Park City Mountain Ski Patrol Director confident in safety amid ongoing strike

Andy VanHouten, Ski Patrol Director at Park City Mountain Photo: TownLift

'They’ve been trained on their assigned terrain areas by my patrol leaders. I am confident in their ability to safely manage the guest experience.' - Park City Mountain Patrol Director Andy Van Houten

PARK CITY, Utah — With high avalanche danger, low snowpack, and holiday crowds over the weekend, safety has been a major concern for locals and guests as nearly 200 members of the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) began an Unfair Labor Practice strike on Friday, Dec. 27.

Park City Mountain Patrol Director Andy Van Houten told TownLift, “We have an incredibly talented group of patrollers currently at Park City Mountain. These highly experienced leaders, from Park City and other resorts, bring expertise and professionalism. They’ve been trained on their assigned terrain areas by my patrol leaders. I am confident in their ability to safely manage the guest experience.”

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN), owner of Park City Mountain has activated a backup Patrol Support Team to mitigate the effects of the ongoing labor strike. Not all members of the Park City Ski Patrol are participating in the strike, as union membership is optional.

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Patrol Response Protocol
On Saturday, the PCPSPA issued a press release alleging changes to injury response protocols at Park City Mountain. They claim the resort now sends non-patrol personnel to pre-screen injury reports before dispatching medical responders. PCPSPA criticized this as a dangerous deviation from standard medical care, emphasizing the importance of the “golden hour” for treating traumatic injuries.

Van Houten responded, “There have been no changes to our incident response protocols. Safety remains our top priority. Nearby mountain safety team members often report to incidents to help manage the situation while patrol is en route.”

Terrain Open

Park City Mountain opened 65 runs today, covering 18% of its terrain up from 17% yesterday. Van Houten noted, “With significant snowfall this week, we added 100 acres of terrain Saturday and opened Mid-Mountain Lodge. Early season conditions still exist, and lift and terrain openings are within the typical range for the weather we have seen to date.”

The union countered that the resort is operating with fewer patrollers and safety personnel, opening less terrain than typically expected after heavy snow.

Park City Mountain has received 21″ of snow since Friday December 27 and has a 40″ base.

January 2 Negotiation Session

Ahead of the January 2 mediation, the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) filed another Unfair Labor Practice claim against Vail Resorts, alleging retaliatory threats such as season pass deactivation, evictions, benefit cuts, and denial of locker room access. PCPSPA says its negotiators are available to meet anytime, but Vail has not responded.

Vail Resorts stated that its negotiation team, including local leaders, is prioritizing operational continuity during the work stoppage. The company noted it has negotiated in good faith with the Park City ski patrol union, reaching tentative agreements on 24 of the 27 contract articles the union chose to reopen. The unresolved issue of wage negotiations is expected to continue during mediation.

The union stated that starting wages were increased to $21 per hour in 2022, but due to rising costs, they are seeking a $23 starting wage in the ongoing negotiations. An agreement on this issue has not yet been reached.

Continue Reading: Ski Patrol Strike