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Folks Could Be Skiing In Oregon Soon Enough


It was announced yesterday, May 5th, by Governor Kate Brown that there would be limited openings of Oregon's state parks, outdoor recreation facilities, and areas across the state for day use starting yesterday, May 5th. This announcement also stated that there would be camping opportunities becoming available as federal, state, local, and private providers are able to prepare their facilities for visitors. However, outshining all of that, at least for winter sports enthusiasts, ski resorts and areas will be able to reopen, pending a new executive order that will be forthcoming.

“Enjoying Oregon’s beauty and bounty is one of our state's time-honored traditions,” said Governor Brown. “As we begin to slowly open up recreation sites, state parks, and ski areas, it is critical we ensure the health and safety of staff, volunteers, and the public. And that begins with each of us taking personal responsibility to be good stewards of our parks and each other.”

Reopening Oregon's recreation areas is going to be a phased project. Areas will open as communities and providers determine it is safe to do so, meaning don't go heading up to the ski hills around the state just yet. At current, none of the Oregon ski resorts or areas have made a formal announcement as to when or if they will open, as they are still waiting for the official go-ahead from the Governor herself.

When these areas go begin to open, there will be guidelines in place for safe recreation use, which will include the following:

Prepare before you go:

• Limit your recreation activities and recreate only with people in your own household.
• Check what’s open before leaving home. Your favorite trail or campsite may remain closed or need to be closed on a temporary basis, to prevent crowding and protect public health.
• Plan ahead and come prepared as service levels may be different than you are accustomed to.
• Visitors may find limited restroom services available. Plan to bring your own soap, water, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper.
• Bring a mask to cover your nose and mouth. Visit less crowded areas, visit during off-peak times, and have a back-up plan.
• Not feeling well? Don’t go. If you have symptoms of a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, stay home.

Take care when you get there:

• Be safe and responsible by choosing activities within your comfort zone.
• Leave no trace and pack out what you pack in.
• Maintain your own personal hygiene like washing your hands often, bringing your own water, hand sanitizer, soap, and toilet paper.
• Avoid crowds. Be prepared for last-minute changes to ensure the safety and health of others.
• All of the standard ways to protect public health apply in the outdoors too, like maintaining physical distance.
• Keep at least 6 feet between you and others enjoying the outdoors. Launch one boat at a time to ensure others have enough space to launch safely and securely.
• Leave at least one parking space between your vehicle and the vehicle next to you.
• It is wildfire season. Please remain safe and vigilant to ensure forest health and safety. Do not start fires in undesignated areas. Check if your campground or park allows outdoor fires before you strike a match. If permitted, make sure you are building a campfire properly and that you have water or an extinguisher on hand. Before you leave, ensure the campfire is out. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.

Photo: Mount Hood In Oregon - Credit: No machine-readable author provided. Moribunt assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA
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