M A.
Yelp
QUESTIONS ABOUT COMMITMENT TO SAFETY
I ski with a large and growing circle of retired people who live near or are willing to commute to the slopes, particularly mid-week when there are fewer people. What we have all noticed, experienced, and are all discussing is how much less safe Keystone feels this year compared to last. It is not just a matter of overcrowding, which initially we all attributed to the lack of snow and open terrain. We've adapted to crowds and inexperienced skiers/boarders by being hyper-vigilant and seeking out terrain less attractive to those groups. But the safety issues go beyond the crowds and the usual complaints from skiers about snowboarders. We've had multiple experiences with inattentive or absent lift operators, and what seems to be a lack of communication between operators running the bottom and top of the lifts. Worse, there seems to be no interest in or procedures and policies for dealing with hit-and-run incidents.
I was within 15 feet and witnessed a snowboarder in a very distinctive outfit traverse a straightaway and crash into an older man, sending them both sideways to Sunday. The boarder got back up and without a backward glance, went on. I do not know if the older man was injured, but since he had companions helping him up, I skied after the boarder. When I caught up with him, the young man was completely unapologetic, defensive, and without any idea of applicable etiquette or responsibility in the event of crashing into someone. As a clear witness, I assumed the resort would not want such a person on the mountain. I took a picture of him, and attempted to engage a nearby lift operator. There was no one actively attending the lift as people got on, and it took an extraordinary effort to get the operator's attention and get her out of her glass bubble. She was completely perplexed about her role in this situation, even though the guy was within view at that point.
I took a lift and went to the ski patrol hut at the top. The five patrol guys lounging there actually scoffed at me. "There are 7000 people on the mountain," said one, rolling his eyes. Since I could not say if the older gentleman was injured, there was a collective shrug from all of them. Stunned, I inquired what would be the procedure if the man were injured. Again, a collective shrug. "It's like a hit and run in a car," explained one. I pointed out that in such cases, an authority (police) would be involved and make attempt to find the runner. One guy ventured weakly that they might call the county sheriff if someone were really a problem. A hit-and-run snowboarder apparently did not rise to that level, and there was absolutely no interest in looking at the guy's picture. "Yeah, he's not gonna look like that now, and who knows where he is," said eye-roller.
The last experience, in particular, has shocked and shifted the perspective of my entire group of skiing friends. We understand and accept the risks of the sport, and do not expect particular concern from a profit-making venture that may become extinct in the next decade. But it feels as though something is wrong at the top levels of Keystone's management. Consistently inattentive lift operators is a management problem. The lack of procedures, policies, or even urgency about downed skiers/boarders is a top-down problem. I have begun to pay special attention to the absence of ski patrol on the busier runs or the slopes in general. In the last four times I've skied, the only places I've seen any ski patrol is in lodges or skiing as a group on empty challenging terrain.
I love skiing Keystone's terrain, but with the dangerous lack of attention or commitment to safety, I'm not sure I will be back.