Winter 2020/21 Health & Safety changes to operations.
We are looking forward to enjoying the outdoors this winter on over 400 acres of terrain! Skiing and snowboarding provide vital winter physical activity and help sustain healthy strong families. An active community is a healthy community and never has physical activity been more important!
Harper Mountain’s goal is, and continues to be, to keep employees, guests, and our local community safe during the COVID-19 public crisis.
Please “BE THE REASON WE HAVE A SEASON” by following these COVID-19 Guidelines and Procedures:
Please do your part and do not visit Harper Mountain if:
You are ill or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, including:
• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
Or if:
• You, or anyone in your household, has traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days
• You, or anyone in your household, has been in close contact with a confirmed or possible case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• You are currently being investigated for a suspected case of COVID-19
• You are currently required by BC Centre for Disease Control to isolate or be in quarantine
We have modified our amenities and operations to enhance the safety and health precautions for both our guests and staff.
• We will have signage installed around the resort to encourage all guests to self-regulate physical distancing when in the parking lots, inside and outside the lodge.
• All staff, volunteers, and guests are required to wear face coverings while inside or outside including Lift lines and while riding the lifts. Guests will self-group, load, and ride chairlifts with their own party. The T-Bar is with your own party or single.
• You are only permitted to remove your face covering while seated for eating or drinking.
• This year, we have specific Entry and Exit signs in the lodge for one-way traffic, both upstairs and downstairs. Please follow the direction flow.
• There will be a reduced maximum number of people allowed inside the lodge including the main area, rental shop, and upstairs cafeteria. No one is permitted inside the lodge to get dressed. You must arrive ready.
• The inside stairs are closed, therefore access via outside doors only with one-way traffic.
• Washroom access is from outside doors only.
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures have been implemented.
• The hill may close at -20 degrees Celsius due to restricted lodge access. These changes will be communicated on our website and via our social media channels.
• All staff will be required to do a health screening before every shift and staff who are ill will not be permitted to work.
• Hand sanitizer will be provided throughout the lodge
Season Passes and Tickets:
• Season Pass’s will be available online and at Dolson’s Source for Sports in Aberdeen Mall. There will not be an Open House this year. You will be able to upload a photo for your pass and complete your waiver online.
• Season Pass pickup will be at the mountain when we open, and at Dolson’s Source for Sports (pick up dates & times TBA)
• No Winter Extreme Ski and Equipment Swap this year. We recommend Season Rentals and/or purchasing equipment. This will be available in the first weekends of December, times TBA.
• Ticket sales at the mountain: Ski Lift, Tube Park, Snowshoe, Nordic, and Ski Touring will only be available at the new outside ticket window located on the lower level of the lodge, slope side.
• We may need to limit the number of Season Passes sold depending on sales. Last day for Season Pass sale Nov 8th unless sales are at capacity prior. We will announce if Passes are nearing capacity.
• A limited number of Ticket Packs and single tickets will be available at Dolson’s Source for Sports after November 8th (Pay for 5 days, 6th day is FREE).
• Peace of mind guarantee: If there is a government shutdown, Passholders will receive a credit towards your 21/22 Season Pass. Credit amount depending on the length of the shutdown.
Inside the Lodge
• Eating in the lodge/cafeteria will be at half capacity, with tables spaced 6 ft apart. To accommodate our guests that are purchasing food from our cafeteria, we are limiting the upstairs cafeteria seating to those guests purchasing food. We will be offering an expanded grab-and-go and take out menu.
• Please leave bags and personal items in your vehicle as there will be NO storage space – use your vehicle as a hub.
• Restaurant Guidelines will be followed for this space regarding increased cleaning protocols and limiting seating and physical distancing.
• We will have extra eating areas set up outside for guests purchasing from the cafeteria as well as guests bringing their own lunches.
• The previous brown bag lunch area downstairs is now part of the re-designed rental shop.
Snow School/Rental Shop
• All Snow school staff are required to wear a face-covering while teaching.
• Face coverings for guests will be required during check-in and lessons.
• Group and private ski and snowboard lessons will be available for all ages this winter. Private or semi-private lessons only for age 5 & under.
• Pre-sizing for rental equipment for lessons.
• Class sizes will be smaller. Participants will be expected to arrive on the hill ‘lesson ready’, which could mean dressing and preparing equipment in the parking lot or in your vehicle.
• Check-in procedures will be communicated in advance.
• We will continue to rent skis, snowboards, boots, poles, and helmets. All rental equipment will be disinfected between each guest with certified, approved disinfectant.
• Please follow the directional signage. Face coverings will always be required when in the rental shop. We will have markers in place to assist with physical distancing.
• Rental Shop/Ski School will encompass the entire downstairs with a one-way flow in and out of the building.
We are modeling New Zealand’s moto of “your car is your basecamp.” The downstairs cubbies may be at capacity with guests renting equipment. There is extremely limited space to get dressed and ready downstairs. It is recommended that you come dressed and ready to go, to avoid a lineup to enter the change area downstairs. This means putting ski/snowboard boots on in the parking lot, or on the benches outside. We suggest bringing only what you need to the hill or packing a small backpack you can take on the hill with you.
Your health and safety, and that of all our guests, employees, and communities, is what we value most, and is the guiding influence for these best practices. Thank you for your patience and co-operation in these challenging times.
Ski Well, Be Well
