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Mountain Safety

PATROL - EMERGENCY: 250-491-6160

For all snow emergencies on mountain from 8am-5pm daily and during night skiing, contact patrol. All other emergencies call 911.

Ski Safety

SAFETY & MOUNTAIN RISK AWARENESS

Big White has a commitment to safety for everyone using the resort. The responsibility codes are the basic rules of conduct and must be followed by all using the terrain. The information below is here to keep you and your loved ones safe while enjoying the slopes, please ski & ride with care and above all, have fun!
If you ever have a safety concern that is related to a non-emergency situation, please contact Paladin Security directly on 1-877-980-7550.

EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY - ASSUMPTION OF RISKS

The use of ski area premises and facilities and participation in activities at ski areas involves various risks, dangers and hazards. It is a condition of your use of the premises and facilities and your participation in these activities that you assume all risk of personal injury, death or property loss resulting from any cause whatsoever, including negligence, breach of contract, or breach of any duty of care on the part of the ski area operator. Your legal responsibility as a user of the ski area premises and facilities or participant in activities at the ski area is explained in the following notice, which you will see posted at the ski area.

Exclusion of liability
VIEW EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY

Skiing, snowboarding, and cross country skiing (nordic) involves various risks, dangers and hazards including, but not limited to the following:

  • Boarding, riding and disembarking ski lifts;
  • Changing weather conditions;
  • Avalanches;
  • Exposed rock, earth, ice, and other natural objects;
  • Trees, tree wells, tree stumps and forest deadfall;
  • The condition of snow or ice on or beneath the surface;
  • Variations in the terrain which may create blind spots or areas of reduced visibility;
  • Variations in the surface or sub-surface, including changes due to man-made or artificial snow;
  • Variable and difficult conditions;
  • Streams, creeks, and exposed holes in the snow pack above streams or creeks;
  • Cliffs; crevasses;
  • Snowcat roads, road-banks or cut-banks;
  • Collision with lift towers, fences, snow making equipment, snow grooming equipment, snowcats, snowmobiles or other vehicles, equipment or structures;
  • Encounters with domestic and wild animals including dogs and bears;
  • Collision with other persons;
  • Loss of balance or control; slips, trips and falls;
  • Accidents during snow school lessons;
  • Negligent first aid;
  • Failure to act safely or within one’s own ability or to stay within designated areas;
  • Negligence of other persons; and NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE OPERATOR and its directors, officers, employees, instructors, agents, representatives, volunteers, independent contractors, subcontractors, sponsors, successors and assigns.

 

KNOW THE CODE

ALPINE RESPONSIBILITY CODE

The Alpine Responsibility Code provides the basic rules of conduct and must be followed by all using the terrain, and is consistent across all Ski Areas of Western Canada.

 

  1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
  2. People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
  3. Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
  4. Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
  5. You must prevent runaway equipment.
  6. Read and obey all signs, warnings and hazard markings.
  7. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
  8. You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
  9. Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
  10. If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

Also, be aware of the Cross Country Responsibility Code and Mountain Bike Responsibility Code.

Alpine Responsibility Code
CLICK TO ENLARGE

 


KNOW THE CODE


BE SAFETY CONSCIOUS


IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

 

 

SLOW ZONES

slow zone

Safety and education are always our priority at Big White Ski Resort and with that in mind ALL GREEN RUNS ARE SLOW ZONES. Thousands of people have had the opportunity to ski and ride our slow zones in comfort knowing those runs are designated for slow skiing and snowboarding.

In order to facilitate controlled, slow skiing and riding, please approach green runs slowly and with extreme caution. This allows our more senior guests as well as families and children to enjoy the mountain safely and at their own pace. The appropriate speed on these runs is the general flow of traffic. Skiers and Snowboarders who wish to overtake another skier/snowboarder may do so only if space permits, in a safe and controlled manner and while avoiding excessive speed.

Please Note: Skiers and Snowboarders caught skiing or riding in an uncontrolled and/or unsafe manner, or with excessive speed will result in the loss of their lift privileges for an indeterminate amount of time.

 

 

SIGNS AND NAVIGATING THE MOUNTAIN

The designation of run difficulty is set by each area individually. There are some broad guidelines to assist area operators in designating the difficulty of the runs. The first time to a resort start with the green designations and get a feel for how the difficulties are rated.

The run signage is set up in a way for easy navigation of the mountain.

  1. The top run on the sign is the run you are on.
  2. The subsequent signs are the other runs that you will encounter on the main run, in order
  3. The bottom of the sign will show the easiest way to the bottom of the lift or to the nearest base area.

Navigating Big White

Green circle Green Circle – The easiest runs on the mountain. Green runs are groomed, generally wide and have gentle slopes. On green runs when there is a steeper pitch, the pitch is wide to allow for big turns. Great green runs at Big White are; Millies Mile, Sundance and Squirrel.

Blue square Blue Square – This category has the greatest variation in runs, these runs are more difficult. Blue runs can be groomed or ungroomed. Easier blue runs at Big White can be found on the Black Forest Express, harder blue runs can be found on the Ridge Rocket Express, Powder Chair and Gem Lake Express.

Black diamond Black Diamond – These runs are the most difficult, generally ungroomed, steeper and narrower. Before attempting black runs, people should be comfortable with ungroomed blue runs.

Double black Double Black Diamond – These runs are the most difficult expert terrain on the mountain. This terrain is steep, has narrow chutes and is in avalanche terrain. This terrain can only be accessed through open gates.

 Red  – Shows the easiest way to the bottoms of lifts and base areas.

 

 

LIFT SAFETY

To travel uphill at Ski Areas, skiers and snowboarders use a variety of ski lifts. Users should be familiar with the use of lifts for their own safety and the safety of others.

There are many signs on and around ski lifts. Each is important in its own right, informing you about the process for loading, riding, and unloading the chair. Pay attention to and obey these signs when riding a chairlift. If you are unfamiliar with a lift or have questions, please ask a lift attendant for assistance and directions. Ski and snowboard lessons are also great ways to learn about using the ski lifts.

  • You must have sufficient physical dexterity, ability and knowledge to safely load, ride and unload lifts. If in doubt, ask the lift attendant
  • You must not use lifts or terrain if you are impaired through use of alcohol or drugs
  • Remove pole straps from wrists, hold poles with tips forward
  • Secure loose items – make sure you don’t have anything that can catch on the carrier (zippers, strings, hair)
  • If carrying a backpack, it must be removed and held on your lap while on the lift (infant front carriers and child backpack carriers are not permitted on the lift)

 

 

NO DRONES, UAV, SKI BIKES, TOBOGGANING ON RUNS, UPHILL ACCESS AND INFO

 

 

SMOKING POLICY

Enjoy the fresh air.  Big White Ski Resort is a smoke-free environment.

To keep our alpine air clean and to protect our natural environment from dangerous forest fires, smoking of any kind (including tobacco, marijuana, e-cigarettes and vaporizers) is strictly prohibited anywhere on Big White Ski Resort property outside of designated smoking areas. Our policy applies to both the summer and winter seasons.

This includes:
  • All chairlifts and gondolas
  • Lift lines
  • Ski runs
  • Happy Valley Adventure Park
  • Nordic trails
  • Bike Big White trails
  • Hiking trails
  • Village property outside of designated smoking areas
  • Within or near building entrances and intakes
  • The Woods patio
Smoke Free Big White

Thank you for your cooperation and your consideration of other guests.
Please note, Big White Ski Resort’s smoke-free policy does not apply to the patios and/ or common property of private businesses located on Big White Ski Resort property such as Globe Café & Tapas Bar, The BullWheel and Snowshoe Sam’s.

 

Contact Us:

Direct: 250-491-6111
Email: resortservices@bigwhite.com