Sun Valley added to Mountain Collective

[baldyskier]

I see that Sun Valley was added to the Mountain Collective Pass for 2015-2016. I think I would have preferred Taos, NM, since they generally get more snow, esp. in recent years. Of course Taos' location would have been a double-edged sword- Good in that their storms are not so closely correlated with other MC areas' storms and thus would be a good alternative in years like this one. Not-so-good in that adding it to a road trip to other MC areas would require more driving.

I did a search for Sun Valley on this site and didn't find any skier reports.

 

[tseeb]

Search for Ketchum, the town at Sun Valley's base, as "Sun Valley" does not work well with search.

See viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8845 for latest report.

The hardest decision is where to get 3rd free day for early renewal. Aspen may be my best choice since EpicSki gathering is planned for there and walk-up ticket price is $129 this year. So MCP saves you money if you only ski Aspen for three days. But dining and lodging there can be expensive.

 

[baldyskier]

Search for Ketchum, the town at Sun Valley's base, as "Sun Valley" does not work well with search.

See viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8845 for latest report.

The hardest decision is where to get 3rd free day for early renewal. Aspen may be my best choice since EpicSki gathering is planned for there and walk-up ticket price is $129 this year. So MCP saves you money if you only ski Aspen for three days. But dining and lodging there can be expensive.

I skied Aspen while staying at Glenwood Springs a month ago. The drive each day wasn't bad, although we didn't have to drive in any snow. Would surely take more time in a storm cycle. We stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites. That hotel was comfortable and quiet, and they had a decent self-serve breakfast that really helped get the day started quickly. There are some decent, reasonable, restaurants for dinner in town as well.

We skied Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, Alta, Snowbird, Powder Mtn. and Jackson Hole on that Mountain Collective trip. We got only 3 inches of new snow the whole trip.

I was hoping to catch a powder trip to Mammoth after returning to use 3 days there, but chances are looking slimmer and slimmer this winter.

All in all, the Mountain Collective is a great pass, even in a poor snow year.

 

[tseeb]

I haven't used my Squalpine (where I have third free day from attending TGR movie) or Mammoth days from my MCP, but I still expect to unless this season ends too soon. Last year, I used MCP at all areas except Whistler. This year, I haved used my MCP at Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, Jackson Hole (3 days) and AltaBird (2 days). I returned yesterday from 22-day trip and my only real powder day was at Targhee. We also had 1-2 cm of new snow at most of the Canadian areas we visited and the inch or two new at Lost Trail on top of new snow from previous week also skied like powder in places.

On my last trip to Aspen in 2014, I spent first and last night in rental Yukon XL on way from/to Denver airport and two nights on foldout couch at friend's mobile home in El Jebel, 22 miles down-valley from Aspen so I know some ways to avoid paying Aspen lodging prices

 

[Tony Crocker]

A better day at Sun Valley than the one tseeb referenced:
viewtopic.php?t=10816
This was the first day of the month-long road trip Liz and I took in 2013.

The Epic Forum group is very cost-conscious. Aspen has been shot down before due to cost issues. Mountain Collective has fixed the problem for lift tickets. Supposedly someone in the group has a connection for group rate lodging, though I don't know where. Also, Snowmass is cheaper than Aspen, especially for groups in big condos. Carbondale is closer than Glenwood and similarly priced as a downvalley option.

All in all, the Mountain Collective is a great pass, especially in a poor snow year.

FIFY
We are on a run of poor snow years, BUT
In 2011-12 Whistler was great nearly all season and Banff/Lake Louise had record high snowfall.
In 2012-13 Mammoth had 140 inches in December when lots of places had slow starts
In 2013-14 Colorado had a strong start while most other places did not. We decided on Dec. 22 to start skiing at Aspen Jan. 1.
This year Jackson was excellent through January while the West Coast was bad and other places mostly dry. The late February storms hit Aspen, which rates to be good the rest of this season.

The past 4 seasons at Alta/Snowbird have all been far below average. That still means 350-400+ inches, with which most ski areas would be delighted.

The Mountain Collective has far more geographic/weather diversity than the Epic Pass.

Liz has her MC for 2015-16. 3rd day bonus will be Mammoth, as we miss Iron Blosam next year due to the eclipse in Indonesia on March 9.

 

[baldyskier]

A better day at Sun Valley than the one tseeb referenced:
viewtopic.php?t=10816

All in all, the Mountain Collective is a great pass, especially in a poor snow year.

FIFY
We are on a run of poor snow years, BUT
In 2011-12 Whistler was great nearly all season and Banff/Lake Louise had record high snowfall.
In 2012-13 Mammoth had 140 inches in December when lots of places had slow starts
In 2013-14 Colorado had a strong start while most other places did not. We decided on Dec. 22 to start skiing as Aspen Jan. 1.
This year Jackson was excellent through January while the West Coast was bad and other places mostly dry. The late February storms hit Aspen, which rates to be good the rest of this season.

The past 4 seasons at Alta/Snowbird have all been far below average. That still means 350-400+ inches, with which most ski areas would be delighted.

The Mountain Collective has far more geographic/weather diversity than the Epic Pass.

The Mountain Collective would be especially valuable for someone with both time and money to make shorter notice plans to chase the good conditions. It is harder for a working person of more average means to take advantage of the benefits, but still worthwhile. One modest road trip can allow the pass to pay for itself.

 

[mdskier]

Search for Ketchum, the town at Sun Valley's base, as "Sun Valley" does not work well with search.

See viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8845 for latest report.

The hardest decision is where to get 3rd free day for early renewal. Aspen may be my best choice since EpicSki gathering is planned for there and walk-up ticket price is $129 this year. So MCP saves you money if you only ski Aspen for three days. But dining and lodging there can be expensive.

Squaw at $124 this year is a sure bet for bay area guys, Aspen, at $129 even with Epic gathering, which I plan to attend,
is not a sure bet due to harder travel and lodging plans

 

[tseeb]

Squaw at $124 this year is a sure bet for bay area guys, Aspen, at $129 even with Epic gathering, which I plan to attend,
is not a sure bet due to harder travel and lodging plans

I have three free days at Squaw this year (two unrestricted from MCP and one weekday from TGR movie) that may go to waste if conditions don't improve. I'm not sure that I need three there next year when Kirkwood and Northstar (on my Tahoe Value Pass and where my friends ski) have been skiing better than Squaw most of the last couple of years and they run most of their lifts, even late season and when storming, unlike Squaw. I will probably upgrade to Tahoe Local Pass to get Saturdays at N* (ugh - crowds) and KW (useful late season or if I drive up Sat. morning). For $50 more it gives you those Saturdays plus 5 days total in CO and at Park City (not sure what happened to Canyons).

Many Squaw passholders would have done better with MCP this year.

 

[Admin]

plus 5 days total in CO and at Park City (not sure what happened to Canyons).

The name Canyons will cease to exist after this season once the two resorts become one.

 

[mdskier]

Squaw at $124 this year is a sure bet for bay area guys, Aspen, at $129 even with Epic gathering, which I plan to attend,
is not a sure bet due to harder travel and lodging plans

I have three free days at Squaw this year (two unrestricted from MCP and one weekday from TGR movie) that may go to waste if conditions don't improve. I'm not sure that I need three there next year when Kirkwood and Northstar (on my Tahoe Value Pass and where my friends ski) have been skiing better than Squaw most of the last couple of years and they run most of their lifts, even late season and when storming, unlike Squaw. I will probably upgrade to Tahoe Local Pass to get Saturdays at N* (ugh - crowds) and KW (useful late season or if I drive up Sat. morning). For $50 more it gives you those Saturdays plus 5 days total in CO and at Park City (not sure what happened to Canyons).

Many Squaw passholders would have done better with MCP this year.

agreed. my wife would have done way better with MCP. Squaw is $119 now. Heavenly dropped to $98.

We skied Squaw today. Actually very good-mostly mid-winter like. The measly 1 inch of new snow bonded very to the hard surface. I skied many runs on Headwall chair inc the face for first
time this year. Not icy. Granite Chief,otoh, was not so great.