Please note: All fencing, pads, equipment covers, poles, signage, ribbons, ropelines, and other marking devices are provided to inform you of potential obstacles or hazards. THESE MARKING DEVICES WILL NOT PROTECT YOU FROM INJURY. The presence of these marking devices does not guarantee that all potential obstacles or hazards have been identified. It is your responsibility to avoid all marking devices, and all obstacles and hazards, whether marked or unmarked.

Also Be Advised: You may encounter snowmobiles and snowmaking or grooming equipment at any time day or night at any time of year.

Your Responsibility Code

1.  Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
2.  People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
3.  Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
4.  Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
5.  You must prevent runaway equipment.
6.  Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
7.  Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
8.  You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
9.  Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
10.  If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

Winter sports involve risk of serious injury or death. Your knowledge, decisions and actions contribute to your safety and that of others. If you need help understanding the Code, please ask.

Montana State Law Section 23-2-736, MCA, DUTIES OF A SKIER.
(1) A skier has the duty to ski at all times in a manner that avoids injury to the skier and others and to be aware of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing.

(2) A skier:
(a) shall know the range of the skier’s ability and safely ski within the limits of that ability and the skier’s equipment so as to negotiate any section of terrain or ski slope and trail safely and without injury or damage. A skier shall know that the skier’s ability may vary because of ski slope and trail changes caused by weather, grooming changes, or skier use;
(b) shall maintain control of speed and course so as to prevent injury to the skier or others;
(c) shall abide by the requirements of the skier responsibility code that is published by the national ski areas association and that is posted as provided in 23-2-733;
(d) shall obey all posted or other warnings and instructions of the ski area operator; and
(e) shall read the ski area trail map and must be aware of its contents.

(3) A person may not:
(a) place an object in the ski area or on the uphill track of a passenger ropeway that may cause a passenger or skier to fall;
(b) cross the track of a passenger ropeway except at a designated and approved point; or
(c) if involved in a skiing accident, depart from the scene of the accident without:
(i) leaving personal identification; or
(ii) notifying the proper authorities and obtaining assistance when the person knows that a person involved in the accident is in need of medical or other assistance.

(4) A skier shall accept all legal responsibility for injury or damage of any kind to the extent that the injury or damage results from inherent dangers and risks of skiing. Nothing in this part may be construed to limit a skier’s right to hold another skier legally accountable for damages caused by the other skier.

Montana State Law, Section 23-2-702, DEFINITIONS

As used in this part, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Freestyle terrain” means terrain parks and terrain features, including but not limited to jumps, rails, fun boxes, half-pipes, quarter-pipes, and freestyle bump terrain, and any other constructed features.

(2) “Inherent dangers and risks of skiing” means those dangers or conditions that are part of the sport of skiing, including:
(a) changing weather conditions;
(b) snow conditions as they exist or as they may change, including ice, hardpack, powder, packed powder, wind pack, corn snow, crust, slush, cut-up snow, and machine-made snow of any depth or accumulation, including but not limited to any depth or accumulation around or near trees or snowmaking equipment;
(c) avalanches, except on open, machine-groomed ski trails;
(d) collisions with natural surface or subsurface conditions, such as bare spots, forest growth, rocks, stumps, streambeds, cliffs, trees, and other natural objects;
(e) collisions with lift towers, signs, posts, fences, enclosures, hydrants, water pipes, or other artificial structures and their components;
(f) variations in steepness or terrain, whether natural or the result of slope design, snowmaking, or snow grooming operations, including but not limited to roads, freestyle terrain, ski jumps, catwalks, and other terrain modifications;
(g) collisions with clearly visible or plainly marked equipment, including but not limited to lift equipment, snowmaking equipment, snow grooming equipment, trail maintenance equipment, and snowmobiles, whether or not the equipment is moving;
(h) collisions with other skiers;
(i) the failure of a skier to ski within that skier’s ability;
(j) skiing in a closed area or skiing outside the ski area boundary as designated on the ski area trail map; and
(k) restricted visibility caused by snow, wind, fog, sun, or darkness.

(3) “Passenger” means any person who is being transported or conveyed by a passenger ropeway.

(4) “Passenger ropeway” means a device used to transport passengers by means of an aerial tramway or lift, surface lift, surface conveyor, or surface tow.

(5) “Ski area operator” or “operator” means a person, firm, or corporation and its agents and employees having operational and administrative responsibility for ski slopes and trails and improvements.

(6) “Ski slopes and trails” means those areas designated by the ski area operator to be used by skiers for skiing.

(7) “Skier” means a person who is using any ski area facility for the purpose of skiing, including but not limited to ski slopes and trails.

(8) “Skiing” means any activity, including participation in or practice or training for competitions or special events, that involves sliding or jumping on snow or ice while using skis, a snowboard, or any other sliding device.

Lift Safety

Be advised that you cannot board a lift unless you have sufficient physical dexterity, ability and knowledge to negotiate or to use such lift safely, or until you have asked for and received information sufficient to enable you to load, ride and unload the lift safely. You may not use a lift or any ski trail when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Discovery Ski Area does NOT allow guests to ski or ride charilifts while carrying children in any type of backpack or baby carrier. We also strongly recommend that guests remove all backpacks and carry on their lap when riding chairlifts.

Discovery allows the use of skis, snowboards, telemark skis, snow blades, & cross-country skis (with retention devices, such as brakes or leashes) on its lifts and trails. Discovery does NOT allow ski bikes, sleds, tubes, snow skateboards, or any other device without metal edges or bindings unless specifically designed for the use of individuals with disabilities.

Discovery Ski Area stresses kids’ safety on chairlifts. For FAQs on chairlift safety for kids, check out nsaa.org

Freestyle Terrain Areas
Freestyle terrain areas are designated with an orange oval and may contain jumps, hips, ramps, banks, boxes, jibs, rails, quarter pipes, snowcross, bump terrain and other constructed or natural terrain features. Prior to using freestyle terrain, you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with freestyle terrain and obeying all instructions, warnings and signs. Freestyle skills require maintaining control on the ground, and in the air. Use of freestyle terrain exposes you to the risk of serious injury or death. Inverted aerials are not recommended. You assume the risk.

Freestyle terrain has designations for size. Start small and work your way up. Designations are relative to this ski area.

1. Make a plan: Every time you use freestyle terrain, make a plan for each feature you want to use. Your speed, approach and take off will directly affect your maneuver and landing.
2. Look before you leap: Every time, scope around the jumps first, not over them. Know your landings are clear and clear yourself out of the landing area.
3. Easy style it: Start small and work your way up. (Inverted aerials not recommended.)
4. Respect gets respect: From the lift line through the park.

Each feature can be broken down into 4 zones. Identify these zones and have a plan before using any Freestyle Terrain.

Helmet Safety

Discovery Ski Area encourages you to educate yourself on the benefits and limitations of helmets. If you choose to wear one, please ski or ride as if your are not wearing one. Every winter sport participant shares responsibility for his or her safety and for that of others using the ski area facilities.

Collision Awareness

Collision awareness promotes on-hill safety and responsible skiing and riding to reduce the risk of a collision between two or more skiers and riders. Keep the slopes safe and enjoyable by doing these three things every run:

1) Be ready to slow down or avoid objects or other people at any time. Ski and ride in control at all times, regardless of conditions, and avoid others and objects encountered on the run, groomed or otherwise.

2) Stay alert to what’s happening nearby & be aware of other skiers and riders. Awareness of surroundings and changing conditions helps ensure a fun and safe day on the hill.

3) Ease up at blind spots, check uphill when merging onto trails, and give other skiers plenty of room when passing. Watch for areas where traffic merges or visibility is limited. On unfamiliar runs, note places to slow down, such as cat tracks and rollers. Give skiers and riders plenty of space – spread out, slow down and have fun!

Risk of Avalanche

Please don’t attempt to ski extreme terrain unless you are able and proficient. If you fall you must be able to immediately arrest your slide and proceed down the mountain.  Skiing on extreme terrain when you are not capable can cause serious injury to yourself and others. This action may cause you to lose your lift ticket.

While snow safety and avalanche mitigation efforts help reduce the risk of avalanches, avalanches and snow slides may occur at ski areas, both inside and outside of the posted boundaries. Avalanches are inherent risk of the sport due to the nature of snow and its application on steep mountain terrain. Please respect all closures and warnings.

Become educated on how to reduce the risk of injury or death from avalanches through your own actions and awareness. Visit www.avalanche.org for further information on the risks and prevention of avalanche-related injuries or death.

Tree Well & Deep Snow Safety
Skiing and snowboarding off the groomed runs and in deep powder snow is one of the most exciting and appealing parts of our sport. If you decide to leave the groomed trails, you are voluntarily accepting the risk of falling into tree wells or deep snow and suffocating.

A deep snow or tree well accident occurs when a rider or skier falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized. The more the person struggles, the more entrapped in the snow they become. Deaths resulting from these kinds of accidents have occurred, but these types of accidents are preventable.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT TREE WELL & DEEP SNOW ACCIDENTS:
Avoid deep snow and treed areas
Always ski with a partner & keep your partner in sight
Ski and ride in control & defensively
Have a plan to survive

Uphill Skiing

Uphill skiing is not allowed at Discovery Ski Area from the time we open for the season until the date we close. Uphill skiing after sunset and before sunrise is not allowed any time of year. Outside of these closures, please observe all signs and be aware that equipment may be operating. Note that we do not provide any avalanche mitigation or ski patrol services outside of our operating season. Be aware that uphill skiing is considered backcountry skiing at your own risk.

Drone Policy

Due to safety and privacy concerns, Discovery prohibits the operation or use on or above ski area property of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, by the general public without the prior written authorization from Discovery Ski Area.