COVID-19 update
Staying safe together
Welcome, skiers and riders! This season, in particular, we all can appreciate the opportunity to exercise in the snow and enjoy the fresh, wide-open mountain air.
When you come up to Bluewood, you’ll notice signs around the mountain and lodge directing you where to go and what to do, and Bluewood staff will also be available to assist and to answer questions.
It has taken a community effort to open this season, and it will take everyone working together to stay open. We’re asking Guests and staff to make smart decisions, stay flexible, be patient, be courteous and be kind to help protect yourself and others around you.
As you plan your trips to Bluewood, please familiarize yourself with the information and guidelines in each of the categories below. Before future visits, check back here to see if anything has changed. Click each bar to see more on that topic.
We truly do need and appreciate your help. Thank you.
Last updated 3/2/21
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
If you’re sick, if anyone in your family is sick, or if you suspect having been exposed to someone who is sick, please stay home so you can come another day.
Masks & social distancing
Face coverings must be worn unless actively skiing/riding or actively eating. Everyone is required to mask up in the parking lot, and also wear masks anywhere people gather. That includes the parking lot, base area, lodge, lift lines and while riding the lift. Masking is required. If you can’t abide by this policy, you’ll be asked to leave.
Please do your best to maintain the recommended distance from others.
Sanitation measures
Bluewood staff will be continually following rigorous sanitation protocols. For example, they’ll be wiping down surfaces frequently with disinfectants and applying extra sanitation to rental gear. And every night in every room in every building, a fogger will be deployed with a sanitizing agent.
Guests and staff are encouraged to use hand sanitizing stations that have been prominently placed throughout the lodge.
Parking lot & your vehicle
Please use your vehicle as your base camp. Plan on getting gear on or off, eating, and storing personal items at or in your vehicle. Indoor seating is currently unavailable in the lodge.
Lodge & food service
Indoor dining is permitted at a 25% capacity, per state mandate. Please keep these guidelines in mind:
- Face mask required when not eating.
- No more than 6 people per table.
- 30 minute seating.
- Practice physical distancing. Stay 6 feet apart.
Grab-and-go food options are also offered to order and carry out. There is seating outside on the deck as well.
The coffee bar is open, but the pub is closed for now. Bottled beverages are available for purchase. Since the drinking fountain is turned off, you may want to bring drinking water from home.
Storage spaces, such as lockers and cubbies, are not available at this time. Please use your vehicle to store gear and other items.
Lift tickets
Guests are encouraged to order lift tickets online as much as possible to help minimize lines on the mountain. Lift tickets are also available for purchase at the lodge, but there may be lines.
Season pass pick up
To avoid the possibility of waiting in a long line, be sure to upload your pass picture online and SIGN YOUR WAIVER before you come to Bluewood for the first time. Follow these photo upload instructions.
If you’ve purchased a pass, uploaded your photo and signed your waiver, you can pick up your pass at the lodge. Please make sure YOUR WAIVER IS SIGNED (see Step 8 here), otherwise we can’t print your pass.
Lifts
Riders on the Skyline Express and Triple Nickel lifts are asked to self-group either with family members or those they traveled with to the mountain. Solo chairlift rides are also an option.
Rentals & SnowSports
New this year, the Rentals and SnowSports departments are in a new building called The Hub, which is located to the left of the lodge.
Lessons
Please arrive at least one hour before lesson time (the earlier the better due to indoor COVID-19 restrictions).
Kids of all ages are welcome at Bluewood to ski and ride. Unfortunately, due to restrictions, we’re unable to offer lessons for those 6 and younger this season.
Check at the SnowSports desk or watch the lessons web page for the latest information.
Summit yurt
There’s no indoor seating in the yurt at the top, but there are grab-and-go options available to carry out. There is limited seating on the deck.
Restrooms
Unless otherwise noted, restrooms in the lodge will be open as usual, and there will be four porta-potties at the top for the season.
Questions?
Specific questions about COVID-19 protocols can be sent by email to info@bluewood.com.
August 31, 2020
Hello to all of our Bluewood family
In an effort to provide full disclosure and transparency, I wanted to take a moment and fill you in on some of our thoughts surrounding the COVID-19 environment at Bluewood.
We are planning and working on several scenarios for the 2020-21 season. This is an ongoing process that will likely continue into the season. Changes are in the works for how we will be able to provide the best experience for you, our Guests, both on the slopes and in the base area this winter with the number one concern being the health and well-being of you and our incredible staff.
We have moved forward with a new Point of Sale system, which will allow more capability to reserve and pay for tickets, rentals and lessons online. This will be handled through our new website, which features easier navigation and more robust mobile capabilities.
We remain optimistic about the 2020-21 season. Our goal is to operate our normal schedule with no disruption, but it will take a community effort to keep us going. We anticipate several significant changes in the way we operate, including mandatory face coverings.
Because of our limited indoor capacity and the need for social distancing, we also anticipate changes in how we utilize the Lodge area, which may include limits on day-of ticket sales, number of Guests allowed in the Lodge at any given time, and social distancing standards on our chair lifts and queuing lines. At this point, I don’t expect any limits on season passholder visits (or any mid-week visits), and we are confident we can accommodate our passholders safely on the mountain.
We will continue to keep everyone updated as we move into the season. We know there are many areas of our operation that may require changes to accommodate for the health and safety precautions needed to stay open—rentals, retail, food & beverage, lessons, lockers, bathrooms… the list goes on. We will continue to share with you as we develop plans that cover these and other areas.
In response to questions and concerns for those who have already purchased (or still plan to purchase) a season pass, you will have until Dec. 15, 2020, to roll your pass purchase over to the 2021-22 season at no charge if you decide that you are not comfortable skiing/riding during the 2020-21 season for any reason.
We genuinely care about the health and safety of our Bluewood family and the Community. Our commitment to safety continues as we learn to navigate our business operations during a pandemic. As a business leader we are prepared for and willing to respond to the recommendations of federal, state and local public health authorities.
As I mentioned in the beginning, our goal is to provide the winter recreational opportunities we all know and love, but we’ll need your support and cooperation as we adapt. With that said, we are asking all of our Guests and Staff to:
SKI WELL. BE WELL.
Please commit to working with us to keep Bluewood open.
DON’T BE THE REASON WE LOSE OUR SEASON.
Thank you for being a part of the Bluewood family. We look forward to welcoming you back home to Bluewood this winter.
Kim Clark
GM Bluewood Ski Area
