Uphill Skiers Keep Breaking The Rules at Black Mountain, Maine

Black Mountain of Maine (not to be confused with Black Mountain in New Hampshire) is giving skiers a slap on the wrist for breaking uphill travel rules.

The ski area took to social media to remind folks that they need a ticket for uphill access.

The Facebook post states that Mountain Ops recently encountered multiple skiers without an uphill pass who were utilizing the mountain's uphill access route, and that doing so was technically considered theft of services.

"Not a reminder we love posting, but here it is again," writes Black Mountain of Maine.

See below. Keep reading for more.

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Black Mountain of Maine sells uphill day passes for between $5 and $15, which can be purchased online. They also have uphill season passes available for $120, or free for skiers younger than 2nd Grade, or older than 75 years of age.

Black Mountain is also part of the Uphill New England Multi Mountain Pass, which is $40 and gives uphill access to more than 20 participating resorts, including Berkshire East, Cranmore Mountain Resort, Killington Resort, Saddleback, Whaleback Mountain, and more.

Black Mountain has a fairly detailed uphill policy, which details skier risk responsibility, operating hours, and access for uphill skiers, and specific access routes. The policy states that all uphill access from the resort's base is via the Osekare Trail, which is never swept by ski patrol.

Skis or splitboards with skins or snowshoes are allowed, but foot access is not (don't post-hole the skin track!). During normal operating hours, descent on open trails is allowed between 9:15 am and 3:45 pm, as are backcountry Exits 3, 4, and 5. The policy also notes that descents are limited to the Upper Androscoggin and Upper and Lower Sunday Trails on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 2 pm-6 pm, when the mountain is closed. Exits 3, 5, or 5 may also be used to access backcountry terrain on these days. Outside these hours, only Exit 5 may be used. The full policy can be found on Black Mountain's website.

Uphill access at resorts has become increasingly popular, along with backcountry skiing, in recent years. Some ski areas require a signed waiver and a marker of some kind (arm band, etc.) to be displayed to indicate liability and policy knowledge. Some don't charge any fees for an uphill pass.

Other ski areas, such as Black Mountain, charge a small fee for an uphill ticket or season pass. Uphill passes have increased in cost at some ski areas as well, despite the fact that the service itself doesn't change the same way a lift ticket price would increase, with, say, the installation of more lifts or access to more new terrain at a ski area.

In 2020, the cost of an uphill pass to Snow King Mountain in Jackson Hole was around $60. Now, the ski area charges $300 for an uphill season pass.

Touring at a ski area is a great way to keep your uphill fitness when backcountry conditions aren't great, or when you're short on time. Different resorts have different policies to keep skiers safe outside the normal realms of ski area operations, so check your local hill's policy before heading out.

Related: A New First Ski Descent on Canada's Deltaform Mountain