In-Resort Touring with or without a Lift Pass

[ts01]

Another to add, with the bump: Magic Mountain, Vermont, stated policy is " Magic will be offering guided intro tours, limited rentals, and free access to the mountain for anyone willing to “earn their turns”. http://www.magicmtn.com/static_page.php?id=38

[djspookman]

In Vermont:

Never had a problem skinning up Smuggler's Notch or Sugarbush before/after hours. Never had a problem skinning any hour of the day/night at Mad River Glen either.

Bolton Valley does not allow it, unless you buy a "backcountry" pass, as they are 100% provate property.

I did skin up Stratton about 10 years ago a few times, but nowadays, I wouldn't bother, the gestapo might get cha.

Hope this helps.

[duffski]

heavenly doesn't want you doing it because its easy to poach the upper lifts which never check for passes especially the north bowl chair that takes very little effort to get to. i've come across patrol when i've been skinning back up to firebreak for quick laps when the gondola is closed or the snow sucks down lower and they don't seem to mind. not sure what they would think of doing it when the lifts aren't open but i've thought many times about poaching the face on powder days by skinning up roundabout in the early morning but i'm sure patrol would be pissed if they were still doing avy work.

[Mustafa]

Thanks for bumping this thread. Awesome info and legwork.

[snoboy]

This is not an official statement from Red Mtn, BC, but I think they are OK with it as long as you are smart.

Whitewater, BC, not so much when the hill is open, OK when closed AFAIK.

Whiewater has shut down uphill skinning outside of operating hours now as well.

[Steven S. Dallas]

I tore my ACL and meniscus last season while taking evasive action to avoid two people skinning side by side up a narrow cat track. Came around a blind corner and they were right in front of me, taking up the entire fucking trail.

Be careful where you skin, you cheap-ass hippie fucks.

[LightRanger]

Worth a bump again.

[cycology1]

Never in my life would I have thought I would be branded as a cheap ass hippy fuck...whats wrong with getting in first turns??

As of 11/23, I can know that Breck and Keystone are fine with pre-lift operation hours as well as after the lifts close. If you go past Vista House (Breck) you have to be back down to VH by 8:15am. A Basin and Copper not allowing it yet due to racers on the mountain.

All current information for uphill access is available via Ski Patrol, with their main goal being safety...

[Cross]

I know Sunlight in Colorado is tolerant of uphill traffic. Really the only thing they do not want is people sledding and dogs. People skinning have shot themselves in the foot by bringing their dogs and not cleaning up after them.

Really you just have to be smart about skinning at a resort or the privilege can disappear. Just because they are closed does not mean things are not going on on the mountain. For some reason skinners have the great ability to go right on the edge of the groomed and ungroomed snow where the cat is making the next pass. I can't tell you how many times I have had to stop and wait for a skinner to get out of the way so I could continue grooming. The whole time getting a look from the skinner like am in their way. I have also almost taken skinners out at the bottom of a steep face as the cat slide down it.

So anyone going uphill, take a minute when you get to the resort and plan a route to impact the people trying to work the least amount you can. Just today I saw two groups going up hill go right up the trail the cat was working on. There are plenty of trails at a resort that you do not have to share with the cats.

[geomorph]

When I worked at Stowe they did not allow uphill traffic while the lifts were spinning but before and after were ok. I for one never understood the appeal of skinning up a crowded groomer but that's just me.

[wind_dummy]

doesn't surprise me... I grew up skiing gunstock until I realized how much better cannon was (and was able to convince my parents of that fact) and remember at least a good portion of the patrol as complete dicks (and bad skiers). I remember once after a big storm (for gunstock) they still had hotshot (the one semi-fun trail on the mountain) closed. I asked why, and they said "no one on the patrol wanted to ski it and they couldn't open it until it had been skied by a patroller"

I have never skied there, but somehow find this a little hard to believe. I mean I know all patrollers are dicks and Jongs and can't ski and all -- but I have heard that there are at least one or two who grew-up in ski towns who at one time were probably the biggest offenders of common sense, decency, and ski area rules.

I also heard that sometimes mountain safety and area management holds much more sway over what opens and what doesn't as well as what the rules are at most ski areas. Something also makes me think that many times, if you don't walk into the situation thinking all patrollers are dicks who can't ski, they can actually be some decent folks who actually want you to have a good time at the resort where they are patrolling.

Maybe I am wrong -- this skiing stuff is still kind of new to me, and I can see where a big dollar, low work job like ski patrolling is going to attract a lot of dicks who are only in it for the money, respect, and opportunity to impress their authority on clients -- they don't really like to ski or see you have a good time skiing.

[teledance]

Lookout on the ID/MT border will chase you off even though it is N.F. land, the contract administrator Mike Leverick IPNF Cd'A River Ranger District (208) 769-3013 knows about it but has not stopped Lookout from chasing hikers off.

I end up hiking through the trees on days the hill is closed avoiding the lodge area and staff.

[QuikR12]

Mt Hood Meadows, Timberline, and Ski Bowl in Oregon all allow up hill touring whenever (it's FS land). Crystal and Alpental are the same deal. I think Stevens is as well.

Obviously you can't go into closed areas within the resort boundaries, even if you skin up. Blah blah.

Actually, Meadows, no. Just asked this weekend, the policy is "no uphill traffic" though that does not apply to the additional 1500' of hiking to the top of upper heather. This is direct from ski patrol, but it was a chick who i was blatantly hitting on; if that makes a diff.

[jfost]

Actually, Meadows, no. Just asked this weekend, the policy is "no uphill traffic" though that does not apply to the additional 1500' of hiking to the top of upper heather. This is direct from ski patrol, but it was a chick who i was blatantly hitting on; if that makes a diff.

if you mentioned your "skin flute" I think I see what the problem was...

[powski3]

Actually, Meadows, no. Just asked this weekend, the policy is "no uphill traffic" though that does not apply to the additional 1500' of hiking to the top of upper heather. This is direct from ski patrol, but it was a chick who i was blatantly hitting on; if that makes a diff.

That sounds about right. We got stopped last year from even skinning in the Heather cat track when heading towards Newton Canyon. We've also been stopped on the way out after hours. Patrol thought we had poached Heather after they closed it. In my experience, they seem to act like you have no idea what you're doing.

[ola]

The "rule" for Aspen Highlands is a little misleading. I have skinned up that hill
many times and continued to do laps in the bowl all day or skied off the Maroon Creek side. The "rule" that I know of is that you must be past the Merry-go-round by 9am. Once you are past it you can do laps on the upper mountain.
Did they change this?

[kidwoo]

I tore my ACL and meniscus last season while taking evasive action to avoid two people skinning side by side up a narrow cat track. Came around a blind corner and they were right in front of me, taking up the entire fucking trail.

Be careful where you skin, you cheap-ass hippie fucks.

Are you saying the desire to skin up a crowded ski hill during operating hours is indicative of faulty or sub par mental capacity?

Because it most certainly is.


"I bought skins and AT gear so that I can hike around a bunch of other people and ski chopped up snow."

It does have a certain head injury ring to it.

[Mustafa]

Didn't some guy just get arrested for doing this at A Basin? Maybe the thread needs a 2010 version?

[QuikR12]

if you mentioned your "skin flute" I think I see what the problem was...

"no uphill skin flute traffic" is i think what she said, now that i think of it

[QuikR12]

Are you saying the desire to skin up a crowded ski hill during operating hours is indicative of faulty or sub par mental capacity?

Because it most certainly is.


"I bought skins and AT gear so that I can hike around a bunch of other people and ski chopped up snow."

It does have a certain head injury ring to it.

In certain, well most instances yes... but in the case that say, a summit lift is closed due to wind, or there is a 'bonus' vert hiking trail... skinning up is perfectly logical.

[Shredhead]

The "rule" for Aspen Highlands is a little misleading. I have skinned up that hill
many times and continued to do laps in the bowl all day or skied off the Maroon Creek side. The "rule" that I know of is that you must be past the Merry-go-round by 9am. Once you are past it you can do laps on the upper mountain.
Did they change this?

From: "Burkley, Richard E." <rburkley@aspensnowmass.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 08:34:27 -0600
Subject: FW: Contact Us Form

[bedtime4bonzos]:

All of our mountians allow uphilling, both before operating hours and during (except Aspen). At Highlands you are not allowed above the Merry Go Round after 9:00am. On Aspen, you need to be above Ajax Express by 8:00am. At Buttermilk we ask that you use the designated route on the main face. No restrictions at Snowmass.

As always, we ask that you stay visible and on the side of the trail if that is the safest place. Basically, act as if you're invisible, since uphilling is an unheard of concept to many of our guests.

Once on the hill you are welcome to ski anywhere on AT gear, however you aren't allowed to ride the lifts.

Hope this helps,
Rich Burkley
Vice President, Mountain Operations
Aspen Skiing Company


Rich is pretty much "the Man". You might send him an e mail, because I know people skin the bowl all the time and that's above Merry go Round?

[Chugachjed]

Alyeska's on NF land and they prohibit uphill traffic during ski season.

[teledance]

Alyeska's on NF land and they prohibit uphill traffic during ski season.

Sounds like our problem the Mtn is restricting access beyond their legal limits and the FS administrator is not willing to dealing with it.

[72Twenty]

Wyoming: Snow King.

[kidwoo]

In certain, well most instances yes... but in the case that say, a summit lift is closed due to wind, or there is a 'bonus' vert hiking trail... skinning up is perfectly logical.

Yeah I still make fun of you fruitcakes putting skins on while I walk by with my skis on my shoulder to the exact same place.


I realize other mountains may be different but I'm not going to admit that at this point.