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Since moving from from California to NH, it’s been difficult to find the time to hike and exercise. With the 10+ hours I spend commuting every week, working full-time and obligations at home (we have two young boys), time and energy are hard to come by. When I have found the time to get out for a significant hike, my conditioning has been so poor that my time outside hasn’t been as enjoyable as it should be. Lately, most of my outdoor time has been spent hitting the slopes with my wife and oldest son (Ethan). Spending the time outside with the family is fun, but I’ve been missing that physical and mental challenge that comes with a difficult hike.
 
I’m not sure why I didn’t think of doing this sooner, but I now realize that I’ve actually had my ideal situation for training and exercising sitting in front of me for the last year. I’ve always enjoyed the ascent more than the descent. As a result, Skyline Trail was one of my favorites while living in CA … I could climb 8,000′ over 11 miles, then descend via the PS Tram. I’d get a great workout without beating up my knees and ankles on the descent.

I have a similar situation in VT. I work at the ski resort with the best uphill policy in the area …  meaning I can use my Tubbs Snowshoes to climb, then hop on my snowboard to get back to my office. Using my snowshoes on the ascent gives my hips and legs the conditioning needed to take on major hikes when I have the time, riding down saves my knees and ankles from a beating and with the short descent time, I’d be able to spend more of my time outside climbing.  

Earning My Turns
Here’s a log of my #EarnYourTurns snowshoe/snowboard workouts and some of my favorite photos I’ve taken on these workouts. While my 2017/18 season has been limited to Okemo, I hope to hike a few other mountains on my days off next year. 

  • March 26, 2018 || Ludlow Mountain, via Nor’easter Ski Trail  || Distance: 1.86 miles || Duration: ~2 hours (~30 min break to take photos & video) || Gain/Loss: +2,000 || Max Elevation: 3,156′ || Difficulty: Strenuous
  • March 23, 2018 || Ludlow Mountain, via Upper & Lower Chief Ski Trail  || Distance: 1.76 miles || Duration: ~1.5 hours || Gain/Loss: +1,872 || Max Elevation: 3,156′ || Difficulty: Strenuous
  • March 9, 2018 ||Ludlow Mountain, via Upper & Lower World Cup Ski Trails  || Distance: 1.78 miles || Duration: ~1.5 hours || Gain/Loss: +1,888 || Max Elevation: 3,156′ || Difficulty: Strenuous
  • March 3, 2018 || Ludlow Mountain (did not reach summit) ||Nor’easter Ski Trail  || Distance: 1.53 miles || Duration: ~1.5 hours || Gain/Loss: +1,637 || Max Elevation: 2,927′ || Difficulty: Strenuous
If you regularly hike or backpack in the northeast, please join our Facebook group, New England Hiking and Backpacking!
It’s a great place to ask questions and share your photos, trip reports and gear recommendations.


Uphill Travel Policies
Here is a list of ski mountains located in the Upper Valley of NH and Vermont that have flexible uphill travel policies. If you don’t live in the Upper Valley, you may find an uphill policy for your local mountain here: USMMA Resort Uphill Policies. 

  1. Okemo Mountain Resort
    • Fees: FREE
    • Designated Routes: Open policy, no designated routes!
    • Hours: No restrictions. Uphill travel is allowed 24 hours per day, even during alpine skiing hours.
    • Uphill Travel Policy:https://www.okemo.com/mountain-info/uphill-travel-policy/
    • Notes: The most lenient policy I’ve found.
  2. Magic Mountain – Hike One, Ride One!
    • Fees: FREE
    • Designated Routes: Open policy, no designated routes!
    • Hours: No restrictions unless there is fresh powder (see below). Uphill travel is allowed 24 hours per day, even during alpine skiing hours.
    • Uphill Travel Policy: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/8d4d8a_9d0bc04f4bab475b8e74f9bbb13a571c.pdf
    • Notes:
      • Hike One, Ride One – “Uphill skinning/skiing traffic can receive a token for one (1) free lift ride to be used the same day once they have reached the top of Red Chair under their own power.”
      • Uphill travel prohibited on powder days prior to operating hours
      • The mountain is only open Thursday through Sunday
  3. Pats Peak
  4. Burke Mountain
    • Fees: Free, but requires sign waiver and obtain a “pass” (arm band) prior to hiking/skinning
    • Designated routes: Burke has 3 “prescribed uphill travel routes.” Please see their uphill travel policy page for details.
    • Hours: No restrictions. Uphill travel is allowed 24 hours per day, even during alpine skiing hours.
    • Uphill Travel Policy: https://skiburke.com/skiing-and-riding/tickets-and-passes/uphill-policy/
  5.  Stowe
    • Fees:FREE
    • Designated Routes – Vary by time of day. Check website to verify
      • 12:30 a.m. to open
        • Mansfield – Nosedive
        • Mansfield – Perry Merrill
      • Close of Lifts to 12 a.m.
        • Mansfield – Lower Tyro to Lullaby Lane to Toll Road
        • Spruce Peak – Sterling
      • During operational hours:
        • Toll House – Easy Mile trail
    • Hours: Essentially open 24 hours per day, but open routes vary by time (see above)
    • Uphill Travel Policy: https://www.stowe.com/ski-ride/mountain-safety/uphill-policy/
    • Notes: Stowe Trails Hotline at 802-253-3690
  6. Mount Sunapee
    • Fees:$49 for Uphill Travel Season Pass, unless you have a lift ticket valid for the day that you are traveling uphill or are season passholder for downhill skiing.
    • Designated Routes
      • Lower Ridge trail to Upper Ridge trail on the Main Mountain
      • Sunnyside Down to Province on South Peak
    • Hours: between 7:00am and 9:00am and between 4:30pm and 9:00pm.
    • Uphill Policy: http://www.mountsunapee.com/mtsunapeewinter/onthemountain/uphill-travel-policy.asp
    • Notes: Uphill travel is permitted from early January through closing day, during non-holiday periods. See the website for details.
  7.  Smuggs
    • Fees: FREE
    • Designated Routes & Hours
      • Morse Mountain
        • 6:00 am – 8:00 am and 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm any night; please access using Garden Path or Snow Snake.
      • Madonna Mountain
        • 6:00 am – 8:00 am and 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights; please access using Chilcoot.
      • Sterling Mountain
        • 6:00 am – 8:00 am
    • Uphill Travel Policy:http://www.smuggs.com/pages/winter/skiride/uphill-travel-policy.php