Uphill Traffic Policy

Starting March 1, 2010, a new policy went into effect regarding winter uphill travel within the Special Permit Boundary for Whitefish Mountain Resort. This policy is a collaboration between the resort and the US Forest Service, and is aimed at reducing dangerous behavior associated with uphill travel. This dangerous behavior includes:
  • Skiing close to grooming machines. Grooming machines have been involved in fatal accidents at other ski areas in the past. They are big, dangerous machines.
  • Hiking or skiing over, under, or near winch-cat cables. These cables are steel wire under high tension, and can jump 30' or more in an instant.
  • Hiking in the middle of open ski runs. This poses a significant risk for collisions between uphill and downhill traffic.
  • Hiking uphill on narrow, winding trails with blind corners.
  • Hiking uphill on trails with blind roll-overs.
  • Hiking or skiing in areas that are undergoing avalanche control work.
  • Hiking or skiing near high-pressure water lines and high-voltage electrical lines. These are necessary components of early-season snowmaking operations.

The full press release concerning the adoption of this policy is available here.

Update 2010-03-01: Whitefish Mountain Resort is asking for written comments, criticisms, and ideas from the public regarding the uphill policy until April 4, 2010. For details and submission instructions, please read this press release

Thank you in advance for adhering to the Winter Uphill Traffic Policy so that this great form of outdoor recreation can continue into the future,

-- The Staff of Whitefish Mountain Resort

If you have questions, comments, or ideas for improving the policy or the Responsibility Code, please send an email to pr@skiwhitefish.com.







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