Resort advice -- passes / uphill access

I've never understood the desire to tour within ski areas, especially when they're in operation.  Why not ski the adjacent areas?  For me, avoiding the resorts is a major motivation for going touring.  What's the attraction? 

Right now, the attraction for me is that the cut ski runs runs can be skied with very little snow, and the adjacent areas can only be skied when there is full coverage. Avoiding the ski area in Wenatchee means no local touring possibly until January, while if you were allowed to ski inside the boundary, you could start skiing before Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately for Wenatchee folks, Mission Ridge closes it's doors to all visitors except when lifts are running until they are done with early season snow making. Right now, the skiing on the cut runs would be fabulous with new snow over the past couple days on top of a thin settled base. All that fresh is going to spoil unskied though. "Keep out".

Quick access ,  more skiable with low snow coverage , no worries  about snow stability , lights at night.

E.g.  Summit  East / Hyak is closed mid week and is commonly  used for "dawn pattol" session s before work.  Similarly  Summit Central and West are sometimes  used for rando racing workouts  in the evening .

Yeah, none of those reasons resonate with me. Would rather just ride the lifts if skiing the groomer is my objective. Touring for me is about getting out, not a convenience workout. If I want that, I can just go running.

Yeah, none of those reasons resonate with me.  Would rather just ride the lifts if skiing the groomer is my objective.  Touring for me is about getting out, not a convenience workout.  If I want that, I can just go running.

Everyone's different. When you live in the mountains like Mike and myself (much of the time) your daily objectives change. Sometimes a ski trip can be just an hour or two and that is your workout. Eight inches in a groomed trail or logging road is more fun than a treadmill in a gym. It's also about availability. Most early seasons at Whistler will see me skinning or hiking to areas that in mid season are lift accessible. At other times I'll go miles away from the crowds to play the game.

Everyone's different. When you live in the mountains like Mike and myself (much of the time) your daily objectives change.  Sometimes a ski trip can be just an hour or two and that is your workout. Eight inches in a groomed trail or logging road is more fun than a treadmill in a gym. It's also about availability. Most early seasons at Whistler will see me skinning or hiking to areas that in mid season are lift accessible. At other times I'll go miles away from the crowds to play the game.

Very nice post Look at me...hamster treadmill extraordinary, happy in my path, happy when I jump out of my "easy" world...actually pretty much always happy when the boards are attached to my feet and I'm sliding down hill (especially since I'm kinda lazy the lifts provide me with the uphill transport)...Yee Haa....Every one have a big time how ever you get up the hill...

FWIW Summit West will be spinning its lifts this weekend... I'll bet it will be packed.