Safety

SAFETY

Telluride Ski Resort focuses on safety as part of our core mission and everyday operating culture. We want to keep you as safe as possible while enjoying our slopes. Please click on the topics below to explore each of the ways you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe on our mountain.

SKI PATROL & SAFETY CONTACTS

For Ski Patrol Assistance:
(970) 728-7585

Report Reckless or Unsafe Skiers/Riders:
(970) 728-7569

Please direct safety inquiries to
safety@telski.com

Know Your Responsibility Code

Regardless of how you decide to enjoy the slopes, always show courtesy to others. Follow Your Responsibility Code:

1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
2. People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
3. Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
4. Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
5. You must prevent runaway equipment.

6. Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
7. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
8. You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
9. Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
10. If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

Winter sports involve risk of serious injury or death. Your knowledge, decisions and actions contribute to your safety and that of others. If you need help understanding the Code, please ask any ski area employee.

Lift Safety

When riding a chairlift, our goal is to have an overall safe experience when loading, riding and unloading. The best formula for success is to follow the directions.

LOADING

  • Get prepared and be ready! Take your pole straps off and hold your ski poles in one hand. Check for loose clothing and equipment.
  • Backpacks should be removed.
  • Group up with your riders and get on the same page before proceeding from the lift maze.
  • If you would like the chair slowed, tell the operator before moving into the queue. Let them know if you need the chair slowed at the top as well.
  • Line up with your group at the wait board and follow the chair in front of you to the load board.
  • Line up with the yellow “load here” signs. Remember to keep your skis straight ahead and look behind you for the incoming chair.
    Grab onto the side of the chair and sit back to pull yourself onto the chair.
  • Scoot and pull yourself all the way into the chair so your back is fully touching the seat back; as a group, bring down the safety bar.
  • Be sure to notify your chair mates that the bar will be coming down to avoid any contact between the bar and an unaware passenger.

 

RIDING

Make friends and sit tight! Chat about the weather, the conditions, where everyone is from or anything else that may come to mind. Use the time to get to know your fellow skiers. Talk about anything, but DO NOT:

  • Horse around.
  • Turn around in the chair.
  • Get things out of your pockets – no one wants to drop their phone off the chair!
  • Throw things from the chair.
  • Click your skis.
  • Swing, rock, or bounce the chair.

 

UNLOADING

  • When coming into the terminal, wait until everyone is ready to raise the bar! That means sitting back in the seat and taking feet off the footrest bar.
  • Check for loose equipment and ensure your backpacks and fanny packs are loose from the chair and ready to move with you.
  • Keep your tips up and look for the yellow “unload” signs.
  • When aligned with the signs, stand up with authority and slide down the ramp. Do not hold onto the chair!
  • Move out of the way quickly so the next guests have plenty of room to unload.
  • If you happen to fall or leave something behind, clear out of the way as soon as you are able, the lift operators will be paying attention and can assist you more effectively if you’re off to the side.

Follow the Yellow Signs

Ask for Instructions

Watch Your Pack

Wait Here

Load Here

Unload Here

TSG Permitted Devices

Telluride Ski Resort’s winter operations (ski lifts and trails) are designed for use by the skiing guests using alpine and cross country skis or snowboards affixed to their feet by a range of binding systems and standardized adaptive ski devices and equipment for individuals with disabilities. Allowed devices will have metal edges and a retention system such as a leash or properly working brakes that must be worn at all times. A person who has a disability is allowed to utilize any equipment that has been designed and manufactured primarily for use by individuals who have disabilities. Examples of such ski equipment include but are not limited to sit-skis, monoskis, outriggers, blind bibs, etc.

Telluride Ski Resort reserves the right to change or update this policy at any time and for any reason.

THE FOLLOWING DEVICES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE TRAILS AND LIFTS OF TELLURIDE SKI RESORT AT ANY TIME :

  • Drones
  • Sleds, Tubes, Saucers and Toboggans
  • Body Sleds
  • Snowmobiles (Except by authorized personnel accessing the mountain for operating purposes)
  • Tandem Skis
  • Babies in Backpacks
  • Snow Scooters
  • Snow Skates without metal edges or retention device
  • Onewheels
  • Fat Tire Bikes (These are allowed after operating hours following uphill policy and only in the area of Sunshine Express Lift)
Smiling Snowbiker at Telluride Ski Resort

THE FOLLOWING DEVICES ARE ALLOWED :

  • Alpine/Telemark skis
  • Snowboards
  • Snowblades/Ski Boards
  • Snowdecks with metal edges and a leash
  • Ski Bikes on detachable lifts only
  • Mono skis
  • Ski Bikes on detachable lifts only
  • Ski Trikes with metal edges and a leash

Boundaries & Uphill Policy

  • Resort access is closed from the closure of the gondola until Lift 10 terrain opens to the public. 
  • Resort access closes at the end of the winter operation for 7 days to allow for mountain clean up. Mountain access will commence once resort personnel have had the opportunity to clean up and close winter operations.
  • No services exist including but not limited to Ski Patrol and avalanche mitigation, on the hill outside winter operations.

CLOSED MEANS CLOSED. IT’S THERE FOR A REASON … SAVE YOUR SEASON.

We work hard to open our terrain when it is safe. Our mountain operations team will open a trail or portion of the mountain when it is ready for skiing and riding. By entering terrain before it is open, you put yourself and your rescuers at a greater risk for injury or death.

If a trail or portion of the mountain is closed, it could be for any number of reasons:

  • Inadequate snow coverage
  • Avalanche control work in that area or areas adjacent
  • Adverse weather
  • Snowcats or other heavy machinery working
  • Snowmaking in progress
  • Racing in progress

Keep yourself and your loved ones safe. If you see a sign or rope at the top of the trail, the whole trail is closed.

Our ski area boundary is marked in several different ways. If you are planning to exit our boundary, make sure you do so at a backcountry gate.

Uphill access is allowed for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and skinning in the Sunshine (Lift 10) Pod with the exception of Sundance trail from 8am to 10pm. Fat bikes are allowed following the uphill policy from 4:30pm to 10pm. Uphill users may not travel above the top of Sunshine Lift (Lift 10) due to on-mountain operations. Uphill users must follow the Colorado Skier Safety Act and yield to on-mountain vehicles.

Pursuant to the Colorado Skier Safety Act, Telluride Ski Resort assumes no responsibility for the safety and welfare of skiers and snowboarders going beyond the ski area boundary. Avalanche danger and other hazards exist and are unmitigated by the Resort. Individuals are solely responsible for their safety and welfare. Rescue in the backcountry, if available, will be costly and may take time.

Off-season Uphill Access—Spring/Summer/Fall

During ski area closing operations, aproximately 1 week (7 days) following normal winter operations  there is no mountain access at all . After that, the mountain may be opened to uphill traffic, if you choose to uphill ski, it is at your own risk. Backcountry conditions, avalanche danger and other hazards exist — be prepared to self-rescue. The ski area is closed, so there will no ski patrol services or any other emergency response from the ski area. Sledding is prohibited at any time.

Personal motorized vehicles including snowmobiles are not permitted on Telluride Ski Resort property and property managed land under a special use permit form the Federal Forest service.

Non-Motorized Uphill Access is allowed within the Telluride Ski Area boundaries. Mountain Operations remain underway including: plowing of summer access roads, lift maintenance, and mountain maintenance. Uphill Travelers should beware of snowmobiles, snowcats and other heavy machinery, road cuts through ski runs and restricted access in some areas due to construction and maintenance.

IMPORTANT: Please consider the post-season ski area as backcountry.  No avalanche control is done nor are first responders immediately available. Travel with a partner, and at your own risk. Be safe, and enjoy the spring. In the event of an emergency call or text 911.

Fall off season access will end in line with gondola operations. For more information about the gondola’s operating schedule please visit  https://townofmountainvillage.com/explore/getting-around/gondola-chondola/

In-season Uphill Access—Winter

Uphill access is only permitted after Lift 10 has opened for the season, and on ski trails in the Lift 10 “Sunshine” pod, with the exception of Sundance Ski Trail, during the hours of 8am to 10pm. Authorized uphill activities include Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, uphill skinning, trail walking, and running. Fat Tire biking is permitted in the same area after the ski operations at 4:30pm until 10pm. Uphill access on the rest of the Telluride Ski Resort is prohibited. Uphill users may not travel above the top of Sunshine Lift (Lift 10) due to on-mountain operations. Uphill users must follow Colorado Skier Safety Act and yield to on-mountain vehicles.

Well behaved dogs are welcome to accompany their owners from 4:30pm to 10pm following TSG uphill policies. At all times, dogs must be under the control of their handler and shall have a harness, leash, or other tether. Persons with dogs must follow all applicable rules and regulations regarding dogs set forth by the Town of Telluride, the Town of Mountain Village, this resort, and/or the United States Forest Service. Any persons with dogs in violation of this policy will be asked to remove the dog from the resort immediately and may be subject to other penalties. Please refer to our policies for more information on dogs and service animals.

Snow Safety

Mountain Operations and Ski Patrol make every effort to open sections of the mountain with the safety of our guests in mind. Skiing is an inherently dangerous sport and part of that danger includes avalanches.

While snow safety and avalanche mitigation efforts help reduce the risk of avalanches, they may still occur at ski areas, both inside and outside of the posted boundaries. Educate yourself on how to reduce the risk of injury or death from avalanches through your own actions and awareness. Learn more from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Park Smart

While the Terrain Park can be fun and challenging, it’s important to consider the risks that accompany skiing or riding on features in the park. Be sure to be Park Smart:

  1. Start Small – Work your way up and build your skills.
  2. Make a Plan – Every feature. Every time.
  3. Always Look – Before you drop.
  4. Respect – The features and other users.
  5. Take it Easy – Know your limits. Land on your feet.

For more information on our Terrain Parks, visit the terrain-parks page.

Snowboarder Riding the Rail at Telluride Ski Resort

Backcountry Safety

More and more skiers and snowboarders head out of ski area boundaries every winter in search of untracked powder and adventure.

A sign you might see at a backcountry gate.

Access to the backcountry from the Telluride Ski Resort is available only through specific gates in the resort boundary maintained by the US Forest Service. Any skier or rider who is caught exiting the boundary illegally will lose their pass, and could be subject to criminal charges.

We don’t patrol the terrain beyond the backcountry access points, nor do we reduce avalanche hazards in the backcountry. Our local backcountry has extreme and complex terrain both on route and overhead. You cannot enter and ski this terrain without exposure to numerous large and destructive avalanche paths. Rescue may not be available or timely.

Backcountry Gate at Bald Saddle

Backcountry Gate at Bald Saddle

We don’t encourage or discourage backcountry use, but we do believe in avalanche education and practicing backcountry safety protocols. Below are some links that can help you find more information about avalanche education

BEACON BASIN

Practice your rescue skills at our Avalanche Beacon Training Park, located on Lower Woozley’s between the top of Lift 5 and the bottom of Lift 14. There are 7 buried targets that you can turn on in any combination to work on your beacon and probing fundamentals. Bring your own beacon. No digging, please!

Resort Policies

(Click to Expand by Subject)

DOGS

Telluride Ski & Golf On-Mountain Dog Policy

Winter: Dogs are not allowed on any trails or any ski lifts during operating hours due to safety concerns. Dogs may ride in approved pet cabins on the Chondola for transportation purposes. Well behaved dogs are welcome to accompany their owners after operating hours following TSG uphill policies. At all times, dogs must be under the control of their handler and shall have a harness, leash, or other tether. Persons with dogs must follow all applicable rules and regulations regarding dogs set forth by the Town of Telluride, the Town of Mountain Village, this resort, and/or the United States Forest Service. Any persons with dogs in violation of this policy will be asked to remove the dog from the resort immediately and may be subject to other penalties.

Summer: Dogs are approved for use on trails designated for hiking. Persons with dogs shall obey all permanent or temporary closures of terrain, trails, roads, and other portions within Telluride Ski and Golf Resort’s operational boundaries. At all times, dogs must be under the control of their handler and shall have a harness, leash, or other tether. Persons with dogs must follow all applicable rules and regulations regarding dogs set forth by the Town of Telluride, the Town of Mountain Village, this resort, and/or the United States Forest Service. Any persons with dogs in violation of this policy will be asked to remove the dog from the resort immediately and may be subject to other penalties.

DRONES

Telluride Ski & Golf Drone and Unmanned Aircraft Policy

Out of safety concerns for guests, employees, and resort property, as well as concerns for individual privacy, Telluride Ski Resort prohibits the operation or use of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, by the general public—including recreational users and hobbyists—without the prior written authorization from the Resort. This prohibition includes drones used for filming or videotaping, as well as any drone use by media or journalists operating above or within Telluride Ski Resort boundaries. Please contact a resort representative if you have any questions or if you need to seek prior authorization to operate any aerial drones. Any authorized operation of aerial drones may be governed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations, local law enforcement, and U.S. Forest Service Rules, as well as those policies separately established by this Resort, which may include certification, training, insurance coverage, indemnification requirements, and waivers or releases of liability. Any violation of this policy may involve suspension of your skiing or snowboarding privileges, or the revocation of your season pass, as well as confiscation of any drone equipment, and may subject violators to any damages, including, but not limited to, damages for violations of privacy and/or physical or personal injuries or property damage, as well as regulatory fines and legal fees.

POWER DRIVEN MOBILITY DEVICES

Telluride Ski & Golf Other Power-Driven Mobility Device Policy

Please read the USDA Forest Service Telluride Ski Area Motorized Travel Restrictions »

Telluride Ski & Golf Resort (“TSG”) prohibits discrimination in all programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. As always, manually-powered mobility aids, such as walkers, crutches, canes, braces, or other similar devices designed for use by individuals with mobility disabilities are welcome. The use of any power-driven devices or other power-driven mobility devices (“OPDMDs”) is assessed on a case by case basis. All OPDMDs must be assessed by resort management prior to access.

Please reach out to us prior to arrival to discuss your OPDMD at mthomas@telski.com or call 970.728.7449. If this is not possible, call 970.728.7585 upon arrival or speak with any TSG representative at the resort to initiate this assessment.

PARAGLIDING

Telluride Ski & Golf Paragliding Policy

Recreational and Commercial Paragliding and Hangliding is prohibited at Telluride Ski & Golf Resort (TSG) without a written agreement with TSG. Telluride Ski & Golf Resort (TSG) requires all hang gliders/paragliders at the Telluride Ski Resort to hold a valid, current Telluride Air Force (TAF) membership, as well as a current, valid United States Hangliding / Paragliding Association (USHPA) membership, and TSG further requires all hang gliders/paragliders show a USHPA membership card to any TSG personnel, upon request, prior to loading any lift or otherwise accessing a launch site on TSG land.

Kite skiing, traction kites, speed gliding and riding are prohibited on our mountain.

For more information on access please contact the Risk Management Department at 970-728-7459.

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