Inbounds Uphill Access Advocacy
When Skimo Northwest formed, we wanted to be more than a race organization. For the sport to grow, we need more than just races. From first time users to seasoned racers, individuals need terrain to sharpen their skills, train with others, and build community. Reviewing Uphill Travel Policies at ski resorts across America, one sees that the rules can be confusing to comprehend. It can be discouraging to see this lack of clarity in rules as an obstacle. Skimo Northwest aims to change that by improving Uphill Travel Policy communications and signage, building community, and engaging with PNW ski resorts.
PNW ski resorts operate on various permitted lands and follow strict rules and regulations. Uphill travel presents potential safety hazards and high-risk situations. In the overall business plan of ski resorts, uphill travel revenue and users is small.
As recreational users, uphill skiers must understand this and adhere to resort rules. Ensuring that Skimo Northwest are holding others accountable is important to good stewardship for uphill travel activities. It’s clear that our access to safe, low-risk ski terrain depends on resort uphill policies — the ski resorts ultimately hold the keys to our accessibility. This presents the opportunity to build strong relationships with ski resorts to promote uphill access.
Ski Mountaineering “skimo” will make its inaugural debut at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Skimo has exponentially grow in the past years and will continue to gain new skiers.
It is understandable to question why certain ski resorts allow for inbounds uphill travel, where other resorts strictly forbid any uphill travel. Resorts that allow uphill travel are taking extra initiatives and making the effort to acknowledge the growth in uphill and backcountry travel.
Skimo Northwest’s goal is to continue growing the sport by achieving the following:
Construct new partnerships and relationships with PNW resorts that disallow or have strict uphill travel policies.
Continue to build on the connections we have with resorts to improve, regulate, and sustain uphill travel policies.
Effectively engage with the PNW skimo community to promote responsible uphill travel practices.
If there are uphill issues that you would like to discuss with your local representative or become more involved, please email us at advocacy@snowgoatskimo.com. Skimo Northwest is always looking to expand our advocacy outreach to individuals and PNW ski resorts. We have volunteers who are locals to our home ski resorts and representative Skimo Northwest.
Stevens Pass – Katie Strahl
Mission Ridge - Grant Chong
Summit at Snoqualmie - Westy Ford/Travis Nesse/Rich Bennett
Crystal Mountain - Michael Warner
Skibowl/Timberline/Mt Hood Meadows - Matt Hasenohr/Joe Marquez
Mount Bachelor - Lisa Green
