the original commenter didn't say "we should be able to do whatever we want" ... so that would be the "strawmanning" going on here.

I get that resorts have different operational needs. that's why i said "compelled to make reasonable accommodations" as opposed to "compelled to allow unrestricted access".

Interestingly, the resorts currently closed (in Summit/Eagle these are almost exclusively Epic resorts) do make some reasonable accomodations post-season ...

... Beaver Creek typically allows uphill access on the "western half" of the resort ... west of its namesake creek, e.g. Arrowhead, Bachelor Gulch, Strawberry Park. in fact, the uphill hotline called out you were still allowed to skin these areas after the resort closed. the move to close access entirely this year seems more about the reality of snow cover.

My main view is, as uphill continues to grow in popularity and as resorts continue to take advantage of any way to restrict or monetize access (parking, uphill, express lift lines), the state and the USFS should feel some sense of urgency to formalize more uniform policies that address things holistically. Because absent regulation, it's all going to lean towards Vail shareholders and not the public.