Safety

The National Ski Association Areas created "Your Responsibility Code" as a way to help skiers and riders be aware of the different risks that may happen while on the mountain, which both common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Below you will see the ten points of Your Responsibility Code.

1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
2.  People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
3.  Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
4.  Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
5.  You must prevent runaway equipment.
6.  Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
7.  Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
8.  You must know how and be able to load, ride, and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
9.  Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
10.  If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

KNOW THE CODE: IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Please see all details on our Uphill Travel Policy HERE.

WHAT THEY MEAN

• Green Circle: Easier
• Blue Square: More Difficult
• Black Diamond: Most Difficult 

It's your responsibility to know how to use and ride the lift safely. 

GET ON

• As a chair passes you at the "Wait Here" sign, move ahead quickly to the "Load Here" sign and line up evenly. When the next chair comes behind you, sit on the seat, and slide back as far as you can - to keep from falling off the chair.

SIT BACK, SIT STILL, HOLD ON

• Sit way back to keep from falling from the chair and enjoy the ride to the top. No horsing around, it's dangerous when you are riding up in the air.

AT THE TOP, PLAN AHEAD TO UNLOAD

• At the "Unload Here" sign it is time to get off. Stand up, and ski down the ramp. Watch for others ahead and ski around them. Move out of the way quickly, so others can unload too.

HELPFUL REMINDERS

• Need assistance? Ask the lift attendant for help. The smallest kids should load closest to the attendant.
• Remove & carry packs. 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. 

To learn more about lift and mountain safety, click here

JAY'S GLADES 

Glades are named on the map and are opened and closed by Ski Patrol.

Explore all of the glades within the Jay Peak boundary but make sure you have:

• The required advanced skills.
• Ski in groups of 3.
• Common sense.
• Do not enter glades/woods after 3:00 PM. Glades are not routinely swept by Ski Patrol.

JAY'S WOODS

Woods are in-bound sections of forest that are not named on the map and are not opened or closed by Ski Patrol.

OUT OF BOUNDS

Andre’s Paradise and Beaver Pond Glades hold some of our favorite tree skiing and snowboarding on the hill. However, most people who cross the boundary line of these glades get lost. 

There is a double ridge line at the boundary line.  Most think they are on their way back to the resort, but in fact, are venturing further and further away into gully-filled flats (Black Falls) that will involve hours of strenuous hiking and traversing. If you don’t know where you’re going, you will put your life, your friends’ lives, and your rescuers' lives at risk. Trust us; this is not as much fun as staying in-bounds within Andre’s Paradise.

However, in the case of emergency – if you are lost or injured – Ski Patrol will rescue you. 

BACKCOUNTRY

Many people equate Jay Peak with tremendous backcountry, and they are right; the backcountry that surrounds the ski area is some of the best you will find. It is also potentially dangerous. Know before you go. Be smart. Note: when we talk backcountry, we mean off-property/outside the skiing and riding boundary. We usually refer to the in-bounds forests as glades or woods.

Be Prepared

For backcountry wilderness travel, to possibly get lost, wait for a rescue, and maybe even spend a night in the woods. At a minimum, carry (and know how to use):

• Headlamp 
• Map, GPS, and Compass
• Skins/touring skis or split board and/or snowshoes
• Phone and/or radio
• Food and water, enough to spend the night
• Extra batteries, keep them warm
• Extra layers

Tell someone where you intend to go and when you intend to return.  It’s not a good idea to venture into unfamiliar terrain. Go with a guide or someone who knows the area well. And, always ski with at least two competent partners. 

Know the Risk

We may not have a high risk of avalanches, but Jay Peak is home to some of the coldest, windiest, and most severe weather in the country. Even a minor injury in the backcountry can quickly turn fatal, as prolonged exposure to the elements can cause hypothermia, dehydration, and in the worst case, death. 

How much does a rescue cost?

The cost of a backcountry rescue is calculated based on the number of rescuers, fuel, supplies, and transportation costs, multiplied by the number of hours the rescue takes. The minimum price tag is much more than a season’s pass (often upwards of $1000 for a short, 4-hour rescue).

Jay Peak Parks adheres to the guidance, logos, and signage developed through the Park Smart Freestyle Safety Program. All of Jay Peak Parks and Safety Signage are designated by an orange color.

Jay Peak Terrain Parks may contain jumps, hits, ramps, banks, fun boxes, jibs, rails, quarter pipes, and other constructed or natural terrain features.

While you're in the parks you may see our Park Crew doing a mid-day rake run to freshen up the take-offs and landings of some features. If you see a member of Park Crew raking at a feature, please know the feature is CLOSED until they have finished raking and signified that it is clear to drop.

PRIOR to using Freestyle Terrain, you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with Freestyle Terrain and obeying all instructions, warnings, and signs.

Park Smart is all about safety - having the knowledge and the plan to enjoy freestyle terrain. The five points of Park Smart include:

Start Small | Work your way up. Build your Skills.

If you are just getting into the park for the first time, or the first time that day, start with the smaller stuff and work your way up. If you aren’t sure about how to use a feature, build your skills first.

Freestyle Terrain comes in different shapes and sizes, so starting out, look for small progression parks and features and then work your way up to medium or large parks and features.

Make a Plan | Every Feature. Every Time.

Every time you ski or ride on freestyle terrain, have a plan for each feature you are going to use. Remember, your speed, approach, and take-off will directly affect your maneuver and landing.

When first inspecting the jumps consider the following elements of each jump and remember ATML:

A The approach zone is for setting your speed and stance.

T The take-off zone is for making moves that start your trick.

M The maneuver zone is for controlling your style.

L The landing zone is for getting straight and riding away clean.

Always Look | Before you drop.

Before getting into freestyle terrain observe, all signage and warnings. Use your first run as a warm-up and familiarize yourself with the park layout and features. Remember that features change constantly due to weather, usage, and time of day, so it is important to continue to inspect features throughout the day.

Respect | The features and other users.

Always have respect for terrain park features, as well as other skiers/riders. Only one person on a feature at a time – wait your turn and call your drop-in. Always clear the landing area quickly.

Also, respect all signs –stay off closed features. Respect is important both in-park, as well as the rest of the mountain, so be smart when you are heading down the slopes or over to the lift.

Take it Easy | Know your limits. Land on your feet.

Ride within your ability and consider taking a lesson if you want to build your knowledge, skills, and bag of tricks. Stay in control both on the ground and in the air – know your limits.

Remember you can control how big or small you take a feature by varying your speed and take off.

Inverted aerials increase the chance of serious injury and are not recommended.

If you find yourself in need of help, you can be invisible to a Ski Patrol Team just a few feet off a run. AirFlare transforms your mobile phone into a rescue beacon detectable up to a 1/2 mile away.