Solitude Ski Patrol cracks down on rope-ducking amid avalanche safety concerns

Skier on a powder day at Solitude Mountain Resort. Photo: Solitude Mountain Resort.

SOLITUDE, Utah — Solitude Mountain’s Ski Patrol is stepping up safety measures after an increase in skiers and snowboarders ducking ropes to access closed avalanche terrain, endangering themselves and ski patrol teams actively mitigating the area.

In a recent Instagram video, Solitude Ski Patrol Director Doug Catherine emphasized the critical role of avalanche control in keeping the mountain safe, particularly on storm days when conditions are most volatile.

“On storm days, it requires a tremendous amount of effort to open up the terrain here. All of our lifts, except for Link Lift, our beginner lift, are influenced by avalanche terrain,” said Catherine. “When we open new lifts, we’ve noticed an increase in people ducking rope lines and skiing into avalanche-closed terrain. These people are skiing directly above and onto actively mitigating teams. When this happens, it puts our team in a tremendous amount of danger.”

 

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Avalanche terrain is defined as slopes steeper than 30 degrees, though slides can occur on slopes as gentle as 25 degrees or as steep as 60 degrees. At Solitude, approximately half of the mountain’s 1,200 skiable acres are rated as advanced/expert terrain, making them potentially prime avalanche zones.

To combat the issue, Solitude has implemented a strict new policy: anyone caught ducking ropes will lose their ski pass for a minimum of 30 days. Additionally, lifts in affected areas, including Powderhorn, Eagle, and Summit Terrain, will not open until avalanche mitigation is fully completed—a change that could cause delays but ensures safety for all.

With avalanche conditions influenced by steep slopes and variable weather, skiers and snowboarders are urged to stay on open terrain and adhere to resort rules, ensuring a safer experience for everyone.