Skiing uphill might not make sense to the uninitiated at first.

People opt to fight gravity and slipping to trudge uphill when chairlifts whisk other skiers and snowboarders to the mountaintop.

But the rewards of untracked snow and a strenuous workout await those who “earn their turns,” said Ed Kapron, a Mt. Lebanon native who recently returned to Western Pennsylvania after spending 10 years skiing — up and down — the mountains of Vail, Colo.

“It's a different way to see the mountain. Everything is just a little more slowed down. When you're going up the lift, especially with these high-speed lifts, you're just zipping by,” Kapron said.

Skiing uphill, known as alpine touring or skinning where it's popular at resorts in the West and New England, has arrived in Pennsylvania. Seven Springs Mountain Resort will allow uphill travel this season for two hours before lifts open at 9 a.m. Resorts in West Virginia and western New York permit it as well.

Skiers and snowboarders have hiked into the back country — terrain outside a traditional resort — for years. More recently, they've started climbing slopes in resort boundaries to access nearby back-country areas or save money on a lift ticket.

“Like those NordicTrack machines that sit in people's basements,” Kapron said, “it's an amazing type of workout for your entire body. You're moving your arms and your legs.”

There are limited options to move uphill. People can strap skis or snowboards to backpacks and hike in boots or snowshoes. Skiers and snowboarders can use special equipment — climbing skins, alpine touring bindings and boots and splitboards — to transition between downhill and uphill travel.

Skinning or using snowshoes makes trudging through deep snow easier by staying on top of the snow. Traditional cross-country skis or ski skates work as well, but they can be difficult to control when going downhill.

SnowSports Industries America, a trade group for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports, estimates 4.2 million skiers and snowboarders hiked inside resorts and an additional 2.2 million hiked in the back country last year. Skiers and snowboarders spent $68.5 million nationwide on alpine touring equipment last year.

“It is definitely a trend in the industry, but not necessarily a trend in this area,” said Bill Linkenheimer, general manager at Willi's Ski and Snowboard Shop in Castle Shannon.

Seven Springs says it's the first resort in Pennsylvania to allow uphill access. The resort will open Boomerang Trail from 7 to 9 a.m. to hiking and skinning. Skiers and snowboarders can descend Avalanche Slope, an advanced trail, or Village Trail, an easier path.

Boomerang Trail is 3,130 feet long and gains 360 feet in elevation from base to summit. If skiers or snowboarders don't reach the summit by 9 a.m., they are expected to turn around and head down, said Katie Buchan, a spokeswoman for the resort.

“The main reason we introduced the policy was to provide a safe environment,” Buchan said. “We've been surprised with the amount of excitement.”

Seven Springs season-pass holders can add uphill access to their pass for $20. An uphill-only season pass is available for $50. There are no uphill-only day passes available, but people can purchase a guided uphill tour for $95, Buchan said. There is no uphill access at Hidden Valley Resort, also owned by Seven Springs.

Kevin Evanto, spokesman for the Allegheny County Parks Department, said hiking uphill is not allowed at the ski hill at Boyce Park in Plum because of safety concerns. Other resorts in Western Pennsylvania say they do not allow uphill travel.

Peek n' Peak allows hiking or skiing up the resort's slopes from dawn until the lifts open, said Brad Gravink, director of mountain operations at the resort in Clymer, N.Y. Many skate up the slopes on cross-country skis to train for the final leg of a multi-season race that combines swimming, biking, running and skiing. Some of the fastest skiers can ascend the hill faster than a chairlift, Gravink said.

A group of Holiday Valley employees starts work during the season with an uphill hike in ski boots, skis strapped to backpacks. Jane Eshbaugh, director of marketing at the resort in Ellicottville, N.Y., joins the trek, which takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how often they stop to tell stories or draw in the snow. Anyone interested is welcome to join.

“The big concern with most resorts is safety,” Eshbaugh said. “If you're hiking up the hill early in the morning, and we're finishing up grooming, it's something that we all need to be careful of.”

Aaron Aupperlee is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7986 or aaupperlee@tribweb.com.

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