Hyak

Feel the need to do some skiing but the avi situation doesn't please me for an Alpy run. Was thinking about Hyak. I've never skinned or even skied there before. Is it taboo from patrols standpoint to skin some runs there? Thanks.

People skin up Hyak all the time, even if the lifts are running. I was hassled one time a few years back by a ski patrol for hiking the mtn while the lifts were running, but I showed him my season pass and he left me alone (I wanted the exercise).

Usually its not a problem, and the backside (Hidden Valley) is usually pretty good! Here is a link to a trail map and you can see the backside, but it is an overhead view so elevation is not easy to judge.

hyak.net/map.html

As I was leaving Hyak today I saw people skinning up all over the slopes. Must have been 20 people at least from the lodge area to the top of the lift, just within eyeshot.

hyak.net/cam/011107.jpg

For what it's worth, I was recently told by an off-duty Alpental pro patroller who was skinning up Hyak during weekend operation that it is perfectly fine to do so...

I usually skin up the creek run before they are open for operations- and some folks are already coming down as I climb up. They don't want folks skinning up the gut while they are open and I wouldn't want to be there either. The management hasn't had problems with Skinning up- so don't make issues and they won't create more rules. Parts of the Creek Run are the XC area, or you could skin up Cold Creek toward Windy Pass or Hidden Valley; be be warned about skinny skiers going down hill- mostly out of control??????