The Magic Pass

[jamesdeluxe]

I mentioned in the Europe 2024-25 thread that the Magic Pass -- which is basically made up of what Tony refers to as "James areas" (I've already skied at 19 of them) -- will be growing and they just announced a number of new mountains for 2025-26, in yellow below. I was surprised that the Gstaad group joined as it was being discussed as a takeover possibility for Vail or Alterra.

While the basic idea is similar to the U.S.'s Indy Pass, Magic Pass is better because you get unlimited days at the participating ski areas, including those with summer operations. You can't beat the price: approx. $450.

 

[EMSC]

Do you know if the pass includes ski patrol/evacuation insurance for those places or do you have to do an add on? Just curious. Not entirely sure given how cheap it is why it's not just bundled in the price of lifts in Europe anyway...

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Here it is. Insurance for a pro-rated refund of the pass (5% of the purchase price) and adding rescue/evac insurance (8% of the purchase price).

Magic Pass - Insurance - C'est Magic!

Magic Pass is a subscription accessible to all that offers free and unrestricted access to all partner facilities.

www.magicpass.ch

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Located in the western Valais region, Ovronnaz isn't part of the 4 Valleys/Verbier circuit; it's five-ish miles north, on the other side of the Rhône Valley. A member of the Magic Pass group, it doesn't look that big on the map but we know better -- check out these photos from the past ten days (end of March). It appears that there's good coverage through the trees at the bottom to its base at 1,400 meters. Definitely one to put on my hit list the next time I'm in the region.

 

[Tony Crocker]

My first reaction was "south facing?" but James' link provides more context. The key upper lift is east facing, and the overall ski day description reminded me of our day at St. Luc-Chandolin in April 2022. I note that Tsantonnaire upper lift is a marathon poma similar to St. Luc.

The author of that link is enthusiastic about spring skiing. I have high standards in that regard due to Mammoth and Mt. Bachelor. So I have a variant of EMSC's attitude. Why should I spend big destination $$$ for spring skiing when arguably the best in the world is close at hand and cheap?

Nonetheless that 2022 trip had some outstanding corn snow, notably in Orelle, Rifflsee and Veysonnaz. Also the author raved about the run to the base at Ovronnaz. Our end of day run at St. Luc also had its smooth corn moments, and in both cases that's only going to happen at an area with very low skier density. James I'm sure will argue the case that he often gets better surface conditions at the under the radar areas.

Although there is opportunity cost in missing some of Mammoth's prime season, I suspect we will have a couple more Euro trips in the post Iron Blosam time frame.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

The author of that link is enthusiastic about spring skiing. I have high standards in that regard due to Mammoth and Mt. Bachelor. So I have a variant of EMSC's attitude. Why should I spend big destination $$$ for spring skiing when arguably the best in the world is close at hand and cheap?

I wasn't recommending that you give up spring skiing at Mammoth/Bachelor to instead fly 14 hours overseas. I was just pointing out an obscure but worthwhile ski area on the Magic Pass that's hiding in plain sight and had nice conditions at the end of March.