It's time to start thinking about your winter skiing plans! Although this popular outdoor activity will come with a great deal of changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cortland County's three ski areas have developed safeguards and procedures in accordance with New York State guidance to keep guests employees, and members of the surrounding communities safe and healthy.
The Visitors Bureau and area ski resorts are excited to welcome back locals and visitors to our mountains once again! Keep reading for what to expect this winter season.
INTERSTATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS
For skiers and riders planning a trip to Cortland County, please research, understand and adhere to any and all policies and restrictions for travel, lodging and participation in our sport. Interstate travel regulations are an important part of this process, and we ask your cooperation in knowing about and following them: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory. You may be asked to certify your compliance when making a reservation or buying your tickets.
- For any traveler to New York State from a noncontiguous state, US territory or CDC level 2 or level 3 country, the new guidelines for travelers to test-out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine are below:
- For travelers who were out-of-state or more than 24 hours:
- Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure, prior to arrival in New York.
- The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days.
- On day four of their quarantine, the traveler must obtain another COVID test. If both tests come back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test.
- For travelers who were out-of-state for less than 24 hours:
- The traveler does not need to test prior to their departure from the other state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival in New York State.
- However, the traveler must fill out the traveler form upon entry into New York State, and take a COVID diagnostic test four days after their arrival in New York.
Individual ski areas have enacted policies that may also affect trip planning, particularly as it pertains to reservations, pre-purchase and lodging. See below on this page for links.
DO NOT TRAVEL IF YOU ARE SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU IS EXPERIENCING SYMPTONS CONSISTENT WITH COVID-19, HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS OR HAS BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS. A list of symptoms can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. If you have a reservation, contact the ski area and make plans to visit another time.
SAFETY PROTOCOLES & RESORT OPERATIONS
While every ski area in the state will be following state and CDC recommendations, each will be evolving its own operation and ticketing procedures to make sure guests can enjoy the ski season. Along with cleaning and disinfection strategies for all areas of operation, all Cortland County ski areas will be following these safety standards:
- Face Coverings Required: You'll be required to wear a face covering inside and outside except when in motion on the slopes and when dining at a food & beverage facility.
- Physical Distancing: While on the premises of all mountains, all individuals, anywhere at any time, must maintain a distance of six feet, except for individuals who are members of the same party or household. This includes but is not limited to the following parts of the operation: lift queues, ticket queues, ski and snowboard lessons, employee spaces and food and beverage outlets.
- Riding Chairlifts: You may only ride a lift at maximum capacity with members of your party or household. Resorts will offer single lifts for anyone who is traveling alone. While riding lifts, face coverings and gloves are mandatory.
- Contact Tracing: You may be required to provide contact information to the ski area. Any information gathered will be held strictly confidential and will only be provided to appropriate government personnel as needed to comply with NYS Contact Tracing guidelines.
- Lodging & Restrooms: Your vehicle is now your new base camp! Please leave all personal belongings in your car unless you have a locker rental. If you do enter the lodge, limit tie inside the building to 15-30 minutes. Restrooms will be running on 50% capacity - the number of persons allowed in each bathroom will be designated at its entrance. There will be portable restrooms available at every location.
- Rental Shop: The rental shops will be running at 50% capacity at all three locations. All equipment will be thoroughly cleans and disinfected between uses.
- Lessons: All three mountains are offering private lessons. You must book your lesson time in advance. Please follow the links below for more details.
- Food & Beverage: All ski resort restaurants will be running at 50% capacity. Table sharing is only allowed by members of the same party or household. Grab-n-Go options will be available, as well as online ordering.
Check each resort's links below to read the most recent updates on their specific operating plans. Every one of Cortland County's mountains is working nonstop to keep you in the loop on their winter 2020–21 plans, and you can find a link to that information here as soon as it is available.
Share your Cortland County skiing adventures with us for a chance to be featured! Tag @experiencecortland and use hashtag #experiencecortland.