Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Snow covers the ground around the summer yurt at Bluewood ski slope near Dayton on Oct. 27.
COLFAX – Steep and deep and (socially) distant, October snow across Whitman County last weekend brought thoughts of skiing in 2020-21.
Skiing depends on more than just the snow. The first significant snowfall helps but has ski hills wanting more and clear direction from the state regarding COVID.
"As much as possible, situation normal," said Kim Clark, general manager of Bluewood, outside Dayton. "It all depends on what the flavor of the day is from the government."
Representatives from the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association (PNSA) met with members of the state Department of Health in Olympia on protocols for skiing, which is a designated low-risk outdoor recreation that already includes masks and face coverings.
Details are being finalized, and expected to be released next week. From there, it's a question of opening day.
"Mother nature is the rule maker there," said Jordan Elliott, president of the PNSA.
Among the details are how chairlifts will be handled.
"It'll be a lot like a restaurant, who you can sit with at a restaurant," said Elliott. "For singles, there's not going to be a ski area forcing you to ride with people you didn't come with."
Restrictions will vary by what county the resort is in. Main protocols are expected to include face coverings required in lift lines, an "arrive together, ride together" policy, increased cleaning and disinfecting, daily employee wellness checks and more.
"The biggest potential impact is more than likely indoors," said Clark.
For Bluewood, since Columbia County is in Phase Three of state virus restrictions, it means the ski area's lodge could be limited to 50% capacity in the pub, but no service along the bar itself.
In ski area cafeterias, social distancing and capacity restrictions will be mandated. The changes come in a year that Bluewood is putting in a new rental shop and snow sports department, which allows the old rental shop to be converted into 1,900 square-feet of cafeteria seating.
Membrane materials to build the rental shop arrived Monday, after an October dusting in the Blue Mountains put 4-inches of snow at the top of Bluewood and 2-inches at the base.
A new yurt tent was added for use in ticketing.
Bluewood, like other ski resorts in Washington, was shut down March 15, and never re-opened for the 2019-20 season, which was the resort's 40th.
"About three weeks short. Three very busy weeks," said Clark.
Once final protocols are set for guests, ski areas would open as snowfall allows.
"Plan ahead," Clark said, advising local skiers this year to get tickets and rentals online beforehand to minimize lines and congestion. "The more you do in advance, the better it is, the easier it is for everybody. Don't assume that we're under full operation."
He noted last year the resort was closed for two days due to flooding in the Dayton/Waitsburg area. Local police turned around dozens of cars full of skiers unaware the mountain was inaccessible.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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