Uphill Policy

Uphill users are considered skiers under the New Mexico Skier Safety Act and are required to adhere to the laws stated in the act and the specific items located within the skier’s responsibility code. The Sandia Peak uphill access policy is intended to educate users about the risks of these activities.

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Uphillers are required to wear a face covering while traveling up and down the mountain.

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There are guidelines that all uphill users must follow to promote safety and to minimize conflicts between mountain operations including but not limited to: grooming operations, snowmobile traffic, other vehicles, downhill skiers/riders, and any other activities that might be taking place at any time on the mountain, day and night.

Uphill guidelines:

All uphill users must follow the current State of New Mexico Health Order(s) and the current Covid Safe Practices required for New Mexico Ski Areas.

– Be observant when ascending. The ski area conducts operations on the mountain 24 hours a day – before, during, and after the ski season. Users may encounter snowcats, winch cats & winch cables, snowmobiles, trucks, skiers/riders and other types of operations at any time.

-Stay to the side of trails and maintain single file if ascending with others.

-Respect all closures, warning signs and ropes at all times.

-Be aware of others on the mountain and remain visible from above at all times.

-Uphill traffic should stay out of Terrain Parks during both operational and non-operational hours.

-Keep your Lift Ticket/One Pass visible at all times and be willing to stop and produce it whenever asked by any resort personnel.

-At dusk, night, or early morning, wear reflective clothing visible from all directions, such as a vest, armband, belt, reflective clothing or pack, headlamp, etc.

Dogs:

Dogs are prohibited off leash on the mountain during operating hours 8:00AM to 5:00PM and must be leashed or under demonstrable verbal control at all other times. The resort is not responsible for injury to dogs, service animals, or other pets. User may be held responsible for any resulting damages or injuries to persons or property due to their animal, as well as loss of access/ticket privileges. Please clean up after your dog.

Closures and mountain operations:

-Uphill users must obey all signs, warnings, and closures. Do not under any circumstances, ski/ride near any snowcats or grooming operations. Just because you can see a snowcat, it doesn’t mean that the operator can see you.

-Users must not cross exposed snowmaking lines at any time or interfere in any way with snowmaking operations. 

-Uphill travel through terrain parks is prohibited during normal operating hours.

-Avalanche terrain may be closed. Avalanche mitigation may be in progress at any time during the early morning, daytime, or dusk. It is your responsibility to avoid areas where these activities may be in progress. Please check in with ski patrol dispatch if in question. If in doubt, avoid traveling in or under any steep terrain.

-It is unlawful to board any of the lifts without a valid lift ticket or season pass. Anyone utilizing uphill access privileges to access upper mountain lifts without a valid lift ticket or pass will be subject to the loss of all pass privileges at the resort for an extended period and may be prosecuted for theft under New Mexico law.

-If user decides to leave the ski area boundary, user is responsible for understanding risks. User may not enter, leave or re-enter the ski area by using a closed area, including marked USFS boundary closures. User must exit the area through open trails only. 

-Ski patrol services are not available outside of the Sandia Peak Boundary and normal operating hours. Call 911 in case of emergency. Cell service may be spotty or unavailable and rescue may be lengthy.

-Sandia Peak reserves the right to prohibit uphill access at any time due to special events, weather, or for any other reason deemed necessary by Sandia Peak administration.

Parking:

During the ski season, uphill users should be aware that parking lot gates are unlocked only during operating hours; these hours are posted on the entrance gate (don’t get locked inside!)

Enforcement:

Any violation of the Sandia Peak Uphill Policy may result in any or all of the following:

1. Loss of lift ticket/OnePass/ Skier Plus ski privledges for any amount of time.

2. Notification/ reporting to Forest Service, State Police and/or County Sheriff Law Enforcement.