Doing some pass calculations. Does anyone remember when Whitetail opened last year and when it closed? Or, even better, how many weekends they were open last year?

See there you go again another misleading subject line.

I believe that it was close to Dec. 10 - March 12. The earliest Whitetail has ever opened is Nov 30. The latest opening was 12/26. The earliest close date was March 1. The latest we ever closed is end of March. We're usually open a minimum of 10 weeks. Last year was 13.

I have a spreadsheet to help calculate costs and savings on my web site. It's got the 2006 prices in it. There are a few little bugs in it, but the basic stuff works ok. It's not official, but it is informative and fun to play with.

Basically, unless you have a large family. It takes 4 trips to pay off an advantage card and 6 to make it worth while. A season pass takes 11 trips to pay off (vs full price tickets) and is more convenient than an Advantage card, but costs more until you get to about 20 trips (i.e. twice a week for most of the season).

Did you know that this year the Advantage card will also get you discounted skiing at Stratton, discounted Liberty hotel rooms and discounted Nastar racing in addition to discounted lessons? The Season Pass Liberty Plus option ($44 extra) is now also available to Advantage Card holders (free daily bag storage, unlimited quick tunes and onsite ski storage).

If you buy your pass at an "event" where Snow Time has a booth (e.g. ski swaps, festivals, etc.) you can get $5 off your Advantage card or $25 off a season pass.

Whitetail opened last season on Friday, December 9, 2005. And it was great opening day conditions:

http://www.dcski.com/articles/view_article.php?article_id=854

I can't find the exact closing date, but I think therusty is right that it was around March 12.

Yo Rusty! That be a righteous spreadsheet! You've got some sik skilz!

If this season is just like last season, the family and I will save over $500. Since we're expecting to do alot more this year, the savings should be even greater!

Oh, I know the reasoning I need to use.."hun, we gotta go skiing this weekend, we gotta maximize our savings. that's right, we're saving money by going more!!"

Thanks Steve. If you thought that was good, version 2006 1.1 of the calculator has support for Night Club cards and multi day tickets too. Support for miscellaneous discounts is 1/2 done (did you know that a season pass gets you discounts at Jay Peak?). I'm still getting 2006 prices for stuff and have some pricing questions in to the pricing gurus. I also have not given the beastie the final quality check (weird stuff has been breaking due to an Excel upgrade). But for those of you who are itching to crunch numbers - have at it!