Multi-resort passes Ikon, Epic, Mountain Collective

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Non_State_Actor

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Am I the only one that likes having multiple options on a pass that's reasonably priced?

Perhaps it's because I grew up skiing Tahoe and all the hills are crowded on midwinter weekends and holidays?

I was on the Epic pass last season and am happy to give that up because Heavenly blows and Kirkwood is slightly too remote. Bought Ikon passes the first day they were available because Squaw. Got two days in on the spring pass at Squaw and am going to try to get to Mammoth and Big3 next season. The value is fucking incredible.

What am I missing? Why all the hate?
 
I think people are a little opposed to the higher traffic at their mountain once it gets purchased by these big companies. My mountain doesn’t have the best season but if a storm hits, you don’t really worry about anything other than the weekend crowd which still isn’t horrid compared to some mega resorts that are owned by these companies. Inclusion in the pass means more accessibility which usually means more traffic.

The “pass” I have is good for the local mountain, one more legit place in CO and a couple hills elsewhere but I don’t mind because realistically, I don’t have the budget after just graduating college to be flying/driving long distances just to check out new mountains.

Last time I went before season closed, I think every 4th chair had maybe one person on it if that and no lines. I don’t think the same can be said for the places in Ikon but I could be wrong! It ain’t Aspen Snowmass but is by no means a bunny hill in the Midwest. Really hoping they don’t get bought in the next wave...
 
For a skier like myself that really doesn't have time to go try out all the resorts included on a pass, just being able to get one pass to one resort specifically is fine with me. Im just worried about these large resort companies like Alterra making resorts price their regular passes like a young adult/college pass waaaay more because its a better deal to settle with an IKON/Epic/whatever pass. Obviously i know there are already resorts out there where the base-value pass for the resort is more than the epic which is why epic/ikon passes sell, but if places start reaching like J-Hole prices where its essentially $1000 for a pass, then we need to start clamping down on these fuckers.
 
The downside is for people who only ski one resort. Despite my best laid plans I probably wont ski anywhere but Mammoth next season, just like this season, the one before, and every season the past 20 years. I wish there was a "Build your own pass" option. Something like $500 for a single resort pass with add-ons for destinations. Micro-transactions are in, man. Imagine a $500 IKON with bonus packs of ~$100 for 5 days at an additional resort. Alterra, if you're listening, me and every other schmuck would buy a $500 pass and then you could get the TGR crowd to buy $5000 worth of add-ons for their second wives and step kids. I'm a bit buzzed but I think I've saved skiing with this idea. For real, I'm the shit. Rusty give me money for this idea.
 
I'm in the same boat, and I'd totally add 5 days at alta onto a snowbird pass with that idea or something like that

13926962:-eREKTion- said:
The downside is for people who only ski one resort. Despite my best laid plans I probably wont ski anywhere but Mammoth next season, just like this season, the one before, and every season the past 20 years. I wish there was a "Build your own pass" option. Something like $500 for a single resort pass with add-ons for destinations. Micro-transactions are in, man. Imagine a $500 IKON with bonus packs of ~$100 for 5 days at an additional resort. Alterra, if you're listening, me and every other schmuck would buy a $500 pass and then you could get the TGR crowd to buy $5000 worth of add-ons for their second wives and step kids. I'm a bit buzzed but I think I've saved skiing with this idea. For real, I'm the shit. Rusty give me money for this idea.
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That feeling is understandable, I've only really ever skied bigger resorts, I don't have a little local/mom and pop kind of place. I guess there's Dodge Ridge, Diamond Peak, Tahoe Donner, but if I'm going to Tahoe ~3.5-4 hour drive I'll at least ski Sugar Bowl. I have been to Boreal in the past few years, when teaching very young kids to ski vertical feet don't really matter and it was a bargain pricepoint

On the Epic pass we skied Heavenly a number of times, mainly due to proximity of inexpensive lodging, and both Kirkwood and Northstar a couple times. With the Ikon pass I'll have Squaw and Alpine with options to go a whole bunch of other places. At $599 each for two adults, $149 for my son and $29 for my daughter because she wasn't yet five at the time of purchase it's a deal and will allow me to ski many more days than I'd be able to buying day tickets even at a lower cost hill.

Hopefully the consolidation won't fuck up your local too badly and you'll get to travel a bit to check out other spots in the future.
 
13927022:mystery3 said:
That feeling is understandable, I've only really ever skied bigger resorts, I don't have a little local/mom and pop kind of place. I guess there's Dodge Ridge, Diamond Peak, Tahoe Donner, but if I'm going to Tahoe ~3.5-4 hour drive I'll at least ski Sugar Bowl. I have been to Boreal in the past few years, when teaching very young kids to ski vertical feet don't really matter and it was a bargain pricepoint

On the Epic pass we skied Heavenly a number of times, mainly due to proximity of inexpensive lodging, and both Kirkwood and Northstar a couple times. With the Ikon pass I'll have Squaw and Alpine with options to go a whole bunch of other places. At $599 each for two adults, $149 for my son and $29 for my daughter because she wasn't yet five at the time of purchase it's a deal and will allow me to ski many more days than I'd be able to buying day tickets even at a lower cost hill.

Hopefully the consolidation won't fuck up your local too badly and you'll get to travel a bit to check out other spots in the future.
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How is sugar bowl? I'm thinking of getting a pass next year cause it's like 300
 
13927325:theabortionator said:
How is sugar bowl? I'm thinking of getting a pass next year cause it's like 300
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I haven't been in a couple of years and am not sure how the park is but otherwise it's pretty great, a nice blend of steep terrain and mellow vibe. I'd go for it if you have some place to stay nearby or are living down the hill in Sacramento or foothill towns.
 
13927325:theabortionator said:
How is sugar bowl? I'm thinking of getting a pass next year cause it's like 300
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Sugar bowl is legit. The season pass is around 600 I believe but the terrain is righteous. Sugar bowl and sierra at tahoe are on the powder alliance where if you have a season pass at one you get 3 free midweek days at the other. There are a few other resorts on the west coast included. I went for the sierra at tahoe solely cuz the pass for a college student was 350 bucks and I can easily spend a winter there. Sugar bowl is closer to where I live in northern California but the extra hour is worth it to go to south lake tahoe.

**This post was edited on Jun 8th 2018 at 11:39:24pm
 
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