Dear Fellow Backcountry Enthusiasts,

This season Mt Ashland will celebrate 60 years of operation. And the first folks who thought of opening up a ski area here were local backcountry ski enthusiasts.  And since it's inception 59 years ago, the mountain has allowed access to uphill travel. 

Many of us are deeply concerned about the highly restrictive uphill policy at Mt. Ashland. While we understand the resort's desire to maintain safety and preserve snow quality, we believe the current policy places undue restrictions on backcountry skiers and snowboarders.

Mt A's Uphill Policy

• Check it out here: https://www.mtashland.com/uphill-use-policy/
  • IG post
  • FB page - see post from  Nov 21
• Q&A: https://www.mtashland.com/uphill-use-policy-2/
• Blog: https://www.mtashland.com/a-new-paradigm-for-uphill-travel-off-hours-access/

Unintended Consequences of the Current Policy

There are numerous restrictions in this new policy, but one impact is the elimination of uphill access on Wednesdays after 8 am, effectively shutting down the Youth SkiMo Program. This program, which introduced over a dozen young participants to the joys of backcountry skiing last year, is now at risk of being discontinued.

Furthermore, the restriction to designated uphill and downhill routes during operational days, while seemingly motivated by safety concerns, appears to be primarily driven by snow preservation efforts. This limitation hinders our ability to access the varied terrain and challenging lines that Mt. Ashland has to offer. 

Proposed Modifications for a Balanced Approach

We propose the following modifications to the uphill policy to strike a balance between safety, snow preservation, and backcountry access:

1. Free Uphill Pass for Kids and Pass Holders: Encourage participation and promote responsible backcountry use among young skiers and snowboarders. Season Passholders should not have to pay for this uphill pass.  
2. Day Pass for $10: Provide a flexible option for occasional uphill enthusiasts without imposing an unreasonable fee. 
3. Elimination of Designated Downhill Routes: "saving powder" for the first folks on the lifts is not a thing. The amount of tracks that get laid down in the 3 hrs before opening is much less than the first 30 min that the lifts are open. 
4. Viable Uphill Route During Operations: Establish a designated uphill route that offers access to the upper mountain, particularly during operational hours. This could include a route up the side of Caliban with a bootpack option above when the bowl is open. The current proposed route is not viable. Many folks would be happy to pay if they gained uphill access during operation.  
5. Limited Uphill Access on Wednesdays: Collaborate with groomers to allocate a portion of the mountain for uphill access on Wednesdays, allowing for continued participation in the Youth SkiMo Program and providing opportunities for midweek backcountry adventures.

Our Commitment to Dialogue and Collaboration

We are not demanding an overhaul of the entire policy but rather seeking a collaborative approach that addresses our concerns and ensures fair and equitable access for backcountry users. We believe that Mt. Ashland has the potential to become a beacon of backcountry skiing and snowboarding, and we are committed to working together to achieve this goal. We had an uphill roundtable where many of our thoughts were discussed. None of our thoughts from that night or from email correspondences were taken into account in this new policy.  

Join the Movement for Change

I understand that uphilling on Mt Ashland is a privilege and not a right, but these restrictions are very disappointing. Backcountry enthusiasts are a large part of the Mt Ashland community. As a non-profit community mountain, I urge the mountain to reconsider these restrictive policies.  

If you share our concerns and believe in the importance of maintaining a vibrant backcountry skiing and snowboarding community at Mt. Ashland, please sign this petition.  

Sincerely,

Yu Kuwabara (co-founder of Mt Ashland SkiMo)