Industry News
Whitefish Mountain Resort, located just outside Whitefish in Northern Montana, is making a change to its uphill skiing procedure for the winter 2020/2021 season. While the uphill policy itself at the resort isn’t changing, uphill skiers will now be required to obtain a pass in order to do so.
If you’re lucky enough to be a Whitefish Winter Season Pass holder, the Uphill Pass is complimentary and can be added to your pass at any time. If you have already bought your Winter Season Pass, simply add it online.
For those who aren’t a Winter Season Pass holder, an Uphill Only Season Pass can be purchased for $100. Or, if you prefer to take it day-by-day, an Uphill Day Ticket can be purchased for $12 per day. Once you have your pass, you’ll need to sign a waiver and display the Uphill Pass in a visible location while skiing.
“We feel good about our policy which allows this activity but every year we find ourselves needing to educate or remind people of the policy itself as well as the safety concerns surrounding this activity and it seemed like a positive step in that direction. We also believe whatever fees will be collected are nominal given the upkeep that goes into roads, parking lots and trail grooming, all of which make this an easy place to engage in uphill travel.”
– Dan Graves, CEO of Whitefish Mountain Resort
In recent years, we’ve seen ski areas tackle uphill policy in all different ways. If the ski area is providing a safe, reliable, and responsible option for uphillers, I’m all for having to pay a fee to have access all season long. In the end, as more and more skiers start “earning their turns,” education is the key to ensuring all uphill skiers have a safe and enjoyable time.
