The following summary of restrictions and recommendations for Uphill Access to The Breckenridge Ski
Resort is provided for your information and education; and in an effort to enhance the use of public lands
by you and others. Other restrictions may exist from time to time. Thank you for your cooperation.
Use of Ski Area Facilities
Please be advised that, under Colorado law, any person using any of the facilities of a ski area is considered a skier. You have duties under Colorado law, including, controlling your speed and course at all times and maintaining a proper outlook. Using a ski area for any purpose can be HAZARDOUS and you assume all risks.
WARNING
Under Colorado law, a skier assumes the risk of any injury to person or property resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing and may not recover from any ski area operator for any injury resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risk of skiing including: Changing weather condition, existing and changing snow conditions; bare spots; rocks; stumps; trees; collision with natural objects, man-made objects or other skiers; variations in terrain; and the failure of skiers to ski within their own abilities.
NOTE:
The Ski Safety Act was amended in 2004 to include CLIFFS, EXTREME TERRAIN, JUMPS AND
FREESTYLE TERRAIN as inherent dangers and risks of the sport.
Uphill Access - Mountain Preparation
The ski area begins operations during the fall to prepare the slopes and trails for opening. Activities may
include trail work, equipment across runs, snowmaking in progress, snowmobile use and snowcat
operations. The work taking place makes it unsafe for public and even impassable at times for skiers or
hikers. Uphill access will not be allowed on these trails during mountain preparation. Breckenridge
Ski Resort will open these trails when operations are complete, which could extend beyond the
November 9, 2012 ski area opening or until the resort has adequate terrain to safely permit these activities. Areas in which activities are taking place may be closed from the bottom of Breckenridge Ski Resort trails, in these cases, “CLOSED” signs will be placed at the bottom of the closed area to inform those hiking uphill of the closure. When such closures are in place, only authorized personnel are permitted in the area. When such closures are in place, you must select an appropriate alternate route.
Approved by the U.S, Forest Service as a component of the 2012/2013 operating plan.
Snowshoeing, Skinning or Hiking Uphill
People traveling uphill are bound by YOUR RESPONSIBILITY CODE and the Colorado Ski Safety Act.
You must not impede or obstruct ski area operations at any time. When engaged in any of these activities you should:
Route Policy
In an effort to enhance the guest experience through the season, the following route policy will remain in place for the upcoming season. Please adhere to these routs when accessing the Breckenridge Ski Resort before or after normal hours of operation.
- Peak 7 - Fort Mary B>Claimjumper>Lower Forget Me Not> Top of Independence- return down the same route.
- Peak 8- Springmeier>Upper 4 O’clock>Lonewolf Access>T-Bar Hut – Return down the same route
- Peak 9- Silverthorne>Lower American>Bonanza>Top Beaver Run Chair or Top of Mercury. Return down same route.
- Peak 10- Silverthorne>Red Rover>Crystal>top of Falcon – return down the same route
When Ski Area is Open to the Public - Stay off all posted CLOSED trails
1. Stay towards the side of the trail when traveling uphill.
2. Position yourself so that you are visible from above.
3. Wear bright colored clothing.
4. No dogs are allowed on slopes when the lifts are open to the public and until Patrol sweep is down.
5. Do not ski over snowmaking hoses or power cords. Ski edges will cut them.
When Ski Area is NOT Open to the Public - Stay off all posted CLOSED trails
1. Stay towards middle of trail when traveling uphill.
2. It is your responsibility to make yourself visible to approaching Snowmobiles or Snow Cats (especially when it’s dark or twilight).
3. Wear reflective clothing; it helps make you more visible.
4. Wear a headlamp or carry a flashlight (when it’s dark or twilight).
5. Call 970-547-5627 to receive the appropriate open trails for uphill access, especially during early season mountain preparation.
6. Snow Cat winching operations may be in progress. Strobe lights mean stay clear and avoid the area altogether. Please call the winch cat operations hotline at 970-547-5627.
7. Have your dog on a leash or under voice command at all times. Dogs not under control are a safety problem.
8. Please pick up your dog poop. It is your responsibility (carry a bag and shovel).
9. Dogs must be off the slopes by 8:30 A.M.
10. No travel on Double Black Diamond terrain.
11. Stay off all terrain that is marked as “CLOSED”.
Travel above the Vista Haus
1. Hiking access above the Vista Haus is limited to Upper 4 O’Clock and up the cat road to the T-Bar Patrol hut. DO NOT travel above the T-Bar Hut.
2. You must ski down to the Vista Haus by the same route
3. All bowls and avalanche terrain are closed once it is swept until it is reopened by Patrol the next day.
4. You must be back down to the Vista Haus by 8:15 A.M. to avoid interfering with Patrol avalanche work.
5. Due to serious safety concerns, hiking up the T-Bar lift line is not permitted anytime during the winter. (No Access above Columbine).
6. Any violations of these rules may result in suspension of lift privileges or prosecution for a criminal offense.
The above stated rules are for your safety and the safety of the employees at the ski resort.
There have been a number of instances where these policies have been ignored and safety has been compromised. We cannot tolerate uphill traffic interfering with our avalanche program or the safety of our daily operations. Please respect these rules so we can continue to offer uphill travel as an option. Please contact the Ski Patrol with any questions. (970-496-7292)
Snowmobiles
In accordance with a USFS Supervisor’s closure, private snowmobiles are prohibited on any Breckenridge
Ski Resort trails during or after hours of operation.
No Sledding
Use of sliding devices, including, but not limited to, sleds, tower pads, plastic sheets or plastic disks and the like are strictly forbidden.
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com