The Times Union reports Hunter Mountain ski resort in the Catskills will remain closed for at least a second day Wednesday because too many of their ski patrollers were out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To be clear, area resorts are allowed to operate but Hunter is short-staffed on patrollers and without enough patrollers to care for injured skiers, or to unload a lift in the rare event that one stalls or breaks down, the resort cannot operate safely.
“Unfortunately, this morning at Hunter Mountain, a number of ski patrollers excluded out of work relating to COVID-19 and as such we will not be opening the mountain.”
According to several comments to posts made on the resort’s socials, skiers and snowboarders who showed up Tuesday hoping to enjoy a new 4-inch snowfall waited outside until about 9:45 a.m., when company officials finally announced they couldn’t open. Those who had purchased tickets online would get coupons good for another day. Vail Resorts, which owns Hunter Mountain, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.