Skiing Is Safer Than You Think—Unless You Ski the Trees

Imagine you are standing at the top of a black diamond run at your favorite resort. The snow is deep, the sun is out, and the trees at the edge look inviting. You've skied trees before, so you dip in. Thirty seconds later, you're pinned against a trunk, your ski twisted, your shoulder dislocated. The ski patrol—founded in 1938 after a broken ankle and a friend's fatal fall—will take an hour to reach you. This is the real risk in skiing, and it's not the avalanche you read about.

Here's the thesis: Resort skiing is statistically safer than it has ever been, but the danger has shifted from avalanches to trees. The numbers prove it. In the 2024-25 season, U.S. ski areas recorded 61.5 million skier visits (SAM). That's a lot of laps. Yet only 50 skiers and snowboarders died at U.S. ski areas that season—a rate of less than one fatality per million visits (NSAA). Compare that to the avalanche risk: backcountry avalanche fatalities have hovered around 25 to 30 per year since 1995, despite an 8-fold increase in backcountry use (WEM/USDA). The risk is real, but it's not where most people ski.

The Numbers Are on Your Side

Let's put those numbers in perspective. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, U.S. avalanche fatalities averaged about 5 to 6 per year. That number climbed to 13 to 16 in the 1970s and 1980s, and then plateaued at 25 to 30 since 1995. But here's the kicker: backcountry use has exploded. If the fatality rate had stayed constant, we'd be seeing over 200 avalanche deaths a year (WEM/USDA). Instead, we're seeing a flat line. That's not luck—that's education, forecasting, and a network of avalanche centers run by the USDA Forest Service and the State of Colorado (WEM/USDA).

At resorts, the picture is even brighter. The fatality rate is under 1 per million skier visits. That's a 1 in a million chance of dying on any given visit. You have a higher chance of being struck by lightning. But here's the catch: those deaths aren't random. Nearly half of them were caused by collisions with trees (NSAA). And catastrophic injuries—the ones that leave you paralyzed or worse—are also most likely on intermediate terrain, with speed and loss of control as the primary factors (NSAA). So the danger isn't the mountain; it's the trees.

Why the Trees Are a Trap

Why do trees kill skiers at resorts? Because they are static, unforgiving objects. A tree doesn't move, doesn't yield, and doesn't care how good you are. When you hit a tree at speed, the energy transfer is brutal. The 2024-25 season saw 63 catastrophic injuries at U.S. ski areas—well above the 10-year average of 44 (NSAA). That's a 43% spike, and it's not just bad luck. It's a sign that skiers are pushing into terrain they shouldn't, or skiing too fast on runs they think they can handle.

And let's talk terrain. The trail ratings at resorts are relative, not absolute. A blue square at one resort might be a black diamond at another (NSAA). The gradients are approximate: green is 6% to 25%, blue is 25% to 40%, black is 40% and steeper (NSAA). But a black diamond at Vail might be a blue at Jackson Hole. The point is, you can't rely on the sign alone. You have to look at the run and decide if it matches your skill.

The Counter-Argument: Avalanche Danger Is Real

You might say, "But what about avalanches?" Fair point. Avalanche danger is a serious concern for backcountry skiers. The North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale has five levels, and at Considerable danger, human-triggered avalanches are likely (Avalanche.org). At High, travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended (Avalanche.org). And at Extreme, avoid all avalanche terrain (Avalanche.org). Parks Canada goes further, recommending that the general public avoid areas rated High or Extreme entirely (Parks Canada). So yes, if you're leaving the resort, you need to respect the danger.

But here's the thing: at a resort, you're not in avalanche terrain. Resorts control avalanches with explosives and ski patrol. The danger is managed. The trees are not. You can't bomb a tree out of the way. So while avalanche danger is a real threat for backcountry skiers, it's not the threat at a resort. The threat is your own speed and the trees you choose to ski.

What to Do: Pick Your Runs Wisely

So here's my recommendation: embrace the resort, but be smart. Choose runs that match your ability, and avoid the trees unless you're an expert. The data shows that most catastrophic incidents involve male skiers on intermediate terrain, with speed and loss of control as factors (NSAA). That means the danger isn't the black diamond—it's the blue square where you think you can go fast. Slow down, stay in control, and leave the trees to the pros.

And if you do venture into the backcountry, get educated. The avalanche center network has seen a 12-fold increase in advisory access at the Utah Avalanche Center, a 17-fold increase at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, and a 36-fold increase at the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center (WEM/USDA). That's a wealth of information. Use it. But remember, even with all that info, the risk is real. The fatality rate has stayed flat despite the backcountry boom, but that's because of education, not because the mountains have gotten safer.

The Bottom Line

Resort skiing is safer than driving to the mountain. But the biggest threat isn't the avalanche you can't see—it's the tree you can. So respect the trees, respect the speed, and respect the fact that a blue square can kill you if you're not careful. The ski patrol is there to help, but they'd rather not have to.

Quick tip: When you're on a run with trees, ski with a buddy and keep your speed in check. Trees don't move, but you can.

Sources

• NSAA skier visits 2024-25 (SAM) - https://www.saminfo.com/news/sam-headline-news/u-s-ski-areas-report-61-5m-skier-visits-for-2024-25-second-best-season-on-record
• NSAA fatal incident fact sheet - https://nsaa.org/webdocs/Media_Public/IndustryStats/fatality_fact_sheet_2025.pdf
• NSAA catastrophic injury fact sheet - https://nsaa.org/webdocs/Media_Public/IndustryStats/catastrophic_injury_fact_sheet_2025.pdf
• Avalanche fatality trends (WEM/USDA) - http://avalanche.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/17_WEM_Birkeland_etal_AvFatalities.pdf
• Ski trail ratings - https://nsaa.org (NSAA ski slope difficulty signage)
• Avalanche danger scale - https://avalanche.org (North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale)