JACKSON, Wyo. — After a ski collision resulted in the death of ski instructor Peter Wuerslin in April, a local citizens’ group has led a campaign for increased safety measures at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR).
A group of over 100 Jackson residents and friends of Wuerslin’s coalesced with ideas for a new safety plan. Spokespeople for the group, Laurie Thal and Bob Peters, wrote a letter to JHMR and sat down with the resort’s President Mary Kate Buckley and Board Chairman Jay Kemmerer in June to discuss the implementation of a safer mountain strategy.
In the letter, Peters recommended the following safety measures: publicize ski industry safety programs, improve slow zones, create family zones and rest areas, increase the number of enforcement employees on the mountain, impose stricter penalties, provide public information about warnings and pass-pulls and hold employees to a higher safety standard.
Thal and JHMR shared with Buckrail the changes that skiers will notice on the mountain this season.
“The speed wranglers are much more visible than in past years,” Thal said.
JHMR Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Way told Buckrail that speed wranglers and ski patrol teams will play an active role in enforcing safe practices.
“Safety is the top priority for the 2025 winter season at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort,” Way said. “Guests will notice a strong and ongoing commitment to promoting safe skiing and riding across the mountain.”
Additionally, new rest areas provide areas where skiers and riders can stop away from the flow of traffic.
“We are transforming lower-mountain slow zones into Family Zones, featuring enhanced speed control measures and enforcement to ensure these high-traffic areas are welcoming for all ability levels and age groups,” Way said.
Thal said that all of JHMR’s employees are now required to watch the film “Triangle of Safety” by the Snow Angel Foundation. In 2010, the nonprofit foundation partnered with the National Ski Areas Association to promote ski collision awareness. The film was made after a snowboarder, who was riding at 50 miles per hour, collided into and killed 5-year-old Elise Johnson at a resort near Casper, Wyoming. A sign about Elise is posted at several lift lines at JHMR.
“I’m really pleased that JHMR has been utilizing the Snow Angel Foundation’s resources,” Thal said. “I would love to see that film looped into the screen that’s at the tram dock when everyone is waiting in line. As you’re watching all these cool videos of people hucking off cliffs, every third video could be the ‘Triangle of Safety.’ Have fun, do all these outrageous things and be careful and pay attention to other people.”
Also new this year is that the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol has added a button feature on the JH Insider App so people can instantly contact them to report reckless skiing. According to Thal, ski patrol plans to enforce pulling passes for those skiing too fast.
“You can use that button if you see someone out of control,” Thal said. “If someone wants to report, they can text a photo to the ski patrol number. Patrol could be waiting at the top of that lift for that skier. Helping the patrol with everyone’s eyes could make a difference.”
Thal encourages skiers to provide their feedback to JHMR about the new measures. She stresses that it’s the responsibility of every skier to increase safety on the mountain.
