Groups of skiers get together before the association's season begins in early December and pick out an ideal time. At the group's gala opening celebration and auction in November, skiers line up to sign up for a weekend before the season ends in April. The purpose of the monetary reservation is to avoid having people abuse the system by reserving the cabins and not showing up. Ours is you pay if you don't stay. The only fees required when using the MTTA trail systems is a Snow Park permit to park at plowed lots at the trail heads.
Permits are available at outdoor supply shops around the state.
Ashford Valley Grocery, near the MTTA's Ashford headquarters, also sells the permits. Cornell said MTTA would like to have many more skiers on the trails. Cornell said many skiers who use the trail system become volunteers in the association and donate time and money to the keeping the association alive. More than 850 people have been trained as ski patrol with MTTA, with the amount increasing by about 60 each year. Ski patrol volunteers are trained to handle medical situations ranging from blisters to heart attacks.