Pebble Creek ski resort talks ski lift safety and holiday numbers

With more and more snow falling on the mountains, more people are hitting the slopes. Recent ski lift accidents in Utah and Colorado left us wondering, how careful are people when out on the slopes?

Pebble Creek Ski Resort in Inkom said for the most part, its customers are respectful and mindful of safety rules, including the ski lifts.

“Problems with people on the chair lift are really, really rare but you always need to just be aware and keep yourself safe,” said Mary Reichman, Pebble Creek’s general manager.

Being safe on the lift is up to each skier or snow boarder. There’s a user responsibility code from the National Ski Area Association and the National Ski Patrol.

Reichman said while it rarely sees problems on its lifts at Pebble Creek, it’s never a bad idea to remind people of those safety points from the code.

“Make sure you’re sitting all the way back in your chair, especially if you have small children,” she said. “Just pull them back. And also if you’re carrying a backpack, swing it around in front of you. And the main thing is don’t mess around, just be serious on the lift.”

Some avid skiers also had advice for those hitting the slopes on general safety when skiing or boarding with others.

“Just use common sense,” said Lannie Workman, a skier. “Pick your line, watch for crowds, be courteous. Be courteous below you, watch your speed in the narrow areas. You know, it just isn’t that important to get down fast, it’s just important to have fun.”

“You have to pay attention on the lifts too,” said Rosemarie Fouad, another frequent skier. “I mean, you don’t have safety bars. You kind of need to know where you are at all times so you don’t slip off. It’s just awareness.”

Pebble Creek recently received a national award for being one of the least crowded ski areas in the west. That means, no long lines and no excessive crowds. Reichman said this is because Pebble Creek is a huge mountain with lots of trails and space and so crowds are small.

Reichman also said Pebble Creek has had a great start to the season. Recent snowstorms have dumped lots of snow on the resort. Reichman said in just one storm, the top of the resort got 40 inches.

Monday, crowds continued at the resort. The parking lot was full and the lifts stayed busy. Reichman said so far this season, they’re thrilled with the turnout.

“We’ve had an absolutely wonderful ski season so far to date,”she said. “We’ve been blessed with abundant snow, it’s even snowing now. We’ve had lots and lots of people here enjoying the slopes. We’ve seen more visitors from out of state too.”

More information on Pebble Creek and upcoming events can be found on its website.