Originally Posted by
altasnob
Like all ski areas on National Forest, Stevens doesn't have exclusive use of the terrain. But they do have wide discretion to restrict the where/when on uphill travel for "safety" reasons. I don't really blame the ski areas for this; it's Americas over litigious society. If someone ends up killing themselves early season before the ski area is open, but after Stevens is plowing roads and setting stuff up, and the deceased's family has no soul, they will find some unemployed shady plaintiff's attorney to sue Stevens. Stevens may win in court but their insurance won't want to risk it and end up paying something on the frivolous suit. The cycle continues and in the end, we all pay for it in the form of higher lift ticket prices.
But Stevens pass holders should be happy with Vail's ineptitude. With the border closed, and Vail being, well, Vail, everyone in entire Puget Sound region has bought an Ikon pass and will be skiing Crystal this winter. Bachelor joining Ikon seals the deal. Stevens should be a ghost town.