How to be prepared for and handle a mountain emergency.

SKI PATROL and EMERGENCIES call (530) 426-6727, or 9-1-1.

SKI PATROL
Members of Ski Patrol are dressed in red uniform jackets with white crosses. Their primary roles on-mountain are to provide assistance and care for injured guests, to assess and mark hazards, perform avalanche reduction operations and share their knowledge of safe skiing practices with our guests.

Ski Patrol Locations are found throughout the resort. Ask any uniformed resort employee for directions:

First Aid – lower level of Judah Lodge past Special Tickets; Village Lodge past the Hotel front desk down the corridor from the Gondola terminal.

Ski Patrol block houses – are found at the top of the following lifts: Mt. Disney Express, Mt. Lincoln Express, Jerome Hill Express, Mt. Judah Express and Summit Chairlift.

MOUNTAIN SAFETY PATROL
You’ll see Mountain Safety personnel in their bright yellow jackets throughout the day in slow zones and high traffic areas helping guests and controlling the flow of traffic. With your help, we look to create a safe skiing/riding culture for our community of mountain lovers!

IN CASE OF INJURY
If someone is injured, do not remove their skis or board, but place your own or other crossed skis/snowboard uphill from the injured person; do not move them unless absolutely necessary. Call Patrol at (530) 426-6727, or if outside resort operation hours, call 911. Stay with the injured person until Patrol arrives. Patrol will ask for the number of the phone from which you are calling, your location on the mountain, a description of the injured person, and the nature of the injury.

TAHOE FOREST HOSPITAL
Tahoe Forest Hospital, 11 miles from Sugar Bowl Resort in Truckee at 10121 Pine Avenue, provides emergency care 24 hours per day. Call (530) 587-6011.

Know the Code - It's Your Responsibility

The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) developed Your Responsibility Code to help skiers and boarders be aware that there are elements of risk in snow sports that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. The Seven Points to Your 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.

THIS IS A PARTIAL LIST. BE SAFETY CONSCIOUS.

Sugar Bowl is committed to promoting skier/rider safety to its guests and employees.

APPROVED DEVICES

In addition to people using traditional alpine ski equipment, you may be joined on the slopes by snowboarders, snow bladers, mono-skiers, telemark skiers, or skiers with disabilities using adaptive equipment. All equipment must have metal edges and bindings. Use of any other equipment, such as sleds, snow skates, snow decks, toboggans, tubes, trays, saucers, personal snow bikes, etc., is strictly prohibited on resort premises.

OBJECTS ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR - STAY IN CONTROL AND ABLE TO STOP.

NSAA developed the "Objects are Closer Than They Appear" campaign to shine a spotlight on the first tenet of Your Responsibility Code: Always stay in control and be able to stop and avoid other people or objects.

• Check Your Speed.
• Warning, Objects Are Closer Than They Appear.
• Fixed Objects Don’t Move – You Do!
• Factoid – At 27mph You Need 60 feet and 1½ Seconds to Avoid a Tree.
• Defensible Distance – Do You Have It?

HELMET USE - EQUIPMENT & BEHAVIOR ARE PRIMARY SAFETY MEASURES.

Along with NSAA, we promote the use of helmets on the slopes. We urge skiers and riders to wear a helmet - but to ski or ride as if they are not wearing a helmet. NSAA views skiing and snowboarding in a controlled and responsible manner - not helmets only - as the primary safety consideration for all skiers and boarders. A skier's behavior has as much or more to do with the safety of the sport as does any piece of equipment.

Practice Responsible Lift Use

According to our friends at NSAA, using and riding chair lifts in a responsible manner is one of the primary safety considerations for all skiers and boarders. It’s YOUR Responsibility to know how to use and ride the lift safely. Here are some tips:

• Need assistance? Ask the lift attendant for help.
• Remove & carry packs. Children in packs are not allowed on chairlifts at Sugar Bowl.
• Do not use phones, music or games while loading or unloading.
• It is OK to miss a chair and wait for the next one.
• When loading, watch for the approaching chair and then sit to the back once seated!
• Drop something? Let it FALL. Any item dropped can be picked up later.
• Absolutely NO horseplay on the lifts!

Kids on Lifts Safety

Small children that have difficulty loading and sitting on the chair will need assistance from adults. It is our goal to identify these children and pair them with an adult. Chair riding position is critical and we do not want anyone leaning on the restraint bar. All guests should be seated with their backs and bottoms firmly on the chair and holding onto the armrest, seatback or safety bar if they can maintain the proper seating position. Our safety practices are focused on several key areas:

• Identifying children that will have trouble loading, riding and unloading lifts.
• Pairing these children with adults.
• Loading children into the chair including lowering the bar.
• Educating everyone on the proper way for children to ride the lift. The Kids on Lifts safety talk is covered at the onset of all age-appropriate lessons.
• Raising the bar at the right time and unloading.

 

It is everyone’s responsibility to adhere to Kids on Lifts safety protocols. This is a partial list.

In December of 2011, our community suffered a great loss when John Marco Henderson, age 7, died after falling from the Mt. Lincoln chairlift while skiing with the Sugar Bowl Ski Team. In the aftermath of this terrible accident, Sugar Bowl and the Henderson family formed a unique partnership to investigate what happened to John in order to determine what steps could be taken to prevent a similar tragedy.

READ THE FULL STORY

Reporting Skier Collisions - It's The Law!

Placer County Code § 9.28.040 requires when involved in a skiing collision with other skiers which results in bodily injury to another person, a skier shall not depart from the scene of the accident without first leaving his or her name and address with the ski patrol in the ski area where such injury occurred. Failure to report shall constitute a misdemeanor. Per § 9.28.090 A., any person convicted of a misdemeanor for violating the provision of Section 9.28.040 shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the County Jail not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

CONTACT SKI PATROL IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN OR WITNESS A COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY AT (530) 426-6727.

Sugar Bowl is committed to promoting skier/rider safety in all its terrain parks.

SMART STYLE - PARK SMART - RESPECT GETS RESPECT.

Along with the NSAA, we introduce you to the Smart Style - Park Smart Terrain Park Safety initiative. The Smart Style - Park Smart Terrain Park Safety Program has five main messages:

• 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 others.
• TAKE IT EASY. Know your limits. Land on your feet.

PRACTICE PARK ETIQUETTE

Do not stop or ride through landings. If there are boards or skis in front of a jump, the jump is closed so go around the feature. When not using features, stay off to the side of the trail, out of the way. Use features in the manner in which they are intended. Don't jump off the sides of the takeoffs.

Code of Conduct, Three Strikes Program, and more

CODE OF CONDUCT – STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR

The standards listed below are not exhaustive, but they are the most prevalent behaviors that generate guest complaints, dissatisfaction and injury. These behaviors are not permitted at Sugar Bowl and depending on severity, may result in education or application of the Three Strikes Program.

• Failure to abide by the 7 points of Your Responsibility Code (above).
• Line cutting.
• Malicious throwing – snowballs or any other items/objects.
• Littering.
• Talking on cell phones while loading/unloading lifts.
• Malicious spraying of others.
• Failure to observe posted boundary, closure and warning signs, bamboo and ropes.
• Excessive speed in slow zones and in congested areas (lift mazes, base areas).
• Failure to abide by the directions of resort personnel.
• Violation of Federal, State or County statutes, codes or ordinances
• Vandalism
• Theft of resort or individual’s property, including ticket/pass fraud
• Fighting
• Unlawful consumption of drugs or alcohol
• Verbal or physical assault
• Jibbing and/or bonking resort property outside terrain parks
• Public nudity or indecency
• Hit and run skiing and/or riding
• Skiing/riding in a closed area or closed avalanche zone
• Malicious throwing – snowballs or other items resulting in bodily harm or property damage

THREE STRIKES PROGRAM – ENFORCING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

For violations of the Code of Conduct we use a severity and escalation approach to consequences. First time violations of mild severity will likely result in education and a warning. Relatively minor violations where the guest’s response escalates the situation may result in a higher degree of consequences. More severe and subsequent documented violations will result in privilege suspensions up to and including revocation of lift tickets and season passes, and in the event of violation of statute/law, referral to law enforcement.

• 1st violation/strike is usually accompanied by a warning and continued privileges, depending on the nature of violation and attitude displayed.
• 2nd violation/strike is accompanied with discipline. Tickets generally are revoked and season passes are suspended for 1-14 days depending on guest attitude and the type of violation.
• 3rd violation/strike will result in ticket revocation and indefinite suspension of ability to purchase tickets. Passes are suspended indefinitely.
• Employees are held to a higher standard; code of conduct violations or illegal activities will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

DRONE POLICY (UAS)

At Sugar Bowl Resort, the use of drones and radio-controlled model aircraft, which are currently considered an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), is a public and guest safety concern, and, where cameras are used, a potential privacy issue. Drones are not allowed to be used by the public at Sugar Bowl Resort, both at the base areas and on the mountain. The safety and privacy of our guests is our primary concern.

Ski or ride with a buddy.

DEEP SNOW SAFETY – SNOW IMMERSION SUFFOCATION (SIS)

Skiing and snowboarding off the groomed runs and in deep powder is one of the most exciting and appealing parts of our sport. However, if you decide to leave the groomed trails you are voluntarily accepting the risk of a deep snow immersion accident. A deep snow, or tree well immersion accident occurs when a skier or rider falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized and suffocates. Deaths resulting from these kinds of accidents are referred to as a SIS hazard or Snow Immersion Suffocation.

Know the current conditions and ski or ride with a partner and keep your partner in sight at all times.

Know Before You Go

UPHILL TRAVEL POLICY

Uphill use of the resort and its surrounding areas by means of skinning have gained popularity at Sugar Bowl. Skiers and riders must review, agree to and sign the Uphill Use Policy before traveling uphill at Sugar Bowl Resort, and abide by the rules and regulations established by Sugar Bowl and USFS when accessing the resort both during and after operating hours. Due to increased participation of uphill travel at Sugar Bowl, access will be limited to New Uphill season passholders and Sugar Bowl's downhill season passholders and

Pricing:

$199  Uphill Season Pass (No lift access) * - (BUY NOW)

          *Sugar Bowl downhill or uphill only season pass is required if utilizing trails within Sugar Bowl boundaries for uphill travel.

At Sugar Bowl Resort we strive to deliver a safe and enjoyable resort experience, and we appreciate your attention and cooperation! For daily uphill status call (530) 426-6775.

Up-and-Out Backcountry Access:

We also offer an Up-and-Out ticket for those who want to access the backcountry but would prefer to skip the first skin up. Up-and-Out tickets are only available for purchase at the Judah Ticket windows which open at 8:00am. Up-and-Out tickets will not be available for purchase if backcountry gates are closed by Ski Patrol due to conditions.

$41  Single-Scan Up-and-Out Ticket (No lift access) - This ticket is only valid for one gate scan, use it wisely. Suggested lift would be Mt. Judah Express.

$61  Two-Scan Up-and-Out Ticket (No lift access) - This ticket is valid for two gates scans. This allows the user to ride Jerome Hill Express to Mt. Lincoln Express, or two laps on Mt. Judah Express.

• You may only ascend on skis with metal edges.
• No uphill foot traffic permitted.
• No snowshoes permitted.
• No dogs permitted.
• You must adhere to designated uphill routes and ascend at edge of the trail.
• You must have your season pass on your person and be prepared to present it.

For daily status on Uphill Travel routes call (530) 426-6775 or click here.

BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS

Backcountry safety starts with you: Pay attention at all times. Here is what you need to know before venturing outside the ski area boundary.

Sugar Bowl, in conjunction with the USFS maintains an open boundary policy. The area beyond the ski area boundary is in its natural state and entering the backcountry involves significant risks including those posed by deep snow, avalanches, steep terrain, cliffs, cornices and other terrain variations. We do not regularly perform avalanche mitigation or ski patrol support beyond our boundary and take no additional measures to mitigate the hazards to which skiers/boarders might be exposed. Persons skiing or riding beyond the ski area boundary assume all risks inherent in the backcountry. Before you leave the ski area boundary, please take the time to educate yourself about the backcountry.

For detailed backcountry access educational resources and the current backcountry report for the North Tahoe region visit the Sierra Avalanche Center website.

Always stay within sight and voice with a partner while skiing/riding in the backcountry. Only access the backcountry through the following Backcountry Gates, only when designated as “OPEN”. Refer to the resort trail map for these specific gate locations: