Thread: Skinning on closed resorts

Hey I am new to the whole late season touring deal and I am curious as to why so many people choose to skin up closed ski resorts in the late spring. It seems to me that you would be putting a lot of work in to ski runs that are lift served during the winter. Am I missing something here? I did a search but jong away...

Originally Posted by josef

Am I missing something here?

a quick exercise fix

Originally Posted by XXX-er

a quick exercise fix

this.....

I think the "known quality" plays in as well.

you are getting access to a controlled environment (tree cutting/stump trimming or removal/brush clearing etc...) plus, the snow has been skier-compacted all season so the base should theoretically be more robust and "safe" than in the uncontrolled BC.

plus, it is easy to skin up!

and this^^^ the local hill is closed mon & tues for most of the ski season so I can walk to the trail head in 15min and start skinning OR I could spend more money and time driving to something that is more BC ... its all skiing

Something about earning your own turns and having solitude makes it more rewarding, even if it is the same terrain.

On the east coast, burnt out ski areas may be the only "BC" skiing to be had within an hour or two drive late in the spring and definitely offer the longest vertical after mid April.

I have fun poking around resorts after they are closed, it's almost like a ghost town. I would rather go skin a closed resort than pay to ski marginal quality snow late in the season.

Also the corn snow on piste is usually better (not as manky) where there has been snow making and grooming all season

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This all makes sense. I just figured if there wasnt any avy work being done and your putting the work in you might as well see some new terrain. The controlled runs and packed snow makes sense though.

so you can post pictures on the internet in order to make fun of the resort for closing early despite their promise to spin the lifts until the snow is gone. duh.

Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat

Also the corn snow on piste is usually better (not as manky) where there has been snow making and grooming all season

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That's weird, I was going to post the exact opposite. I find that the groomed slopes are lumpier and very dirty compared to natural corn snow. Once off piste and backcountry snow is consolidated the snow it almost always smoother and better skiing than groomed slopes.

Originally Posted by AaronWright

That's weird, I was going to post the exact opposite. I find that the groomed slopes are lumpier and very dirty compared to natural corn snow. Once off piste and backcountry snow is consolidated the snow it almost always smoother and better skiing than groomed slopes.

Plus there's no snowmobile tracks...right Aaron?

I like to snowshoe up and ski down at resorts then get free rides off the groomers home ...........

Up here in the PNW we have people who like to skin up OPEN resorts...not just up the sides to reach the BC but straight up the groomers on busy weekend days with skiers weaving around them.
At Crystal this Sunday there was a guy cramponing up Iceberg while about 50 people where trying to ski slushy moguls around him. There have been several groups this year doing the same thing on skins.

I lot of the PNWesteners who do this quote their right to be on public land.....is this just a PNW thing or do they do this at other ski areas.( Right up the middle of main groomed runs on busy days)

Originally Posted by AaronWright

Once off piste and backcountry snow is consolidated the snow it almost always smoother and better skiing than groomed slopes.

Bolded the important part. On the West side of the crest, it sure as hell ain't consolidated yet.

Originally Posted by Scotsman50

Up here in the PNW we have people who like to skin up OPEN resorts...not just up the sides to reach the BC but straight up the groomers on busy weekend days with skiers weaving around them.
At Crystal this Sunday there was a guy cramponing up Iceberg while about 50 people where trying to ski slushy moguls around him. There have been several groups this year doing the same thing on skins.

I lot of the PNWesteners who do this quote their right to be on public land.....is this just a PNW thing or do they do this at other ski areas.( Right up the middle of main groomed runs on busy days)

I agree they should be off to one side but whats the difference between a skinner or a rock or a lift tower or a tree ...you don't want to hit any of them ?

Originally Posted by XXX-er

I agree they should be off to one side but whats the difference between a skinner or a rock or a lift tower or a tree ...you don't want to hit any of them ?

that argument gets given every time and is a distraction ....and that's not my question.....why would anybody want to skin up an open area straight up a busy steep run! madness.

Originally Posted by Scotsman50

that argument gets given every time and is a distraction ....and that's not my question.....why would anybody want to skin up an open area straight up a busy steep run! madness.

This is kinda where my original question came from. If you are going to put the work in why do it somewhere that everyone else is just riding a lift up? Ive seen a bunch of people snowshoeing at MHM durring the season. One dude had a hunting pack on and looked like he was training for something.

Maybe they're skinning to the upper lifts and then riding those for free (if they don't scan lift tickets up top)? Or they could just be attention whores.

Originally Posted by Scotsman50

that argument gets given every time and is a distraction ....and that's not my question.....why would anybody want to skin up an open area straight up a busy steep run! madness.

That is a different question than the OP's skiing in a closed resort question, if you get distracted don't look at uphill skiers or you will hit them, if the runs are that crowded I wouldn't go uphill OR downhill but my local hill is more like a country club, I would go somewhere it's not so busy still some folks want to get exercise, maybe a designated up track is the answer but would anyone follow the track or exercise their right to go anywhere?

some people don't want to fork out for a lift ticket

I'd advise against it. This was the last shot of Slim before resort management sold his organs on craigslist.....

people skin the resort during the season here too, mainly for exercise. Exercise freaks love that shit.

Originally Posted by josef

. One dude had a hunting pack on and looked like he was training for something.

Alaska, probably.


Possible response to OP 0) They're looking for money or other dropped items.
Possible response to OP 1) The snow is better there before, if ever, it becomes more consolidated elsewhere.
Possible response to OP 2) It's a known quantity and less likely to avalanche or require SAR.

To the question of why people skin up PNW resort main trails during a busy day and yell at downhill skiers: It depends on their gators. Be very wary of those TAYers with breeding gators and full knickers on since the knickers are known to pinch and cause the species to become unreasonably belligerent.

Originally Posted by XXX-er

I agree they should be off to one side but whats the difference between a skinner or a rock or a lift tower or a tree ...you don't want to hit any of them ?

Generally a rock ot tree behaves in a more cultured and elegant manner, eschewing an abusive verbal flow or threatening posturing

Originally Posted by AaronWright

That's weird, I was going to post the exact opposite. I find that the groomed slopes are lumpier and very dirty compared to natural corn snow. Once off piste and backcountry snow is consolidated the snow it almost always smoother and better skiing than groomed slopes.

Aaron, what's your location? I'd agee depending on snow pack, utah snow doesn't consolidate and corn up very well, often punchy and quickly turns to mank due to the low water content, and strong sun, can still be real good, but the window for prime corn is shortened

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I've harvested Deer Valley a few times in the last couple weeks after work just for a quick exercise fix. Conditions were actually really nice.