I was invited to attend a meeting on Friday Oct 26 at the USFS office in Gorham. The stated purpose of the meeting was to introduce the proposed changes to hikers, sledders, backcountry skiers and canine access when the ski area is in operation and explain the reasons why the USFS has the right to allow the Wildcat Ski Area to make the rules and enforce them. Once the rules are approved Wildcat will post them on their website.
In order to keep this a clean information thread, I will request that the Moderator lock this thread unless new information on actual rules are obtained as currently the rules are still “proposed”. This thread can then be edited. I have also created a separate thread with background and suggest that comments and questions be directed to that parallel thread. I expect once Wildcat posts the approved rules they should be linked to this thread.
First some definitions
“In operation” means from the day the ski area is open for skiing in winter to when they close for the winter season. These rules also apply to the period prior to opening day when the mountain is actively preparing the slopes. Once the area is “in operation” the rules apply 24 hours per day 7 days per week including days when the mountain is closed for either holidays or weather issues.
“Improvements” Any part of the wildcat leased property that has been improved and maintained by the owners of Wildcat are considered improvements. This includes the parking lot, base lodge and ski slopes. Basically anything that is present that would not be present if the ski area did not exist can be considered an "improvement".
Sledding or sliding down the slopes is banned when the ski area is “in operation”
Dogs are banned when the ski area is “in operation”.
Anyone that wants to use the Wildcat ski areas "improvements" for access either up or down will have to buy a special daily hiking/skinning pass which includes a liability waiver. The passes will be available on line and at the ski area. They most likely will be $10 per day nonrefundable.
The only time the slopes can be used for up and down access is from when the ski area is open to the public in the morning for skiing to sunset. Please note access to the slope after the ski area is closed for the day to sunset is subject to further discussion between the USFS and Wildcat, this rule may revert to “access will be limited to regular ski area hours”.
Those accessing the ski area from the top via the Wildcat Ridge trail will have to have purchased a $10 pass in advance. They will also need to sign a liability waiver at the ski patrol hut at the top. There will be a sign at the summit platform informing hikers of this requirement and possibly at other points.
There will be one designated hiking route along specific ski trails marked in a way that it can be followed going up and down the mountain. Hikers will be requested to stay to either side of the active ski surface.
Hikers who are caught damaging the snow surface can be prosecuted, this is at the ski areas discretion.
The USFS has delegated the right to enforce the rules to the ski area that can further utilize local police organizations to enforce.
Most likely hikers will be asked to hike with headlamps on during the periods before sunset but after the ski area has closed for the day.
If someone can figure a way to access the summit without at any point utilizing any to the ski area “improvements” the rules do not apply.
In order to keep this a clean information thread, I will request that the Moderator lock this thread unless new information on actual rules are obtained as currently the rules are still “proposed”. This thread can then be edited. I have also created a separate thread with background and suggest that comments and questions be directed to that parallel thread. I expect once Wildcat posts the approved rules they should be linked to this thread.
First some definitions
“In operation” means from the day the ski area is open for skiing in winter to when they close for the winter season. These rules also apply to the period prior to opening day when the mountain is actively preparing the slopes. Once the area is “in operation” the rules apply 24 hours per day 7 days per week including days when the mountain is closed for either holidays or weather issues.
“Improvements” Any part of the wildcat leased property that has been improved and maintained by the owners of Wildcat are considered improvements. This includes the parking lot, base lodge and ski slopes. Basically anything that is present that would not be present if the ski area did not exist can be considered an "improvement".
Sledding or sliding down the slopes is banned when the ski area is “in operation”
Dogs are banned when the ski area is “in operation”.
Anyone that wants to use the Wildcat ski areas "improvements" for access either up or down will have to buy a special daily hiking/skinning pass which includes a liability waiver. The passes will be available on line and at the ski area. They most likely will be $10 per day nonrefundable.
The only time the slopes can be used for up and down access is from when the ski area is open to the public in the morning for skiing to sunset. Please note access to the slope after the ski area is closed for the day to sunset is subject to further discussion between the USFS and Wildcat, this rule may revert to “access will be limited to regular ski area hours”.
Those accessing the ski area from the top via the Wildcat Ridge trail will have to have purchased a $10 pass in advance. They will also need to sign a liability waiver at the ski patrol hut at the top. There will be a sign at the summit platform informing hikers of this requirement and possibly at other points.
There will be one designated hiking route along specific ski trails marked in a way that it can be followed going up and down the mountain. Hikers will be requested to stay to either side of the active ski surface.
Hikers who are caught damaging the snow surface can be prosecuted, this is at the ski areas discretion.
The USFS has delegated the right to enforce the rules to the ski area that can further utilize local police organizations to enforce.
Most likely hikers will be asked to hike with headlamps on during the periods before sunset but after the ski area has closed for the day.
If someone can figure a way to access the summit without at any point utilizing any to the ski area “improvements” the rules do not apply.
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