
For many skiers, uphilling evokes images of backcountry enthusiasts escaping the busy resorts in favor of finding solitude and deep snow in remote mountain settings off the beaten track.
While romantic, that perception isn’t always realistic. Uphilling at ski resorts is a surging segment of the alpine touring experience in New England, and one that Ed Warren, founder and managing director of Uphill New England, believes is worth preserving.
That’s why Warren started Uphill NE, the first multi-mountain uphill pass available in New England. It was launched last season with 13 participating resorts. For the 2024-25 season, 20 resorts are now on board, and Warren hopes to keep the uphill momentum going.
“We are working hard to build good relationships between uphillers and ski resorts, because the healthier that relationship is, the better it is for everyone,” Warren said. “We have an uphilling operating system — online pass sales, online release of liability forms, uphiller armbands, and mobile app — which makes managing an uphill community much easier. And the vast majority of all revenue from the pass goes back to ski resorts, so it is financially advantageous to them.”