Alpine season pass options

[Way Out There 2]

Hello skiers, snow's coming, hopefully like last year. I'm wondering what to do about passes this year. We've (family of 4) had Threedom passes for at least the past 5 years but the prices are just getting too steep. We're usually at Loon so I'm concerned about getting bored with Gunstock or Ragged if we go that way. Travel time from Meredith would save some money but limited terain at these smaller areas is a concern. Any thoughts?

[SIKSUKR]

I paid $475 for my full time Cannon passes.

[kjbathe]

My first thought is that you're six months late in asking this question. We've found much greater savings by purchasing our Gunstock passes in March and April. With the money saved and/or the offers they have for free tickets to Cannon, it's win-win.

My current favorite ski areas are Waterville and Wildcat, but Gunstock is our home mountain. The bottom line is that skiing Gunstock's intermediate terrain is better than sitting in the car to and from Ciao and Gema. When we get the itch for a change of pace, we take the money saved from the pre-season pass purchase and head further North on a two-fer day.

From a purely selfish point of view, I think you should continue to call Loon your home mountain. We like Gunstock's lack of lift lines. We also prefer skiing to standing in line watching other people ski.

Edit -----------------------

HOLY SMOKES! I just looked online and the the Adult Threedom Pass is currently $799 ($699 for Limited Edition). I want to say I was seeing offers for those in the $400-450 range last Spring.

[Winni4life]

The packages have really gone out of sight. The best deals that I have found are NH Residents Cannon is $500 no blackouts. Tenney is a great deal at under $300 for a mid size. They introduced another package at Loon, Sunday, and Sugarloaf which is 7 days but includes blackouts. If I am not mistaken it was about $650.

A far cry from the Threedom pass deals of 2 years ago.
Good Luck!!!

[Lakegeezer]

It would be nice to see the price gouging attitudes broken at New England ski areas. Look at the season pass prices for Colorado.

You can get unlimited access to Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin for the renewal price of $409, get that plus 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek for $449 and unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly (Lake Tahoe) and Arapahoe Basin for $579. What are our local mountains thinking! The mountains around NE are each too small to avoid terrain fatigue. We need a New England pass with lots of mountain choices in the $500 range. Till then, I'm afraid it will have to be Twofer Tuesday at Cannon for me.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

It would be nice to see the price gouging attitudes broken at New England ski areas. Look at the season pass prices for Colorado.

You can get unlimited access to Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin for the renewal price of $409, get that plus 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek for $449 and unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly (Lake Tahoe) and Arapahoe Basin for $579. What are our local mountains thinking! The mountains around NE are each too small to avoid terrain fatigue. We need a New England pass with lots of mountain choices in the $500 range. Till then, I'm afraid it will have to be Twofer Tuesday at Cannon for me.

You just let out Colorado's best kept secret! I have been skiing Summit County for years. Prices are cheaper than mentioned above if you buy before Columbus Day.

Buy now for MHT-DEN round trip tickets. There are deals less than $200. Do not rent a car. Take CME (Colorado Mountain Express) to Summit County. There are free public transportation throughout Summit County. Buses leaving every half hour to all resorts and towns.

Ask for the working man's lunch at Breckenridge Brewery and you get a burger and beer for five bucks! Almost all of the bars have happy hour from 3 to 7. Not only the drinks are cheap, so are the appetizers.

You can find available lodging for $80 a night. And have as many as 4 people in a room. That's $20 a night per person.

Who says the mega resorts in the Rockies are expensive. They are really a bargain if you plan early.

[Way Out There 2]

I normally renew our passes in the Spring but that was not an option this year. Thought about Cannon but that's 5 or 10 more minutes up 93, it's hard enough to get everyone on the slopes at 8:00 as it is. We'll probably try Gunstock, that last minute deal I was hoping for doesn't seem to be happening...

[fatlazyless]

Last season, starting with January 2, Waterville Valley had twofer-Mondays and twofer-Fridays. Two could ski for $59.00, total.

.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by Way Out There 2

Thought about Cannon but that's 5 or 10 more minutes up 93, it's hard enough to get everyone on the slopes at 8:00 as it is.

I don't know why people think Loon is closer than Cannon.Cannon is 8 minutes past the Loon EXIT but can actually be quicker when you figure in the ride through Lincoln with the traffic and traffic lights.Cannon has I93 right to the doorstep.

[secondcurve]

The mountains certainly aren't gouging despite the theme of this thread and the direction of prices. Most of them are losing a ton of money each year. The only less profitable industry is the airlines!!!!

[Lakegeezer]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

The mountains certainly aren't gouging despite the theme of this thread and the direction of prices. Most of them are losing a ton of money each year. The only less profitable industry is the airlines!!!!

If season pass prices came down, ski areas would sell more and be more profitable. Its not like the airline where every extra customer costs more money in gas. Operating costs are mostly fixed (insurance, staff and snow maintenance). Twice the skier traffic doesn't mean twice the operating costs.

1000 season passes at $700 = $700,000. 2000 passes at $400 is $800,000, plus they sell more $7 hamburgers. There are many weekends they don't need the extra traffic, but on many other days, the mountain could easily handle the traffic. It would be interesting to see the numbers for the Threedom and Amercan Ski passes before and after the price increases. (of course, American Ski Co broke up so you'd have to count season passes at several areas) Maybe I'm unique, but at $400, I was buying season passes year after year and skiing a lot of 1/2 day mornings. Now, I don't buy season passes, and don't ski as much in New England. Some of the local ski areas have been guilty of greed for many years and much of their losses are due to over-investments in condos. Funding their poor investments on the backs of local skiers may backfire this year if the gas prices go back up.

[sa meredith]

This a complete guess, as I only ski 2 or 3 times a year and don't really follow the prices of season passes...but, I would think that this winter, major ski areas are going to "feel the economy" like most lakes region establishments felt it all summer. And I would think this would lead to some pretty attractive mid-week specials. While I'm sure that the "well off, weekend crowds" will still come and spend, there is no reason to think the ski industry is going to be immune to current economic conditions. They will have to be creative to draw in the average "work-a-day" person. Money's tight!

[fatlazyless]

Could be some prices will get lowered as I hear pass sales have been slow.

Hey, the sno-guns up on top of WV are working right now, up on High Country. All the slopes are white from yesterday's snowfall too.

The new management at Snowy Owl seems to have given up on their web cam since its been down for like 18 months. It it were working you could see the snow-making in the rising sun.

[Way Out There 2]

I'm chomping at the bit here. Probably should remove my new background of the picture of Bretton Woods with snow top to bottom. I'll be waiting for Gunstock to open, whenever that is...

[codeman671]

I was surprised when I check the Gunstock web page last night to find that adult passes were $499 and no Belknap Country resident discount like they do in the spring... I guess I should have bought in April.

[fatlazyless]

With all the rain and warm temps lately, all the artificial snow was totally erased.....all-gone...back to brown ground....but the sno-guns are up and firing away right now...even though it is too warm at 36 degrees....and all that's coming out is white mist. Maybe a temperatue drop is expected? I'm talking the top High Country area of Waterville Valley.

Gee whiz....maybe a water slide park with a casino top & bottom...could be a money maker...and the White Mountain National Forest would have a big cut?

[Lakegeezer]

You can get three days of skiing for $130 by buying the Wildcat "Wildcard" by December 22 (or while supplies last). The card gets you three day tickets - valid any day. If you play it right, you can ski six days for $247 by paying $39 for the day after, each time you use the Wildcard (average $41.16/day). They also have "two-fer Wednesday" tickets for $32.50 per person.

http://www.skiwildcat.com/wilddeals.html

[kjbathe]

I was thinking "the current economy" would also be hurting the ski industry this season. However, judging by the crowds at the pre-season ski sales, it could be the opposite. Folks might be cutting back this year, but trading their week of winter vacation for a whole season of skiing stay-cation.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by kjbathe

I was thinking "the current economy" would also be hurting the ski industry this season. However, judging by the crowds at the pre-season ski sales, it could be the opposite. Folks might be cutting back this year, but trading their week of winter vacation for a whole season of skiing stay-cation.

I know I opted out of my annual catskiing trip to British Columbia this year.It was getting very expensive so I'm staying to my usual weekend warrior routine which will still total 60 days of skiing here in the NE.

[IrishEyes]

Hi,
Last year was the first year in the past six years that I did not purchase a Threedom Pass because of the increase in rates. So, I put together a list of all NH ski areas and their rates (weekday and weekend) and all the specials they are offering. I figured it would be less expensive to ski where they are offering the good deals and also get a chance to ski different areas.

This year, some ski areas actually lowered their lift ticket rates, but most increased by a few dollars, with the exception of Gunstock who raised their rates by $10 across the board! I guess the profitable year last year wasn't profitable enough!!

Attached is a list of all the ski areas in NH and their current rates for 2008-2009 season. Ragged & Tenney have some great mid-week rates. Waterville has a couple of great deals on St. Patrick's Day and April Fool's day. Check it out and let me know if I've missed any!

Have a great Ski Season!

[IrishEyes]

Attached are the NH ski area rates for 2008 - 2009 along with special deals and best rates. Let me know if I've missed anything.

Enjoy!

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by IrishEyes

Attached are the NH ski area rates for 2008 - 2009 along with special deals and best rates. Let me know if I've missed anything.

Enjoy!

Thanks so much, too bad there is not a thanks option on this thread!

[IrishEyes]

I'm glad you appreciate it and thanks for the thank you! I originally did it for myself, but thought that many people would benefit from the research.

Most of the ski areas that I talked to are trying to offer deals and keep the increase at a minimum due to the economy.

Now we just need some snow!

Thanks again,

[Gatto Nero]

Nice work, IrishEyes, thanks.

[colt17]

IrishEyes, wow thanks for all the info

[fatlazyless]

$25.00/all lifts/everyday/all season for eighty year olds at Waterville Valley......something to look forward to....there's an 83 year old there who skis better than 99 1/2% of all skiers.

[SIKSUKR]

Any NH resident age 65+ can ski at Cannon totally free during the week by showing up at the ticket window.If you want a season pass you will pay a $25 processing fee.