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Chair Lift4/8

Uphill Travel & Touring

Information and Policies
How we operate

Catamount Mountain Resort offers access to the mountain via aphill skinning and touring. It is each person’s responsibility to know and abide by the Catamount uphill travel and touring policies and rules as well as those of the mountain as a whole and general safety guidelines.

You are required to familiarize yourself with the following policies and information before travelling uphill at Catamount.

Uphill Travel Daily Report

Saturday, December 21st

Current uphill route information is as follows:

  • CLOSED - Lower Sidewinder to Upper Sidewinder
  • OPEN (6:30am-4:00pm) - Lower Promenade to Upper Promenade to Ridge Run

It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with, and adhere to, all uphill and mountain information and policies. See below for complete information.

In case of an on-mountain emergency, please call ski patrol at 413-232-9405

Please note that these reports represent a snapshot in time and are subject to change at any time.

Uphill Access, Tickets, and Passes

A ticket or pass is required for all uphill travel, and your ticket or armband must be displayed at all times and must be shown upon request by mountain staff. All uphill travel participants are required to sign a release and waiver each season before accessing the mountain in any capacity.

  • All Catamount Summit Passes are valid for uphill access.
  • All Catamount lift tickets are valid for uphill access.
  • Catamount-only uphill tickets and passes can be purchased at Customer Service.
    • $50 uphill only season passes are available for purchase at Customer Service.
    • $15 uphill only day tickets are available for purchase at Customer Service.
  • Uphill New England passholders are also allowed uphill access.

Before beginning uphill travel, please scan the QR code on the sign at the base of each uphill route to check in.

Schedule of Access

Uphill access is only permitted during designated times of the day and when uphill routes are marked as open. View the current route openings and closures at the top of this page.

Uphill travel is permitted according to the following schedule:

  • Uphill travel may not begin prior to 6:30am.
  • Uphill travel and subsequent downhill descent must be concluded no later than the end of lift operations for the day. Please refer to catamountski.com/winter/the-mountain/mountain-conditions for the most current lift operations schedule.

Downhill travel and descent is permitted according to the following rules and schedule:

  • Downhill descent prior to the beginning of lift operations for the day may only occur on the designated uphill routes that are currently open for uphill travel.
    • Please respect that outside of lift operation hours, our Mountain Ops team is engaged in grooming, snowmaking, winch cat operations, and preparing the mountain for the day. These activities create hazards on the mountain, and it is your responsibility to stay alert, avoid mountain ops equipment, and stay on the designated downhill descent routes to avoid endangering yourself and mountain staff.
  • Downhill descent during the hours of lift operations for the day is permitted on any trails that are currently open for skiing and riding.

Uphill travel may be restricted for mountain operations, such as snowmaking, grooming, winch cat operations, high winds, or other conditions. Catamount reserves the right to restrict uphill access at any time, including after fresh snowfall. Entering closed terrain is prohibited, both during the ascent and descent. It is the user's responsibility to know what trails are open or closed, and travel accordingly.

Mountain Safety, Awareness, and Policies

Guests engaging in uphill travel are encouraged to check the weather and mountain conditions before leaving the base area to become informed of closed terrain or trails, weather and snow conditions, hazards, events, or specific mountain operations. The most up to date mountain conditions can be found at catamountski.com/winter/the-mountain/mountain-conditions.

Guests accessing the mountain through uphill traffic must know that uphill routes may not be patrolled. You must also know that patrol is not guaranteed to be on premises outside of daily lift operation hours. You are responsible for your safety.

  • Should the need for assistance arise during the hours of daily lift operations, please call Catamount Ski Patrol directly at 413-232-9405.
  • Should the need for assistance arise outside of daily lift operations, please call 911.
  • Should the need arise for non-medical assistance or questions during the hours of daily lift operations, please call Customer Service at 413-528-1262.

Guests accessing the mountain through uphill travel are required to stay to the designated side of the trail, to remain vigilant about watching for downhill traffic, and to be aware of blind spots, sharp turns, knolls, and other terrain features that may obscure them from view.

Guests accessing the mountain via uphill travel are asked to wear visible clothing.

Guests accessing the mountain via uphill travel must hike single-file.

Closed trails and terrain parks may not be marked or signed from the bottom, top, or other access points on the trail. It is the responsibility of guests accessing the mountain to be aware of closures and to remain on open uphill and downhill routes and trails.

Any guests accessing the mountain via uphill travel are considered to be skiers and riders. They are held to the same standards and rules as skiers and riders who are descending only. It is your responsibility to know and adhere to ‘Your Responsibility Code,’ which can be found at www.nsaa.org/NSAA/Safety/Your_Responsibility_Code.aspx as well as on the Catamount trail map.

Be warned that snowmobiles, snowmaking equipment, snow grooming, winch cat cables, and other equipment may be encountered at any time on the mountain. You are responsible for staying clear of such equipment.

Travel with another person when possible, especially during nighttime hours.

Catamount mountain staff may request to see your ticket or armband at any time. You are required to show it upon request.

Trails are designed for use by skiers and snowboarders. Any form of downhill descent other than skis or snowboards is prohibited. Sledding or sliding in any form is prohibited.

Those travelling uphill or downhill on trails that are not allowed or are currently closed, accessing the mountain without a ticket or pass, or those deemed to be in breach of policies or rules will be instructed to cease uphill travel immediately and/or leave the mountain. Catamount reserves the right to remove permission to access the mountain.

Dogs and Pets

For the safety of our guests, dogs and other pets are not allowed to accompany our guests while accessing the mountain or travelling uphill.

Designated Uphill Routes

Lower Sidewinder to Upper Sidewinder:

  • When open to uphill travel (see the daily report at catamountski.com/winter/the-mountain/uphill), the Sidewinder route may be used for uphill travel from 6:30am until 4:00pm. Keep in mind that uphill travel and downhill descent must be completed by the end of lift operations.
  • This route is located to the right of the mountain as you look up from the lodge. To enter the trail, proceed through the base area to the space in front of the Glade Triple Chair. Proceed up Lower Sidewinder staying to the uphill traveler's right side of the trail. Uphill travel may continue up Lower Sidewinder to where it merges with Upper Sidewinder (bear right at the cell tower). Proceed up the uphill traveler’s right side of the trail to the summit. If present, follow uphill trail markers to the top of the mountain.

Lower Promenade to Upper Promenade to Ridge Run:

  • When open to uphill travel see the daily report at catamountski.com/winter/the-mountain/uphill), the Promenade-Ridge route may be used for uphill travel from 6:30am until the end of lift operations for the day. Keep in mind that uphill travel and downhill descent must be completed by the end of lift operations.
  • This route is located to the far left of the mountain as you look from the parking lot. Stay to the far uphill traveler’s left side of the trail on Lower Promenade and Upper Promenade. Stay to the left side as you ascend past the top of the Meadows Triple Chair and around the corner on the Ridge Run. Please be aware that parts of this area are blind to traffic descending from above. It is the uphill traveler’s responsibility to stay to the far left side of the trail and remain alert. After the initial steeper pitch and corner on Ridge Run, when the trail gets flatter and uphill visibility increases, proceed across the trail to the uphill traveler’s right side, and remain on the right until the summit. The crossing area is marked on the map. Please be aware that it is the uphill traveler’s responsibility to cross only when it is safe to do so.

The map below illustrates the designated uphill travel routes in red/orange. If you are unclear about the routes or have any other questions, please contact Customer Service before beginning your ascent.