Think of it what you will, thousands of skiers around the world are enjoying uphill skiing at resorts. Why? Cardio for the sake of cardio. Something fun on a high avy danger day. Guide needing a mellow situation for a new client. Dog walking. Testing gear. Skimo race training. You name it.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort uphilling trail map, click to enlarge. See complete 2013-14 uphilling policy at bottom of post.
Well, today Crested Butte Mountain Resort announced their USFS-approved uphilling policy. With that, in our opinion Crested Butte is now leading other North American resorts in accommodating rapidly growing sport of uphill resort skiing in as official and above-board fashion as possible. They’ve got dog friendly routes; a daytime mostly uphill only, during-operations no-dogs route terminating at a coffee shop; before and after hours no-dogs route; trail map; demo center with uphilling gear at the base area. What’s not to love? Yeah, you’ll need to buy an uphilling pass or have a lift ticket, and the day route is short (920 vertical feet; do laps if you need more cardio, no doubt with popularity they will extend), but that’s a small price in our opinion for having uphill skiing that’s organized, safe, and fun for all. Congratulations CBMR! (See complete uphilling policy at the bottom of this post)
Ok, Crested Butte does it right, other resorts such as those out of Aspen have designated routes that welcome all-day use by uphillers. But what about the overall picture? We’ve made an effort over past weeks to email survey most resorts in the U.S., the vast majority didn’t respond and many others couldn’t even figure out what we were asking, perhaps like asking if they permitted snowboarding back when all that began? At any rate, below find the results of our survey. If we got anything wrong or anyone cares to comment, we’ll update where necessary:
Alaska:
—Eaglecrest – Juneau: Uphill Policy
Arizona:
—Arizona Snowbowl—Flagstaff No access during business hours. Unlimited ski travel during off-hours. See Official Policy.
Elk Ridge Ski Area—Williams : No Response
Mount Lemmon Ski Valley—Summerhaven : No Response
Sunrise Park Resort—Greer : No Response
California:
Mount Shasta Ski Park—Mount Shasta : No Response
Alpine Meadows—Tahoe City : No Response
Boreal—Soda Springs : No Response
Donner Ski Ranch—Norden : No Response
Granlibakken—Tahoe City : No Response
Heavenly Ski Resort—South Lake Tahoe : No Response
Homewood—Homewood : No Response
Kirkwood—Kirkwood : No Response
Northstar at Tahoe—Truckee : No Response
Sierra-at-Tahoe—Twin Bridges : No Response
Squaw Valley—Olympic Valley : No Response
Sugar Bowl—Norden : No Response
Soda Springs—Soda Springs : No Response
Tahoe Donner—Truckee : No Response
Badger Pass—Yosemite National Park : No Response
Bear Valley—Angels Camp : No Response
Dodge Ridge—Sonora : No Response
June Mountain—June Lake :Uphill Policy
Mammoth- Mammoth Lakes : No Response
Tamarack Resort and Lodge—Mammoth Lakes : No Response
Sierra Summit—Lakeshore : No Response
Alta Sierra—Wofford Heights : No Response
Buckhorn Ski and Snowboard Club—Three Points (private) : No Response
Bear Mountain—Big Bear Lake : No Response
Kratka Ridge : No Response
Mount Baldy Ski Lifts—Mount Baldy : No Response
Mount Waterman—Three Points : No Response
Mountain High—Wrightwood : No Response
Snow Summit—Big Bear Lake : No Response
Snow Valley Mountain Resort—Running Springs : No Response
Colorado:
A Basin: Complimentary pass required. See Uphill Policy for routes.
—Aspen Mountain: The uphill route is Little Nell, Bingo Slot, Spar, Silver
Bell to the summit. Uphill traffic must be at the summit by 9:00am. No
dogs are permitted uphill on Aspen Mountain in the winter.
—Aspen Highlands: the preferred route is Thunderbowl, Golden Horn, T-Lazy 7 Catwalk to the Merry Go Round. If uphillers are traveling further up the Aspen Highlands, we ask that you pass the MGR by 9:30.
—(Aspen) Buttermilk: the designated routes up Main and Tiehack are marked
and segregated. No restrictions exist on Tiehack and West. The Main route is closed during the X Games.
—(Aspen) Snowmass: No restrictions with regards to time or route (dogs permitted on a leash).
Beaver Creek: No Response
—Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR): Multiple designated routes, some during operating hours, others before and after. Much more, see their new official policy below or via this link to their website, or once we can link to it on their website.
—Breckenridge: See Uphill Policy for routes and restrictions.
Durango Mountain Resort: No Response
Echo Mountain Park: No Response
—Eldora Mountain Resort: Not Allowed under any circumstances.
Hesperus Ski Area: No Response
Howelsen Ski Area: No Response
Kendall Mountain: No Response
—Copper: Uphill Policy
—Crested Butte: Updated Policy forthcoming.
—Keystone: Keystone allows uphill skinning until 9:00AM
—Loveland: Uphill Policy
—Winter Park: Uphill Policy
—Vail: Uphill Policy
Monarch Ski Area: No Response
Powderhorn Resort: No Response
Silverton Mountain: No Response
Ski Cooper: No Response
SolVista Basin: No Response
—Steamboat Ski Resort:Uphill Policy Signed waiver and reflective armband suggested for uphill traffic.
—Sunlight Mountain Resort: No posted policy but allows unlimited skinning on all runs with free uphill pass.
—Telluride Ski Resort: Not Allowed under any circumstances.
Wolf Creek Ski Area: No Response
Connecticut
Mohawk Mountain Ski Area—Cornwall: No Response
Mount Southington—Plantsville: No Response
Ski Sundown—New Hartford: No Response
Woodbury Ski Area—Woodbury: No Response
Idaho:
Bald Mountain—Pierce : No Response
Bogus Basin—Boise : No Response
Brundage Mountain—McCall : No Response
Cottonwood Butte—Cottonwood : No Response
Kelly Canyon—Ririe : No Response
Little Ski Hill—McCall : No Response
Lost Trail Powder Mountain—North Fork : No Response
Lookout Pass—Mullan : No Response
Magic Mountain—Hansen : No Response
Pebble Creek—Inkom : No Response
Pomerelle—Albion : No Response
Rotarun—Hailey : No Response
Schweitzer Mountain—Sandpoint : No Response
Silver Mountain—Kellogg : No Response
Snowhaven—Grangeville : No Response
Soldier Mountain—Fairfield : No Response
Sun Valley—Ketchum : No Response
Tamarack—Donnelly : No Response
Maine:
Baker Mountain—Bingham : No Response
Big Rock—Mars Hill : No Response
Big Squaw—Greenville : No Response
Black Mountain of Maine—Rumford : No Response
—Camden Snow Bowl: Uphill Policy
Eaton Mountain—Skowhegan : No Response
Hermon Mountain—Hermon : No Response
Lonesome Pine Trails—Fort Kent : No Response
Lost Valley—Auburn : No Response
Mount Abram—Greenwood: Open uphill policy. Requested that uphillers pick up a complimentary uphill ticket prior to climbing.
Mount Jefferson Ski Area—Lee : No Response
Powderhouse Hill—South Berwick : No Response
Quoggy Jo—Presque Isle : No Response
—Saddleback: Uphill Policy
—Sugarloaf: Uphill Policy
—Sunday River: Uphill Policy
Titcomb Mountain—Farmington : No Response
Maryland:
Wisp Ski Resort—McHenry : No Response
Massachusetts:
—Wachusett: Early-morning ascent routes are skinner’s left of Ralph’s Run and Conifer Connection; uphill traffic must stop once the lifts open for the public.
Montana:
Bear Paw—Havre : No Response
Big Sky—Big Sky : No Response
Blacktail Mountain—Lakeside : No Response
Bridger Bowl—Bozeman: Uphill travel allowed before/after the operating dates
Discovery—Anaconda : No Response
Great Divide—Marysville : No Response
Lost Trail Powder Mountain—Conner : No Response
Maverick Mountain—Dillon : No Response
Montana Snowbowl—Missoula : No Response
Moonlight Basin—Big Sky : No Response
Red Lodge Mountain Resort—Red Lodge : No Response
Showdown—Niehart : No Response
Teton Pass—Choteau : No Response
Turner Mountain—Libby : No Response
—Big Mountain—Whitefish Uphill Policy
Yellowstone Club—Big Sky (private) : No Response
Nevada
Diamond Peak—Incline Village : No Response
Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort—Las Vegas : No Response
Mt. Rose—Reno : No Response
Sky Tavern Ski Area—Reno : No Response
New Hampshire:
Arrowhead—Claremont : No Response
Attitash Bear Peak—Bartlett : No Response
Black Mountain—Jackson : No Response
Bretton Woods—Bretton Woods : No Response
Cannon Mountain—Franconia Notch : No Response
Cranmore Mountain Resort—North Conway : No Response
Crotched Mountain—Bennington : No Response
Dartmouth Skiway—Lyme : No Response
Granite Gorge—Keene : No Response
Gunstock Mountain Resort—Gilford : No Response
King Pine—East Madison : No Response
—Loon: Allowed only during pre- and post-season, with signs posted.
McIntyre Ski Area—Manchester : No Response
Mount Prospect—Lancaster : No Response
Mount Sunapee Resort—Sunapee : No Response
—Pats Peak: Skinning allowed during midweek non-holiday in-season operational hours until 2:00, with purchase of a reduced-price ticket.
Ragged Mountain—Danbury : No Response
Tenney Mountain Ski and Snowboarding Area—Plymouth : No Response
The Balsams Wilderness—Dixville Notch : No Response
—Waterville Valley: Uphill Policy
Whaleback—Enfield : No Response
—Wildcat: Uphill Policy
New Jersey:
Campgaw Mountain—Mahwah : No Response
Hidden Valley—Vernon : No Response
Mountain Creek—Vernon : No Response
New Mexico
Angel Fire Resort—Angel Fire : No Response
Pajarito Mountain—Los Alamos : No Response
Red River Ski Area—Red River : No Response
Ski Apache—Ruidoso : No Response
—Ski Santa Fe—Santa Fe Uphill policy
Sipapu—Vadito : No Response
Taos Ski Valley—Taos : No Response
Sandia Peak—Albuquerque : No Response
Ski Cloudcroft—Cloudcroft : No Response
New York:
Beartown Ski Area—Plattsburgh : No Response
Belleayre Mountain—Highmount : No Response
Big Tupper Ski Area—Tupper Lake : No Response
Bristol Mountain—South Bristol : No Response
Buffalo Ski Club—Colden : No Response
Catamount Ski Area—Hillsdale : No Response
Dry Hill Ski Area—Watertown : No Response
Gore Mountain—North Creek : No Response
Greek Peak—Virgil : No Response
Holiday Valley Ski Resort—Ellicottville : No Response
Holiday Mountain Ski & Fun—Monticello : No Response
Holimont—Ellicottville : No Response
Hunter Mountain—Hunter : No Response
Kissing Bridge—Colden : No Response
Labrador Mountain—Truxton : No Response
Peek’n Peak—Clymer : No Response
Plattekill Mountain—Roxbury : No Response
Song Mountain Resort—Tully : No Response
Snow Ridge Ski Resort-Turin : No Response
Swain—Swain : No Response
Thunder Ridge Ski Area—Patterson : No Response
Titus Mountain—Malone : No Response
Toggenburg Moutain-Fabius : No Response
Tuxedo Ski Center—Tuxedo : No Response
West Mountain—Glens Falls : No Response
Willard Mountain—Greenwich : No Response
—Whiteface: No designated uphill skiing/skinning trails. During operational hours there is no uphill travel on-mountain.
Windham Mountain—Windham : No Response
Woods Valley Ski Resort-Westernville : No Response
Oregon
Cooper Spur—Parkdale
—Mount Hood Meadows—Government Camp Uphill Policy
Mount Hood Ski Bowl—Government Camp : No Response
Summit Ski Area—Government Camp : No Response
—Timberline—Government Camp Allowed from above Timberline Lodge on demarcated climber’s route along eastern periphery of ski area boundary
Hoodoo—Sisters : No Response
—Mount Bachelor—Bend Uphill Policy
Willamette Pass—Odell Lake : No Response
Anthony Lakes—North Powder : No Response
Ferguson Ridge—Joseph : No Response
Mt. Ashland—Ashland : No Response
Spout Springs—Tollgate : No Response
Warner Canyon—Lakeview : No Response
Pennsylvania
Alpine Mountain Ski & Ride Center—Scranton : No Response
Bear Creek Mountain Resort—Macungie : No Response
Blue Knob All Seasons Resort—Claysburg : No Response
Blue Mountain Ski Area—Palmerton : No Response
Boyce Park—Pittsburgh : No Response
Camelback Ski Area—Tannersville : No Response
Eagle Rock Resort—Hazleton : No Response
Elk Mountain—Union Dale : No Response
Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort—Hidden Valley : No Response
Jack Frost Big Boulder—Blakeslee : No Response
Liberty Mountain Resort—Carroll Valley : Not Allowed
Mountain View at Edinboro—Edinboro : No Response
Seven Springs Mountain Resort—Seven Springs : No Response
Shawnee Mountain Ski Area—East Stroudsburg : No Response
Ski Big Bear—Lackawaxen : No Response
Ski Denton—Coudersport : No Response
Ski Roundtop—Lewisberry : Not Allowed
Ski Sawmill—Morris : No Response
Snö Mountain—Scranton : No Response
Tussey Mountain Ski Area—State College : No Response
Whitetail Ski Resort—Mercersburg : Not Allowed
Utah
—Alta—Alta (ski only) Uphill traffic allowed until 1-2 weeks prior to resort opening. Signs posted at base indicating if the mountain is open to uphill traffic.
Beaver Mountain—Logan Canyon : No Response
Brian Head—Brian Head : No Response
—Brighton—Big Cottonwood Canyon Uphill Policy
The Canyons—Park City : No Response
Deer Valley—Park City (ski only) : No Response
Eagle Point Ski Resort—Beaver, Utah : No Response
Park City Mountain Resort—Park City : No Response
Powder Mountain—Eden : No Response
Snowbasin—Huntsville : No Response
Snowbird—Snowbird : No Response
Solitude—Big Cottonwood Canyon : No Response
Sundance—Sundance : No Response
Wolf Mountain—Eden : No Response
Vermont:
Ascutney Mountain Resort—Brownsville (closed) : No Response
Bear Creek Mountain Club—Plymouth (private) : No Response
—Bolton Valley Resort Uphill traffic prohibited at all times.
—Bromley: Prohibited during non-operational hours; during operational hours, stay on trail edges.
—Burke: Uphill Policy
Cochran’s Ski Area—Richmond : No Response
—Jay Peak: Allowed only during nonoperational hours.
Killington Ski Resort—Killington : No Response
—Mad Riven Glen: Uphill Policy
—Magic: Uphill Policy
Middlebury College Snow Bowl—Middlebury : No Response
—Mount Snow: Uphill Policy
—Northeast Slopes:Skinning allowed at all times. No restrictions.
Okemo Mountain—Ludlow : No Response
Pico Mountain—Killington : No Response
Quechee Lakes Ski Area—Quechee (private) : No Response
—Smuggler’s Notch: Allowed only during nonoperational hours.
—Stowe: Uphill Policy
—Stratton: Uphill traffic should stay on green and blue terrain, to the extreme right, single file. No dogs.
—Sugarbush: Uphill Policy
Suicide Six—Woodstock : No Response
Washington
49 Degrees North Ski Area—Chewelah : No Response
Badger Mountain Ski Area—Waterville : No Response
Bluewood Ski Area—near Dayton : No Response
—Crystal Mountain—near Enumclaw:Uphill Policy
Echo Valley Ski Area—Chelan : No Response
Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area—Port Angeles : No Response
Leavenworth Ski Hill—Leavenworth : No Response
Loup Loup Ski Bowl—near Twisp : No Response
Meany Lodge—Snoqualmie Pass (private) : No Response
—Mission Ridge Ski Area—Wenatchee: Uphill Policyl
Mount Baker Ski Area—Glacier : No Response
Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park—near Spokane : No Response
Sahalie Ski Club—Snoqualmie Pass (private) : No Response
Sitzmark Lifts—Tonasket : No Response
—Stevens Pass Ski Area—Stevens Pass:Uphill Policy
The Summit at Snoqualmie—Snoqualmie Pass : No Response
—Alpental: Check with Ski Patrolers before beginning uphill travel.
Summit Central : No Response
Summit East : No Response
Summit West : No Response
White Pass Ski Area—White Pass : No Response
Wyoming
Beartooth Pass—near Cody : No Response
Big Horn—Ten Sleep : No Response
—Grand Targhee— Driggs OK to skin uphill on the cat track until 9 am
Hogadon—Casper : No Response
Jackson Hole—Teton Village Not Allowed, punishable by law.
Pine Creek—Cokeville : No Response
—Snow King—JacksonUphill access allowed on designated trails from 8am-8pm. See Uphill Policy
Snowy Range—Centennial : No Response
White Pine—Pinedale : No Response
2013 CBMR WINTER UPHILL USE POLICY
Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) and the US Forest Service encourage use of public land. Users should be aware that the public lands comprising Crested Butte ski area are under permit to CBMR by the US Forest Service (USFS). While enjoying these permitted lands, users must abide by CBMR and USFS’s restrictions and recommendations. Uphill Use by means of skinning has gained popularity at Crested Butte in recent years. CBMR welcomes and supports individuals seeking to exercise and enjoy the quiet mountain setting. Uphill users can help preserve this opportunity by following these simple guidelines:
General
o You are required to have an Uphill Use pass. This pass is available at the Adventure Center during operational hours. Uphill pass holders will be required to view a short educational video and sign an acknowledgement waiver prior to Uphill Use.o Under Colorado Skier Safety Act, any person using any of the facilities of a ski area is considered a skier and as such is required to adhere to and obey all posted information and to be aware of trail closures and other operational considerations. Be especially aware of other
skiers and riders approaching from above or below when on-mountain. Snowmobiles, snow cats, winch cat cable, snowmaking hoses and other equipment may be encountered at any time, the skier assumes all risks.o Updated route information can also be found on the Snow Report Hotline at 970-349-2323 or online at www.skicb.com/cbmr/snow-report
o When the Ski Patrol is conducting early-morning avalanche control work, a red flashing light will be deployed on top of tower 3 of the Red Lady lift and at the base area. DO NOT CONTINUE UPHILL BEYOND YELLOW BRICK ROAD AT UPPER PARK or THE TOP
OF RED LADY LIFT!o Use of all Terrain Parks is prohibited outside of normal operating hours.
o Before and after daylight hours, reflective clothing is recommended.
o Headlamps are required to be turned on while on the mountain before 9 am and after 4:30 pm.
Operating Hours
o Uphill Use on the ski area is permissible before and after operating hours on allowed groomed trails and during operating hours via the designated Base to Ten Peaks uphill route.
o All uphill travel must cease by 9:00 a.m. and may not begin again until 4:30 p.m., with the exception of the Base to Ten Peaks route.
o Pre-season access is not allowed due to snowmaking and grooming operations.Dogs
o Dogs must be on a leash or kept under verbal control and owners must clean up all solid waste, failure to do so may result in removal of Uphill Use privileges.
o All dogs are required to wear a turned-on collar headlight while on-mountain.
o Dogs and owners must follow designated “dog routes”, please see “Uphill Routes” below.
o Dogs are not permitted on-mountain from 9 am to 4:30 pm.Prohibited Trails.
o All un-groomed trails are closed for Uphill Use.
o International, Buckley, and Championship trails are closed for Uphill Use.
o Upper Keystone and Triangle are closed in the afternoon and evening due to the frequency of winch cat operations.
o Extreme Limits access roads (i.e. Schofield Pass, Phoenix Exit, Easy Out, Banana Exit, Bottom of Sock-It-To-Me) are closed at all times.Uphill Routes
o All groomed trails are open to Uphill Use with the exception of listed Prohibited Trails.
o Stay in the center of the trail for the best visibility.
o The following routes are recommended: (see Uphill Use map)
o Warming House Hill to Keystone to Upper Park to Yellow Brick Road to:
o Upper Keystone to the Triangle to Windy Gap to top of Silver Queen lift.
o Upper Ruby Chief to Silver Queen Road (SQR).
o Designated “Dog Routes” (see Uphill Use map)
o Warming House Hill to Keystone to Peanut to Houston Access to Forest Queen to Paradise Bowl to SQR to Lower North Star to the top of Silver Queen lift.
o Warming House Hill to Houston to Houston Access to Forest Queen to Paradise Bowl to SQR to Lower North Star to the top of Silver Queen lift.Descending Routes
o Downhill travel is restricted to open, groomed terrain with the exception of prohibited trails
o “Dog Routes” – follow designated uphill dog routes in reverse, dogs are not allowed on other downhill trails.Avalanche Danger and Explosives
o Avalanche danger may exist at anytime along many of the uphill routes. Following ANY amount of new snow, or wind, the Ski Patrol may be conducting avalanche control work, including the use of explosives.
o Avalanche control updates will be posted on CBMR’s Snow Report at 5am.
o When the Ski Patrol is conducting early morning avalanche control work, a red flashing light will be deployed on tower 3 of the Red Lady lift and at the base area.DO NOT CONTINUE UPHILL BEYOND YELLOW BRICK ROAD AT UPPER PARK or THE TOP OF RED LADY LIFT!
– Any other specific closures may be noted on the Snow Report.
– During early season avalanche control mornings, please do not proceed uphill past the Red Lady lift top terminal, if the Upper Park trail is not open.Hazards
Participants must also beware of and avoid mountain hazards. These include, but are not limited to:
– Snowmaking hoses – Danger, high pressure! Don’t ski over hoses!
– Snowmaking hydrants – Don’t fall in open sites!
– Snowmobiles – Stay in the middle of trails, Don’t get hit!
– Snow Cat grooming – Give cats a wide berth and make yourself visible to operators, don’t assume they see you!
– Winch Cat operations – Dangerous cable! Under no circumstances may anyone access any area within the Resort where winch cat operations are taking place. Such work will involve cables stretched tightly across the terrain and is very dangerous. Skiing into them could result in serious injury or death. Respect strobe lights and signage.
– Other hazard areas, operations or conditions that may exist on-mountain.
Joseph Risi was raised on pasta and meatballs in the “backwoods” of Long Island before seeking higher education in the mountains of Vermont. Always looking for adventure, building treehouses, working too many odd jobs around the world he now lives in the Aspen area of Colorado.
