With the holidays just a week away, many friends, families and out of town visitors will look to the slopes across the Northland for some outdoor recreation.

Many mountains and resorts have just now fully opened up for the season and are ready for the busy week, but want to remind guests and season ticket holders to be patient as lines and crowds may fluctuate. The winter break weekends tend to keep the trails busy with many riders and skiers on the slopes. At the same time, it is also important to stay safe while enjoying the snow.

Jon Regenold, the Director of Resort Services at Spirit Mountain, insured the mountain keeps safety in the forefront of their mind, especially with these crowds coming in. “Safeties are absolute most important detail in everything that we do here. And so whether it’s grooming nightly to ensure that our runs are ready for the guests the next day, or our continual lift maintenance to make sure that our lifts are properly serviced and safe for all of our guests.”

He also spoke on the ten safety points in the responsibility code all ski areas in North America uphold. Using controlled speeds, stopping off to the side of the trail, and looking uphill before merging into a new trail are just some of the key reminders that ensures guests of all abilities will have a fun and safe experience all winter long.

Another way to ensure you are staying safe is taking the time to understand the posted signage around the mountain as they all follow the same standard of progressing from the easy green circles to the difficult black diamonds. Recognizing what trail markers are used is a great way to make sure you ride well within your comfort zone.