Mountain Host - Alpine Base

Alterra Mountain Company; Olympic Valley (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free season lift tickets

Healthcare options

Discounts on gear

401(k) match

Employee discounts

EAP

Job summary

Palisades Tahoe is seeking a Seasonal Mountain Host. You will greet guests, share knowledge of terrain and services, and promote safety while patrolling designated routes and lifts.

You’ll assist visitors, monitor crowd flow, and coordinate with Food & Beverage, Ski Patrol, and other departments to ensure an exceptional guest experience. The role requires a high school diploma or GED, 6–12 months in guest-facing hospitality, and a willingness to work in a fast-paced mountain environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in guest-facing hospitality is beneficial.
• Strong safety awareness and guest-service focus required.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests warmly in Village and on mountain.
• Share terrain and safety information with guests.
• Maintain visibility in designated areas to guide guests safely.
• Assist guests with ADA access needs and mobility.
• Collaborate with other teams to support resort operations.

Skills

Communication

Guest service

Safety awareness

Teamwork

Punctuality

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

PC

RTP Software

Tablets

Radios

Job description

Seasonal

Palisades Tahoe

We share the spirit of these legendary mountains with the world.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Job Summary:

As a Mountain Host, you are one of the most visible ambassadors of the Palisades Tahoe guest experience - as comfortable welcoming a first-time visitor in the Village as you are watching over a slow zone on the mountain. You warmly and enthusiastically greet guests both in the Village and on the mountain, sharing your knowledge of our terrain, products, and services while keeping a close eye on skier and rider safety. Mountain Hosts blend hospitality with vigilance: you're often the first to notice a guest who needs help, the first to encourage safe and responsible riding, and the first to make someone feel like Palisades Tahoe is exactly where they want to be. You are ambassadors of adventure - and guardians of a safe mountain - always.

Applicants must be 18 years of age.

Hourly:

The base hourly pay range below represents the low and high end of the Palisades Tahoe Resort, LLC's hourly pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to experience, education, training, location, merit system, quantity or quality of production, responsibilities, and regular and/or necessary travel. The range listed is just one component of Palisades Tahoe Resort, LLC's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term and long-term incentives and many region-specific benefits.

Base hourly pay range: $20.00- $23.00 per hour

A Great Job and Benefits to Match:

• Free skiing + riding privileges to 17 iconic resorts including Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain, Steamboat, Solitude and more!
• Healthcare options for both Seasonal & Year-Round employees
• Generous discounts on outdoor gear, apparel, etc.
• 401(k) plan with generous company match
• Free and discounted lift tickets
• 25%-50% discount at Food & Beverage locations at Palisades & Alpine
• 40% discount at Palisades Tahoe operated retail stores, including The North Face, Patagonia, Oakley, and more!
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Essential Job Responsibilities/Duties/Tasks

include the following: other duties may be assigned

• Deliver warm, enthusiastic, service-first welcomes to every guest, creating a positive first impression in the Village and on the mountain.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of Palisades Tahoe, Truckee, and the greater Tahoe area, including how to guide guests to the right terrain for their ability level using our lift system.
• Ski or ride designated routes, using every lap as a chance to engage guests, promote adventure, and reinforce safe, responsible riding.
• Maintain a visible, active presence and communicate clearly at designated "slow zones," helping skiers and riders follow resort signage and ride safely.
• Greet guests at the top of designated lifts with mountain updates and terrain recommendations suited to their ability, uphold and promote the Responsibility Code, and help maintain ski racks, tool benches, and clear pathways through snow removal.
• Guide and assist guests with ADA access needs, including helping push wheelchairs, so every guest can enjoy the mountain.
• Step in when a guest is having a difficult moment and work toward a solution that leaves everyone feeling heard and taken care of.
• Partner closely with Food & Beverage, Ski Patrol, Ski School, Tickets & Pass, Events, Sales, and Marketing to support guests and operations across the resort.
• Understand and act on verbal and written direction from Dispatch and Mountain Operations regarding skier conditions and safety updates.
• Communicate clearly and confidently with guests and teammates, using active listening and strong non-verbal communication; collect and relay guest feedback to support process improvements.
• Share resort, Village, and community information - events, dining and retail promotions, ticket and pass products, Team and Snowsport School details, transportation options, and more - to inspire adventure for every guest.
• Actively take part in daily team duties, including greeting guests in the Village/Base Area, supporting crowd and line control, snow removal, keeping shared spaces tidy, and confidently sharing up-to-date mountain and grooming conditions and weather impacts.
• Support resort events and programs, including "surprise and delight" moments, line control, and skier safety initiatives, and other tasks as designated.
• Adhere to all departmental and company policies and procedures, and participate in departmental and resort training and development courses.
• Shovel snow in designated areas around the Village/base area to keep walkways clear and safe for guests.
• Move ski racks to areas throughout the Village/base area as needed.

Competencies and Job Requirements:

• Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• A strong sense of guest service paired with sharp safety awareness - you notice what's happening around you and act on it.
• Able to understand and follow verbal and written instructions, including real-time direction from Dispatch and Mountain Operations.
• Neat and clean appearance in compliance with company grooming standards.
• Punctual and reliable; able to report at scheduled start time.
• Works well as part of a team.
• Able to stay composed, accurate, and courteous in a high-volume, fast-changing mountain environment, including with frustrated guests.
• Ski and/or snowboard ability at or above intermediate level, with the confidence to travel varied terrain throughout a shift.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, talk, see, and hear. Must be capable of walking or standing 90% or more of a normal 8 hour work shift. Must be capable of occasionally carrying, lifting, pushing or pulling up to 50lbs. Must capable of occasionally squatting, bending, kneeling, reaching, balancing, able to climb ladders, and shovel snow. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perceptions and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions:

Indoor/Outdoor:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently be exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee will frequently be exposed to extreme cold, wetness and/or humidity, and occasionally blizzards and extreme storm conditions.

Hazardous Materials/Noise:

The noise level in the workplace is usually moderate.

Equipment Used in Job:

PC, RTP Software, Tablets, Radios, general office equipment, and snow shovels.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• High school diploma or GED.
• 6-12 months of experience in a guest-facing position in the hospitality industry.

Preferred

• Strong knowledge of the Palisades & Alpine mountains, the Village at Palisades Tahoe, and skier ability related to each mountain.

For information on Alterra Mountain Company's Social Responsibility work including our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion actions, please see our webpage at www.alterramtnco.com/social-responsibility. Among other resources, Alterra has Employee Resource Groups to support the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), disability, LGBTQIA2S+, and women communities within our workforce.