Blog: 6 January 2008

Vail Mountain is testing new technology that could allow ski passes to be scanned through your clothes, whether it's around your neck or in your pocket.? Vail's ski patrollers and ski instructors are already testing the technology in a pilot program.??The most conspicuous element of the pilot program is the RFID antennae that?is mounted above several ski lifts this year.? The speaker-looking devices hang over the spot where skiers get onto the lifts on the Vista Bahn, Chair 3 and Chair 4.? These antennaes could ultimately be on all of Vail's lifts and would give the resort information about skier patterns on the mountain.? This information would be used for grooming ski trails and when Yellow Jackets and Ski Patrollers are needed.? Other ski resorts in North America and Europe are already using radio frequency identification.? Maybe next year, you won't have to dig your ski pass out of your jacket everytime you get on the lift!

For more information about what's happening in the Vail Valley,?please feel free to call:? Betsy Randall at (970) 401-3011.