The kids are back in school, the leaves are changing color and there’s a chill in the air – winter is coming.
With many COVID protocols still in place, you might be wondering what navigating this winter ski season at Northstar is going to be like.
Here is what we know so far:
Northstar (and all Vail Resorts) will require every employee to get vaccinated no later than November 15th, 2021, and will also be requiring a daily health screening once the resort opens to the public.
The resort has retired its reservation system which was required last year for anyone wishing to access the hill. This season, if you have a valid pass or ticket, you can ride. Northstar will also be loading the gondolas and lifts at max capacity as well, so you will be heading up the mountain with other skiers and boarders, not just family members or at a 6-foot distance like last season.
That said, masks are only required in indoor spaces, including all restaurants, retail stores, rental shops, lodges, and buses at the resort, but are highly recommended during lift rides and other places where you come into close contact with other skiers.
Guests are required to make a reservation for most indoor dining locations, with the expectation that this will be lifted in the early season once guest flow operations are optimized. On top of this, proof of vaccination will be required for all resort guests (12 years and older) in all lodges and restaurants to dine indoors, which will include Ski and Ride School guests when lunch is included.
There will also be new quick-service options consisting of prepackaged grab-and-go food and beverages that will also fall under the mask guidelines. And of course, restrooms will be available to all guests with masks required.
But, leave your cash at home, all purchases at the resort will only be handled via cashless transactions this season (pro tip: load up that season pass with funds you can use anywhere at the resort so you don’t have to carry a credit card too!)
Vail Resorts has also reduced all pass prices by 20% this year (compared to last year), a generous acknowledgment of our limited use of our passes for the last two seasons. And don’t forget pass holders always get 20% off food, lodging, and lessons.
And lastly, Northstar will be running two new high-speed chairlifts as part of Vail Resorts’ $320 million capital investment plan for 2022 designed to reduce wait times and increase uphill capacity. The new high-speed 6-person chairlift will replace the existing mid-mountain 4-person chair and is designed to reduce wait times at one of the resort’s most popular lifts and increase uphill capacity by nearly 50%.
Northstar (and Heavenly) plans to officially open on Friday, November 19, 2021.
That leaves just a bit to secure your ski property at Northstar and wake up just steps from the gondola all season long – check out the current list of all Northstar ski properties for sale >>
