CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: For the latest information
Click here
WCS_logo
lift tickets
 & passes
lift tickets
 & passes


WCSA COVID-19 Operating Plan

Updated 12.8.20

GUEST DISCLAIMER

Due to COVID-19, this ski season will be different in some ways, but WCSA is dedicated to continue to provide the best skiing experience possible.

We will require that all guests to keep our community safe by practicing the Five Commitments of Containment:

  • Stay home when sick and get tested: please pre-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to coming to ski. These symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, new loss of smell or taste. Health screenings will be required for ski lessons.
  • Wear a mask: Masks are required in all buildings, bathrooms, while waiting in line for tickets or to ride the lift, while riding in the shuttles, while on the lift, and while participating in ski lessons.
  • Maintain six-feet of physical distance: This includes in buildings, in lift and ticket lines, parking lots, and anywhere else you encounter others while enjoying our 1600 acres of skiable terrain.
  • Minimize group size: please consider only traveling and recreating with your immediate family and avoid crowded places as much as possible
  • Wash hands frequently: guests should wash their hands or utilize the hand sanitizer stations before entering buildings. WCSA will also have hand sanitizer stations outside each building.

SAFETY MEASURES:

  • WCSA will announce all pertinent information on our website including Local, State, and Federal guidelines, as well as the State and County Dial. This information will also be sent to our guests and available through the ticket office.
  • WCSA will display the proper signage throughout the ski area to remind guests of all the policies for social distancing, mask wearing, and hygiene. This will also include signage telling guests to “STOP” and not enter a building if they are experiencing any symptoms
  • WCSA will assign employees to maintain and ensure policies are being followed such as social distancing, crowd management, and mask wearing. We will ask our guests to understand that they are following guidelines from the State, and we hope they respect the fact that they are just doing their job.
  • WCSA will only be accepting credit cards this season in all departments.
  • WCSA will have a separate lift line for guests who wish to ride the chairlift alone; the “Ride Alone Lane” will be loading every 4th If you’re traveling with your immediate family or with an intimate group, these skiers/riders can load on the same chairlift together.
  • We are encouraging guests to bring your own bagged lunch, snacks and drinks. There will be no seating in-doors. Please bring your own water as there will be no access in-doors to water.
  • Pre-purchasing lift tickets is preferred and can be done by visiting the eStore;purchases must be made at least 2 days in advance (i.e. if you want to ski Saturday, purchase by midnight Thursday).

 

  • If inventory is available, lift tickets can also be purchased on the day of skiing. Most days of the season, lift tickets will be available with the exception of Peak Period days. Prepaid lift tickets can be picked up at the “Will Call” tables next to the Ticket Windows.
  • WCSA will be limiting guest capacity to 5,000 guests per day. Over peak periods, if you did not purchase your lift tickets through the eStore, there may not be any inventory available.   There are 19 days that are considered our peak days that change slightly from year to year. This season’s peak period days are listed on the pricing tab under lift tickets. If lift tickets are still available over the peak period days it will be noted on the Homepage of the Wolf Creek website.
  • WCSA will allow cancellations and rescheduling of tickets and lessons for a full refund minus a $25 processing fee. We will encourage guests to contact the ticket office by phone or email if they’re having any symptoms or if they have been exposed, and then we can easily process the refund or reschedule. Please allow at least a week for processing cancellations and rescheduling.
  • At this time there will be no indoor places available to guests; in the event of extreme weather conditions, guests will be required to seek shelter in their own private vehicles.
  • Guest capacity and social distancing will be managed in the lift lines, bathrooms, buildings, and shuttles; therefore, there may be a line with social distancing requirements outside.
  • Social distancing will be required in the parking lots. Gatherings of ten people or more is advised against as per the state of Colorado regulations.
  • WCSA will be using electrostatic sprayers to disinfect all buildings and bathrooms. All bathrooms will be cleaned on an hourly basis.
  • WSCA installed ionizing machines in all the forced air systems in our lodges. These machines are UL listed and produce a large number of ions in the airstream. Once in the room, these ions bond with all particles and accelerate the breakdown of the virus to around a half an hour. We will increase ventilation and fresh air in our indoor spaces to assist in the removal of potentially dangerous air.
  • We will be obtaining regular community feedback via our Comment Forms on our policies and will make adjustments necessary within the State and Local guidelines to make our guest’s experience safer, if necessary.

Before planning a trip to ski, please consider these new policies as well as everyone’s responsibility in keeping our community safe. We’re all in this together! There may be risk of Local, State, or Federal guidelines and regulations changing which may alter or cancel your visit at WCSA. WCSA will not be offering any refunds due to a forced early closure of the ski area. There is also a risk that if you do get sick while visiting that you will be asked to quarantine for 14 days in the local area and this additional financial cost for the added stay will be your responsibility.

DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES:

All departments will follow the Mountain Wide COVID-19 safety policies, with the addition of these more specific policies for their departments

ADMINISTRATIVE AND TICKETING OFFICES

WCSA administrative offices will follow all guidelines set forth by the State.

 

PATROL POLICIES         

All protocols have been reviewed and approved by Physician Advisor/Medical Control Dr. Grant Hurley

  • Duty stations should be limited as follows:
    • Duty stations will be assigned on a weekly basis and patrollers will remain on that station for an entire week.
    • Summit – no more than 4 patrollers at a time when possible.
    • Palace – no more than 2 patrollers at a time when possible.
    • Knife Ridge Out-Post – no more than 2 patrollers at a time when possible.
    • Every response requires the following minimum PPE for patrollers while on‐hill assessing patients in the lower risk/routine/non‐respiratory patients; gloves, buff or neck gator covering mouth and nose when outdoors, eye protection (approved medical eyeglasses or goggles).
    • Minimal PPE use for patrollers while on‐hill assessing patients in the higher risk/nonroutine/respiratory patients (this would include the coughing patient, CPR, suctioning, or any AGP’s, as well as any positives on the screening protocol); gloves, N95, eye protection (approved medical eyeglasses, goggles, or face shield), and gown.
  • New protocols for responding to COVID-19 patients
    • Dispatch must acquire as much information as possible including asking if the patient has or has recently had fever, cough, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, or COVID‐19 symptoms and relay information to the first responder.
    • PPE Required: Properly fitted N‐95 mask, gown, gloves, and approved eyewear or face shield. We will provide the patient with a surgical mask if not already wearing one.
    • Isolate the patient. No family members or acquaintance within 6 feet of patient or first responder. If a family member or acquaintance must be present, they must wear a surgical mask.
    • Treat patient per appropriate protocol as out lined in SLV RETAC protocols mentioned above attempting to avoid nebulizer treatment or CPAP.
    • If patient is stable and can seek medical care via POV contact medical control and attempt to release patient POV to hospital, otherwise call ambulance. If an ambulance is called indicated ID (infectious disease) precautions required by EMS crew. This decision is to be made by ALS patroller, senior patroller, or medical control ONLY.

 

  • On-Hill Procedures:
    • Attempt to do initial assessment from at least 6 feet away to determine potential COVID-19 risk.
    • Limit the number of responders to one if possible, or the minimum required to safely provide care.
  • Unless medically contraindicated or under 3 years of age, all patients are to utilize source control masking, to be initiated at first contact, preferably simultaneous to initial screening questions. If patient is in the lower risk category in relation to COVID‐19, their own cloth mask or buff/neck gator or bandana would be sufficient. If patient has no such face covering available, we provide a surgical mask. If patient is in a higher risk category, then a surgical mask preferred.
  • First Aid Room (FAR) Procedures:
    • Once in the FAR, surgical masks are required for all patients.
    • Once in the FAR, N‐95 mask is required for patrollers providing care.
    • Walk‐in patients will be screened prior to entry by FAR attendant to the nature of visit, as well as asking if the patient has or recently had a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, or COVID‐19 symptoms.
    • Patients who have a fever should leave the ski area to receive further medical attention. They will not be permitted to stay in the FAR while the rest of their party continues to ski. Limit the number of family/visitors in the FAR to zero or minimum possible. Patients that require assistance or are not of age may have one guardian with them but all other visitors will need to wait outside. Every patient or acquaintance in the FAR must wear surgical mask.
    • There will be no “hanging out” of patients or their family/friends in the FAR. After a patient has been carefully assessed and treated, they then need to leave and seek further medical treatment. We will be making sure that we express to our guests that there is no available space for resting in the lodges due to limited capacity, and they will be restricted to the outdoor seating spaces or their cars for resting.
    • Altitude sick patients will not be allowed to rest in the FAR unless medically contraindicated or they fall into a high-risk category in consideration to altitude sickness. For the altitude sick patients that do not meet the before mentioned criteria, they will be thoroughly and carefully assessed/treated and advised on prevention, to go to a lower altitude, and where to seek medical attention if symptoms persist.

 

TICKETING POLICIES

  • During peak periods, pre-paid lift tickets can be picked up at the “Will Call” tables that are located next to the Ticket Office. Lift tickets will be listed by the person’s last name who purchased the online tickets.  Please have that name available; a driver’s license may be requested at any time.  Purchasing lift tickets will be available at the:  Lift Ticket Office, the Ticket Office Satellite, located around the corner from the main Ticket Office; the Lynx Building, if family has Beginner Skiers that need rentals.  Locations also include the outside of the Prospector Grill or outside of the Wolf Creek Lodge (main day lodge on slope side).

 

  • Gift cards can be purchased online in advance or at the Ticket Office during non-peak times, for any food or retail items that younger family members may want – these gift cards can be used in place of cash transactions. Gift card users are recommended to make a pre-purchase in advance for the dates they want to ski; the transaction will be treated like a credit or debit card and will be deducted from their balance

LIFT POLICIES

  • Quad and Triple Chairlifts: WCSA will have a separate lift line for guests who wish to ride the chairlift alone; the “Ride Alone Lane” will be loading every 4th  If your traveling with your immediate family or with an intimate group, these skiers/riders can load on the same chairlift together.
  • The Nova Double chairlift will allow ski school with a beginner private lesson. WCSA will have a separate lift line for guests who wish to ride the chairlift alone; the “Ride Alone Lane” will be loading every 4th If your traveling with your immediate family or with an intimate group, these skiers/riders can load on the same chairlift together.
  • The Raven Lift will be opening at 7:30 AM on a daily basis once early season snowmaking and grooming activities are completed.
  • Once early season snowmaking and grooming activities are completed, all other lifts will open as close to 8 AM as possible as conditions allow. (Expect delayed openings on all lifts except the Raven due to avalanche hazard reduction efforts).
  • The earlier lift opening is a method of staggering people on the start of the day. Many skiers enjoy starting early and leaving early, reducing capacity for late-comers.

 

RENTAL POLICIES

  • WCSA has set a building capacity of 11 guests for the Ski Rental and 2 guests for the Boarder Dome.
  • WCSA has constructed a significant sneeze guard in the ski rental.
  • Guests will be asked to keep their boots for the duration of the visits, minimizing the possibility of overcrowding.
  • All boots and ski equipment will be sanitized upon return.

SKI SCHOOL AND WOLF PUP POLICIES

  • Starting November 19th, we will be offering reserved private lessons only. The lesson must be reserved by 3:00 pm the day before the lesson to assure we can accommodate the lesson.
  • Private lessons may be limited during this preseason time, so early reservations are recommended.  Private lessons must be reserved over the phone because of the many questions needed to be asked.  Wolf Creek is committed to start operations with a conservative approach in accordance to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Guidance (CDPHE) during these difficult times.  Please read the CDPHE guidance for Ski School so you know what is expected.
  • Half and Full Day Private lessons are a good option for small family groups and folks traveling together. A Half Day private is a three-hour lesson and a Full Day private is a five-hour lesson, both can accommodate up to 5 people.
  • If you have limited time here at Wolf Creek, consider learning skiing instead of snowboarding. Skiing is generally easier to learn especially if you only have one day here at the mountain.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE POLICIES:

  • WCSA will not be offering any indoor food service for the foreseeable future. A Take-Out food service is now available at the Wolf Creek Lodge (the main day-lodge). A limited menu is available.

SPORTS SHOP POLICIES:

  • Only 4 people will be allowed in the store at a time. Hands must be sanitized at the front door, face masks required and social distancing practiced.  WCSA does not allow returns of any kind in the Sports Shop. We can accept exchanges with all sales tags in place and the item not used in anyway, the return will be sanitized with a UVC light wand prior to placing the items back on the sales floor.

EMPLOYEE GUIDELINES:

  • All employees are required to do the same health pre-screening that we ask our guests to do prior to coming to work. A database of employees and their health screenings will be kept for potential contact tracing purposes.
  • All employees must wear a mask at all times and maintain social distancing whenever possible. We will be supplying masks to employees that need them, as well as requiring face shields along with face masks for employees work closely with the public.
  • Clock-in times will stagger for larger departments to maintain the building capacity of locker rooms and lodges.
  • WCSA has put together safety policies for our employees to follow such as
    • COVID-19 Safety Plan
    • WCSA Employee Handbook
    • COVID-19 Supervisor Reporting Form
    • MindFlash Trainings; WCSA has an extensive online training program for each department as well as mountain-wide trainings that are required for each employee. These trainings for COVID-19 include but are not limited to:
      • Employee Transportation and Car Pool Safety
      • Health Pre-Screening Protocols
      • Proper Hand Washing & Hygiene
      • Proper Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols
      • COVID-19 Reporting Standards
      • Proper Mask Wearing & Cleaning
      • Responding to a Guest Policy Breach

WCSA will be updating all policies based on Local, State, and Federal guidelines. We will ensure all guests and employees receive necessary and prompt communication based on these guidelines, and will implement new regulations as required.