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Ski Touring News Roundup — Coronavirus Edition (Updated)

by Manasseh Franklin March 14, 2020
written by Manasseh Franklin March 14, 2020
Don't get caught up in bad coronavirus news. Practice social distancing in a mountain range near you.

Don’t get caught up in bad coronavirus news. Practice social distancing in a mountain range near you. Photo: Gary Smith

Update as of March 15 2020

A brief update as things continue to change and escalate, especially here in our little mountain valley. In the 48 hours since I last wrote, Colorado’s ski lifts have completely stopped spinning. Vail was the first to voluntarily shut down on Saturday. Despite Aspen Skico’s desire to ride things out for a few extra days, they along with every other resort in Colorado were shut down by order of Colorado governor Jared Polis effective on Saturday evening.

So far, ski areas are only required to be closed for a week, but that could of course quickly change. Surprisingly, the four mountain closure in Aspen prompted a feverish run on backcountry gear at the local ski shops. Kids gear was in especially high demand. However, most small businesses in the Roaring Fork Valley are closing their doors to limit the spread of the virus, as the infection rate continues to rise.

In my last post, I encouraged people to get out touring during this time of social distancing and general societal disruption. While being outside is no doubt an anxiety antidote we can all benefit from, I second all of those who commented on the importance of practicing safety and prudence in the backcountry. The snowpack may be stabilizing here in Colorado, but now is not the best time to shoot for those big, risky objectives. Stay safe, look out for your community members, stay hopeful.

Click below for the original news roundup.

Cancelled skimo, ski area shutdowns, incoming storm systems

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this week (or perhaps more favorably in a mountain cabin far off grid and out of cell service), you’ve heard the news. And the news is bad. Really bad.

Thanks to reactions surrounding the coronavirus, the stock market has repeatedly defied the notion “it can’t get any worse” particularly when the Dow Jones replicated a feat not seen since 1987’s Black Monday. Covid-19 infection rates are spreading faster than toilet paper rolls flying off of grocery shelves. Schools, sports arenas, concert halls are shuttering their doors. Society’s day to day rhythms have been knocked askew like a record player needle. The record is skipping.

The ski touring world has not been without its own coronavirus news. Ski races around the world, including France’s legendary four-day skimo Pierra Menta, have been cancelled or postponed. The Cosmic Series Shedhorn SkiMo race in Big Sky, Montana is still scheduled to run March 14th, though the race organizers have emphatically stated that they are not serving Corona beer at the post-race party. Due to the growing coronavirus cases in Pitkin and Gunnison counties, the Elk Grand Traverse race was cancelled officially on Friday afternoon.

In other mountain news, ski resorts in the U.S. continue to operate, though it’s unclear for how much longer. Many European areas have been shut down. On the flip side, I’ve seen at least one meme advertising that skiing is one of the best activities one can do during the outbreak; everyone is, after all, donning goggles, gloves and face masks while on the slopes. Despite cases brought in from Australian visitors, Aspen continues to spin its lifts, though they’re preventing people from boarding gondola cars with strangers. No word on whether the infamous Cloud 9 Bistro champagne parties on Aspen Highlands will continue.

Making light of a dire situation, backcountry skiers are well positioned to make the most of the crisis. The social distancing so widely recommended for preventing spread of the virus is more or less what many of us seek on the daily. That coupled with the fact that the CDC recommends people work from home gives opportunity for at least one silvery lining to the whole affair. Fortunately for those of us living in the west, meteorologist Joel Gratz of OpenSnow forecasts a deep weekend. Several feet of snow could settle in California’s mountains, while Colorado’s peaks could get around 10 inches.

So instead of feverishly refreshing your Facebook feed for the latest bad news update, grab a friend or two (while still staying distant), turn off your cell phone and escape to the hills this weekend. We’ll be hunkered down at WildSnow Field HQ skiing powder, eating canned soup and marveling our apocalyptic stockpile of TP.

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22 comments

Jernej March 14, 2020 - 10:01 am

Not some… All resorts in Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Norway, Andorra etc. are shut indefinitely. French are still stuck with their heads under powder to notice their stupidity but I guess that will change within days.

Manasseh March 14, 2020 - 10:54 am

Thanks for the correction Jernej. Edited.

VTskier March 14, 2020 - 1:22 pm

Jay Peak, and Burke Mountain; here in Vermont suddenly closed today; for the season.

Jernej March 14, 2020 - 2:56 pm

Latest news is that a number of french resorts already decided to close, some are still discussing it in late night meetings. Meanwhile most (nonessential) shops, restaurants etc. have been ordered to close by the authorities. So there’re really no way for resorts to operate and will inevitably close.

From what I can gather, the only holdouts in Europe (where there is any snow left) are resorts in Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, Serbia & Bosnia. And even those countries are under severe restrictions so I doubt there’s much skiing going on or will be for long.

Jernej March 14, 2020 - 3:03 pm

As I was writing my comment France decided to close on Sunday. What is almost unbelievable is how many (mostly Brits who obviously feel rebelious since Brexit) decided to travel there today despite very clear direction of where the situation was going.

Jon Canuck March 14, 2020 - 8:04 pm

Black Monday was in October 1987. In that instance, at least the US govt didn’t bail out the banks with tax-payers’ money (i.e., socialism for the wealthy folks). Black Monday didn’t hurt us much — we were hippies, not much money in the bank but we had very rich lives (with years of back-country skiing in the BC Selkirk Mtns).

Manasseh March 16, 2020 - 8:26 am

Thanks for the correction Jon Canuk. While I was hiding out I kept wondering if I’d gotten that date wrong…

SimonC March 15, 2020 - 6:31 am

Go touring if you will, but remember, if you have an accident you are now adding to the burden of an over-stretched health service in almost any country you care to mention (certainly in Europe) – yes I realise that over your side of the pond the numbers are still relatively low, but having seen what has happened in Europe we can presume it is only a matter of time for the US to feel the full effect…

JD March 15, 2020 - 7:23 am

Agree that it is a good thing to go skiing, ski touring etc. to keep in shape and not go totally mental under an eventual shut-down of the society.
BUT it is wisely to be extra careful, not get injured or in need of medical support or other SAR-resources: we need everyone of them, treating people ill from Covid-19 or other -not self-inflicted health complications.

Eric March 15, 2020 - 7:51 am

“Grab a friend or two you know are not infected.”

I’m all for going touring in the midst of this crisis, but that is disinformation, Manasseh.

It’s irresponsible. You can’t know whether they are infected. THAT’S THE WHOLE FRIKKIN’ POINT.
Delete that phrase and issue a correction please. It’s not funny.

Manasseh March 16, 2020 - 8:28 am

Easy, easy. It actually wasn’t meant to be a joke but I understand the concern. Revised.

Paul Diegel March 15, 2020 - 9:37 am

Several days after Utah ski resorts posted about the benefits of skiing (googles, social distance, etc), most announced that they are shutting down effective today. Sounds like a good time to practice safe bc travel practices like skiing one at a time and spreading out on the skin track. And verify that you have that cpr mask in your 1st aid kit and a beer for everyone (no sharing) at the trailhead.

Arnie March 15, 2020 - 12:53 pm

Bit harsh Jernej,
this stuff is always easy with hindsight. The French resorts (if not the authorities) were definitely advertising “busines as usual”.
Here in the Portes de Soleil the lift company was offering a 15% discount on lift passes when the Swiss side shut vowing to continue …until the govt intervened. I agree the (French) govt could have pulled the plug on Friday, preventing another tranche of people coming to the French Alpes, only to be told their resort was closed. Those people could, of course, have decided not to travel but that is in insurance speak “abandonment” if the resort (and the airports) are open so at their own expense. There is a lack of “joined up thinking” about this which goes beyond “brexit” and all that entails.

Nick March 16, 2020 - 3:16 am

Compleat lockdown here in the north of Spain. It was supposed to start on Monday but got turned around by the cops after 1km trying to solo road ride on Sunday, when home and tried to get a short run in from home and got stopped again. It OK to walk your dog but not to run not sure of the logic. Looks like I might have to hit the trainer, Ski trip at Easter looks like its dead in the water, I’ll have to wait to next year to try my new touring setup.

Shane March 16, 2020 - 5:06 pm

Man, I was just one day shy of breaking even on my Bridger Bowl pass too! Glad I made it to Big Sky on their last day, especially since it was sooooo goooood.

Nick Thomas March 16, 2020 - 5:12 pm

Interesting comment from Avalanche Canada:- “As always, accurate avalanche forecasts remains our priority. However, the early closure of many backcountry operations, in response to the COVID 19 pandemic, will soon affect our data stream. We are assessing this situation on a daily basis but are expecting an increase in our forecast uncertainty as these closures progress.” This is probably going to be an issue for other avalanche forecasting operations – they will be getting much less information to base their forecasts on.

Wookie1974 March 17, 2020 - 9:20 am

I stupidly tried to go touring on Monday in Austria. I figured it’d be OK – because I was alone and I wouldn’t see anybody where I was.

When I got back to the car there was a police car waiting on me….charged me 350 Euros fro violating the curfew and sent me home. Crap. My ski season is effectively over….more than 2 months early. I get it….still….

Jernej March 17, 2020 - 1:33 pm

Fined based on what though? The law says you can run around on your own or with people you live with.

Manasseh March 17, 2020 - 12:48 pm

That’s wild, Wookie. So sorry to hear it. We’re lucky that uphilling is still totally fair game around Aspen but otherwise most services are shutting down or operating super minimally.

Jack March 18, 2020 - 10:06 am

Cancelled a trip to Chamonix for next week. Guide service is holding my fee as a credit. Hotel is super responsive and decent. Airlines gave me a credit (meh). Expedia.com is holding the $1000 hotel fee even though the hotel has cancelled the reservation and the French government is saying no. I love the French. I hate Expedia. Have to spend hours on hold to keep them from borderline criminal activity. Grrrrr. Stay safe and socially distance, everyone. Oh, home mountain (Sugarloaf, ME) is closed for the season. Haven’t been to Europe in 30 years (sad).

Michael Browder March 18, 2020 - 2:19 pm

Yes, here in Chamonix, you will be fined if you go climbing or skiing in the high mountains now, especially if you need a rescue. The PGHM has already warned us that it takes away resources from Coronavirus issues. The Alps are considered as an extremely high risk area to be from by many countries now, more than just saying one is from France).

Being from the PNW, I am quite willing to take risks and forego all chances at rescue, but I haven’t and won’t test that.

Jack March 20, 2020 - 11:07 am

I want to restate my comment on Expedia above. I fired it off a little in anger. The hotel informs me that Expedia has articulated a policy of refunds. Now I just need to work the process (which is slow). They are both dealing with large and expensive volumes of cancellation. Egg on my face.

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