Mountaineering Scotland created a code of conduct for snowsports, ski touring and other activities to minimize the impact on others and the environment. Bullet points include:
- Keep an eye out for warning signs in ski resorts and avoid roped-off areas
- Avoid crossing or ascending groomed ski slopes
- Downhill skiers/boarders have the right of way.
- Stay clear of grooming machines – they operate 24 hrs and have very long cables attached
- Keep your dog under control and within sight
- You can ask a member staff about the best places to safely ski if you’re not sure where to go.
Why do you need a code for your business?
Snowsports tours (using skis and snow boards) are one of Scotland’s fastest expanding mountain activities. People are increasingly moving away from resorts and skinning uphill to access more remote areas.
Snowsports tourers often start their journeys from Scotland’s five ski resorts, Aonach Mor Cairngorm Glencoe Glenshee or the Lecht. They welcome all snowsports tourists and want to make sure that their customers who enjoy downhill skiing are not affected by this activity.
Legally* snowsports tourers only have access rights within managed resorts if they do not “interfere” with the primary recreational activities (* see below for more detail).
Mountaineering Scotland, with the support of resort managers and tourers, developed a code of access for snowsport tourers.
The following organizations endorse the code:
- The Association of Scottish Ski Areas
- Snowsports Scotland
- British Association of Snowsports Instructors
- British Association of Ski Patrollers
Safety is paramount when skiing
The resort operates 24 hours per day, including in bad weather conditions and when the area is closed.
Respect warning signs posted by resorts. Stay away from lift lines, even if they’re closed. And stay clear of cordoned-off areas. When resorts close, they become less safe.
Be on the lookout for groomer cables, snowmobiles and other equipment. Stay clear of all grooming machines – do not assume the operator can see you.
Winch cat cables are used by grooming machines that operate at night. These cables can be difficult to see, and may not be located directly above the machine. Avoid the slopes they operate on.
You are bound to the International Ski Federation Code of Conduct within resort boundaries. The right of way belongs to those skiing or snowboarding on downhill slopes.
Be alert to other skiers or snowboarders coming from above. Also, be aware of changing weather conditions and low visibility. Some skiers and boarders may not have expected you to be there.
You should not use the lift without a valid ticket. Do not get in a lift that is unmanned, as it may stop and never start again.
Minimise your impact
Recognize that resorts are businesses and groomers take pride in offering a high-quality experience to their paying clients.
Plan your route so that you avoid crossing the pistes. If this is not possible, try to minimise how much time you spend doing it. Be aware of other skiers or snowboarders.
If there isn’t a marked route uphill, you should stay outside the fence of a narrow piste (and walk if necessary), or on the edge of a wide piste.
Avoid damaging the newly groomed trails; they will have to be prepared again for the next day.
Take into consideration where you may be leaving tracks, and how this might affect the piste.
Minimise your impact. Don’t dig up snow within resort boundaries.
Always keep dogs under control. Skis and snowboards can cause serious injury to dogs.
* Pay attention to the legal stuff
Section 6 para (1) (e) (ii) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 states that “the land in respect of which access rights are not exercisable is land ……. which has been developed or set out ….. for a particular recreational purpose”.
However, Section 7 para (7) qualifies this statement and states that “Section 6 (1) (e) ….. prevents the exercise of access rights over land to which it applies only if – the land is being used for the purpose for which it has been developed or set out, and, in the case of land which is not a sports or playing field, the exercise of those rights would interfere with the recreational use to which the land is being put”.
If touring is deemed to “interfere” with downhill skiing, then there are no access rights. It is unlikely, however, that people who visit more remote locations will interfere with resort activities.
The resort will continue to operate normally if the skiers use the slopes for descent.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code states that “active pursuits such as …..ski touring, ski mountaineering” are recreational purposes and are therefore included in the access rights