The end of October is here and it won’t be long until the 2025-2026 ski season gets underway in the East. I can’t wait. The last few weeks of the off-season are always a drag and this year is no different. Every day I check the weather to see when snowmaking may start, and it’s looking like it may be closer to mid-November before anyone can get open, but we shall see. Some of these ski areas really know how to work some magic.

Today, I wanted to write about my ski season plans: what passes I have, where I plan to go, etc. Since we basically have to plan for the ski season seven months in advance, due to passes for the next winter being cheapest in the spring, all of these plans were formulated last April.

How many days will i ski this winter?

Two winters ago I skied 136 days. Last year, I got hurt, but still managed to ski more than 80 days. Both of those winters, the goal was to ski 100 days and that goal remains the same this year. For those wondering how I ski so much, I work 4 AM to noon and ski basically every day after work from 1 PM to 4 PM. On the weekends, I usually will get a full day in or at least a much longer day.

My home mountain

I live in northern New York and Whiteface Ski Area is the closest mountain to me. It’s about a 40 minute drive. I ski there every day after work and sometimes on the weekends. Like last season, this year I opted to get the Whiteface limited pass, which has blackouts and is only good at Whiteface, and not the other ORDA run ski areas. Of all my passes, this one will get the most use.

Ikon Base Pass

If you’ve followed me for a little while, you likely know that I got hurt last winter and missed a large chunk of the ski season. As a result, I didn’t really get to take full advantage of my Ikon Base Pass. It was my first year having an Ikon Pass and I visited three ski areas on the pass, getting in around 10-12 days total. I’d thought about dropping my Ikon Base Pass and switching to Indy Pass this year, but I missed the deadline for Indy and, ultimately, I’d like to get a second chance with the Ikon Base Pass.

I don’t know if I will visit all of the Ikon resorts in the East this year, but there are a few I’m planning to visit. Sugarbush is the closest ski area to me on the Ikon Base Pass and I get unlimited skiing there (with blackouts), so I’ll be there a lot. Last year, I visited Pico Mountain for the first time and really enjoyed it. I plan to return there, as well as spend a few days at Killington. I get 5 days total at both. Another resort I visited for the first time last season was Sunday River. I’ll likely be returning there for at least one day this season. It’s a fun mountain, plus it’s near other ski areas I’d like to visit this winter.

I got hurt on February 2, which was a Sunday. I was actually off-work the coming week to ski and was planning a little ski tour around New Hampshire and Maine. On my Ikon Base Pass, I’d planned stops at Sugarloaf and Loon Mountain. Seeing as I never made it to either last winter, there’s a very high chance I’ll make the trip to both. I’m especially excited to ski at Sugarloaf. Other mountains on the Ikon Base Pass that I’d like to check out this ski season include Le Massif in Quebec, which is a new addition to the pass for this winter, as well as Mont Tremblant.

Smuggler’s Notch Bash Badge

The Smuggler’s Notch Bash Badge is basically a frequent skier card. You buy the badge, this year it was $120, and then lift tickets are $30 for a full day all season, or $20 for a half day. It’s a pretty good deal and it pays for itself on the second visit. Smuggler’s Notch gets a lot of snow and the terrain is terrific. This will be my 3rd season with the Bash Badge. I almost didn’t get it this year, but fortunately, my mom got it for me for my birthday. Thanks, Mom!

3 epic days

It’s hard to say no to lift tickets to Stowe when they’re only around $85. Last year, I bought three Epic days and, while I ended up using them all, only one was in the heart of the ski season. This year, I’m hoping to get at least two proper days in at Stowe. I bought the third ticket thinking I’d go to Wildcat Mountain in New Hampshire, which I went to last year, but that could change. Maybe I’ll end up somewhere else on the Epic Pass.

JAY PEAK SEASON PASS

Ah, Jay Peak. The unofficial powder capital of the East. Just hearing its name gets me thinking of deep days in the woods. Living in northern New York, I’m very fortunate to have easy access to Jay Peak, and really all of the northern Vermont ski areas. This is my second season with the pass and I doubt it will be my last. Jay Peak delivers on the hype around its snow and tree skiing. If you’ve never been, it should be on your list for this coming winter. My pass is a full pass, so there’s no blackouts, which means I’ll be headed here a few times during the holiday blackout periods. Jay Peak is owned by the same people who own Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire. My pass gets me some days at Ragged, so I may end up there at some point this winter.

LIFT TICKETS

Despite all of these passes, I’ll still buy a couple of lift tickets this winter, which will mostly be to small ski areas, but larger ski areas can’t be ruled out. The small ski areas I plan to shred include Beartown Ski Area and Mount Pisgah in northern New York, as well Cochran’s Ski Area in Vermont. Some of the larger resorts I may buy a ticket to include Titus Mountain in northern New York, Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire, Bolton Valley in Vermont and Saddleback Mountain in Maine. I recognize all of those are on the Indy Pass, but I won’t ski at all of them. It’ll just be a one off thing.

I like to keep things open when it comes to lift tickets. If it’s a good deal and the snow is there, I’m down to ride off-pass, especially at the smaller ski hills, which are very affordable.

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN

Will this be the year I go West? Last season, it was more of a sure thing. I was planning to go in March or early April. Then I got hurt. A lot has transpired in my life financially since the day I got hurt. I’ve had a lot of medical bills, as well as multiple expensive necessary repairs to my house. Whether or not I go West this year really depends on how things are going in the East and where I’m at financially. If it makes sense and I can swing it, then I’ll definitely be considering heading West. We shall see.

Never Quit Skiing,

Lincoln

2025-2026 SKI SEASON PLANS