Mountain Safety

Mount Sunapee strives to create a fun and safe environment so our guests can enjoy outdoor mountain recreation. The National Ski Area Association has developed several programs to promote safety on and around the trails and slopes.

Please take a few moments to become familiar with the skier's responsibility code. Also, if you enjoy spending time in our terrain parks please review the Smart Style and A-T-M-L Methods. We also would like to call your attention to our unmanned drone policy and dog policy. By understanding and following these rules everyone can enjoy a safe and fun-filled day on the slopes.

Please Note: Sledding, tubing, and other similar snow sliding devices are not permitted at any time. No snowmobiles.

Mount Sunapee staffs some of the best medical professionals in the area. We take great pride in making our mountain safe and, with your help, we can continue to make sure everyone has an enjoyable time.

If you happen to come across an accident here at Mount Sunapee please do one of the following:

1. Call Mount Sunapee Ski Patrol Emergency Phone Number, 603.763.3599, and notify our phone operators of the incident. We will relay your message to the appropriate department and respond quickly.
2. Or, you can also notify any one of our lift attendants or other employees of the situation and we will assist those in nee

Winter season uphill travel is permitted at Mount Sunapee Resort on designated routes only, during Resort non-operating hours beginning at 4:30 pm each afternoon and concluding 15 minutes before the lifts open each morning. Regardless of where you at that time, you must head downhill (generally these times are: weekends and holidays: 7:45 am; weekdays: 8:45 am).

Uphill travel routes:

• Lower Ridge to Upper Ridge to Summit Lodge on the Main Mountain
• Sunnyside Down to Province to top of Clipper Ship Quad on South Peak

Downhill travel routes:

• Upper Ridge, Lower Ridge, Upper Blast-Off and Lower Blast-Off on the Main Mountain
• Province to Sunnyside Down on South Peak

All other Resort trails are closed for recreational traffic during non-operational hours.

When traveling downhill you must observe the Skier Responsibility Code.

Pets are not permitted at the resort, even overnight. Please leave dogs at home.

During pre-season snowmaking operations, there is no uphill travel permitted.

During resort non-operational times, skiers and riders shall:

• Travel on the right-hand-side of the trail when heading uphill.
• Make yourself visible! Use headlamps and other lights. Wear bright, reflective clothing.

• Avoid areas where Resort equipment may be working. If you do happen to encounter a grooming machine or snowmobile, step off to the side of the trail and use a light to draw the attention of the operator. Never ski towards or follow/trail a grooming machine.

• Stay away from snowmaking equipment. Do not ski or step on hoses.

• Know that Resort Emergency Services (Ski Patrol) are not available during non-operational periods. If you or a member of your party is injured, you will need to call 911. Know your route and be prepared to share it with emergency responders.

• Obey all signage and closures.

Mount Sunapee Resort has the right to cancel the Uphill Travel Policy at any time due to weather conditions or operations on the mountain.

Summer Season

Non-Operating Days Mountain Bike Access Policy

• Mountain Bike uphill travel to access the lift serviced bike park tails is only permitted on designated routes, during specific times only on non-operating days.
• Operating days are Thursday – Sunday thru Labor Day weekend and then Saturday – Sunday thru Indigenous People’s Day (Columbus Day) in mid-October.
  
  

Mountain Bike Uphill Travel Route:
Uphill travel on non-operating days is to be on the Out N’ Back trail only.

Mountain Bike Downhill Travel Routes:
It is highly recommended that descending traffic does not use the Out N’ Back trail.

During Resort Non-Operational Times, Riders Shall:

• Travel on the ride hand side of the trail when heading uphill.
• Make yourself visible! Use headlamps and other lights during low-light conditions.
• Avoid areas where resort equipment or work crews are working.
• If you do happen to encounter a work crew or machinery, please come to stop, communicate with the crew/operator and then slowly go around or re-route to a different trail.
• Know that the resort emergency services (patrol) are not available during non-operational periods. If you or a member of your party is injured, you will need to call 911.
• Know your route and be prepared to share it with emergency responders.
• Obey all additional signage and closures you may encounter.
  
  

Mount Sunapee Resort has the right to cancel the uphill travel policy at any time due to weather conditions or operations on the mountain.

Smart Style is about all safety and having the knowledge to enjoy your freedom and the freestyle terrain.

Park Smart reinforces five important points for the use of freestyle terrain.

1. Start Small

If you are just getting into the park for the first time, or the first time that day, start with small features and work your way up. If you aren’t sure about how to use a feature, build your skills first.

When starting out, look for small progression parks and features and then work your way up to medium or large parks and features. Freestyle Terrain comes in different sizes so make sure and start small and work your way up before going into larger parks.

2. Make a Plan

Every time you use freestyle terrain have a plan for each feature you are going to use.

Remember, your speed, approach, and take-off will directly affect your maneuver and landing.

ATML

When first inspecting the jumps consider the following elements of each jump:

(A) The Approach zone is for setting your speed and stance

(T) The Take-off zone is for making moves that start your trick

(M) The Maneuver zone is for controlling your style

(L) The Landing Zone is for getting straight and riding away clean.

3. Always Look

• Before you drop. Before getting into freestyle terrain observe all signage and warnings.
• Use your first run as a warm run and to familiarize yourself with the park layout and features

Remember that the features change constantly due to weather, usage, and time of day so it is important to continue to inspect features throughout the day.

4. Respect

• The features and other users
• One person on a feature at a time
• Wait your turn and call your drop-in
• Always clear the landing area quickly
• Respect all signs and stay off closed features

Remember that respect is important both in the park and on the rest of the resort. So be smart when you are heading down the mountain or to the lift and save your best tricks for the park.

5. Take it Easy

• Know your limits. Land on your feet.
• Ride within your ability and consider taking a lesson if you want to build your knowledge, skills, and bag of tricks.
• Stay in control both on the ground and in the air.
• Remember you can control how big or small you take the feature by varying speed and take off.
• Inverted aerials increase the chance of serious injury and are not recommended.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL. Don’t get in the backseat. Control your speed. Land on your feet. YOU ARE IN CONTROL.

We love dogs. Many of our staff own dogs. Mount Sunapee Resort is no place for dogs.

During the winter season dogs are not permitted at Mount Sunapee, even on a leash.

Unfortunately, we have had guests bitten by dogs. We have had dogs run out onto the slopes and collide with guests injuring the dog and sometimes the guest. Many small children are afraid of dogs and we are a family resort. In a perfect world, owners control and clean up after their dogs. It is not a perfect world, however, and dogs relieve themselves on the skis in the ski racks and on the snow, and it is not cleaned up by the owners.

We love dogs, but dogs and winter operations at Mount Sunapee Resort do not mix. Please leave your dogs and pets at home.

After dark, you must wear bright reflective clothing and have a headlamp.

We recommend that you bring a cell phone, but be aware that cell phone service is not always available or reliable on the mountain. We recommend using the buddy system and that you do not travel uphill alone. Travel in at least groups of two or three. Travel uphill in single file. Do not travel side by side.

Stay clear of all operating equipment on the mountain including but not limited to snow grooming vehicles, snowmobiles, lifts and snowmaking equipment. If you hear a vehicle approaching, stay on the extreme right-hand side of the trail. At night make yourself visible. Turn and face the direction of the vehicle with your headlamp.

Stay on open trails only and do not leave the ski area boundary. We recommend that you have a trail map with you.

Outside of the operating hours of the ski resort, there is no ski patrol personnel present. You are responsible for your own actions and safety. Be aware that you can be charged for the costs of any rescue prior to, or after, the operating hours of the resort.

No dogs or pets are permitted.

No overnight stays are permitted on the mountain.

Trash In – Trash Out. Do not leave any trash on the mountain. Thank you.