What You Didn't Know About Your Ski Resort Vacation
Heading off for a snowy adventure on the slopes might sound like nothing but fun but like it or not there are some dangers and inconveniences to be aware of.There are more and more snow boarders out there, and it's good for business. Skiers and snowboarders don't always mix but there's little that can be done about it when skiers' numbers are dwindling and the snowboarding population is on the rise. Some resorts have separate slopes but many don't have the money or space to divide people up -- you'll have to get along.
Reported snow conditions may or may not be accurate. The truth is there's very little consistency or regulation in how ski resorts report fresh snowfalls and exaggeration is common. Studies have shown that resorts regularly report more new snow on weekends than during the week, apparently in hopes of encouraging impulsive last-minute weekend trips.
Some of the ski instructors have no idea what they're doing. Sure, there are some great ski instructors out there but since there's no education, licensing, or credentialing required to teach skiing many of them are totally clueless. Watch out for yourself and never do anything that feels or looks unsafe.
The "scenic" trails can be the most dangerous. Although "scenic" means beautiful, when it comes to skiing it can also mean dangerous. The leading cause of death for skiers is impact, the leading cause of impact is trees, and trees are among the most common items found on a 'scenic' ski trail.
Injuries are your problem, not the resort's. Because skiing is an inherently risky activity and completely under the control the participant, it's extremely difficult to sue a ski resort and win, even if they were somehow negligent.
There's a scary amount of "getting high" happening. It might be illegal but for some reason marijuana is an especially appealing 'high' to skiers and snowboarders so beware -- not everybody is enjoying hot chocolate on their break at the lodge and they might have the recklessness on the slopes to prove it.
