A highway billboard shouted that Shawnee Mountain was “Beginner Friendly,” an understatement, because the ski area along the Delaware River was nice to everybody.

I made a first visit in eight years to rediscover how pleasant the mountain is for first timers learning to cope with cumbersome equipment, advanced skiers letting the skis run, or snowboarders attacking the terrain park.

The Learning Center was busy with novices, but parallel streams of packed powder that drop 700 feet were deserted. Bright sun and nobody in sight.

One skier was in my path on the first run: a Security staff member in a yellow parka, cruising on very short skis. “On your left,” I called out as I passed him.

My terse warning turned out to be a great conversation starter. The on-slope safety monitor was Steve Gratz, who stood beside me minutes later in the lift line. He congratulated me for the signal, one he doesn’t hear often.

As we rode the quad chair, I learned that Steve lives in Chalfont and spends three days a week as a volunteer at Shawnee He fished out of his pocket a brochure of the Safe Skiers Institute, a brainchild of his making. It described how to make skiing and snowboarding serious fun and included many tips on control, right of way, yield, signs, equipment and lifts. All part of his mission to minimize risks and maximize enjoyment through more safety awareness.

When we alighted, Steve asked, “How come you’re not wearing a helmet?” I gave several lame excuses and fortunately he offered to take a run with me. One run turned into six as we worked across the mountain and he showed me shortcuts to avoid poling at the base. Several times we were the only two skiers on the trail and I could stay in his tracks with wide swoops. We also took one run down through the terrain park, making sure I was not on the downside of a jump while a shredder was in the air.

It was a delightful day. The slopes were mostly intermediate, but longer than I had remembered. When Steve had to leave, I spent another hour in my almost-private domain, enjoying the luxury of midweek space and rarely having to cry out “On your left.”

I visited later with administrative manager Jim Tust, who smiled about my encounter with Steve Gratz. “A great guy. He’s been doing his thing with us for 20 years.”

It was still another reminder of the importance of volunteers in making ski areas safer and more enjoyable.