A happy – and safe – family ski day starts with plans and clear and consistent communication.Greg Rosenke
About 10 years ago, Keith MacIntyre and his then seven-year-old son got separated while skiing. “He just wasn’t paying attention,” the Penticton, B.C., resident says. It took a good half-hour – including a “very slow” chairlift ride – for them to reconnect, and while this story ended uneventfully, MacIntyre recognizes it could have gone differently. “Until I actually saw him, I didn’t feel very comfortable,” he says.
Skiing and snowboarding tend to be social: We hit the slopes not just to shred fresh powder, but to spend time with friends and family. But with varying levels of skill, speed, attention and derring-do, it’s common for groups to split up. The trouble is, not knowing where people are can risk more than just your lunch plans – it can put your safety in peril. Here’s how to keep track of everyone during your next mountain outing.
Start with a plan – and a backup plan
“The old ways might be the best,” says Paul Pinchbeck, chief executive officer of the Canadian Ski Council. Agree at the beginning of each run which way you’ll go and where you’ll meet at the end, such as a specific chairlift. That means “everybody knows where you’re going and where you intend to end up,” he says.
When someone takes a wrong turn, changes their mind or gets distracted by an enticing line through the trees, this is where the backup plan comes in. Split your day with check-ins that include plans to meet for a late-morning coffee, or to be at the car at a certain time in the afternoon. This is especially important at hills with unreliable cell service, as is common in the West.
“You need to be prepared,” says Charles “Pip” Albrow, patrol director at B.C.’s Sun Peaks Resort. “People tend to not register that they’re heading out into a mountain environment and calling for help is not always a viable option.”
Know the terrain
Staying in bounds is rule No. 1 for safety. But even on the right side of the ropes, it can be easy to lose your way. Don’t depend on your phone. Keep a map on hand and make periodic stops to ensure everyone is accounted for and having fun.
Train your kids
“It happens often enough that somebody flags you down and says they can’t find their kid,” says Maddie Long, senior patroller at Sun Peaks Resort. “Usually, in the time it takes to get a search rolling, they’ve found their kid again.”
That said, teaching children about meeting places, your contact details and how to navigate the mountain can go a long way toward preventing problems. Pinchbeck suggests letting kids take the lead so you can keep an eye on them from behind.
Choose the right technology
Apple’s Find My program (including AirTags) and other smartphone-connected tracking tools have their place, but their usefulness tanks where cell service is spotty. AirTags also require nearby iPhones to update their position, another tool that can prove unreliable in the wilderness.
That’s why MacIntyre invented SkiKrumb, a tracker that uses more-reliable radio signals to transmit location. It’s currently being used at eight resorts in B.C., the Yukon and Quebec.
Big White in Kelowna, B.C., for example, equips kids in group lessons with trackers so that staff can keep everyone accounted for. The tracker is also available for purchase by individuals. “I’m the opposite of a helicopter parent, but stuff can just happen while skiing,” he says. “People say [the tracker] has changed their whole skiing experience.”
Stay in view – and enjoy the view
Groups commonly get split up when someone goes out of view, says Long – whether that’s to dip into the trees or take a dip in the hotel hot tub. “If you’re planning to ski as a group, stay in eyesight,” she says.
If visibility isn’t clear or your view has changed, don’t be shy about using your outside voice. “I’m not a vocal person,” says Albrow. “But when I’m skiing trees with friends, I do a lot of whooping and hollering. If you don’t have that visual connection, you can at least hear where people are.”
Finally, let people know if you’re cutting the day short.
Having a plan also helps others know to wait for you. “You’ll have a good sense of how long someone might be delayed if they stopped to take a photo or just to take in the view,” says Pinchbeck.
And isn’t that what it’s all about?
