Tips & Safety

Know the code!

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY CODE

Skiing can be enjoyed in many ways. At ski areas you may see people using alpine, snowboard, telemark, cross country or other specialized ski equipment, such as that used by disabled or other skiers. Regardless of how you decide to enjoy the slopes, always show courtesy to others and be aware that there are elements of risk in skiing that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Observe the code listed below and share with other skiers the responsibility for a great skiing experience.

Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
You must prevent runaway equipment.
Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
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. This is a partial list. Be safety conscious. Officially endorsed by: National Ski Areas Association, National Ski Patrol and Professional Ski Instructors of America.

KIDS ON LIFTS

Remember it’s your responsibility to know how to use and ride the lift safely. Here is some safety info for parents and kids. kidsonlifts.org

TREE WELL AND DEEP SNOW SAFETY

Skiing and snowboarding off the groomed runs and in deep powder is one of the most exciting and appealing parts of our sport. However, if you decide to leave the groomed trails, you are voluntarily accepting the risk of a deep snow immersion accident. A deep snow or tree well immersion accident occurs when a skier or rider falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized and suffocates. Deaths resulting from these kinds of accidents are referred to as an SIS harzard or Snow Immersion Suffocation.

UPHILL RESPONSIBILITY CODE

Uphill access is an activity that Ski Santa Fe supports in the interest of increasing the enjoyment of the National Forest. Ski Santa Fe thanks users in advance for your cooperation in following these guidelines which will enhance the enjoyment of the mountain experience for all of its many users, and will allow us to continue having uphill access.

Uphill users are considered skiers under the New Mexico Skier Safety Act and are required to adhere to the laws stated in the act and the specific items located within the skier’s responsibility code.

The Ski Santa Fe uphill access policy is intended to educate users about the risks of these activities.

There are guidelines that all uphill users must follow to promote safety and to minimize conflicts between mountain operations including but not limited to: grooming operations (including winch cat and winch cable), snowmobile traffic, other vehicles, downhill skiers/riders, and any other activities that might be taking place at any time on the mountain, day and night.

Uphill guidelines:

All uphill users must follow the current State of New Mexico Health Order(s) and the current Covid Safe Practices required for New Mexico Ski Areas.
Be observant when ascending. The ski area conducts operations on the mountain 24 hours a day – before, during, and after the ski season. Users may encounter snowcats, winch cats & winch cables, snowmobiles, trucks, skiers/riders and other types of operations at any time.
Stay to the side of trails and maintain single file if ascending with others.
Respect all closures, warning signs and ropes at all times.
Be aware of others on the mountain and remain visible from above at all times.
Uphill traffic should stay out of Terrain Parks during both operational and non-operational hours.
At dusk, night, or early morning, wear reflective clothing visible from all directions, such as a vest, armband, belt, reflective clothing or pack, headlamp, etc.

Dogs:

Dogs are prohibited off leash on the mountain during operating hours 8:00AM to 5:00PM and must be leashed or under demonstrable verbal control at all other times. The resort is not responsible for injury to dogs, service animals, or other pets. User may be held responsible for any resulting damages or injuries to persons or property due to their animal, as well as loss of access/ticket privileges. Please clean up after your dog.

Closures and mountain operations:

Uphill users must obey all signs, warnings, and closures. Winch cat operations may be occurring. Do not under any circumstances, ski/ride near any snowcats or grooming operations. Just because you can see a snowcat, it doesn’t mean that the operator can see you.
Users must not cross exposed snowmaking lines at any time or interfere in any way with snowmaking operations.
Uphill travel through terrain parks is prohibited during normal operating hours.
Avalanche terrain may be closed. Avalanche mitigation may be in progress at any time during the early morning, daytime, or dusk. It is your responsibility to avoid areas where these activities may be in progress. Please check in with ski patrol dispatch if in question. If in doubt, avoid traveling in or under any steep terrain.
It is unlawful to board any of the lifts without a valid lift ticket or season pass. Anyone utilizing uphill access privileges to access upper mountain lifts without a valid lift ticket or pass will be subject to the loss of all pass privileges at the resort for an extended period and may be prosecuted for theft under New Mexico law.
If user decides to leave the ski area boundary, user is responsible for understanding risks. User may not enter, leave or re-enter the ski area by using a closed area, including marked USFS boundary closures. User must exit the area through open trails only. The Santa Fe Watershed is under a permanent Federal Closure.
Ski patrol services are not available outside of the Ski Santa Fe Boundary and normal operating hours. Call 911 in case of emergency. Cell service may be spotty or unavailable and rescue may be lengthy.
Ski Santa Fe reserves the right to prohibit uphill access at any time due to special events, weather, or for any other reason deemed necessary by Ski Santa Fe administration.

Parking:

During the ski season, uphill users should be aware that parking lot gates are unlocked only during operating hours; these hours are posted on the entrance gate (don’t get locked inside!)

Enforcement:

Any violation of the Ski Santa Fe Uphill Policy may result in any or all of the following:

Loss of Lift Ticket/One Pass/ Skier Plus ski privileges for any amount of time.
Notification/reporting to Forest Service, State Police, and/or Santa Fe County Sheriff Law Enforcement.

Reminders

STAY OFF OF TRAILS THAT HAVE SNOWMAKING IN PROGRESS. These trails will have 480 volt electrical cords and high pressure water hoses, and at times they may be just beneath the surface. They may also have very icy conditions, particularly near the snow guns.

SEEK AN ALTERNATE ROUTE IF YOU SEE ANY INDICATION OF SNOW MACHINES, ELECTRICAL CORDS, OR HOSES. Some trails are groomed with a winch cat which uses cables under extremely high tension. STAY OFF THESE TRAILS! These cables can move suddenly and change height. THEY CAN CAUSE DISMEMBERMENT OR DEATH. The following trails are the ones most often winched: Muerte, Upper Parachute, Wizard, Sunrise, and Burro Alley. This list is not comprehensive and other trails may be winched.

ALWAYS GIVE SNOWCATS, SNOWMOBILES, AND ANY OTHER MACHINERY A WIDE BERTH. SEEK ALTERNATE ROUTES TO AVOID THEM.

Avalanche danger and other hazards exist both inside and outside ski area boundaries. KEEP OUT OF AREA NORTH OF THE TESUQUE PEAK TRIPLE CHAIRLIFT WHEN THERE IS NEW SNOW, as these areas may have Ski Patrol in them engaged in avalanche mitigation. Entering these areas puts you and the Ski Patrol at risk. Skiing outside the ski area boundary is in a wild area where no avalanche mitigation measures have been taken. AVALANCHE DANGER, CLIFFS, AND OTHER NATURAL HAZARDS EXIST. THESE AREAS ARE NOT PATROLLED.
You are responsible for your own safety both inside and outside the ski area boundary. Ski Patrol service is not available outside normal operating hours (9:00am to 4:00pm), or outside the ski area boundaries at any time.

DRONES

Due to safety and privacy concerns, Ski Santa Fe ski area prohibits the operation or use on or above resort property of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, by the general public – including model aircraft by recreational users and hobbyists – without the prior written authorization from Ski Santa Fe ski area. The prohibition includes drones used for filming or videotaping, as well as any drone use by media or journalists operating above or within the area boundaries. This prohibition extends to any devices launched or operated from resort property, as well as any launched from private property outside of the resort boundaries. Please contact resort management at 505-982-4429 if you have any questions or if you seek prior authorization to operate any such devices. Any authorized operation of drones on or above resort property will be governed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations, local law enforcement, and/or U.S. Forest Service rules, as well as those policies separately established by this resort, which may include certification, training, insurance coverage, indemnification requirements, and waivers or releases of liability. Any violation of this policy may involve suspension of your access privileges to the resort, or the revocation of your season pass, as well as confiscation of any prohibited equipment, and may subject violators to any liability for damages, including, but not limited to, damages for trespass, violations of privacy, and physical injuries to persons and/or property, as well as legal fees.