Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to reflect COVID-19 hospitalization peak periods.

As Vail Resorts on Thursday unveiled opening dates for its famous ski slopes in Colorado, the company also announced last season’s pandemic-related restrictions are not in the works for this winter.

“Vail Resorts prioritizes the health and safety of its guests, employees and communities and will continue to monitor public health guidance surrounding COVID-19,” read the company’s press release. “Details of any necessary safety protocols will be communicated ahead of the season as the situation continues to evolve.”

The release added that last season’s reservation systems, aimed at thinning crowds, are not planned for the winter ahead.

The announcement comes as the delta variant continues to rise in Colorado and across the world, along with “breakthrough” cases in fully vaccinated people.

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The state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached their highest numbers since mid-May. In a press conference this week, Gov. Jared Polis said hospital capacity “is not currently in jeopardy” and added he would not, for now, implement restrictions.

Lockdowns in Australia forced some ski resorts to close this month, including Vail Resorts’ Perisher.

The company plans to kick off its North American season in Summit County at Keystone, where snowmaking upgrades have led to opening-day hopes of early October. Breckenridge and Vail are slated to host skiers Nov. 12, with Beaver Creek and Crested Butte following Nov. 24.

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Other Colorado ski areas are similarly looking ahead on the calendar without expectations to return to limitations of the 2020-’21 season.

Summit County Commissioner Elisabeth Lawrence said she didn’t see those limitations as necessary.

“I think what is necessary is really strong messaging,” she said.

Despite local vaccination rates being above 80% in the resort-saturated county, a spike in COVID-19 infections has recently been reported — what Lawrence and other leaders have attributed to an unending influx of visitors.

“As a government entity, we’re not interacting with guests in the same way that maybe ski resorts or lodging companies do,” Lawrence said. “They have that. So I would love to see encouragement of our guests to be vaccinated. I think that would be some really strong messaging.”

She wondered if Vail Resorts would advise the same for employees as well.

A Vail spokesman told The Gazette no mandate was in place for workers or customers. “We are strongly encouraging all of our teammates to get the vaccine by sharing information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines,” he said.

Representing Colorado’s other most iconic ski destination, Aspen Snowmass, Jeff Hanle said his company’s stance is similar.

“We believe in the science, we believe it’s the right thing to do, and we believe it gives us the best opportunity to stay open all year,” he said.

Entertainment venues have increasingly set policies regarding proof of vaccination or negative tests. Federal and state governments are requiring the same for some workers, as are private companies such as United Airlines.

Davey Pitcher, owner of Wolf Creek Ski Area in southern Colorado, questioned the feasibility of enforcement for staff and guests.

“I don’t know how you can do that,” he said.

His ski area rolled out a reservation system last season to cap numbers and, like other mountains, closed dining and retail spaces. Asked if those regulations would return, Pitcher said he wasn’t sure.

“I think the situation is pretty dynamic,” he said. “We’re prepared to work within the requirements of the state health agency.”

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment did not immediately respond to Gazette questions sent Thursday, nor did some local public health agencies that resorts reportedly consulted close to this time last year to craft plans.

“This time last year, we were looking at a dark cloud,” said Dan Bender, spokesman at Monarch Mountain. “There was so much unknown last year.”

Unknowns still linger, he recognized.

“It doesn’t feel like ’20,” he said, “but it doesn’t feel like ’19 either.”