Picture this: You’re on a chairlift at your favorite ski resort as it whisks you up toward the top of the mountain. But just before you reach the summit, your eyes spot a skier moving uphill amid all the downhill shredders. As you watch, the skier continues slogging uphill, effectively climbing the resort on her skis.
Uphill skiing — or uphilling — has become one of my favorite outdoor winter activities over the past few years. I live outside of Aspen, Colorado, a ski town with a generous uphilling policy at all four of the Aspen Snowmass mountains. At least once or twice per week, I strap tiny carpets to the bottom of my skis, buckle into my special ski boots, grab my skis with uphill-specific bindings and head to the resort where I ski 1,500 feet uphill. Once I make it to the top, I get to enjoy a sweet downhill lap, reveling in the knowledge that I earned those turns.
The best part about uphilling is that anyone can do it. Sure, you need the gear and the location to align. But uphilling is more affordable than resort skiing, and it’s a lot safer than backcountry skiing. Plus, it’s a great workout. “You are your own efficient mode of transport,” Wes Shirey, a Utah-based backcountry ski guide and ski patrolman, says. “The perfectly white, beautiful terrain, the cold wind in your face, the challenge of how far or high you go — it is all on you and your legs and lungs.”
Still, it’s intimidating to tackle a new activity with loads of new gear, especially in ski towns like Aspen where the locals seemingly sprint by you on their way to the top. If you’re curious about uphilling but don’t know where to start, we’ve got the basics: what uphilling is, what gear you need and everything you need to know to begin earning your turns.
What is uphilling and how to get started
Heather Balogh Rochfort/CNN Underscored
When you think of skiing, there’s a good chance you’re envisioning a day filled with dozens of downhill laps where powder is flying and rest is only enjoyed on the chairlift. But uphilling is different.
Uphilling is the act of skiing uphill within the boundary lines of a ski resort. Once you reach the top, most uphillers can zip down any ski run. But in some cases, you don’t even have to do that; you can often catch a gondola or chairlift designated for downloading. I tore my knee last year so I wasn’t allowed to ski, but I could uphill. So I spent the remainder of the season climbing the resort on my skis and riding the gondola back down to the base.
That’s the beauty of uphilling: It’s more accessible. Unlike backcountry skiing where the terrain is variable and there is a constant concern about snow safety, uphilling only involves skiing inbounds at a resort on groomed terrain. This means you don’t need any safety gear like avalanche beacons, shovels or probes. It’s also a lot more affordable than downhill skiing at a resort because you don’t buy lift tickets. In some places, uphilling is completely free but that has started to change as it becomes more popular. Still, an uphill pass at most resorts costs less than $100, and that’s for the entire season. At Aspen Snowmass — one of the priciest resorts in the country — it’s included for locals with their season pass. For everyone else, it’s only $69 for the entire season.
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And it’s good for you. “Uphilling is a really great workout in the winter when it’s cold and otherwise unpleasant out,” Emily Banks, an Aspen-based skier who logs 100 days of skiing each year, says. “It’s a good way to get outside and be in the mountains.”
Colorado-based skier Alyssa Franklin picked up uphilling a few years ago and spent the bulk of last season training for the Power of Two, an Aspen-based ski mountaineering race with roughly 5,000 feet of vertical gain throughout two of the Aspen Snowmass resorts. She refers to uphilling as her “me time” every week. “The quiet time on the mountain is an added bonus, especially with the promise of a beautiful sunset or sunrise at the end,” she says.
Uphilling tips for beginners
Heather Balogh Rochfort/CNN Underscored
It may feel complicated, but there isn’t anything tricky about uphilling. Once you have and understand the gear, the rest is as simple as hiking up a mountain. Still, here are a couple of tips to make your first time go smoothly.
Do your research on resort policies
Know before you go. Each ski resort has a different uphill policy, so it’s important to read up on them before you arrive. Some resorts don’t allow uphilling at all and have a very strict policy. Others allow it on certain routes or during certain hours of the day. Others are more lenient and offer plenty of routes during all hours. Make sure you know what you’re getting into so you don’t arrive only to be disappointed.
Don’t overdress
If you’re used to downhill skiing, you’ll probably want to bundle up in insulated ski clothes. Don’t do that. Since most ski runs are steep, you’ll be hiking straight up a mountain, which means your heart rate will be high and you will be warm and sweaty. A good rule of thumb is to start cold. If you’re comfortable while standing around at the base area, you’ll likely be sweltering within minutes. I like to dress for temperatures that are roughly 20 to 30 degrees warmer than reality. So, if it’s 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside, I’ll dress as if it’s 40 degrees.
Bring a backpack
Just because you’re dressing for warmer weather doesn’t mean you should leave the layers at home. All uphillers bring a backpack with them to carry their extra layers, water and snacks. This is essential; don’t accidentally leave it at home.
Learn to work the gear
The hardest part about uphilling is learning how to work the equipment. Uphill skiing requires specialized bindings, ski boots and skins. The same gear is used in backcountry skiing, but if you aren’t used to it, it’ll be funky at first. That’s why Banks recommends going into a local shop for instructions. Not only will they be able to help you make the best purchases but they’ll be able to show you how to work it for the first time.
Shirey agrees, noting that a mentor is often the way to go. Find someone who knows how to do it and they can take you with them for your first few adventures. “There are a lot of systems and moving parts to learn,” he says. “You will slip going uphill, you will forget to transition to ski mode or close your leg zippers before going downhill, but it’s all part of it.”
Take it easy
Learning new things is hard, so don’t beat yourself up if you feel awkward at first. “Have grace for yourself,” Banks says. “You’re learning a new activity, so you’re going to fall, you’re going to feel like an idiot. But you shouldn’t because learning new things is supposed to be fun.”
Gear up for your uphilling adventure
Proper gear is essential for a good day of uphilling, but that doesn’t mean you need to run out and buy all new stuff. You’ll likely need to buy new bindings, ski boots and skins. If you already have base layers and non-insulated ski gear lying around the house, great. Save some money and use those. If you decide to upgrade your gear over time, here’s what we recommend.
Ski jackets
Most uphillers bring non-insulated ski shells on the journey. Chances are good it’ll stay stashed inside your backpack while you climb, but you will need to wear it for the downhill (and on exceptionally cold days, you may even wear it on the climb). Non-insulated ski shells are lighter and more packable than puffier downhill jackets, so they’ll easily fit inside your backpack.
