Dude Vail resorts is buying multiple new hills/resorts every year. No one would be doing that if they were going under. They are plenty well off and doing incredibly well money wise. I really don't think anyone can argue that.
To the argument over whether this is theft of services or not, yes it technically is. Like others have said the season passes are non-transferrable. But i'm not gonna sit here and bash the op because I would have probably done the same thing, but would have gone about it in a smarter manner. Either don't ride the lower lifts where they scan you every time, or get the fuck out of there after the first guy questions you. You could have completely avoided that situation pretty easily.