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No Hiking Rails!

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jessejames
Posts: 102 - Karma: 1,167
My local ski area decided this year that we are not allowed to hike rails. It is a very small ski area with only a few rails, so we've always hiked them to get more bang for our buck. The past two times I've gone, the terrain park crew came down and told us we needed to put our skies on and that uphill traffic was not allowed in the park. We were in a totally visible area and were in no danger of being hit by another skier. I was outraged! Is this normal to not allow skiers to hike rails. It doesn't sound right to me. Does your park allow it??
Feb 22 2015 8:35PM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
what if you were to side step up the rails? Then your skis would be on.
Feb 22 2015 8:57PM
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jessejames
Posts: 102 - Karma: 1,167
No up hill traffic is what they said. We often do keep our skies on and they still don't allow us to hike the rails. Do bigger ski areas allow rail hiking??
Feb 22 2015 9:05PM
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veng_m
Posts: 1267 - Karma: 2,720
jessejamesNo up hill traffic is what they said. We often do keep our skies on and they still don't allow us to hike the rails. Do bigger ski areas allow rail hiking??


ya, bigger ski areas allow it
Feb 22 2015 9:09PM
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S.J.W
Posts: 7609 - Karma: 31,183
Ski areas actually do this? What the fuck? Why?
Feb 22 2015 9:18PM
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BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,883
UglyboyWhy?


Most likely has to do with people trying to scam the mountain. Mountains have caught on that kids will hike a rail for hours (either without a pass or after their ticket has expired). Some people see it as no big deal because it's a "lift ticket" and they're not using the lift, but to the mountain you're trespassing (if it's private land) and stealing (it's also a liability thing).
Feb 22 2015 9:37PM
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JahLiam
Posts: 2321 - Karma: 7,828
last year I was joking a down rail under the lift, and it was middle of a week day so I was literally the only person in the park, and this liftie that was on the lift above me shouted that I wasn't allowed to be hiking, but I knew the park crew was cool with it so I didn't really acknowledge him. And OP it really depends on the mountains policy for if you're allowed to hike or not
Feb 22 2015 9:41PM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,161
that's fucked up. once I got a ride to the top of the park by park crew in their snowmobile, that beats hiking.
Feb 22 2015 10:32PM
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Youngfeiler
Posts: 64 - Karma: 781
Happens at my small resort in co. Sign says "No uphill traffic" and we almost got our passes taken away cause of it.
Feb 22 2015 10:46PM
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brett_fisher
Posts: 2417 - Karma: 10,494
this is stupid but after a day of hiking rails with my crew it does get a bunch of boot marks and stuff thats seams to be the only negative about it and most parks are in open areas so .
Feb 22 2015 11:24PM
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Slush
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 12,942
1.) drop pole above rail
2.) hit rail
3.) take skis off
4.) hike back up to get pole
5.) repeat as many times as necissary
Feb 23 2015 10:31AM
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NMMedia
Posts: 982 - Karma: 1,700
Ride towrope, profit
Feb 23 2015 10:39AM
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-Colton
Posts: 272 - Karma: 2,525
My home mountain (Glen Eden) doesn't allow it, but they dont really care....
Feb 23 2015 10:43AM
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Sarazen
Posts: 302 - Karma: 2,587
This is kinda unfortunate. I ski mainly at Sunday River and hiking is a common thing. The other day we had around 20 kids hiking and it was such a cool vibe. Everyone was stoked to be there and it was such a fun environment.
Feb 23 2015 10:55AM
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steeze_louise
Posts: 548 - Karma: 2,093
SarazenThis is kinda unfortunate. I ski mainly at Sunday River and hiking is a common thing. The other day we had around 20 kids hiking and it was such a cool vibe. Everyone was stoked to be there and it was such a fun environment.


It was more like every park skier on the mountain.
Feb 23 2015 11:41AM
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steeze_louise
Posts: 548 - Karma: 2,093
If your mountain dosent allow it just try to get a huge group of people to hike a rail and when they tell you to stop just keep hiking
Feb 23 2015 11:42AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51514 - Karma: 160,924
This is pretty lame sounding. Generally when I see people hiking I just check that they have a pass. The last two years I was a little more strict with usual because the pass for all day on the lift next to the park was $16 and I got the mountain to invest a lot more than they wanted to into it.


I can totally understand not being to hike up from the base area, but you should be able to hike rails once your up there. If they're having problems they can get a better ticket checking system going on all base area lifts, maybe at an incentive for busting people, and then have the crew check peoples lift tickets that are hiking in the park.

If people don't have a lift ticket you definitely aren't allowed to hike the park most places. You aren't bringing them any money and it's a liability. If you have a ticket and would rather just hike a feature then that's just stupid to not be allowed to.
Feb 23 2015 1:00PM
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kim_jong_ill
Posts: 1019 - Karma: 3,147
our park manager breaks most of the rules: no helmet, hikes, etc. He's chill though
Feb 23 2015 3:16PM
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3738 - Karma: 7,667
Talk to them and ask them why you aren't allowed to.
Also ask where it says you can't, unless there is a sign.
If they say because of kids hiking without buying passes show them your pass.
They really shouldn't have any other viable argument than "because I said so", a phrase that people who work for ski resorts seem to love to use.

Most of all, don't be confrontational and keep your cool regardless of how ridiculous they are.
Feb 23 2015 5:08PM
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.Morton
Posts: 440 - Karma: 1,426
My home mountain has a t bar and no workers regulate it. I own a season pass but if you could walk up there without a pass, you could ski for free. I don't see why your hill wouldn't allow hiking.
Feb 23 2015 6:27PM
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mike759
Posts: 873 - Karma: 1,951
I just find a park without anyone watching or wait for the supervisor to leave. idk your situation but this works at jiminy peak
Feb 23 2015 6:31PM
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caleb.delaney
Posts: 37 - Karma: 348
YoungfeilerHappens at my small resort in co. Sign says "No uphill traffic" and we almost got our passes taken away cause of it.


And which one of our mountains would this be
Feb 23 2015 6:43PM
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Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,133
When you purchased the lift ticket, there was no where that said you weren't allowed to hike, right? Possession of the ticket allows you use of the mountain (so long as you don't duck ropes, etc., which I'm sure is included in the fine print.) and hiking in an empty/side area poses no danger. My shot-in-the-dark legal reasoning says that you have a right to hike.
On the other hand, it is their land, but I'm not sure how much weight that holds.
Feb 23 2015 8:42PM
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-Colton
Posts: 272 - Karma: 2,525
JahLiamlast year I was joking a down rail under the lift, and it was middle of a week day so I was literally the only person in the park, and this liftie that was on the lift above me shouted that I wasn't allowed to be hiking, but I knew the park crew was cool with it so I didn't really acknowledge him. And OP it really depends on the mountains policy for if you're allowed to hike or not


You ride Mount Kel$o right?
Feb 23 2015 9:09PM
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LukasSchroeder
Posts: 1460 - Karma: 2,683
Twinipz1.) drop pole above rail
2.) hit rail
3.) take skis off
4.) hike back up to get pole
5.) repeat as many times as necissary


this is fucking genius!
lifty: "HEY! you! no hiking"
skier: "i dropped my pole"
that's great.
Feb 23 2015 9:23PM
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JahLiam
Posts: 2321 - Karma: 7,828
Ginger_GaperYou ride Mount Kel$o right?


yeah man glen sweden
Feb 23 2015 10:06PM
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~~~~~~~~
Posts: 2345 - Karma: 2,104
I can't believe this is a real thing,combined with the thread about yellow jackets I can see why the side country is exploding. (among other reasons)
Resorts these days have too many damn rules.
Feb 23 2015 11:03PM
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ilikedolphins
Posts: 129 - Karma: 120
just come to germany we dont have ski patrol and no one cares what you do haha
Feb 24 2015 2:21AM
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dbchili
Posts: 2555 - Karma: 1,657
patrollers at small hills seriously just enjoy flexing over immiscule issues because there's nothing else to do, its just a fact of life
Feb 24 2015 5:52AM
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CaptTurner
Posts: 179 - Karma: 356
Sort of related, but I have a buddy who moved from Colorado to Maine to finish grad school. There is a tiny hill 350feet of vert near where we live, he was itching to get some quick turns in after class so after they closed he put on his teles and skins and started to hike up. Ski patrol stopped him and told him that he wasn't allowed to skin up because it was dangerous.
Feb 24 2015 7:23AM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7454 - Karma: 35,722
CaptTurnerSort of related, but I have a buddy who moved from Colorado to Maine to finish grad school. There is a tiny hill 350feet of vert near where we live, he was itching to get some quick turns in after class so after they closed he put on his teles and skins and started to hike up. Ski patrol stopped him and told him that he wasn't allowed to skin up because it was dangerous.


Most resorts will stop you, its private property and they are closed. Also, they probably were starting to groom which could be dangerous
Feb 24 2015 7:54AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51514 - Karma: 160,924
CaptTurnerSort of related, but I have a buddy who moved from Colorado to Maine to finish grad school. There is a tiny hill 350feet of vert near where we live, he was itching to get some quick turns in after class so after they closed he put on his teles and skins and started to hike up. Ski patrol stopped him and told him that he wasn't allowed to skin up because it was dangerous.


Several reasons. Some places will let you skin up, it helps to know or at least ask the owners.

They're fucking closed

They're starting grooming as soon as the mountain closes

Patrol is out of service after they sweep the mountain. If your friend falls, get's lost, hit's a tree there's nobody there to help him and he might very well be dead the next morning when the mountain goes to open


If your friend falls and is stuck there over night the mountain and their insurance really don't want to deal with the possibility of a lawsuit because somebody is pissed that nobody rescued them and they sat their all night.

Some places will let you skin up any time, some places will let you skin up any time if you notify the owners, some places will only let you skin up in the morning when the mountain is open, some places don't allow any uphill traffic.
Feb 24 2015 10:39AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
Killi just posted this article on FB after I left NS: http://www.killington.com/site/to-do/winter/uphill_travel[url/]
Feb 24 2015 11:43AM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
john18061806that's fucked up. once I got a ride to the top of the park by park crew in their snowmobile, that beats hiking.


I was at lutsen one year for their college week and since the hill was so dead, we got offered free cat rides up and down the hill for a good couple of hours while they groomed. Such a fun week.
Feb 28 2015 3:58PM
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
DiabeetoI was at lutsen one year for their college week and since the hill was so dead, we got offered free cat rides up and down the hill for a good couple of hours while they groomed. Such a fun week.


Meanwhile I crossed a closed trail on eagle and almost got sideswiped by a cat.

That one woulda hurt.
Feb 28 2015 4:09PM
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jessejames
Posts: 102 - Karma: 1,167
It sucks that so many ski areas aren't allowing this "up-hill" traffic. I was hoping that mine was the only one, so I could let them know how lame they were. It really is a shame to not let kids hike rails at these small resorts when slopestyle is the type of sport that a small resort skier could potentially be very competitive against a skier from a large resort. Some potential pros might never become good if not given this opportunity to hike rails. Maybe this is an issue that the US ski team should take into consideration.
Mar 7 2015 3:30PM
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Youngfeiler
Posts: 64 - Karma: 781
caleb.delaneyAnd which one of our mountains would this be


Eldora, Caleb
Mar 12 2015 12:34PM
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wreck.yoself
Posts: 656 - Karma: 46
Twinipz1.) drop pole above rail
2.) hit rail
3.) take skis off
4.) hike back up to get pole
5.) repeat as many times as necissary


HUNDO p!
Mar 12 2015 6:00PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51514 - Karma: 160,924
I feel like uphill traffic and somebody hiking a rail aren't the same thing. IF you're hiking the whole park that's one thing but that's just lame. Do it anyway and tell them to fuck off.
Mar 13 2015 12:22AM
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+AkShred+
Posts: 9 - Karma: 14
I go to a small ski area and they allow hiking. they just check passes every once in a while. And if they tell you to stop hiking just tell them that they're resort is crap.
Mar 13 2015 1:58AM
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dustygoldflakes
Posts: 484 - Karma: 700
Nah man i've never had thta problem. that sucks
Mar 13 2015 7:26AM
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