Overview
- Stowe Mountain Rescue says Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol has faced an unprecedented number of lost skiers in backcountry reachable from the resort this early season.
- At least one rescued group told officials a TikTok reel prompted them to leave the ski area; two 19-year-olds from New York City were retrieved near the Toll Road after getting disoriented after dark on Nov. 29.
- Rescuers report visitors are following fresh tracks past clearly marked boundaries, especially off the Toll Road, where terrain does not return to lifts and lower elevations thin to brush and rocks.
- Officials warn that early-season snow can hide hazards despite deep coverage, with 47 inches reported on Mount Mansfield on Wednesday, heightening risk for the unprepared.
- The rescue team urges staying in-bounds or carrying proper gear and traveling with partners if venturing out, emphasizing the guidance, “If you don’t know, don’t go.”