A viral TikTok trend has taken a dangerous turn, and so have the skiers following it.
According to Vermont’s Stowe Mountain Rescue, clips shared on social media of “whooping skiers in knee-deep powder” are luring inexperienced skiers and snowboarders into the backcountry, putting them in potentially dangerous terrain at a time of year when the snowpack is notoriously unreliable.
Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol, which provides rescue services at Stowe Mountain Resort, is seeing unprecedented numbers of lost skiers in backcountry terrain accessible from the resort, Stowe Mountain Rescue said on Facebook. On several occasions, rescuers have been called in to help, and at least one of the skiing parties quoted TikTok as its inspiration.
While much of the western United States is struggling with warm temperatures and paltry early-season snowfall, Vermont and the Northeast have experienced a glut of precipitation. Stowe began spinning its chairlifts on November 21, and Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak, recorded 38 inches of snowpack on November 17, well above the early-season average.
Still, early-season snow may not adequately cover hazards, such as rocks or trees hidden below the surface. Uneven snow layering, followed by intermittent warm periods that melt surface layers, can further create dangerous snowy conditions.
Novice skiers are reportedly also following other ski tracks, landing them beyond the resort ski boundary and into the sidecountry along runs that do not provide access back to lifts.
Toll Road, a two-mile downhill beginner ski trail at Stowe, is one such example.
“The ski boundary is clearly marked, but evidently the lure of tracks in fresh snow is too much to resist,” wrote Stowe Mountain Rescue. At this time of year, early in the ski season, snowpack diminishes as elevation is lost. Nice turns up top quickly turn into “brambly terrain with woefully inadequate snow” at lower areas of the mountain.
Those familiar with the run may know when and where to traverse to make it back to the resort. But those without a background understanding of the trail are more likely to miss their exit back to the resort, committing them to a “long, hard, flat slog in no-man’s land.” Rescuers say they find skiers who are “utterly lost—exhausted, cold and scared.”
Stick to signage and within the terrain boundaries for which you are trained, rescuers add.
“There are dangers in blindly following, whether it’s TikTok posts or ski tracks, or anything else for that matter. A quick risk assessment is needed before giving in to the instinct to follow. Accidents will happen in the backcountry, and we’ll always gladly respond, but this wave of lost skiers is largely the result of impulsive behavior, which is entirely preventable,” wrote Stowe Mountain Rescue.
Skiing out of bounds presents hazards even when snowfall is at its peak. In 2024, 23 skiers had to be rescued from a sidecountry area near Killington, Vermont. The skiers were lured into the sidecountry by fresh tracks, but didn’t realize that the way out involved a lengthy hike up an icy trail.
Staying within bounds and paying attention to boundary signs are surefire ways to keep in safe terrain. Deep snow can be found even on groomed trails.
“There are plenty of powder pockets in between named runs which provide the thrill of the wilds while remaining within the resort,” wrote Stowe Mountain Rescue. “If you’re intent on heading out of bounds, don’t do it on a whim and be accountable for your own safety. Knowledge of the terrain is your first prerequisite.”
“You need to be properly equipped for the backcountry, stick with your ski buddies, and stay aware of daylight hours, impending weather, and snowpack conditions. Don’t blithely follow trends or tracks!” adds the group.
Finally, if you don’t know, don’t go.
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