MISSOULA — An old winter tradition is coming back to the U.M. Oval, as the school has announced it will set up ice skating at the campus landmark to give everyone a pandemic break.
Historically, ice skating on the Oval was a popular pastime for students and faculty in the early days of the University.
The rink will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day with times set aside for student reservations and open skates for the public. A detailed calendar of the open skate times and rules for the ice rink are being posted on the U.M. website.
Skaters must wear masks, and there's a self-check-in form at the gate with no more than 25-skaters will be allowed on the ice at any one time. That's in keeping with the Missoula City-County Health Department's pandemic rules for contact tracing and monitoring.
And there's a feature that's not in keeping with history. Skaters can also scan a QR code with their smartphones at the gate to accept the rules and risks statement for skating.
The Oval rink will be open as long as conditions permit, and could close from time-to-time because of unseasonably warm temperatures.
