Skiers won’t be able to ride the chair lift with strangers, state says

CONCORD — Final guidance released by the state Friday for operation of ski areas recommends against seating strangers together on chair lifts.

“Family members and parties who have traveled together are allowed to ride the lift together,” state the guidelines, which are meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Placing strangers together on a lift is strongly discouraged and should be avoided as this will put unrelated individuals in close contact with each other.

“This will result in reduced chair lift operations capacity and longer lines, which ski facilities must take into consideration when determining capacity limits and number of allowable daily reservations.”

The rules are stricter than those proposed in a draft recommendation by the ski industry, which proposed that people other than family members and travel companions “may choose to ride with another individual on open air lifts,” and says that “staff may ride the lift with a guest as long as they agree in advance and that all parties wear a face covering.”

Tom Day, president and general manager of Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, said the state may be a little more restrictive on the lift rules “but we can work with it.”

Day, a chairman for the SkiNH reopening guidelines, drafted the industry proposal along with other general managers.

“We feel that the state and Department of Health and Human Services understood that we all wanted to have a safe operation and approved the guidelines that create that,” he said.

The state guidance was released Friday by Gov. Chris Sununu. Four years ago, he resigned as chief executive of Waterville Valley Resort and relinquished his position on its board after he was elected as governor. Members of his family remain on the board.

Jayne Millerick, his chief of staff, said these guidelines were drawn up similar to those governing other industries.

"The bi-partisan Reopening Task Force unanimously recommended its passage, the Governor’s office then worked collaboratively with State Epidemiologist Dr. Ben Chan to strengthen public health protocols and bring the language more in line with previously approved guidance documents," Millerick said.

The guidance also recommends that signage should encourage people to move away from the chair lift unload area as soon as they disembark.

“Staff should be present to monitor the loading and unloading process and ensure crowds and congregation is avoided; this may involve multiple staff members to assist with safe physical loading/unloading and others to monitoring lines and avoid crowding and close contact,” the guidance states.

“Ski equipment rental centers at ski areas shall also limit capacity so that social distancing may be maintained and face coverings will be required by guests and employees. All rental equipment will be disinfected after each use. Hand sanitizer should be made available and used by guests and staff before and after each rental fitting.”

The state guidance also states that staff and customers should wear face coverings indoors unless socially distanced and eating or drinking.

They are also to be worn outdoors unless one is skiing, physically distanced, eating or drinking.

People are to be discouraged from bringing personal possessions such as boot bags or lunch coolers inside ski area buildings.

Instead, ski area operators say they will be encouraging people to use their vehicles as the place to put on their ski gear. Food services are likely to be of the “grab and go” variety. Indoor capacities and social distancing are to be monitored to prevent crowding.

Final NH Ski Area guidance: https://tinyurl.com/y5ymgm6x