I would like to utilize the **"contour placement"** options of **"Uphill alignment"** and **"Laddering"** while positioning the label above the contour not over it. This does not seem to be an option under the contour placement where it's forcing me to place the contour over the line. (Which makes no sense in ArcGIS since there is no easy way to mask that portion of the line efficiently. Possible but very cumbersome and not dynamic)
I tried the other placement options in Maplex but then "Uphill Alingment" and "Laddering" is not longer an option. 

Does anyone has a good way of doing this?
 ![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/m5AFc.jpg)