MENU

x

Uphill Skiing

 

UPHILL SKIING GUIDE

DOGS ARE PROHIBITED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

Due to recent incidents involving skinners coming into close proximity and/or failing to yield to mountain operations we respectfully would like to remind everyone that operations are ongoing 24-7 during the winter months. Please use extreme caution and avoid machinery at all costs. If you are skinning/skiing on fresh corduroy there’s a good chance snowcats are still on the hill. It is incumbent upon YOU to yield to and stay clear of mountain operations. Failure to do so could result in the loss of privileges, injury or death. 

Fat-biking is not permitted during the ski season.

There will be times when skinning and hiking is prohibited. The uphill travel prohibition can be for any reason, at any time. During an uphill travel prohibition, there is no uphill travel allowed.  

Failure to adhere to these Uphill Skiing policies and prohibitions can result in the loss of skiing privileges. It is the responsibility of the skier to check the snow report for up-to-date details on Uphill Travel Prohibitions and Routes. Check the snow report before proceeding.

The Snow Report will be updated daily with Uphill Travel Details.

Uphill travel is permitted at Mad River Glen under the following guidelines. You are required to use proper touring equipment for on-snow travel (Skins/Snowshoes). No POST-HOLING!

Uphill Route During Hours of Lift Operations: Uphill travel is permitted for MAD RIVER GLEN COOPERATIVE SHAREHOLDERS and MAD RIVER GLEN PASSHOLDERS on a designated uphill route only unless otherwise indicated on the Snow Report. Uphill travel during operational hours is restricted to skins and skis only and you must obey all trail closures. You must be a SHAREHOLDER OR MRG PASSHOLDER (Your pass must be valid on the day you plan to skin) to skin during operational hours. During the hours of lift operations, all uphill skiers must have a valid Shareholder Mad Money Card, Stark Mountain Card or Season Pass. You must display your ID in a visible spot while skinning during operational hours. Uphill travel during operational hours is limited to a defined route as determined by Mad River Glen Cooperative Management. Skiers may descend any open trail. The uphill route is indicated in yellow on the map below;

Skinners are to leave the base area and head up Periwinkle (underneath the double) staying to the skinner’s left. Stay on the skinner’s left side of Periwinkle until you see the yellow discs indicating the uphill route turns left into the island of trees before the steep pitch of Periwinkle Bowl. Take the two switchbacks in the trees until you come out on top of S-Turn. Skinners are then to turn right and head up the skinner’s right of Snail. Continue on Snail following the yellow discs, through the Periwinkle corral and up through the dip on Snail. As Snail turns left and gets steep through a band of ledges, follow the yellow discs into the woods on the skinner’s right side and stay on the switchbacks. Once on top of the ledge band skinners will re-enter Snail and continue uphill on the skinner’s right. Continue on Snail on the skinner’s right watching for downhill traffic, especially on crossing trails (Robin/Wren, Loon, Lark and Duck) until you reach the Nature Center. If desired, skinners can continue past the Nature Center on the skinner’s left on Duck to the top of the Birdland Lift. 

Pre and Post Ski Season:  Uphill travel is permitted at any time unless otherwise indicated on the Snow Report. You must obey all trail closures.

During the Ski Season before lift opening (9:00 am weekdays, 8:30 am weekends & holidays): Uphill travel is permitted unless otherwise indicated on the Snow Report. You must leave the base area at least 45 minutes before scheduled lift operations. You must begin your descent by the time lifts are scheduled to open. You must obey all trail closures.  

During the Ski Season after lifts close: Uphill travel is permitted unless otherwise indicated on the Snow Report. You must wait until 45 minutes after lift closure to allow for Ski Patrol to sweep the mountain before leaving the base area. You must obey all trail closures.

The following general guidelines must be adhered to:

WARNING:
SNOWMAKING EQUIPMENT, WATER/POWER LINES, SNOWCATS, SNOW MACHINES, MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT AND OTHER HAZARDS CAN BE ENCOUNTERED ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME ON THE MOUNTAIN, IN ANY SEASON. PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN ON THE MOUNTAIN. ALWAYS DISPLAY A LIGHT AND WEAR REFLECTIVE CLOTHING. WHEN ENCOUNTERING MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS STAFF AND VEHICLES, PLEASE MOVE OUT OF THE WAY AND STOP ANY UPHILL OR DOWNHILL ACTIVITY UNTIL THEY PASS BY.

PARKING:
Parking is limited to the area located on this map during the ski season (generally early December to mid-April). We need to be able to plow the main lot without interference by parked cars and also allow our day skiers to come and go. Pre and Post season parking is allowed in the main lot. There is no parking for uphill travel on the Mad River Glen side of Route 17 including the employee parking lots AT ANY TIME.

DOGS:
Dogs are not allowed on the mountain at any time during the ski season (generally early December to mid-April) regardless of whether the mountain is open or closed. We love dogs and many of us have our own, but we kindly ask you to leave them at home. 

Uphill traffic shall:

  • Ascend the skier’s left side of the trail (skinner’s right) unless otherwise indicated 
  • Travel as close to the edge of the trail as is reasonably possible
  • When more than one person is ascending, always proceed single file
  • Look uphill and yield to the downhill skiers
  • Follow the Your Responsibility Code
  • Obey all signage and closures, skinners should ALWAYS ski only on open trails and NEVER duck a rope

 

IF YOU GET HURT during non-operational hours CALL 911:
We do not provide emergency services outside of our regular hours of operation. Do not depend on rescue or ski patrol services in the offseason, during pre- or post-season, at night, or even mid-season if the mountain is not operating and the lifts are not running. In the event you are hurt be prepared for a lengthy time spent outdoors, preparing for your own self-rescue, and for your own personal first-aid. Recreating off-hours at MRG should be no different than other backcountry activity – potential rescue could take many hours and be complicated by weather, location, and availability of resources. Do not depend on others for assistance. Call 911 in the event of an emergency and know your location so that you can report it to the dispatcher.

BE PREPARED:
Plan your trip ahead of time and let others know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Be aware of prior, current, and future weather conditions on the mountain – our weather can and does change with little to no notice. Equip yourself with proper food, fuel, light, and clothing in the event you are injured and need to spend more time outside in the elements than planned (even overnight). Don’t go alone – groups of 3 are recommended so that in an emergency the injured can have 1 person provide first aid and 1 person to go get help.

BE SEEN / HEARD:
You are responsible for wearing bright reflective clothing and for displaying a light so you can be seen. Just as our vehicles are equipped with warning lights, you should equip yourself so that you are visible. Carry multiple/redundant forms of communication – cell phones do not always work, lose their charge, or malfunction in cold/wet environments.

CHOOSE (AND SKI) WISELY:
As with any backcountry ski plan, be sure to scout what you plan to ski. Unknown and unseen hazards exist and ski conditions/obstacles can and do change quickly. Water bars, tree branches, rocks, and other hazards are present and may not be visible or apparent. Ski conservatively and on trails with which you are familiar and comfortable skiing in any condition.

SNOWCAT/SNOWMOBILE SAFETY:
If you see a snowcat or snowmobile coming, don’t hide! Go to the side of the trail, stop, and shine your light toward the snowcat. Operators want to know you’re there and see where you are.

If the full width of the trail isn’t groomed, you should expect snowcats to return once they’ve gone by you. Make sure that you are able to step to the side of the trail if they return.

NEVER follow a snowcat down the mountain. Even the best skier can catch an edge and fall – and you don’t want to come in contact with a snowcat.

SNOWMAKING IN PROGRESS:
Snowmaking equipment can pose serious hazards in addition to the ones described above. Snowmaking snow may be wet and heavy, and snow may not be consistent from gun to gun. We also may have long hoses and live electric wires stretched between our movable guns and fixed hydrants. STAY AWAY! Do not ski on or over any hoses, electric wires, or equipment! The hoses contain high-pressure water and the wires carry high voltage electricity and skiing over them is extremely dangerous. STAY AWAY FROM ALL SNOWMAKING EQUIPMENT.

A valid ticket or Season Pass is required to access the lifts.