SAM Magazine-Breckenridge, Colo., Dec. 3, 2008-Uphill traffic is growing at several Colorado resorts including Aspen and Breckenridge. At the latter, the traffic is starting to frustrate mountain operations crews, who are looking to limit uphill access for safety reasons.

Breckenridge ski resort can see up to 50 people each weekend who skin or snowshoe up the ski resort's slopes, according to one estimate. The resort has reported parking issues as well as interference with winch cat operations due to the influx.

"It's to the point where it's becoming dangerous," says Dennis Kuhn, risk manager for Breckenridge, noting that as the numbers of "skinners" has grown so has the potential for an accident. For 2009-10, early season skinning won't be allowed at Breckenridge until more runs are open for safety reasons, Kuhn told the Vail Daily newspaper.

The activity is also popular at Aspen, where residents skin up the mountain to stay in shape and train for the popular Elk Mountain Traverse race, a 40-mile trek in late March, which starts in Crested Butte and ends in Aspen.

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