SHOULD YOU GET A SKI MEGA PASS?
Ski season pass madness has begun. The mega passes, and individual ski areas themselves, are starting their annual beg. They want your money for next winter, and they want it right now. Never mind that you have no idea where you’ll be in life in eight months, or what the winter will be like. The time to save is now and if you don’t act fast, your wallet will suffer accordingly. Don’t you just love this time of year?!
Jay Peak is on the Indy Pass.
Stowe is on the Epic Pass.
Whiteface is on the SKI3 Pass.
As I consider my own personal season pass options for next winter, I wanted to start today’s ski report by discussing why I think those who don’t currently have a mega/multi-mountain pass, such as Ikon, Epic, Indy or even a more focused pass like the New England Pass, should consider getting one for next season. I skied at Whiteface today, and you can find that information at the bottom. Given how long this already is going to be, I kept it brief for today.
I don’t think a mega pass should necessarily replace your current single mountain season pass, if that’s what you have and you’re happy with it, but rather, the mega pass should complement it. I won’t dive into the different multi-mountain season pass options out there, as I think most people are aware of what’s on the market, but I will say that, overall, these passes are typically a great value for what you’re getting, and for some, a mega pass may be all you need.
WHY YOU SHOULD GET A MEGA PASS
There are several reasons why I think a multi-mountain pass should be in your future. We’ll start things off with having access to a variety of mountains. A multi-mountain pass gives you the option to get out, explore and experience a variety of ski areas. You could do this without a multi-mountain pass, but you’ll be paying a high price at the ticket window.
Middlebury Snowbowl is on Indy Pass.
Sugarloaf is on Ikon Pass.
Wildcat is on Epic Pass.
Ski areas aren’t carbon copies of each other. They all ski different. I’ve skied at 19 different ski areas so far this season, partly due to having a mega pass. Some have been big, some have been small, some rely more on natural snow than others, some don’t groom as much, some are more challenging, some are more glade focused, some are more crowded and so on. If you’re someone who enjoys new or different experiences, you’ll appreciate the options a multi-mountain pass gives you.
With access to a variety of ski areas comes the option to seek potentially better conditions. Conditions and open terrain can vary heavily from resort to resort, even at ones that are geographically close. There are a lot of factors that can impact this: the weather, crowds, natural snowfall, snowmaking capabilities or lack thereof, grooming or lack thereof and more. Just because you had an icy experience at one mountain, with minimal terrain open, that doesn’t mean it was the same everywhere that day. With a multi-mountain pass, you can look at all the factors and potentially make a better choice on where to go.
Killington is on the Ikon Pass.
Cannon Mountain is on Indy Pass.
Sugarbush is on Ikon Pass.
On top of that, you have the option to chase storms. There are winners and losers in every storm, and a multi-mountain pass will give you multiple options to choose from as a storm approaches. If your home mountain looks to be on the southern side of the storm, and is only getting a dusting, but a mountain on your multi-mountain pass is getting a foot, you’re able to head there instead and enjoy a powder day. You also have the option to avoid storms and weather. Don’t want to ski in the rain? Maybe you can avoid it by going elsewhere. Windy day expected at the mountain you were planning to ski? The forecasted winds at other mountains may be better, yielding a better ski day.
These are just a few examples of how a multi-mountain pass can have a positive impact on your ski season. Like I said, in most instances, for those who have a single mountain season pass that they’re happy with, I think these passes should complement what you already have, and not replace them. Keep your home mountain, but give yourself the option to get out there, explore and maybe even ski better conditions some days.
TODAY’S SKI REPORT
All right, that’s enough about multi-mountain passes. Let’s talk about my ski day. After venturing over to Jay Peak yesterday after work, I was back at Whiteface this afternoon. It was fairly busy for a Friday, though I never really had to wait for a lift. It was another spring-like day on the mountain, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures running above freezing. It was warm enough that I was just wearing shorts under my ski pants, and a t-shirt under my jacket. I also had all of my vents open on both my jacket and pants.
Riding the Summit Quad.
Lower Skyward.
Upper Skyward.
Upper Parkway.
Given the warm temperatures, the snow was soft and mushy basically everywhere, except areas that had been in the shade. In the shaded areas, it was still soft, though not as soft, and you could find a firm spot here and there. While the snowpack remains strong across the mountain, there are thin spots appearing on a run or two, such as the top of Essex, which has a couple of decent-sized thin spots to watch out for.
Cloudspin.
The Follies.
Hoyt’s High.
Mountain Run.
I skied Cloudpsin today for the first time in a while, and it’s starting to get a little rocky in there. There’s still plenty of snow, but you want to pay attention to what’s ahead of you, particularly up high. It got better the further down I went.
Never Quit Skiing,
Lincoln