Backcountry ski touring news.
Rejoice — or dread the crowds — We all know skimo is coming to the Olympics in 2026. Me, I hope to be in Cortina when it happens. An interesting aspect of this development: What will it do for the backcountry skiing business world? Article here.
It could be said that the Aspen ski mountains are the birthplace of North American resort uphilling. Yes, perhaps that’s a slug of the Aspen exceptionalism folks such as Telluridians are tired of hearing. But there’s some truth to it. Harken back to this newspaper article from 1961, or check out Fritz Stammberger. But the uphilling Aspen engendered, as with anything, grew up.
This winter, the Aspen Skiing Company will charge for uphilling, $69 for a season pass. I think that’s a pretty good deal for access to roughly 5,000 skiable acres of avalanche controlled snow, including baby-butt groomers that are not cheap to create and maintain. My only disappointment? That uphillers didn’t frequent the on-mountain restaurants enough to make pay-to-play unnecessary. Though honestly, $69 dollars won’t buy you many of the Aspen’s tony lunches. So in that respect the cost of the pass is a bargain — provided you brown bag it. So it goes. Newspaper report here. I know some of you out there are in vehement disagreement with ski areas charging for non-lift access to public land, something we’ve covered in the past. Your comments?
A public land access gate atop Park City ski resort has been a gnawed bone of contention for years now. Despite warning signs, it’s not uncommon for under-equipped, presumably clueless skiers to scoot through the door, tempted by fields of virginal Wasatch white, then get ‘lanched. The resort is sick of it. While I don’t like it, I don’t blame them for closing the gate, especially when those in the know can use another access point that requires a just a bit of walking. If it wasn’t for the alternate entry, I’d be yowling about this as public land access is practically my religion. Am I totally off base? Should this gate remain available? Locals, please help me out here. More.
Not too long ago, we covered the proposed Grand Targhee ski resort expansion efforts. Things are heating up. What’s happening there could be a good test of how anti-growth proponents might succeed in their initial policy influence, and as the years roll, whether their efforts will have any real influence on the march of progress. (Jury is still out on that around here, regarding Aspen.) While clearly biased on the side of the antis, this article gives an extensive overview.
Some of you more seasoned readers might recall how ski racer Franz Klammer electrified the world with his death defying plunge down the Kitzbuhel strafe during the 1976 winter Olympics. And if you’re younger, yet savvy enough to spin Queen on your Spotify now and then, I’ll guarantee you’ll appreciate Klammer as an icon of the seventies. At the risk of being racked on my skis, I’ll state his Kitz Olympic run was the most exciting skiing ever recorded on film. It looks like a Klammer biopic is happening, and I’m betting it’ll be worthy. “Chasing the Line” will premier in Zurich on September 27. More here.
Seattle skier alert: Our publishing partner Cripple Creek Backcountry is making its PNW debut among the brew pubs and barristas of the trendy Fremont neighborhood. It’ll be interesting to watch how CCBC’s business model — small, intimate shop — does in the face of REI and other established retailers. As I learned long ago while writing the Wild Snow history book, folks have their own ways up there in the north corner. Yet much has changed since the dawn of the internet, including the explosion in ski touring popularity. In light of that, I’m betting PNW skinners will enjoy having another retail option. I’ll visit the new shop soon, perhaps to enjoy their open house September 9. Watch this space. And locals, I think I’ve seen the troll, but is there really a statue of Vladimir Lenin?
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
17 comments
With a dusting of snow on the high peaks overnight, this is a well timed article. Lou I have bought the uphill pass t Abasin the last 2 years and consider it money well spent at$50 if I call the price correctly. You nailed the avy controlled benefit of these passes and that has been front of mind for me when skinning up alone(with others of course) in the early hours BUT I continue to wonder about the limits of tech bindings on high speed groomers…so far so good!
The olympics sadly have morphed over the years to become some kind of commercial fueled anything can be an olympic sport type of event. There are so many categories of endeavors that in my H O are meaningless and just a venue for sales hype in the big picture, not to mention what the winter games did to Park City, it makes me want to hurl.
I agree. Theodosius ruined them in 393 AD.
I’ll never forget that day!
I might see you there, Lou. Yes, there really is a Lenin statue!
Franz Klammer won the 76 Olympic downhill on the Patscherlcofel course below Igels.
Spot on Frederick and here is a Youtube video about that track. As I recall one of the factors in the decision to use this course was tied to making it safe enough for the lower level skiers typical of the Olympics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJpE-GpPXho
My bad you guys — teachable moment! So what was the impressive Kitz race that caught my attention, or was it more that he won so many times in a row at Kitz? Thanks for the infos.
$69 dollars to skin? nice….
Kimberley BC also has an uphill program. Though typical of the parent company RCR, uphill pass is only good for returning down the low angle groomer to the base/staging. I totally support resorts charging for passes (also a similar program at Mt. Cain on the island, I think), They aren’t cheap to run, it is a private enterprise, and the cost of the ‘ticket’ is to offset costs of staff and insurance.
Though I do miss Charlie Locke’s (Lake Louise) ethos of ‘if you climbed it, you can ski it’ from days gone by.
I don’t blame PC for closing the gate. From what I’ve read there may have been “gentlemens’ agreements” about keeping it open made in past years. I think the new reality of multiple resort staffed rescues and body recoveries and the associated negative PR made this decision pretty easy. And really, I totally agree that resorts operating on public land should be required to provide access, but nothing says it has to be easy lift access.
I am with you on Cortina. Superb skiing and fantastic food!
The backcountry gate at Park City off 9990 was never supposed to exist. In 1998 an agreement was signed with local conservation groups that backcountry access would not be allowed when the lift was built, within a year The Canyons as it was known then started allowing backcountry access in violation of the agreement. So this is really nothing more than Park City finally respecting the agreement!
– SkiCo should charge ~$30 instead of $70 – many locals have friends/family that want to uphill once or twice during their visit and will not pay $70. The price is not a bottom-line mover for Skico; it’s an arbitrary amount.
– All passes: Premier down to Valley 7 Day, should include uphill privileges.
– I think there’s a balance between building better respect between the operator/EMS/paying customers and these uphill users, while still encouraging and welcoming users who don’t want to ride lifts. It’s been a hallmark of SkiCo’s community engagement and “giving back” to our community and visitors now/in the future.
I’m curious if it will really even be enforceable. Like… what if I just see what color the armband with an aspen leaf on it is and then I make my own? Maybe they will station a lift attendant at the bottom of every mountain with a hand held RFID scanner :p
Bag O’ Dirt they know who you are, will hunt you down and force you to uphill in a pair of 80s vintage Salomon rear entry boots after charging you with theft of services. They may also make you wear a Bogner jacket with a fur collar for the entire season!
Lou it was Klammers Olympic run where he let it all hang out with multiple recoveries
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