Copper Mountain Resort reports several uphill traffic issues as it searches for a resolution

Although most ski areas are known for their downhill ski trails, Summit County ski areas have made an effort to craft an uphill skiing experience over the past several seasons. 

Contrary to downhill skiing, where skiers and riders are often close to one another and forced to navigate lift queues, uphill skiing offers guests solace and the ability to bypass lift lines entirely. 

All of Summit County’s ski areas have made a push to open up access to uphill routes during the hours before or after lifts start running, but Copper Mountain Resort has taken uphill skiing at ski resorts to a new level by offering daytime uphill routes for guests to explore during normal daily operations.

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The brainchild of longtime Copper ski patroller and Summit County resident Shauna Bocksch, Copper’s unique daytime uphill routes were officially rolled out a few seasons ago and have been widely successful since then.

Alongside Copper’s two twilight-hours uphill routes that traverse across popular downhill ski trails like Main Vein, Rhapsody, Carefree and Highpoint, Copper also offers six daytime uphill routes — a feature that no other Summit County ski area has yet to roll out. 

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Residing on the westernmost side of Copper and branching out from the base of West Village, Copper’s daytime routes give guests an experience unlike any other. Although skiers and splitborders may begin their uphill endeavors with the hum of lifts and the chatter of downhill guests in the background, a few minutes of hiking will soon transport guests to isolated parts of the mountain.

More specifically, Copper’s Route No. 3: Chickaree Way uphill-only route allows enthusiasts to quickly hike up the mountain through the dense forest that follows closely along sections of the Colorado Trail. In many parts, no downhill skiers or riders can be seen, and the only sign of civilization are orange trail markers set out by Bocksch and her ski patrol team.

“I will have people come up to me and say that the trail often feels like a backcountry experience,” Bocksch said. “It is an easy way to get more comfortable with your uphill skills before venturing out in the backcountry.”

Once completing the 1-mile route that ends at the base of the Timberline Express lift, guests then have the option to ski back down to one of the base areas or keep climbing uphill via daytime routes 5, 6 or 7.

Route No. 7 is Copper’s most unique route as it follows along the west ski boundary line and cuts through a thick forest grove. In total the route spans 1.55 miles and gains 1,070 feet before dumping guests at the top of Western Union Ridge where they have the option to ski down into Union Meadows and make the lengthy run back to the bottom of the mountain.

Although Copper’s uphill routes have been widely popular, Bocksch says that ski patrol has had a fair amount of issues regarding uphill safety throughout the 2023-24 winter season with other Summit County ski areas reporting that they have seen some of the same issues on their mountains.

The most common issues that Bocksch and her team has seen this season are guests not adhering to the posted routes, not being signed up for uphill access or not having a free, Copper uphill armband visible while traveling uphill. 

Although both violations may seem minor, the ducking of the posted uphill guidelines do pose a significant risk to the safety of the individuals engaging in the activity and the future expansion and outright existence of uphill programs across Summit County. 

“The uphill program is fragile,” Bocksch said to guests breaking rules. “Every few days, I catch someone who doesn’t have an uphill armband or is not following the route.”

In one extreme circumstance, two uphill skiers hiking up the mountain during twilight hours were almost injured by a winch cat with its several thousand feet of steel cable when they diverted from the assigned route. Luckily no one was injured in the encounter, but the situation was extremely frightening for the winch operator who could’ve easily killed the skiers with the powerful machinery.

“No winch cat operator wants that on their watch,” Bocksch said.

For the continual existence and success of the uphill programs across Summit County, Bocksch has formed an uphill group chat among the Summit County-area mountains in hopes that in the coming weeks that a consensus can be reached as to how to better ensure proper use of uphill routes at ski areas. 

The group met for the first time last week and are actively pursuing solutions.

For information on Copper’s uphill routes, guidelines and rules, visit CopperColorado.com. All uphill guests at Copper are required to register online and pick up their uphill armband and pass insert at the Mammut Store in Center Village.

This story is from SummitDaily.com