nytimes.com – November 16, 2021 – Before Covid, resorts encouraged skiers to buy lift tickets and book lessons and rentals online, a trend that continues to gain traction. The efficiency — and reduction in people milling about — appeals even more during a pandemic. Smaller resorts, in particular, have found ways around the traditional morning base-lodge lines. White Pass in Washington texts guests when a rental service rep is available to help. Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain Resort eliminated ticket windows outright, offering lift pass and rental purchases online only.