Ski Special
The Slightly Masochistic Trend That Is Taking Skiing by Storm
Here’s the next big thing on two skis—and the gear you’ll need to try it.
Uphilling in Aspen.
Photographer: Jesse Hoffman
“Uphilling,” the slightly masochistic practice of waking up before dawn and trekking up a mountain in special boots and skis before swooshing back down, was already gaining popularity among intrepid adventurers before Covid-19 lockdowns forced chairlifts to stop turning in early 2020.
Fast-forward 18 months, and the heart-pumping strategy to scoring first tracks has become such a phenomenon that many mountain resorts are betting it won’t go away. According to the National Ski Areas Association, 57% of the 462 ski areas in the U.S. now allow uphilling, up 27% from 10 years ago.