I've been an Ikon owner since day one and sprinkled in local Epic over the past 2 years. For 24 - 25, I switched to Unlimited Epic and a Snowshoe Creek and Midweek pass.
Money was one factor. Unlimited Epic was 561 with the military discount. The SS midweek pass was 199. That's less than I paid for Ikon alone in 23 - 24.
Our gang wants to do the Vail, Beaver Creek and Keystone next year (maybe 2X) so Epic makes sense. Plus it allows me day trips to 7S, HV and LM if we have actual snow.
I still have many ties to SS and have zero interest in fighting the crowds on weekends. If I can manage 6 days at the shoe, I can live with the 199.
Being retired did not help my ski days. I spent 2 weeks in FL in January 2024. That may increase in 2025.
I have until early June to decide and will probably do same I've done the last few years: Snowbird senior pass and a cheap Ikon base pass add-on. It comes to about $1200-1300 and lately I've got my daily average cost under $20. A new twist for me this season has been getting six free days at a couple of places (Massanutten and Monarch) that only charge minimal admin fees for 70 year olds.
I like the variety the Ikon base gives me, but a big flaw in my situation is that I live 20 mins from Alta in wintertime and technically only get one free day there with my passes :-(
I joke with friends that if I hang in there I'll get unlimited Alta days in ten years. They joke back at me that by then the free age at Alta will be raised from 80 to 90 :-o
Opted out of Epic this year. Secured the T-line and CV passes. Ski early and often is the motto this coming year. Yes I might miss the idea of skiing close at WT, Liberty and Roundtop but opening late December and sometimes January isn't in the cards.
Plus I loved skiing T-Line it reminds of NE skiing.
Opted out of Epic this year. Secured the T-line and CV passes. Ski early and often is the motto this coming year. Yes I might miss the idea of skiing close at WT, Liberty and Roundtop but opening late December and sometimes January isn't in the cards.
Plus I loved skiing T-Line it reminds of NE skiing.
Looks like the lowest price for the MCP and the bonus day go away in about a week. MCP website countdown clock shows 6 days left as of May 7.
For 2024-25, the $30 renewal discount is good until the MCP goes off sale. That usually happens by mid-December.
jimw wrote:
I bought the Snowshoe pass this year instead of the Ikon. I'm getting ready to buy the MCP but can't decide if my third day will be at Jackson or at Targhee.
You can change the resort for the bonus day later by sending an email. I've done that a couple times. Used to be had to decide before sales ended in mid-December. But now can do it any time. It's noted in the FAQs.
My March 2024 trip to GT was supposed to include skiing Fri, Sat, Sun. But GT never opened on Sat. I sent an email just for fun asking to change to Alta for my late season trip. Get a reply approving the change within a day.
jimw wrote:
Sweet! Thanks for the heads up. Just purchased the MCP for the first time vs the Ikon.
You cannot change 3rd bonus day too late.... My recollection, MCP submits your 3rd bonus day to resorts sometime after the offer ends.
After it is submitted, you can't make change. I've changed my 3rd bonus couple times and I remembered I did that in ingSept (bought MCP in March/April).
If you want to be sure, I'd suggest sending an email to MCP or call to find out when is the drop dead date you can make changes.
fosphenytoin wrote:
jimw wrote:
Sweet! Thanks for the heads up. Just purchased the MCP for the first time vs the Ikon.You cannot change 3rd bonus day too late.... My recollection, MCP submits your 3rd bonus day to resorts sometime after the offer ends.
After it is submitted, you can't make change. I've changed my 3rd bonus couple times and I remembered I did that in ingSept (bought MCP in March/April).
If you want to be sure, I'd suggest sending an email to MCP or call to find out when is the drop dead date you can make changes.
That was the case before but now it's possible to make a change after MCP sales have ended.
I requested a change via email from GT to Alta during my March 2024 trip because GT didn't open the second day we planned to ski. The reply was prompt and the change was made without any hassle.
As Scott recently reported, Epic pass prices go up after Memorial Day, May 27.
If you are getting an Epic pass, is it for a trip out west? If so, which resort(s)?
The Indy Pass will be on sale in early July. Probably won't last long. Wait List people have a few days to use their code (sent via text) before sales open for the general public on July 4. People with a season pass from an Indy resort that qualifies for an Add-on price can get a 25% discount on July 3-4.
Hatley Pointe in NC is joining Indy. Also Ragged, which is not a surprise given that Wisp and Wintergreen will be on Indy for the first time for 2024-25 and PGRI owns them as well as Jay.
The list for Indy locations in the southeast has gotten pretty long.
MD: Wisp
VA: Bryce, Massanutten, Wintergreen
WV: Canaan Valley, Winterplace
NC: Cataloochee, Hatley Pointe
TN: Ober
Plus PA resorts include Blue Knob, Shawnee, Tussey, Sawmill, Ski Big Bear, and Montage.
If you want to see a spreadsheet with all Indy locations, check out the Storm Skiing article.
Indy Pass Adds Ragged, 5 Additional North American Ski Areas & 4 in Japan; Passes Back on Sale Today - July 1, 2024
Sierra At Tahoe has joined the Indy Pass for 2024-25. Also Taos is once again on Indy Base (5 days).
Ikon Pass adds Sierra-at-Tahoe for Winter 24/25 - August 27, 2024
I am doing the same bit that I've been doing for the last few years ... Epic northeast value pass. I usually just ski HV, 7S and Laurel most of the season anyway (hoping for a better one!), and then do one or two trips up north. If I want to do something outside of epic, like go to Wisp or something, I just take out the wallet.
Spoiled being a remote worker. I can pick 2 half days a week. No Crowds. Epic is the close by to make a half day work.
pick the best weather days.
Budget says unit cost per hr. to ski under $10. may hit $5 per hr. for lift ticket.
Gas prices look under $3 retail this winter.
Good to see Roundtop getting more snowmaking gear.
Weather La Nina
Cheers
Zardog KC3YFZ
Full IKON!
Colorado before Xmas,
Snowshoe,
Colorado again in April, then
Valle Nevado 11 months from now.
Going to be GREAT!
Epic prices went up a bit after Sept. 2. For Epic Local (holiday blackout dates), the increase was $31 with the price at $761. Full Epic is $1025, which is the same as the final price as of late November 2023 for last season.
The Epic Day Pass is a decent deal. Four days (non-holiday) at any of 32 resorts is $326, when includes Crested Butte, Keystone, and all three Tahoe resorts on Epic. Can get four non-holiday days at the small VR resorts in New England and the midwest for $198.
Last year I held Epic and Ikon. Epic was a bust as my CO trip fell apart. Ikon I got about 10 days on. I had hoped to ski all summer at Mammoth but they closed on m-day due to construction last summer. I had 12 other days but used other discounts for those (ski show
This year it is Epic and Cali Pass. Cali Pass is just for 4 resorts in CA ( MTN High, China Peak, Dodge Ridge, and Bear Valley), but it is linked to the Powder Alliance. It is good for 3 days at those areas, which are mostly smaller Western places. I have trips planned to MT Shasta, Blacktail MTN, Bogus Basin, and Sierra@Tahoe (if they stay on as they just joined Ikon) to use the Powder Alliance pass. Also, have 3 days planned at Whistler which will pay for my epic this year.
I am probably a good candidate for the INDY as small resorts are my thing but the resorts are not near me. Indy seems like more of an East Coast/Midwest product.
oldensign wrote:
Last year I held Epic and Ikon. Epic was a bust as my CO trip fell apart. Ikon I got about 10 days on. I had hoped to ski all summer at Mammoth but they closed on m-day due to construction last summer. I had 12 other days but used other discounts for those (ski show
This year it is Epic and Cali Pass. Cali Pass is just for 4 resorts in CA ( MTN High, China Peak, Dodge Ridge, and Bear Valley), but it is linked to the Powder Alliance. It is good for 3 days at those areas, which are mostly smaller Western places. I have trips planned to MT Shasta, Blacktail MTN, Bogus Basin, and Sierra@Tahoe (if they stay on as they just joined Ikon) to use the Powder Alliance pass. Also, have 3 days planned at Whistler which will pay for my epic this year.
I am probably a good candidate for the INDY as small resorts are my thing but the resorts are not near me. Indy seems like more of an East Coast/Midwest product.
Sounds like a good plan. Sierra-A-T is still in the Powder Alliance for 2024-25, according to their website.
Even though Indy has locations all over N. America and even a few mountains in Japan, it's essentially a regional pass for most people. The mid-Atlantic (WV, VA, PA), midwest, northeast have quite a few locations. There is also a pretty long list for the PacNW, Idaho/Montana/Wyoming but there is a lot more distance between mountains. While the Indy resorts are independent, most of them are not that small. Especially in comparison to mountains in the east.
I'm going to use Indy to check out Tamarack and Brundage in March. Plan to ski a day at Bogus before flying east out of Boise.
North American Indy Locations, September 2024
Banner on the Epic website says prices go up again on Oct. 9. Also on the banner of individual Epic resort homepages.
There is a push to get people to consider an Epic Day Pass. Provides 55-65% savings, presumably compared to day ticket prices after Epic passes are no longer available for 2024-25.
For those who got an Epic pass for 2024-25, was there much of a marketing push for My Epic Gear? The only time I've had an Epic pass was last season and I got off the mailing list.
There was a pilot program for My Epic Gear at 4 VR resorts last season. Now it's available at 12 Epic resorts, including W-B, Stowe, Okemo, and Mt. Snow. Idea is for a $50 season membership, an adult can rent current gear at any of the 12 Epic Gear resorts for $55/day with boots (no helmet) or $45/day without boots. The rental price for kids is a bit lower. A parent doesn't need to be using My Epic Gear to get a child membership.
"One-time non-refundable membership* fee for the season unlocks access to over 60+ models of premium skis and snowboards, as well as the choice of daily slopeside pick-up & drop-off or in-resort delivery for gear reservations at 12 participating resorts. Epic Pass or lift ticket purchase not required to become a My Epic Gear member."
marzNC wrote:
For those who got an Epic pass for 2024-25, was there much of a marketing push for My Epic Gear? The only time I've had an Epic pass was last season and I got off the mailing list.
There was a pilot program for My Epic Gear at 4 VR resorts last season. Now it's available at 12 Epic resorts, including W-B, Stowe, Okemo, and Mt. Snow. Idea is for a $50 season membership, an adult can rent current gear at any of the 12 Epic Gear resorts for $55/day with boots (no helmet) or $45/day without boots. The rental price for kids is a bit lower. A parent doesn't need to be using My Epic Gear to get a child membership.
"One-time non-refundable membership* fee for the season unlocks access to over 60+ models of premium skis and snowboards, as well as the choice of daily slopeside pick-up & drop-off or in-resort delivery for gear reservations at 12 participating resorts. Epic Pass or lift ticket purchase not required to become a My Epic Gear member."
For those who got an Epic pass for 2024-25, was there much of a marketing push for My Epic Gear? The only time I've had an Epic pass was last season and I got off the mailing list.
You never get off a mailing list, at least in my experience…
Haven’t owned an Epic product since Covid, but I get spammed a ton on the My Epic Gear. I’ll gladly forward the emails to you…
I’m solidly Ikon, but May purchase some Epic Day Passes in the following ski season. Hence, my keeping on their mailing lists.
JohnL wrote:
For those who got an Epic pass for 2024-25, was there much of a marketing push for My Epic Gear? The only time I've had an Epic pass was last season and I got off the mailing list.
You never get off a mailing list, at least in my experience…
Haven’t owned an Epic product since Covid, but I get spammed a ton on the My Epic Gear. I’ll gladly forward the emails to you…
I’m solidly Ikon, but May purchase some Epic Day Passes in the following ski season. Hence, my keeping on their mailing lists.
LOL, no thanks, no need to forward. ;-)
The limit I saw last year for My Epic Gear was 80,000. There were 2.4 million Epic pass holders, including Epic Day Passes. No Epic pass is required, but seems unlikely an adult without an Epic pass of some sort would bother with My Epic Gear.
I unsubscribed from Epic after I had Epic for a trip to Crested Butte last season and it actually seems to work. Also used it to check out Vail and Beaver Creek in early season (after Wolf Creek, before driving home), and Keystone and Breck in March (before driving to CB). I could imagine getting Epic Day Passes for a return trip to CB.
My normal approach is Ikon and MCP, mostly because 7 days isn't enough at Alta. This season I'm using senior season passes (65+) and skiing more at a few favorites. The Alta Senior Pass provide reciprocal 50% off for other MCP resorts, so I'll use that at Sun Valley for the Idaho ski safari. That's mainly for Tamarack and Brundange, for which I have Indy.
Dec. 2 was the deadline for quite a few season passes. All Epic passes are off sale. Ikon is still selling until Dec. 12. Same for the Mountain Collective.
