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Jay Peak Issues Stern Warning to Delinquent Uphill Users

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Nov 17, 2025 5:05 PM ET

Jay Peak, Vermont has been getting hammered by snow over the last few weeks and is in full prep mode for the start of the season.

The Vermont ski area is scheduled to open on November 22, 2025, and has designated limited uphill access routes for skiers to enjoy all that early season snow before the lifts start spinning.

The resort's official uphill access policy doesn't recommend any uphill ski access prior to the resort opening or outside of operating hours given there are no rescue services, such as ski patrol, available on the mountain. Additionally, uphill access is only allowed on designated uphill routes. Seems like a straightforward policy, right?

As always, there are plenty of folks who let powder panic get the best of them and can't help but get some early season turns in. With that in mind, Jay Peak opened the Ullr's Dream uphill access route and asked that skiers stay well within bounds and entirely on the Tramside of the resort.

A social media post made by the resort clearly outlined that skiers should not ski Stateside, uphill or downhill due to the presence of snowmaking equipment, grooming, and winch cables, all of which can present significant hazards to skiers.

Unfortunately, it seems some folks not only blatantly ignored the request to not ski Stateside, they also engaged in a host of other poor decisions. Keep reading for more.

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On Monday morning, November 17, 2025, Jay Peak issued a statement from the resort's General Manager, Steve Wright, that condemned skiers for things like breaking into lift shacks and lighting fires.

Further, it seems that two separate groups of skiers managed to get lost, despite clear instructions of where they could ski. One skier even ignored any and all risk-management knowledge and found themselves with a season-ending injury after a failed backflip.

Jay Peak issued a follow up post with the headline: "An unfortunately evergreen note and request for the use of logic to our uphill community." See below.

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"As is the case with most things, if you have to ask yourself if early season skinning and uphilling is for you, it likely isn't. And for those of you who have done this before, you understand how important it is to pay attention to staying safe and setting a good example," read the message from Wright, "We'll be opening early, in a few short days, on Saturday, November 22nd and there will be more than enough action out there. In the meantime, let's give the Mountain Operation's team the space they need to finish their work."

We'd hope that folks don't need a firm slap on the hand like this one to remember not to treat their local ski hill like a frat party and do overly risky things like early season backflips. Powder panic is tough, but it's November and everyone, including all the folks working to get Jay Peak open and keep it safe all winter, have a long season ahead of them. If you choose to recreate at a ski area before the season has begun, check their policies on doing so and make smart choices while out there, and if you don't know, don't go.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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