Climbing Up Ski Slopes Has Gained in Popularity

The typical ski resort now offers a whole slate of alternatives to downhill skiing – no surprise there.

But one of these alternate activities – hiking up the ski hill – still is novel enough to draw puzzled reactions from some skiers.

Uphilling, as it’s termed, is becoming increasingly popular for those in search of an efficient winter workout. Whether using snowshoes, skis with climbing skins or hiking boots with strap-on, traction-adding cleats, uphillers are eschewing high-speed quad lifts in favor of using their own quads to ascend the ski area.

"It’s a popular sport, and it’s growing because of its ease and because of how gentle it is on the body," said Bill Fabrocini, president of the Carmichael Training Systems Performance Center in Aspen. "Every year, you see more and more people doing it."

The most avid uphillers are ski-town locals, who prefer a self- powered trip up the mountain to an hour on the treadmill at the gym.

But fit visitors also are discovering the benefits. Uphilling is so popular at Aspen’s four ski areas, for example, that each mountain’s policy is printed on the trail map.

According to Mike Kaplan, Aspen’s senior vice president of mountain operations, as many as 200 people a day hike uphill at Buttermilk.

Most Colorado resorts allow uphillers, though the rules vary. Some mountains, such as Snowmass and Vail, permit uphill traffic all day (for safety, uphillers should stick to the sides of ski runs).

Others, such as Crested Butte and Aspen Mountain, require uphillers to either summit or be past a certain point on the mountain by 9 a.m., because of narrow, well-trafficked ski zones that are part of each mountain’s topography.

As for the descent, those who skinned up on telemark or alpine touring gear (obviously) get the reward of the ski down, while snowshoers and hikers either walk back down the mountain or download on the chairlift or gondola.

Uphilling has many appeals, from a way for summer athletes to stay fit to the simple pleasure of getting outdoors.

"It’s a really good break from running, but you still maintain your strength and your cardio," said competitive runner Lisa Gonzales-Gile, of Aspen, who uphills three times a week. "And it keeps you fresh for when running season does come along in spring."

Ellen Miller, a trainer at the Vail Athletic Club and a competitive snowshoer for Team Beaver Creek/Nike ACG, makes the hour- plus hike up Vail Mountain three or four mornings a week.

"It’s excellent fitness training, absolutely one the best things," she said. "It’s extremely cardiovascular and an excellent workout for all of the leg muscles."

Miller, who has summited Everest twice, trained for the expedition, in part, with her hikes up Vail.

"It was perfect for us to strap on snowshoes and carry a pack up Vail Mountain," she said.

Though uphilling isn’t for the faint of heart (literally), you don’t have to be a mountaineer or a racer to benefit from it. You can ease into it gradually, and if you go with friends, the conversations you’ll inevitably end up having will dictate a comfortable pace .

Physical benefits, according to Fabrocini, include much less wear and tear on the joints than running and a way to build up your "aerobic engine." Plus, "You enjoy the freedom of being outside."

Miller, who leads clients on uphill hikes, recommends getting into a rhythm "rather than erratically running up. A steady rhythm, with breathing, is easier and results in more consistent performance."

For those who really get into uphilling, or want to set a workout goal for the winter, uphill races are the next step. Aspen hosts a series of four throughout the season, one at each ski area, culminating in America’s Uphill at Aspen Mountain in March.

Training for an uphill race, Fabrocini said, "is not too different than training for any aerobic sport."

For example, he advises doing intervals during some workouts – going hard for a minute, then recovering at a slower pace for two minutes – to improve your ability to recover from lactic acid buildup.

On other days, "it’s good to take it easy and go slower," he said.

Aerobic fitness aside, uphilling offers a unique way to experience your favorite ski area.

Hiking up in the sparkling frost of early morning, for instance, when it seems like the mountain is yours alone, makes dodging skiers and inching through lift lines seem a distant memory.

Or perhaps you’ve never really noticed – because you’re usually whizzing by – how beautiful that glade of aspen alongside the trail is.

"You see these mountains all the time going down," Gonzalez-Gile said. "Going up sheds a whole new light on them. You get to know the mountains more intimately. My favorite (uphill) is Aspen Mountain. You get to the top, and the sun is just coming up through the trees. It’s spectacular."

INFOBOX 1

Getting to the top

* Layering: The best way to dress for uphilling is with lightweight layers. You’ll break a sweat fairly quickly, and the last thing you want is a clammy, cold jacket as your only protection.

* What to wear: Try wearing just a lightweight wicking turtleneck topped with a thin soft-shell jacket and paired with your regular ski pants or other water-resistant, windproof bottoms. Carry a warm jacket or fleece in a backpack for the descent (whether by lift or ski run).

* What to bring: Plenty of water and a couple of energy bars.

* The gear: Hiking uphill doesn’t have to be gear intensive – just look for traction-adding cleats that strap onto your regular hiking boots or trail shoes. Stay to the side of the slopes.

* Try these: Two to try are STABILicers, which consist of a Vibram sole with steel cleats ($50, www.32north.com), and Yaktrax, made of rubber straps wound with stainless-steel coils ($28, www.yaktrax.com).

* Don’t forget the poles: Ski poles help you maintain balance while ascending and, if you hike down the mountain, alleviate stress on your knees

INFOBOX 2

Uphill races and events

* HAVE A BASH: Aspen/Snowmass hosts the BASH (Buttermilk/Aspen/ Snowmass/As-pen) series of uphill races. Racer categories are divided among snowshoes, lightweight nordic skis, telemark skis and alpine touring skis.

* Highlands Uphill at Aspen Highlands, Jan. 8, 970-920-5140

* Mother of All Ascensions at Snowmass, Feb. 8, 970-923-2000, ext. 210

* One for the Heart at Buttermilk, Feb. 27, 970-925-7429

* America’s Uphill at Aspen Mountain, Mar. 19, 970-925-2849; www.aspenrecreation.com

* MEMORIAL RACE:

Crested Butte will hold the 30th running of the Al Johnson Memorial Uphill/Downhill Telemark Ski Race. Not only do you have to be able to skin uphill fast, but also navigate some of the Butte’s famed steep terrain on the race to the bottom. March 27, 970-349- 1323.

* UPHILL WITH THE PET:

Uphillers and their four-legged friends can race together up Buttermilk Mountain in the 10th annual K-9 Uphill, a fund-raiser for animal shelters in the Roaring Fork Valley. April 9, 970-925-1069, www.sundogathletics.com