Hiking up before lifts open

It really depends on the resort. You could ask the resort if they allow hiking. Or go hiking and find out - what's the worst that can happen?
 
don't do it if they're going to be doing avy control on the hill that morning. also don't do it if they're grooming the runs you're skiing.
 
dont do it, there are so many hazards on the hill when its closed, i dont even know where to start.

- groomers

- park cats

- winch cables

- and also keep in mind that if u do get hurt theres no ski patrol to help you down. there no one.
 
Most hills won't let any uphill travel before the hill opens in the morning if they're doing avalanche control.

At my hill the main lift is just up from the base, so a small crew of us hike up there on the big pow days to avoid the craziness of the base area, and they're cool with that.

I know that Revelstoke had to actively warn people this winter about hiking the mountain at night during full moons. Apparently they weren't really using their heads and skiing in areas where the winch cat was operating... that could have gotten messy.

Other places, like Whistler DO NOT allow any uphill travel in the morning. They only check lift tickets at the base lifts, so a way for poor ski bums to ski without paying is to hike up in the morning to the second set of lifts. If you are caught by staff while doing this they will kick you off. Some might be dicks and try to charge you with trespassing, others will maybe try to guilt you but let you keep on hiking 'cause they're cool like that.

So yeah, every hill has a different policy.
 
Seeing as you're in Alberta and you are talking about terrain that likely sees avalanche control work, it is highly probable that the resort will not be okay with uphill travel outside of operating hours, and possibly still not be cool with it during operating hours.

The fact that it is on park land makes no difference. The resort has a lease in place to allow them to operate and if your presence is hindering their operations in any way, they have the right to tell you to get lost.

That said, there are resorts that allow and even promote uphill travel, so check with the resort in mind. If they say no, respect their decision. Not knowing something is not allowed does not make it excusable.
 
Nope. Some places will allow hiking before they open for the season, but hiking/skinning up a resort during the season will get you thrown off the hill real quick.
 
a group of dudes always skin up at my mountain (the whole 800 ft of vertical) and they continue to do it so patrol must be cool with it
 
At my home hill, they technically cannot prevent uphill travel because the ski hill is in a public park. You can hike all day if you don't want to buy a pass. But that's a rare situation, and this is Minnesota, anywhere where there is risk of an avalanche, or you are skiing on private property, you pretty much can't do that.
 
if its natl forest land, then you can skin up it. the resort only owns the mtn infrastructure. BUT patrol can stop you if they are doing avy control. so that means pow days are out of the question.
 
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this hill is top to bottom 1000 feet, as in the very top of the hill.
 
I don't know if it's true or not that he was hiking, but his death was the result of major stupidity. No backcountry safety equipment, no certification, and really sketchy snow conditions.
 
he was hiking snowbird pre-season, without any necessary supplies, i was just referencing this because even for a professional skier it can be dangerous.
 
this type of situation is exactly why brighton got sued and put the PEEPS program in place... do whatever you want, but don't be dumb, don't get hurt, and if you do get hurt, don't be a dick and sue your local mountain
 
You can probably hike like the half pipe a little bit before they open or a rail near the bottom. I have hiked sunday river at night when i should just buy a night pass but instead hiked up and skied under the lights.
 
just to be clear im tallking about 400foot vert hill out in the prairies where theres never been a pow day and just hiking up the bottom part of the park
 
I think it depends on the mountain really. I know at Jay they are pretty down with it - on a pow day there are so many tracked runs even before the lifts start spinning from powderhounds getting some
 
Now being a park crew member at a certain 400 foot hill in Edmonton, I can tell you one thing. Don't do it. If you hike before there are any signs up there could be huge liability issues, even then, if you get hurt it's a huge waste of resources and patrol may not even come (depending on when you're there).
 
nah, just a few weeks ago when we got 40" Jay posted a gopro video on facebook of a guy who skinned the mtn at sunrise to get first tracks
 
My experience with these places is that most ski patrol want to be doing something on a tiny hill, and so they'll take every advantage to be a dick to you.
 
the features are owned by the resort. if you hit them you are trespassing and can be fined or arrested. most likely they will take your pass and/or kick you out.
 
I did it with a couple friends this year and then skied down naked. Worth it? Yes. Allowed? Probably not. Do I give a shit? No.
 
Really? I don't wanna believe that anyone's dick enough do to that.

Seriously, just go hike that shit. Is anyone even there to come and kick you out before the lifts open?
 
The truth behind this is not black & white, but more so shades of grey.

The lease allowing for operation on public forest land gives the ski area/resort operator the power to restrict access during times when ski area/resort operations are on-going. Operations can be defined as anything from avy control to grooming operations to other ops work that could be taking place such as an employee snowmobiling from point A to point B. It becomes even greyer when you begin talking about skinning/hiking on trails that have been maintained - trail cutting, snowmaking, grooming, etc. Additionally, the lease agreement gives the ski area/resort operator the power to close access for operational reasons as they see fit.

While many places have no problems allowing respectful and mindful users to travel uphill, they do not have to just because it is National, State or Provincial land. Their lease gives them the right to tell you to get lost if they deem that your presence hinders their operations.

 
just depends on the mountain. some won't allow any uphill travel during the season and some will let you hike anytime just ask
 
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