Poaching Policies

[kfarrar]

Do you know if the VT/NH/ME mountains mind you hiking up to sneak a run before their official opening.

[el-bagr]

I've hit some preseason Sugarloaf before. Not exactly the answer to your question of whether this is allowed, but it certainly happens. I think I remember someone else saying that they were stopped leaving their cars to hike up, and told that they could ski but to stay away from active snowmaking crews.

[RR]

If the national forest or state forest rules don't forbid earning your turns (none dissallow so far), then you can do that trick any time you like!

I met a guy hike/skiing at Stratton last year (free ticket for me, thanks to W.Miller promo, or I would not have been there). He was getting 1 run to my 4, but looked to be in much better shape than me.

BTW, he was freeheelin on Noodles and making very sweet arcs!

[Bannick]

People used to hike up Blackcomb and whislter when I lived out there as they only checked tickets at the base. Then they were free to ride the upper lifts all day.

The last time I was there they were randomly checking tickets at various lifts around the mountains. It was a pain to have to undo jackets and coats to have your pass gunned in a snowstorm.

so much for stickin it to the man.

[pepperdawg]

Sugarbush in VT is poached fairly often prior to its opening....

[Skilasnow]

Mad River encourages pre and post season hiking for your turns. They even talk about it on their website. "12 inches fell last night. Some hikers are earning turns in Paradise as we speak. Com on up and 'hike it if you can'.

[TheOctopus]

What SkiLas said re: MRG. I've seen that place positively tracked out long before the chairs run. If you know where you're going and won't get upset if you ding up your bases when do find a rock, the place is skiable with as little as 4-6" new on top of the moss and leaves. Great fun. Btw, I've seen many snowboarders at MRG hiking for turns in the pre-season -- here's your chance, snow riders, to check the place out!

Last year I also hit Whaleback, NH, which was closed all season. I'm told that that was a big no-no, but I saw no posted signed, and there was clear evidence of others who had the same idea.

I've never done it myself, but I know some folks who hit Jay pre-season, and the Bush gets some traffic, too both before and after the lifts run. If this isn't expressly allowed a-la MRG, it's at least tolerated.

[RR]

I have never failed to check for fresh tracks at Whaleback on my Burke and Jay runs. I have not been dissappointed yet!