Friday, January 8, 2010

Uphillers vs. downhillers

Forest Service and resort discuss danger of hikers ascending Baldy


By TREVON MILLIARD
Express Staff Writer

An "uphill" free-heel skier ascends Bald Mountain using climbing skins in December 2008. Photo by Mountain Express

A war of words between Bald Mountain "downhillers" and "uphillers" has collided in the miscellany section of the Idaho Mountain Express' classifieds section, bringing up the question of hikers' rights.

Downhillers have been claiming that winter hikers are causing collision dangers.

"Hiking during operating hours is a dangerous activity, even on the sides of the runs," wrote one person. "Safety first. If you really want a thrill, go walk in the middle of the highway."

The same person wrote in a later issue that hiking "should not be allowed ... Pay and you can play."

An uphiller, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Express he has a season pass but sometimes hikes up for exercise.

"People assume you're hiking because you don't want to pay for a ticket," he said.

Hikers have been defending their right to a mountain that is almost entirely public land, writing, "If a person hiking up Baldy gets in your way, then the snow guns and ski lift towers and even pine trees must really drive you nuts ... Learn how to ski and it will be much easier for you."

But what are the rules and rights of hikers? And what can Sun Valley Resort do on a publicly owned mountain that it's leasing from the U.S. Forest Service?

Joe Miczulski, winter sports specialist for the Sawtooth National Forest's Ketchum Ranger District, said hikers aren't restricted in any way, but an unspoken agreement exists that uphillers only trek up in the morning and on the sides of runs.

He said this issue began eight or nine years ago and has escalated. He said he's unaware of any collisions to date but has heard reports of close calls.

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"More and more people are going up in the middle of the day," he said, later adding that some uphillers travel up the middle of runs. "There seems to be a sense of entitlement—I can go anywhere I want on public land."

Even though 95 percent of the mountain is public land, Miczulski said the resort owns about 100 feet of the mountain extending up from the No. 1 chair at the River Run base area. And hikers must cross this land to access the public land. Therefore, he said, the resort does have the power to limit hikers.

As for the rest of the mountain, Miczulski said the Forest Service does have the power to regulate recreation because Baldy is permitted to the resort for "downhill traffic." Miczulski said discussions between the Forest Service and Sun Valley Resort are taking place on what, if any, action should be taken.

He said the Forest Service's two most common options are prohibiting uphillers throughout the winter season and designating uphill routes and times.

Ketchum resident Paul Yelda, who hikes up the mountain with his girlfriend, said a designated hiking trail might be a good idea, but its "everyone's mountain." He said that doesn't give hikers the right to bring their dogs during lift hours.

"We never take our dog during mountain hours," he said. "That's kind of ridiculous to me."

Peter Stearns, director of mountain operations for the resort, said he's received "a lot of input from both sides" but the resort isn't considering any action at this time. He said the resort is, however, looking at the issue in earnest.

"One point I can make is, safety is paramount to us," Stearns said.

Miczulski said that if uphillers continue to draw attention to themselves, restrictions are more likely to happen.

"The more low-profile uphill traffic can be, the better off they'll be," he said.

Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com




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