Uphill policies

The statement on Whaleback website isn't quite clear.

It says:

The Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation wants to provide skiing and riding privileges to everyone that it can. The only real issue lies with allowing folks to skin or hike up hill during normal operational hours due to the fact that it impleads or restricts low level skiers and riders ability to easily negotiate the terrain that they are on. During non-operational hours concerns also arise in that snowmaking and grooming work that is being done. It is difficult for people concentrating on safely doing their work to also have to look out for people coming up upon them un-expectantly.
We ask that you be considerate of our request in that we have concerns for your personal safety. It is important that we work together on this to make Whaleback a safe and fun place to work and play. Thank you for understanding andy complying with our request.

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http://www.whaleback.com/uphill-skiing-riding-policy/

It seems that, A. they don't ploofread their copy and B. leave off explicitly saying "No hiking or skinning".

Now my question is this: How do you feel about uphill policy at ski areas?

I'm all for, but I think it should be designated areas to limit the amount of up and down hill intersections to avoid collisions. Only time I'm against this policy is if it only lets you ski a certain part of the mtn. For example, following the designated routes at A-Basin, you can't legally ski down pallavicini since you can't skin to the top of the lift.

Never really understood it during operating hours. Appreciate the places that are open to it outside of operating hours.

It is hard to discern what Whaleback is trying to say. IMO designate outside trails for skinning or hiking with the requirement that they stay to the side of the trail during operational hours. During non operational hours the mountain can be more open but they would have to be considerate of the groomers and snow making crews. If skining after hours (smuggs, stowe, sugarbush) they should make sure uphillers have proper equipment (i.e. headlamp). I pulled together this report for Tenney which was a combo of stuff listed here, on another website and going to the uphill policy site for the ski areas. Stowe has the funniest one.

Maine

Sugarloaf: Must have a valid pass or ticket $10 pass for day from Guest Service desk. Must remain on open terrain and visible to downhill traffic. Suggested route is: "Windrow to Bullwinkles, and Tote Road above that point". Hours are 8:30-close. You may NOT access backcountry terrain from Sugarloaf's open terrain. http://www.sugarloaf.com/the-mountain/uphill-policy

Sunday River: $10 access ticket available for those without a pass and who do not intend to ride lifts. The prescribed route is "skiers right on Dream Maker from the South Ridge base area and Sunday Punch from the Barker Mountain base area." No after-hours access; no access before 8:00 am on weekends/holidays, 9:00 am weekdays. Must use open terrain and may not access backcountry terrain (similar to Sugarloaf). Scroll down: http://www.sundayriver.com/winter/th...ain/trail-maps

Saddleback: Required to purchase an Uphill Pass $10. During operation hours, uphill access is restricted to the skier’s right of Green Weaver, Tri-Color, and Grey Ghost. http://www.saddlebackmaine.com/saddleback-ski-area-uphill-access

New Hampshire

Attitash : Does not allow uphill access.
Bretton Woods: $21 Uphill ticket required; Uphill travel on designated rout during operating hours only. http://brettonwoods.com/alpine/uphill_policy
Cannon: $9 ticket per day, must hike up "hiker's right" of a marked and prescribed route (Ravines to Taft Slalom). Skiers may choose any open route down. Can ONLY access terrain during OPEN hours: http://www.cannonmt.com/uphill-policy.html
Cranmore: Allowed during operational hours and requires a $12 daily skinning pass or lift ticket
Crotched: Yes, uphill travel is allowed (No webpage regarding uphill use)
Dartmouth Skiway: All guests using Skiway trails must possess a valid daily 'area use ticket'. Charge for this 'area use ticket' is $5. Purchase does not permit lift use. Uphill travel is permitted only during lift operating hours, 9am to 4pm http://www.dartmouth.edu/~skiway/docs/skiwayuphillusepolicy.pdf
Gunstock: Currently does not allow uphilling on its alpine terrain.
Loon: Uphill Access day ticket for $20. The routes of uphill travel are from Lower Picked Rock to Grand Junction to Upper Bear Claw to Exodus; and Cruiser on South Peak. http://www.loonmtn.com/trail-use-policy
Pats Peak: Uphill Travel Routes - Blast to Zephyr to Backdraft to Crosswind to Cascade Basin summit or Puff to the top of Puff. No Cost http://www.patspeak.com/winter/uphillpolicy.html
Ragged: Only allowed during operating hours. A $10 fee or a season pass is required. The ascending route will be determined and may change depending on conditions. Currently the designated route is Cardigan Turnpike. http://raggedmountainresort.com/mountain-stats-and-info/up-hill-traffic-policy/
Sunapee: Uphill Travel Routes - Lower Ridge trail to Upper Ridge trail on the Main Mountain, Sunnyside Down to Province on South Peak, Please travel single file on the right hand-side of the trail heading uphill. Uphill Travel is permitted between 7:00am and 9:00am and between 4:30pm and 9:00pm. For Uphill Travel you must purchase an Uphill Travel season pass for $49 or have a lift ticket http://www.mountsunapee.com/mtsunapeewinter/onthemountain/uphill-travel-policy.asp
Waterville Valley: Use of lifts, trails, and glades at Waterville Valley Ski Resort during the operating season is for skiers and riders with approved devices and is granted only after a lift ticket has been purchased for the day or with a season pass. Backcountry skiing access to Mt. Tecumseh is available via the Mt. Tecumseh hiking trail. http://www.waterville.com/trail-uphill-policy.html
Wildcat: Must buy a trail pass ($10) or a lift ticket because of liability release. Prescribed route is: "the designated uphill route is Stray Cat to Middle Polecat to Catnap to Upper Polecat and will be identified and posted in the main base lodge at the ticket counter. Use of the mountain during the winter operating season is prohibited outside of regular operating hours." More info at: http://www.skiwildcat.com/trails-terrain.html

Vermont

Bolton Valley: Uphillers must have an Alpine or Nordic day or season pass during operating hours; no pass required when area is closed. Uphill skinning (no snowshoes) allowed designated routes only - Wilderness: Turnpike to Peggy Dow’s or Timberline: Twice as Nice to Woods Hole to Brandywine no skinning on Vista. http://www.boltonvalley.com/the-mountain/snow-report-and-maps/Uphill-Travel-Policy
Burke: Uphill travel recommended during operational hours on designated uphill routes (see Link). Uphill Pass armband required. http://skiburke.com/skiing-and-riding/tickets-and-passes/uphill-policy/
Jay Peak: Participants must have a free Uphill Travel Season Pass and identifying arm band. Uphill Travel allowed only on designated routes and only during operating hours. http://www.jaypeakresort.com/skiing-riding/the-mountain/winter-uphill-travel-policy/
Killington: Must purchase a $20 Uphill ID Pass with Photo ID and sign 2014-2015 Assumption of Risk Form. Routes on both Killington/Pico vary. No access to lifts. Park in designated areas: Killington – Ramshead parking lot near the Uphill Travel sign plaza. Pico – Far left as you enter the parking lot, adjacent to the Little Pico Triple Chairlift near the Uphill Travel sign plaza. No apparent restrictions regarding time but avoid ski area operations and wear lights and reflective clothing. http://www.killington.com/site/to-do...vel/index.html
Magic: Uphilling is free and encouraged. http://magicmtn.com/earn_your_turns.php
Mount Snow: Uphill Travel Pass ($10/day, $49/season, free for Season Pass holders) is required, travel on open trails only – dusk to dawn only. http://www.mountsnow.com/ski-ride/mountain-safety/
Smuggs: No Cost. Permitted only between 6:00 am and 8:00 am, and 4:30 pm-10:00 pm (no evening access for Sterling). Note that there is no rescue services. Prescribed route for Madonna is Chilcoot; Garden Path or Snow Snake at Morse. Lights and reflective gear recommended. Do not ski on fresh groomed terrain. http://www.smuggs.com/pages/winter/s...vel-policy.php
Stowe: Vague! No Cost? Uphill access during operational hours prohibited and discouraged after-hours. If skinning after-hours, AVOID resort operations. http://www.stowe.com/ski-ride/lifts/uphill-travel-policy/
Sugarbush: Call ahead to obtain permission and get designated route(s). Uphill Pass required at no cost. http://www.sugarbush.com/snow-trails...ail-use-policy

Nice work dlague! Thank you. Now we have it all in one place.

Stowe DOES allow uphill traffic during NON-operational hours. It just doesn't recommend it. Interesting.

UPHILL TRAVEL ON RESORT TRAILS IS PROHIBITED DURING HOURS OF OPERATION.

STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF OUR TRAILS DURING NON-OPERATIONAL HOURS.

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Abubob said:

Stowe DOES allow uphill traffic during NON-operational hours. It just doesn't recommend it. Interesting.

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Why I put Vague.

Ditto the kudos on getting it all together dlague.

Hope these owners will come to realize that with more than a few ½ mountain trails business could increase a little, especially in the afternoons when some leave for the commute back home...y/n?

Abubob said:

Nice work dlague! Thank you. Now we have it all in one place.

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http://forums.alpinezone.com/showthread.php/133104-Ski-Area-quot-Uphill-Policies-quot-2014-2015

thetrailboss said:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/showthread.php/133104-Ski-Area-quot-Uphill-Policies-quot-2014-2015

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CRAP!! I was looking for that. I knew I had seen here before but the "Search" didn't pick it up. It was hiding at the top of the page. Okay - so now we had it in two places. Thank you trailboss.

thetrailboss said:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/showthread.php/133104-Ski-Area-quot-Uphill-Policies-quot-2014-2015

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It was not as complete so I pasted the list in there to! Gets hard to dig through a thread looking for uphill policies. Easier to go to a ski areas website. Same reason I put the list of deals in the Skiing on the Cheap thread.

Abubob said:

CRAP!! I was looking for that. I knew I had seen here before but the "Search" didn't pick it up. It was hiding at the top of the page. Okay - so now we had it in two places. Thank you trailboss.

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This is the only complete and continuously maintained list:
http://www.ussma.org/resort-uphill-policies
... although we currently have a few pending updates since we've been so busy planning the upcoming race season (which will include a weekend of National Series racing at Magic Mtn VT).

Abubob said:

Stowe DOES allow uphill traffic during NON-operational hours. It just doesn't recommend it. Interesting.

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No need to skin up trails during day at snow, just ride gondola to top, the good side country is a short 45min hike from there.

I'm in an ornery mood so I'll say it - I hate skinners where I'm downhill skiing. Last winter I almost collided with some, right below a rise..."Hello....wtf?!" I don't get the point - go to a non-ski mountain if you want uphill excercise. I snowshoe off the mountain (oh - I almost collided with snowshoers that time, not skinners). Just one more obstacle to avoid, bc half those doing it on ski mountain are just clueless.

SkiFanE said:

I'm in an ornery mood so I'll say it - I hate skinners where I'm downhill skiing. Last winter I almost collided with some, right below a rise..."Hello....wtf?!" I don't get the point - go to a non-ski mountain if you want uphill excercise. I snowshoe off the mountain (oh - I almost collided with snowshoers that time, not skinners). Just one more obstacle to avoid, bc half those doing it on ski mountain are just clueless.

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Were they away from the side? or in the middle of the slope?

Abubob said:

Were they away from the side? or in the middle of the slope?

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It was early season - on man made snow. I generally hug the side of trails - and they were on the side of trail. It wasn't a wide enough ribbon to be skiable along trees. So technically not on edge of trail, but skiable edge of trail (for the hair-splitters lol)

SkiFanE said:

It was early season - on man made snow. I generally hug the side of trails - and they were on the side of trail. It wasn't a wide enough ribbon to be skiable along trees. So technically not on edge of trail, but skiable edge of trail (for the hair-splitters lol)

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So ... there really was no real backcountry to go to? Poor guy. You probably scared him half to his cardio limit. That'll be me this year. My goal is to skin up for the first run of the day when ever and where ever I go. I have a season's pass at Ragged so look out.

Which bring up a point that's mentioned in at least one of the policies - that of being visible. I would think that you'd want to hike or skin up in such a way as to always be visible up slope. That means, among other things, avoiding coming up a blind drop and coming up on the outside of a trail curve or wearing bright orange to avoid be shot by hunters. Can you think of any others? (Be nice!)

Abubob said:

So ... there really was no real backcountry to go to? Poor guy. You probably scared him half to his cardio limit. That'll be me this year. My goal is to skin up for the first run of the day when ever and where ever I go. I have a season's pass at Ragged so look out.

Which bring up a point that's mentioned in at least one of the policies - that of being visible. I would think that you'd want to hike or skin up in such a way as to always be visible up slope. That means, among other things, avoiding coming up a blind drop and coming up on the outside of a trail curve or wearing bright orange to avoid be shot by hunters. Can you think of any others? (Be nice!)

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Get one of those ten foot flexible poles with a flag on top and mount it in your backpack. They'll see you coming over a rise in the trail.

Dickc said:

Get one of those ten foot flexible poles with a flag on top and mount it in your backpack. They'll see you coming over a rise in the trail.

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I would do that.

Abubob said:

So ... there really was no real backcountry to go to? Poor guy. You probably scared him half to his cardio limit. That'll be me this year. My goal is to skin up for the first run of the day when ever and where ever I go. I have a season's pass at Ragged so look out.

Which bring up a point that's mentioned in at least one of the policies - that of being visible. I would think that you'd want to hike or skin up in such a way as to always be visible up slope. That means, among other things, avoiding coming up a blind drop and coming up on the outside of a trail curve or wearing bright orange to avoid be shot by hunters. Can you think of any others? (Be nice!)

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It was two women lol. It really was dangerous - you go pretty fast over a rise - they're lucky I use SL skis and can turn in a dime. i just don't get why the "had" to be there. I saw them later at top of mountain having a snack, they couldn't see me giving the stink eye through my goggles lol. I could have really hurt myself.