DEP 11 December: '21 Winter Operations Plan

6 Dec 20: (Updates since last posting in RED)

Craftsbury Outdoor Center: Winter Operations Plan for 2020-2021

We are not yet open to the public for skiing.

What will be the same?
We intend to offer the same great skiing that we always do! We feel that cross-country skiing is an outdoor sport with potential to be safely practiced at a distance and intend to offer that to folks this winter.

What will be different?
Due to the pandemic, there will be a lot of changes to the ways we usually operate in the winter. And there are likely to be additional changes through the course of the winter. We thank you in advance for adhering to our requirements and following the VT state guidance, all with the important goal of keeping yourself and your fellow skiers safe.

Most importantly:

Skiing will ONLY be available to annual members and day users who live in the state of Vermont OR out-of-state visitors who have completed a state-mandated quarantine upon entering the state.
- As of November 10, the state has suspended its leisure travel map and implemented a mandatory quarantine for anyone returning or traveling to Vermont.
- Failure to comply with the state’s travel and quarantine policy may result in the loss of future skiing privileges.
Skiers and other day users MUST reserve every day they want to ski, fatbike, run, snowshoe, ice skate or otherwise enjoy the Center. This includes annual members as well.
Always check our website before you come!
- Things will change, this is certain. Check the website for the latest info.
- Don’t drive up to COC without first checking the dashboard on the website, to make sure we are still open and there are no limitations on numbers of skiers.
- If snow is limited, this will be especially important, as it will be necessary to reserve ski times for the foreseeable future.

Masks, Social Distance & Self-Screening:

Masks must be worn at all times except when out skiing away from other people—and even then, you must carry a mask with you in case you need it.
Social distance must be maintained at all times. If you’re breathing hard, allow even more distance!
If you have any symptoms at all, do not come to ski.

Opening Day

We do not yet have an opening date for skiing at Craftsbury. Please watch the website for the latest info.

Cooperation or Closure

Some of you will remember last March when the pandemic was closing in on us all. The Center really wanted to remain open so that people could get fresh air and exercise. Unfortunately we were forced to close early because people were ignoring safety guidelines, disregarding travel restrictions, congregating, and chatting closely with friends. We do not want to have that happen again this winter.

We really want to provide skiing for our community this winter. In order to do so, we need your support in following these guidelines and our COVID policy.

<Manmade Loop

While our groomers have started moving some manmade snow out onto the trails, we are not yet open for public skiing. The snow has been distributed on Screaming Mimi. The goal is to make a loop so traffic is one way only. The proposed loop goes from the top of Screaming Mimi, hard right onto Lemon’s Haunt, then take all rights until back at the bottom of Screaming Mimi.

However, the weather has not been cooperative for moving or making snow, so currently there’s just a strip of snow on Screaming Mimi and a bit below it. Combine tricky conditions and ongoing snow hauling traffic with two way traffic on the snow ribbon, on a significant climb with a hairpin in the middle of it, and our reasoning for not opening to the public yet becomes self-evident.

Day-use Reservations

The state now requires ski areas to keep an electronic record of all people using the facilities on any given day. In addition, we need to be sure that our total numbers allow for appropriate distancing between folks on the trail. To accomplish both of these things, we have introduced a system of reservations, required for anyone who hopes to use Craftsbury for the day - even annual members.

Buy your annual membership or day-pass as usual.
Go to the reservation calendar and reserve your spot
Print or save your proof of purchase to bring to Craftsbury on the day you want to ski, fatbike, snowshoe or ice skate.

Note that there's a two step process: paying for your day pass or membership doesn't mean that you are scheduled - and vice versa. One must complete both parts (and rent a bib if one is skiing on any manmade loop when it's ready). Read more.

Touring Center

The Touring Center building will not be open to the public. Plan to ski from your car.
Please purchase your membership (day or annual) online before coming to the Outdoor Center, and make your day-use reservation.
We will be offering rentals, through window service.
If allowed by State guidelines, Lessons will be available and need to be reserved in advance by calling the ski shop. Lessons are offered for individuals and families this season, not mixed groups.
We will operate under the VT state recommendation of “arrive, play, leave”.
Carrying extra layers will be helpful this year if standing in line, waiting, etc. (as there will be no indoor warm up space available.)

Parking

We will have our usual lots open. In addition, we hope to be able to offer several satellite lots to help spread out skiers. Watch the website for more info on satellites.
Put on your mask before you get out of your vehicle.
Respect social distancing guidelines with other people parking near you.

Toilets

We have a brand new toilet trailer, with 3 separate toilet rooms with sinks, running water--and heat!—located in the upper parking lot. There will be no public access to the toilets in the gym.
Additional porta-pots will be provided as needed at busy times.
Hand sanitizer will be provided and should be used both before and after using the toilet.
Toilets will be cleaned at regular intervals during the day.

Waxing

Our public wax room will not be open. You may set up a table outside. But do as much waxing as you can before you arrive
We are continuing our ban on the use of fluorinated waxes at the Outdoor Center. Even if you wax at home, please do not bring skis with fluoros on them to COC.
We have a limited number of small wax cabins in the lower lot that will be available for events. Reservations will be made online, and found from the individual event.

Food

Our Touring Center Café hopes to offer a selection of soups, sandwiches, hot drinks and snacks for take-out, pending COVID regulations and conditions.
We encourage you to bring your own water, but we will have water available on the deck for refilling your own container.
Hand sanitizer will be provided near the food pickup window.

Staff

All COC staff wear masks at all times unless eating or working away from other people. Coaches and instructors will mask any time they need to be within 6’ of a student or athlete.
All COC staff will perform a health self-assessment every morning before coming to work.

Programming

Fitness programming is on hiatus until spring.
Has been modified to meet current COVID safety requirements. Ski programming for all ages of annual members opened for registration on October 15. Register early as we’ve capped group sizes smaller for everyone’s safety this year. Registration for all winter programs closes on December 15 or as soon as program caps are met—whichever comes first.
As noted, COC buildings will be closed to the public. Program participants should plan to operate out of their personal vehicles. It’ll be a bit like the good old days!
Parents will not be able to wait inside while kids are at practice, and should plan accordingly. We encourage parents to go for their own ski, snowshoe, etc., while kids are practicing.
Practices will be structured somewhat differently to minimize contact to some degree. We will still play some games with the kids programs, but we’ll also do a lot more distance skiing.
All families participating in our programs will be asked to review a set of COVID-19 guidelines and sign off on them.

Find all details about our winter programming.

Programming

Per the November 13 update from the Governor, we will not be hosting any races in the immediate future. Watch the website for updates later in the winter.
When possible to hold events once more, all events held at COC this winter will adhere to VT safety standards with additional precautions that COC deems necessary.
Per the October 26 ACCD Update, Craftsbury events will be open only to Vermont residents. State guidelines do not permit out-of-state teams or competitors to compete in Vermont without going through the requisite quarantine requirements. Vermonters are also not permitted to travel out-of-state for athletic competition without quarantining upon return (regardless of where the competition is held). For these reasons, Outdoor Center races will be open only to Vermont residents.
Field sizes will be smaller than usual; max number of people present, including officials and volunteers, must remain below the VT max of 150.
We will not hold any two-day events, in order to limit the need for overnight travel and the need to spend nights away from home.
There will be strict health checks and quarantine requirements.

Masters’ Camps

We do not feel it is safe to host an early season Masters camp, so we will not be offering it this year.

Lodging

We will have limited lodging available. Read more.

That's our current summary of winter ‘21 operations. Hit us with any questions at skishop@craftsbury.com. Hope we can see you at a safe distance this winter!

SkiingCOC AdminDecember 6, 2020covid-19, Planning