Alyeska Resort has six chairlifts. If any of those experience any kind of mechanical breakdown, we are always ready to step in.
Mountain
SAFETY
Stay Safe on the Hill
Alyeska is a member of the National Ski Area Association, and as such, we adopt the same general mountain safety codes and regulations found across the country that are part of the NSAA system.
First and foremost, skiing and riding safely is everyone’s responsibility.
KNOW THE CODE
Skiing & Snowboarding Safety
Skier Responsibility Code
- Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
- People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
- Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
- Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
- You must prevent runaway equipment.
- Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
- Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
- You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
- Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- 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.
Smart Style
The National Ski Area Association and Burton Snowboards have developed the “Smart Style” Freestyle Terrain Safety initiative, a cooperative effort to continue the proper use and progression of freestyle terrain at mountain resorts.
- MAKE A PLAN
Every time you use freestyle terrain, make a plan for each feature you want to use. Your speed, approach and take off will directly affect your maneuver and landing. - LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
Scope around the jumps first, not over them. Know your landings are clear and clear yourself out of the landing area. - EASY STYLE IT
Start small and work your way up. (Inverted aerials not recommended except in events & terrain park). - RESPECT GETS RESPECT
From the lift line through the park.
Trail Signage
Know the signs of the international trail marking system. They explain the degree and difficulty for each trail.
The system of difficulty markers is relative and only valid at this area. This system is not necessarily the same as a similarly rated trail at another ski area. Skiers/boarders should begin with the easiest trails regardless of ability level, until familiar with the trails at the area. During periods of low visibility or other inclement weather and snow conditions, the degree of difficulty of the ski/snowboard run my change. Know your ability level and stay within it.
Inherent risk of skiing
Under Alaska law, the risk of an injury to a person or property resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing rests with the skier. Inherent dangers and risks of skiing include changing weather conditions; existing and changing snow conditions; bare spots; rocks, stumps and trees; collisions with natural objects, man-made objects, or other skiers; variations in terrain; and the failure of skiers to ski within their own abilities. If you are involved in a collision with another skier/boarder you must stay at the scene until ski patrol arrives.
Be advised that all poles, flags, fencing, signage and padding on equipment or objects or other forms of marking devices are used by the area to inform you of the presence or location of a potential obstacle or hazard. These markers are no guarantee of your safety and will not protect you from injury. A rope line made up of bamboo and rope, with no closed signs, indicates a hazard behind the line and can be considered a warning rope.
Please observe posted SLOW ZONE areas by maintaining a speed no faster than the general flow of traffic. Fast and aggressive skiing/boarding will result in the loss of skiing privileges.
Lift Safety
- Be familiar with the type of lift you are riding, and ask for help if you need it.
- For snowboarders, you must have one foot in the binding and one foot out while loading and unloading. This helps you maneuver on and off of the chairlift safely.
- For skiers, you must have both skis on during loading, unloading, and on the mountain. *Exception- if you are actively doing drills with an ASC or MSS coach.
- Before loading, remove backpacks and secure loose items. Remove pole straps from wrists.
- Look over your shoulder to watch the chair approach.
- Sit all the way in the chair, with your back to the seat rest.
- If the lift has a restraint bar, wait until everyone is seated, and slowly reach up and lower the bar.Do not attempt to lower the bar if you cannot reach it! Adults should always help kids to lower the bar.
- Be aware of your surroundings while riding the lift. If you drop something, let it fall! You can always ask ski patrol for help retrieving the lost item.
- No toddlers, babies or infants in front or back packs while parents ski or snowboard on lifts or magic carpets.
- As you approach the top terminal, prepare to raise the bar. Look for signs advising you to do so to help with your timing.
Collision Safety
Be Ready
Be ready to slow down or avoid objects or other people at any time. Ski and ride in such a way that you are always able to control yourself regardless of conditions and avoid others and objects you may encounter on the run, groomed or otherwise.
Stay Alert
Stay alert to what’s going on around you, especially other skiers and riders. Being aware of those around and changing conditions will help you have a fun and safe day on the hill.
Plan Ahead
Ease up at blind spots, check uphill when merging onto trails, and give other skiers plenty of room when passing. Look out for spots on the run where traffic merges or you can’t see what’s coming next. If you are unfamiliar with a run, take it easy the first time down it and make note of places where you’ll want to slow down, such as cat tracks and rollers. Also, give other skiers and riders lots or room, especially if you are passing them. There’s plenty of space out there, so there’s no need to crowd each other.
Helmet Safety
Helmets can help mitigate head injuries on the slopes. Bonus: they also keep your head warm! Not all ski areas require helmets, but it is a good idea to outfit your child with one, and wear one yourself. While wearing a helmet is a personal choice, you would be setting a good example for the young ones in your family if you chose to wear one while skiing or riding.
Lids For Kids
In 2002, only 63% of kids age 9 and under wore helmets while skiing or snowboarding. Kids 17 and under? Less than half!
NSAA developed the Lids on Kids program to help ski areas educate their guests on helmet use in skiing and snowboarding. The campaign included FAQs about helmet use, fit and sizing information, general slope safety information, related articles and games, and testimonials about helmet use from well-known athletes, including U.S. Ski Team members. The tagline, “A Helmet-It’s a Smart Idea,” is printed on posters and promotional cards at resorts nationwide.
The result? A demonstrable and significant increase in kids wearing helmets. Nearly 100% of kids age 9 and under reported wearing a helmet while skiing or riding – without state or local mandates. This past season (2021-22), about 95% of all kids age 17 and under wore helmets on the slopes.
Freestyle Terrain Safety
Freestyle terrain areas are marked with an orange oval and may include features like jumps, ramps, banks, fun boxes, rails, half pipes, quarter pipes, snowcross, bumps, and other natural or constructed elements. Before entering these areas, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the Freestyle Terrain guidelines and follow all posted instructions, warnings, and signs. Freestyle skills require control both on the ground and in the air, and using this terrain carries a risk of serious injury or death. Inverted aerials are not recommended, and by entering, you accept this risk.
Freestyle terrain is also designated by relative size, with each feature divided into four zones. Identify these zones, plan your approach, and keep the following safety tips in mind:
- Start Small
- Work your way up. Build your skills.
- Make a Plan
- Every feature. Every time.
- Always Look
- Before you drop.
- Respect
- The features and other users.
- Take It Easy
- Know your limits. Land on your feet.
Tree Wells & Deep Snow Immersion
Tree wells are hidden depressions around tree bases that can pose a danger to skiers and snowboarders. To stay safe, avoid skiing near trees and maintain control.
Skiing and snowboarding off groomed trails and in deep powder can be one of the most thrilling parts of the sport. However, by choosing to leave the groomed runs, you are accepting the risk of a deep snow immersion accident. These incidents occur when a skier or rider falls into deep, loose snow, becoming trapped and at risk of suffocation. Fatalities from these types of accidents are known as SIS hazards, or Snow Immersion Suffocation.
- The easiest way to avoid a SIS accident is to remain on groomed areas and avoid deep snow and tree well areas.
- Be aware of the recent snowfall and the depth of the loose snow – check local resources for recent snow conditions.
- If you venture into UNGROOMED terrain:
- Ride or ski with a partner and keep your partner in sight at all times.
- Ski or ride in control.
- Give tree wells a wide berth. Look at the open spaces between trees not at the trees.
- Skiers should remove ski pole straps.
- Carry safety equipment including:
- Cell phone with resort emergency number
- Transceiver / beacon
- Avalung
- Whistle
- Shovel
- Probe
- Recco
- Keep your partner in sight at all times. In many SIS accidents, skiers and snowboarders, have part of their body or equipment visible – but a partner wasnt there to see them.
- Take heart. Increased awareness and education reduces SIS risks. There are more reported cases of skiers and boarders being rescued by their partners each season.
Avalanche Safety
Closed Areas
Ski Patrol uses a variety of techniques and equipment for avalanche mitigation, including explosives. Avalanche mitigation may require terrain closures and delay opening. For your safety, never enter a closed area.
Changing snow conditions
Both natural and man-made. Resorts may use poles, flags, discs, ropes, fencing, signs, and other devices to provide visual warnings. No resort can mark all hazards and obstacles. Be aware of changing conditions.
Out of bounds
Here at Alyeska, we have a closed boundary policy and that means that you may neither leave the ski area boundary to access the backcountry nor enter the ski area from the backcountry. Going beyond an established boundary or into closed areas could result in serious injury or death. Violators will be fined, lose resort privileges, and be responsible for any costs incurred. Areas outside the boundary are neither controlled nor patrolled, and ski patrol is under no obligation to conduct a rescue. Avalanches may occur at any time, if you are caught in one serious injury or death could result. Avalanche beacons, shovels, probes, & skiing with a partner is recommended. Avalanche education, proper equipment, and a partner are essential if you choose to enter the backcountry elsewhere. Contact your local avalanche center for more info.
WHO ARE WE?
Alyeska Pro Patrol
Full and part-time paid positions covering the mountain seven days a week from the beginning until the end of the ski season during operating hours.
WHAT DO WE DO?
First Aid
We provide basic medical treatment for injured skiers and riders, a free service provided by Alyeska Resort. Alyeska Ski Patrol trains each fall and continually during the season to keep up with any changing protocols within the Outdoor Emergency Care curriculum and to keep our skills sharp. Additional to the OEC certification that we all carry, many of our patrollers hold other certifications and licenses such as WFR, EMT I, II, III, Paramedic, and Physician’s Assistant.
Extrication
We train in many types of extrication methods and use a variety of tools and equipment to transport a person in need to the base area from anywhere within our boundaries. At the base area we may use a snow machine for transportation and further up the mountain we may place guests in a sled known as a Ski Patrol Toboggan for transportation to the base area. As the difficulty of the terrain compounds, we begin using ropes and high angle rescue techniques such as complex multi-anchor mechanical advantage systems to aid our rescue efforts.
Avalanche Search & Rescue
We work on a mountain that contains an enormous amount of avalanche terrain, therefore we train often for avalanche search and rescue. All patrollers carry a beacon, shovel, and probe at all times and we are also equipped with the RECCO detection system.
Lift Evacuation
Resort Reservations
1-907-754-2111
Guest Services/ Hotel (local)
1-907-754-1111
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While on the slopes, you will see people using alpine skis, telemark skis, snowboards, and other snow play equipment such as snow skates, snow bikes and adaptive ski gear. You will see skiers of all levels – from beginners enjoying their first day on the slopes to expert skiers with years of experience. It is always your responsibility, regardless of the equipment used or the level of skier that you are, to be courteous to others and to be aware that skiing safely makes the ski slopes safer for all of us.
Alyeska is a large mountain with difficult and dangerous terrain and skiing and riding are dangerous sports. We do our best to inform guests of the possible hazards associated with snow sports. We do our best to mark hazards and dangerous terrain appropriately. We also actively open and close certain areas of the mountain often due to Snow Safety considerations, ski conditions, or darkness
Our beginner ski zones and high skier traffic areas are important to us and we refer to these areas as “Slow” zones. We label them as such on our trail maps and with signs and banners as you ski through each of these areas. We encourage guests to ‘Go with the Flow’ in these areas, ski only as fast as the skier next to you. Our least favorite part of the job is to be the police on the mountain. We do our best to keep an eye on people skiing around to ensure everyone is skiing safely and within their limits.
Alyeska has set Enforcement Guidelines based on the Skier Responsibility Code and Mountain Safety Concerns for behavior on the mountain. Alyeska operates under a lease through the Department of Natural Resources which requires the resort to enforce violations of state statute. Violations of the Alaska skier safety act or other state laws can be referred to DNR and may lead to a citation. In addition to loss of lift privileges and fines we also require all ‘violators’ to take the Mountain Education Test, a tool used to help educate.