Low-priced NE season passes?

M

Mike

New member
As I sit here in my cubicle, awaiting the 5 o'clock bell, I wonder. I wonder how much money am I going to spend this year on lift tickets. It makes me cringe. I am a former resident of Colorado's Summit county and for the season spent 350.00 on a season pass to 5 different resorts, logged 62+ days last year! It was called the "buddy pass". <BR> <BR>I have no qualms about New England, I even like the people. But, the price I will have to pay this year to ski 50+ days will be over 1300 just to get on the lift. Somewhere in this ranting will be the question. Is there a season pass deal out here like in Colo? If there is any way someone could point me in the right direction, "east coast style", it would be greatly appreciated. Anything to get me on the hill for less. I have to do my homework now, before the season starts. <BR> <BR>Thank you, I hope to hear from you soon.
 
(No, Mike's not burning the midnight oil, and his 5 o'clock bell isn't that far off ... he sent a letter to the editor that we've published here.) <BR> <BR>It's tough to find similar pass deals in NE, Mike, especially if you're located in eastern MA as you are. Whiteface in Lake Placid, NY offers a "buddy pass" deal, and includes Gore Mt. for those who are interested. However, that's out of the question for you. <BR> <BR>If you're going to save any money, you've got to go "second-tier." Forget the ASC resorts, unless you're willing to pay in the neighborhood of a grand for a season pass. Likewise, forget anywhere in southern or central VT. Jay Peak was always in the $500 range, but in the past couple of seasons the pass rate may have gone up with their increasing popularity. They'd be 3.75 hours from Boston, but it's worth every mile (back in the late 80s, I patrolled there and lived in Swampscott on the North Shore, making the drive every weekend, so it's not as bad as you might think). Burke is about a 3-hr. drive from Boston, and would be very economically priced -- and also a better way to get a Jay pass, for since they reopened 2 seasons ago Jay Peak has "donated" a reciprocal agreement with Burke to help them get back on their feet. <BR> <BR>In NH, check out prices at Cannon, for as they're state owned I believe they're somewhat cheaper. Ditto Wildcat, but the drive up from MA along the eastern side of NH leaves a lot to be desired. <BR> <BR>Don't mind racking up the miles? Maybe the eastern townships of Québec would be worth considering thanks to the generous exchange rate (USD $1 = CDN $0.65, or thereabouts). Mont-Orford would be about a 4-hr drive from Boston. <BR> <BR>Other than that, you're looking at smaller, ~1,000 vertical-foot areas if you want to save significant dough. <BR> <BR>In case you haven't noticed, I'm digging deep here. The NE scene isn't all that pretty for low-priced passes. <BR> <BR>Anybody else out there have any ideas for Mike?
 
Something else that was just brought to my attention -- Mad River Glen pass prices aren't too difficult to swallow: $580 for an unrestricted pass, and $390 for a Sunday-Friday 6 day/week pass. More info at <A HREF="http://www.madriverglen.com/z.php?page=price.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://www.madriverglen.com/z.php?page=price.htm</A>. Of course, you have to have two planks strapped to your feet and not just one, but I do see your use of the term "ski".
 
I'm a bit surprised that Marc overlooked a good one... Smugglers' is a decent sized hill for NE (in the 2,000 vert range) and is cheaper than just about anywhere in Vt. They haven't updated for this years prices yet, but here's last year's info: <A HREF="http://shop.smuggs.com/PassStore/" TARGET="_top">http://shop.smuggs.com/PassStore/</A> <BR> <BR>Their prices tend to go up around 5 percent or so per year. <BR> <BR>Good luck.
 
Mike, <BR> <BR>Do you have any idea on where you would like to ski this season or are you going to "play the field" and ski as many resorts as you can to find the ones you like? Regardless of where you go you won't find any deals like COs buddy pass. What about lodging? You're going to need a place to sleep each night too! <BR> <BR>With these 2 requirements it might make sense to try to find a ski club that has discount tickets as well as a lodge or 2 close to ski country. Check out the Boston Ski Club (do a search on the web) or http://www.skiclub.com. Skiclub.com lists all the ski clubs in CT and many of them have lodges in VT. And you don't need to be a resident of CT to join. The Hartford Ski Club has a lodge very close to Mad River Glen. The Sterling Ski Club has 2 lodges: one in Brattleboro in southern VT (which is close (1/2 hour to 1 hour away)to Mt. Snow, Bromley, Stratton and Okemo) and one on Sugarbush (and only a few miles from MRG, and a little bit further from Stowe, Smuggler's, Burke and Jay Peak). Most of the CT ski clubs belong to the CT ski council. The CT ski council has been able to purchase bulk discount tickets to Bromley, Okemo, Killington and Sugarbush in the $32-$37 range. Also many lodges participate in the lodge program with Mt. Snow whereby you can purchase tickets @ $35 (you just need to call the night before to reserve them). The CT Ski Council also sets up council days whereby all members of member clubs can ski at a specific resort in VT/MA/NH/NY on the cheap for the weekend. Last year they had days at Mt. Snow/Haystack, Hunter, Okemo, Bromley, Butternut, Magic, Ascutney, Burke, Sunapee and Stratton for $15 - $26. <BR> <BR>HTH - let me know if you need any further assistance. <BR> <BR>PS
 
Cannon - 2 for $40 on tuesdays and thursdays (non-holiday), 2 for $45 during holiday periods (non x-mas) and Super Bowl Sunday. You dont need a pal either, they'll double you up at the ticket window. Wicked Sick Terrain that just got sicker this season with the long awaited opening of the "Tram Line Trail." <BR> <BR>Magic Mountain - $20 on tuesdays, never a ticket over $40, wicked sick terrain and no crowds. <BR> <BR>Saddleback - $45 or less all the time, awsome terrain and snow, with T-bars that keep you out of the wind. <BR> <BR>Mad River Glen - rated #3 in the Nation for challenge last year, behind only Alta and Jackson Hole. Never more than $48, considerably less midweek. On one tuesday every year it's $3.50 (A return to their opening day rate). Snow is good because Snowboarders are not allowed (all Natural snow, almost no grooming). <BR> <BR>Burke Mountain - $19 for college students (that's me), comparably cheap for the general populace too. Their season pass is really cheap and gets you unlimited skiing at Jay Peak as well as massive discounts at verious businesses in the area(Check out the Miss Lyndonville Diner). Awesome Glade skiing, better than even Jay Peak or Steamboat in my opinion. They have four new glades this coming season. <BR> <BR>Jay Peak - a little pricier but totally worth it if you hit it on a powder day. Their powder days are better plenty of powder days out west. <BR> <BR>Smuggler's Notch - #1 for Families, #1 for ski school, awesome value for both skiin gand lodging. And don't think that a good "Family" rating means it's a sissy mountain. Far from it, it has some of the most challenging terrain in the east. And some of the best snow (3rd behind Jay and Burke for accumulation totals). <BR> <BR>Tuckerman Ravine - Extreme and Free. But it's up to you bub. The only Quads here are the ones in your legs, not exactly high speed.
 
Bolton Valley is always on the cheap, though the price just went up to $300 I paid $200 for my pass(adult full/no restictions). Despite spending a season at Smugg's when Bolton was closed I found myself wanting to go back. Of course if not for this deal I was going to get a burke pass, they have a the reciprical skiing at Jay a so that's practically a 2 for 1 deal.
 
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