOT permitted even with standard ski bindings.
The easiest runs on the mountain. Green runs are groomed, generally wide and have gentle slopes. On green runs when there is a steeper pitch, the pitch is wide to allow for big turns.
These runs are the most difficult expert terrain on the mountain, un groomed, step and narrow.
This category has the greatest variation in runs, these runs are more difficult. Blue runs can be groomed or ungroomed
These runs are difficult, generally un groomed, steeper and narrower. Before attempting black runs, people should be comfortable with un groomed blue runs.
These signs indicate that you may encounter snowmobiles in this area. If you do encounter a snowmobile coming towards you make eye contact with the operator, slow down and if possible without crossing the path of the snowmobile move to the opposite side of the path of the snowmobile and stop. If it is not possible to move to the opiate side of the path of the snowmobile and stop simply make your way to the side of the run and stop there. Make sure it is all clear before starting down hill again.
Marginal Skiing signs are used to identify runs that have limited snow cover, but are still determined "skiable". These runs may have exposed rocks, grass and dirt. Incurring damage to your skis or snowboard on these runs is likely. It is best to avoid these runs or at the very least ski/ride with extreme caution.
DRONE POLICY UPDATE AS OF JANUARY 2025:
Mount Washington Alpine Resort reserves the right to authorize drone usage on any mountain property. As of this time, public operators are NOT permitted to fly any drone equipment on the slopes or surrounding areas.
