Think you’re ready to tackle Mt. Hood all by yourself? Way to be positive. For your safety and enjoyment—along with everyone else’s—get to Know The Code first.
Your Responsibility Code
The National Ski Areas Association has developed rules that you need to be aware of and follow. Most skiing and snowboarding accidents can be directly attributed to someone not following one of these basic rules:
The National Ski Areas Association has developed rules that you need to be aware of and follow. Most skiing and snowboarding accidents can be directly attributed to someone not following one of these basic rules:
- Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
- People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
- You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
- Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
- Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
- Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
- Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.
KNOW THE CODE. IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
This is a partial list. Show courtesy. Use common sense. Be safety conscious.
Universal Trail Rating System
It’s your responsibility to stay on terrain that you can handle—and avoid terrain that exceeds your abilities. To assist you, ski resorts across the country utilize a color-shape rating system to indicate the difficulty of trails. We’ve correlated our ability levels to this rating system.
Terrain Park Rating System
Freestyle terrain parks also use a rating system that helps you define the size of features (rails, boxes, half pipes, jumps) you’ll encounter.
Small
Medium
Large
Before venturing into the terrain parks, make sure you have mastered the fundamentals. You should be able to control your speed and turn and stop on intermediate trails before tackling obstacles. Timberline offers freestyle terrain coaching in our lesson programs.
Green Circle – Easiest Trails
Blue Square – More Difficult
Black Diamond – Most Difficult
Double Black Diamond – Extremely Difficult
Keep in mind that all of these ratings apply to trails within a particular resort, and do not relate to other ski areas. A black diamond at one resort may be a blue square at another.
It’s your responsibility to stay on terrain that you can handle—and avoid terrain that exceeds your abilities. To assist you, ski resorts across the country utilize a color-shape rating system to indicate the difficulty of trails. We’ve correlated our ability levels to this rating system.
Terrain Park Rating System
Freestyle terrain parks also use a rating system that helps you define the size of features (rails, boxes, half pipes, jumps) you’ll encounter.
Small
Medium
Large
Before venturing into the terrain parks, make sure you have mastered the fundamentals. You should be able to control your speed and turn and stop on intermediate trails before tackling obstacles. Timberline offers freestyle terrain coaching in our lesson programs.
Green Circle – Easiest Trails
Blue Square – More Difficult
Black Diamond – Most Difficult
Double Black Diamond – Extremely Difficult
Keep in mind that all of these ratings apply to trails within a particular resort, and do not relate to other ski areas. A black diamond at one resort may be a blue square at another.
