2021/2022 Winter Season Covid Discussion

[Captain Hafski]

Starting a new thread to see what we think about the need for Covid 'precautions', etc. for this winter season. Hoping it doesn't just become another bitch session.

I suspect there are huge differences between what we think the mountain [Goes for K and all the other ski areas] should be doing about this.

I also suspect there are huge differences between younger and older skiers/riders due to the severity of the disease w.r.t. age.

So: I'll start this off as follows:

- For me, I am not gonna ride on crowded chairs this season. I will ride with another rider or two that I don't know as long as I have a seat of space between us.

- I will not put down the bubble if riding with someone I don't know. This will be interesting when someone else joins you, without saying anything, just as you load the chair, then wants the bubble down.

- I really don't want anyone else with me in the gondolas. Up to now, this hasn't been an issue as I only ride the K1 very late in the day. But, things will be very different now that Skyeship is coming on line and as the mountain gets more crowded. Regardless, for me, I will probably just have to live with skipping the gondolas for now.

- Masks. Ahh, a favorite topic for all !! My opinion is that they should be required on the gondolas at a minimum though I am a firm believer that they are not very effective [for several reasons below] in very close quarters, inside or out. Obviously the risk goes up when in an enclosed gondola rather than on an open chair.
- Unfortunately, many places put 'mask mandates' in place however there is no real way to enforce them.
- How do you stop the 'chin strap' fashion?
- Etc, Etc.

- Side Note: I recently saw that Stratton is requiring masks [again, not enforceable] in their gondola.

- Personal opinion:Social distancing much more important than mask wearing.

- Killington's policy on all this. IMHO, it is not clear, and certainly not enforceable.
- First of all, there should be a direct link to their Covid 'rules' on the website. From my tablet, I had to choose 'Plan Your Trip' to find it. Right, how many [%] of folks are ever going to look there.
- Similarly on my phone, I had to 'back up' to the real Home page to find a link to it. There, but couldn't find the same on my tablet, was a line stating "Face masks are highly recommended for all guests indoors and in gondola cabins as well as a link to the Covid Safety Policy. First of all, 'recommended' doesn't mean a damn thing.
- On the Policy Page, bunch of gibberish [OK, I understand this] about K complying with state guidance etc.
- Then, Please stay home if in past 14 days [blah, blah, blah]. Sounds good, very few will read this, less with comply, and it's not enforceable.
- Wash hands and use sanitizer. Give me a break.
- Clear requirement to ride shuttles and the Bus regardless of vaccine status. OK. But, wonder how well this is enforced. I know what I saw [most folks were complying, but not all] when we rode the World Cup shuttles.
- Masks not required outdoors, lift lines, chairs, but strongly recommended in gondolas. See above.
- No parking ressies. OK
- Indoors: Masks strongly recommended indoors. Adding 'strongly' will certainly change peoples behavoir on this.
- Requirement for kids in K programs to wear masks indoors.
- No restrictions on dining or other indoor space capacity. Wow !
- Blurb on what K is requiring their employees to do including vaccine requirements [per fed mandate] by 12/10/2021]. Hope they are enforcing this. Also, asking employees that are 'unwell' to notify their manager.

Lastly: My $0.02 regarding how to enforce whatever [Covid precautions, cutting lift lines, ducking ropes, just to name a few]. This comes from my prior work experience and training on 'Root Cause analysis'. Highlights of how to put rules in place include:
- The rule must be specific and well 'advertised'. For K, I would suggest clear signs at all guest access points, lift lines, etc.
- The rule must clearly indicate the repurcussions.
- The rule, and repercussions must be enforced.
- Lot's more to this, but will leave it at this for now.

OK - The flood gates are open !!

[throbster]

Do us all a favor and don't ride the bubble or gondolas. Merry Christmas.

[DES]

First off, Merry Christmas, and impressive morning typing...I've been retired 5 years, so I haven't typed anything that long in that time! I'll have to see how I feel once Cannon runs the Tram, but so far crowds are non-existent for the most part when I ski so I just ask if I come up to a person in a line if they mind a partner (but outside on a chair I have no problem if people came up and joined me). Mask wearing is no big deal to me, so whenever I see anyone with one on, I just put one on myself. For enforcing mask use, I doubt there will be much of that by an employee to guests at any ski area, almost sure there won't be repercussions even on the rare chance someone does say something.

[daytripper]

I quite happy that K does not have any covid restrictions. If your healthy and vaccinated there is really nothing to worry about. This is what Biden told the country a few days ago. If you aren't healthy or vaccinated then you need to take your own precautions. I was in the hospital for Halloween and while there tested positive for covid. I had absolutely no symptoms and wouldn't have known I had covid if I wasn't in the hospital. This shows that the vaccine works. This new omicron variant is highly transmissible but even to non vaccinated it gives you a mild case. Mask wearing gags me and if I am wearing glasses they fog them right up. I have no interest in wearing one and don't really care about unvaccinated people. They have had every opportunity to get vaccinated and chose not to so that's not my problem.

[PinnacleJim]

I am vacinnated and boosted. My only concerns are the gondola cabins and inside the lodges. While risks are low for those vacinnated and boosted, they are not zero. Saw data recently that those over 65 vaxed have about a 0.25% chance of dying if they get the virus. Not insignificant. For those over 65 and not vaxed, it's almost 6%, so over 20 times higher. Killington will follow whatever rules VT puts out, but not likely to put in anything sticter than that.

[jimmywilson69]

Vaccines and Masks. Take your own precautions if you need more. We have to live with this just like the flu. It's not going away. Let's hope it gets less severe and we can rely on yearly boosters or even better natural immunity.

When I was at K a few weeks ago I wore a mask on Gondola. It's what 8 minute ride? CDC considers "close contact 15 minutes or longer so with a mask you should be good. Everyone has different risk levels and that is ok.

I'm fine if folks want to keep bubble up or want all the windows open on Gondola.

Stay safe and stay healthy.

We need snow

[snoloco]

K is among the most lenient of major resorts (mask optional in lodges), and I would hope they keep it that way. Lifts and gondolas need to be full capacity since they're not limiting tickets. If you're not comfortable riding a gondola with others, then ride a chair. If you're not comfortable riding a chair with others, then don't ski. I'm a firm believer that no business should be coddling those who likely wanted them shuttered last season.

[Bubba]

Mike Solimano on CNBC talking about Covid

https://youtu.be/tzzAibWhDew

[hillbangin]

You can't catch covid outside.

Moving along.....

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Heywood jablowmee]

K is among the most lenient of major resorts (mask optional in lodges), and I would hope they keep it that way. Lifts and gondolas need to be full capacity since they're not limiting tickets. If you're not comfortable riding a gondola with others, then ride a chair. If you're not comfortable riding a chair with others, then don't ski. I'm a firm believer that no business should be coddling those who likely wanted them shuttered last season.

Bingo..( despite absurdly heavy handed mudderators blocking my comment of same...)

[throbster]

Maybe Captain Jacski can upgrade to the express lane and avoid the crowds? We promise not to heckle.

[MrsG]

Guess you can catch outside! From Distillery!

“Dear Valued Guest:

We have had a couple of staff members at our restaurant that attended an outside event together who have tested positive for Covid-19, Omicron variant.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the hard decision to close the restaurant due to the minimal availability of testing and testing kits in our area.

We will reopen hopefully mid next week once we are able to test all of our staff and follow all recommended CDC guidelines.

No one is more disappointed than us that we are unable to have you as our guests.
We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. We wish you and your family a most wonderful holiday season.

Killington Distillery/Still on the Mountain”

[Bubba]

Guess you can catch outside! From Distillery!

“Dear Valued Guest:

We have had a couple of staff members at our restaurant that attended an outside event together who have tested positive for Covid-19, Omicron variant.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the hard decision to close the restaurant due to the minimal availability of testing and testing kits in our area.

We will reopen hopefully mid next week once we are able to test all of our staff and follow all recommended CDC guidelines.

No one is more disappointed than us that we are unable to have you as our guests.
We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. We wish you and your family a most wonderful holiday season.

Killington Distillery/Still on the Mountain”

Busiest week of the year and they need to shut down for half of it at least. Ouch!!!

[boston_e]

In a way I am surprised that Killington isn’t doing a bit more - at least as it pertains to the lodges. Mask up unless actively eating would be reasonable - on the other hand, most people are eating while in the lodge so It would not seem to make much of a difference. Most likely they will just keep following state guidelines.

As others have said, those of us who are vaccinated (and especially boosted) can go about our life with very little risk…. The time comes where we adjust have to stop doing things to protect those who are too stupid to go out and get a free, easily available vaccine.

For me, I’ll probably mostly avoid the Gondi (not that I ride it much anyway), won’t put the bubble down, and will pick and choose my usage of the lodge depending on how packed it is.

[iRock]

You can't catch covid outside.

Moving along.....

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Yeah I thought this was proven to be a reliable fact early in the pandemic? An open seat between you and someone else on a 7 minute chair ride... give me a break. That's straight-up paranoia at this point in the game. I can't imagine what else people who think like this do. I'd rather die from Covid than live in this restrictive, paranoid state for the past 20 months. f*** that.

I've skied 30 days this season and not a single person has asked to leave an open spot for them on the chair. Guess we're all the whack-jobs