As COVID remains prevalent, the future of Catlin Gabel winter recreation remains unclear

By Sam Bailey ‘23

Although the logistics of getting to and from the mountain might prove troublesome for winter sports athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic, some Catlin Gabel School (CGS) skiers remain optimistic about hitting the slopes this year.

“As long as we take the necessary precautions inside the lodge, we’re already wearing masks outside in the sub freezing temperatures,” said CGS sophomore Colin Turner, who considers himself an avid skier.

Most skiers and snowboarders already wear balaclavas or protective mask-like headgear. However, these types of facial coverings may or may not meet CDC or standard mask requirements.

Turner, however, remains concerned about whether the CGS ski bus will be able to run.

“The issue is transportation,” he said.

Another fellow skier and recurring CGS ski bus rider, sophomore Gabriel Korngold has an interest in urban planning and is no stranger to transportation issues.

“I would suggest following Trimet’s example, who has put in place certain mandatory conditions that can heavily impact the chances of catching COVID on the buses,” said Korngold. “These rules include sanitization stations, face masks (obviously), smaller maximum occupancy, and several more. I do believe that with these measures in place, riding the bus should be at least a future possibility.”

Of course, anyone can still get up to the mountain through their own means, but let's keep our fingers crossed that CGS can come up with a safe way to continue the ski bus/ski team tradition!

As of the publication of this article, neither the CGS ski bus nor the ski team know whether or not they will be up and running for the 2020-21 season.