Ski Passes

[Started at 53]

I'd do some homework on this before you make the final decision. In Summit and Eagle Counties (Breck / Copper / Keystone / Vail / Beaver Creek etc) the busiest weeks of the season are all the full weeks in March. The areas are a madhouse. Maybe some of the Pugski locals will chime in what what Aspen Crowds are like in March.

Thanks for the heads up on this one. I get back from work on March 5th and have the next couple of months off, so need to find a location to ski in Mid-March. I had really liked what I saw (I love FATMAPS) at Snowmass. I also really like the looks of Sun Peaks in BC too, but it is a biatch to get to from Florida. I have heard mixed things about Sun Valley for my ability level, but that is an attractive location too even though their ski in/ski out is limited. Ski in/Ski out is not a deal breaker, but Mrs. 53 much prefers it.

 

[RuleMiHa]

I am aware of how much Pass needs change from year to year and how priorities and opportunities shift. Last year I had a Max Pass which worked great. I skied at 6 MP resorts on both the east coast and west coast. This year is totally different and I just will have a local pass and sn A-Basin Pass. Next year, who knows, but having multiple options is good.

 

[Nancy Hummel]

Aspen crowds are nowhere near Summit/Eagle County crowds in March.

Snowmass is a great mountain for the OP. He can buy the 4 or 7 day Aspen Classic pass online which is reasonable. Plenty of ski in/out lodging at Snowmass.

 

[Started at 53]

Aspen crowds are nowhere near Summit/Eagle County crowds in March.

Snowmass is a great mountain for the OP. He can buy the 4 or 7 day Aspen Classic pass online which is reasonable. Plenty of ski in/out lodging at Snowmass.

Snowmass is high on my list, along with Sun Valley and Sun Peaks. Mrs. 53 is likely to vote DV

 

[TonyC]

Snowmass is high on my list

It should be based upon what you have told us here.
1) Snowmass has tons of low intermediate terrain.
2) Most lodging is ski-in ski out.
3) Mid-March is a great time there for snow. Deer Valley is often in full-on spring mode by then.
4) Aspen/Snowmass seems crowd proof in terms of liftlines. You might have to plan ahead some of your Aspen dinners.

The Mountain Collective has been great for Liz. She averages 9 free days per season and another 10 or so half price, probably at least $1,500 in value for the initial $389 cost.

For advanced skiers, the Mountain Collective is still the most attractive group of resorts, though by a bit less margin now that Whistler and Stowe defected. It will be a big negative for us if Aspen/KSL split their resorts out of Mountain Collective for 2018-19.

 

[Old boot]

Well I again "Pimped "out my wife for a free Epic pass, so that's a no brainer. Some resorts have a visiting instructor price (is the reason I stay current right now) and Ill just beg for my supper er I mean sing for my supper and folks will beg me to stop for a meal.

 

[at_nyc]

I get the discount after the 3rd day of the “home mountain”, but it is still not a savings if you pay $489 and then 1/2 price form additional days.

I can’t imagine skiing without a pass, the average is what around 125.00 a day , 250.00 for you and your spouse, 500.00 for the weekend, those numbers are CRAZY.

Putting the numbers next to each other, you see the value of 1/2 price real easy.

It's really simple math. the $489 pass is paid for with 2 free days plus 4 days at 1/2 price. That's pretty much your typical 1-week stay. So basically, you break even in a 1-week trip.

Whatever other trips you take to another resort on the list will be 2 FREE days, plus whatever other days at 1/2 price.

Since the MCP has more than 10 resorts on the list, it's not too difficult to find 2 that fits anyone's fancy. What a lot of people do is to pick 2 each year and focus on those, rather than going all over the place to use up the free days.

My first year MCP use worked this way: One 1-week trip to Salt Lake area, which pretty much "redeemed" the full cost of the pass. Then a long weekend to Banff, for "free". Then, as that season turned out to be a super long one in Tahoe, I hop on a plane for another long weekend at Tahoe, a couple more "free" days as the icing on the cake.

 

[RuleMiHa]

Well I again "Pimped "out my wife for a free Epic pass, so that's a no brainer.

This might need a little more explanation (what was that Demi Moore, Robert Redford movie again?)

 

[dbostedo]

This might need a little more explanation (what was that Demi Moore, Robert Redford movie again?)

Ha!! It was "Indecent Proposal"... And @Lady_Salina is married to @Old boot and is an instructor at Whistler. Though they technically live in North Carolina, I think he might have encouraged her to keep teaching there in the winter, so he could keep his fringe benefits! Sounds "Indecent" to me.

 

[BC.]

This might need a little more explanation (what was that Demi Moore, Robert Redford movie again?)

Indecent Proposal....

Sorry, beat me to it!

 

[KingGrump]

Though they technically live in North Carolina,

Not technically. Actually.
To confuse matter more. They are Canucks in real life.

 

[at_nyc]

My understanding is @Old_boot “actually” live out of his suitcase!

Hense the “technically” part...

 

[dbostedo]

They are Canucks in real life.

That is confusing. Most of us are only Canucks in our fake lives.

 

[Mike Rogers]

MCP is very intriguing, but it doesn't make sense for me this year, and didn't last year either. I would definitely buy the pass if I had a trip planned to the US. I have skied Alta, Snowbird, and Jackson, and I would love to go back. Telluride, Aspen, Mammoth and Squaw are also on my "hit list". These places aren't affordable without a good discount!

I'm much more of a weekend warrior than vacationer though. I usually ski both days of the weekend, so a full season pass makes the most sense. I don't think I would be as enthusiastic about skiing every free day if I needed to pay for a lift ticket.

When I travel, I tend to follow "local" snow, so I have discount cards (or pass discounts) to all the other major areas in the region. I'm still working on Fridays and Mondays.

I would love to ski in the States again soon, but my partner is doing a second masters (time and money constraints) and the Canadian Peso makes things challenging.

The pass doesn't work for me, but if I skied less at my local, and traveled more for skiing, it would make perfect sense.