Almost all the area's resorts offer season passes of one sort or another. For some reason, the south shore resorts typically offer better deals on passes than their north shore brethren. At Kirkwood, for instance, you can pay for your 6Wood pass in under 4 days of skiing! Other resorts simply choose different pricing strategies. Below is a list of area resorts and their 2009-10 season pass offerings. This as of 9/15/09. While season pass prices are up on most web site, the ticket prices won't be announced for a little bit in most cases, so we used estimates based on previous year's prices plus the average of recent increases to determine how many days until a pass is paid off.
1. Kirkwood - North America's Best Season Pass Value. A Midweek Pass is paid for in just over 3 and 1/2 days. The last El Niño went off in a huge way at Kirkwood, and it's always a sure bet for the best conditions anyway.
6Wood Pass - $259 Everyday but Saturday with blackout dates.
7Wood Pass: Adults $389; Junior (13-18) $299; Child (6-12) $169, Seniors (65-69) $259, Seniors plus (70+) $139, College (must show proof of 9 credits) $279. Valid seven days with blackout dates.
Unlimted Pass: Adults $559; Seniors (65-69) $339; Seniors Plus (70+) $199; Junior (13-18) $399; Child (6-12) $219, College (must show proof of 9 credits) $359.
Kirkwood's blackout dates for Value and Midweek Passes are Christmas (12/27-12/31/09), MLK Day (1/16-1/17/10), President's Day (2/13-2/14/10) Pay your pass off in 3.59 days. We used $72 for ticket price.
If you need another reason to get a Kirkwood Pass, here's 50.
2. Sugar Bowl - Like others, Sugar Bowl has rolled back pricing.
Unrestricted: Adult $799; Youth (13-22) $399; Senior (60-69) $399; Child (6-12) $139; Super Senior (70+) $49; Child (0-5) $99.
Slightly Restricted: Adult $459; Youth (13-22) $299; Senior (60-69) $299; Child (6-12) $99. Valid every day with the following
Blackout dates are 12/26/09 - 1/2/10, 1/16 - 1/17/10, & 2/13 - 2/15/10.
Core Midweek Plus: Adult $249; Youth (13-22) $249; Senior (60-69) $249. Valid M-F with the same blackout dates. Midweek passes are good seven days through 12/26/09 and after 3/15/09.
Core Summit Sunday Plus: Same midweek but you also get Sundays (blackout dates apply). Adult $349; Youth (13-22) $269; Senior (60-69) $269 Pay your pass off in 3.77 days.
3. Heavenly Lake Tahoe - Heavenly has two versions of it's season pass, the Heavenly Pass and the Epic Pass. The Epic Pass is valid seven days a week at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly. There is no midweek option.
Epic Pass: Adults $599; Child (5-12) $299
Heavenly Pass: Adults $369; Seniors (65+) $299; Teen (13-18) $299; Child (5-12) $189.
College Pass: $269 - must prove you are a full time student. Subject to blackout dates.
Blackout Dates for Heavenly Passes are Thanksgiving (11/27/09 -11/28/09), Christmas (12/27/09 - 12/31/09), and President's Day (2/13/10 - 2/14/10). Heavenly has also offered a college pass in the past, and they mention it briefly on their web site, but give no information. Pay your pass off in approx. 4.5 days. We're guessing $82.
4. Northstar at Tahoe/Sierra at Tahoe - Northstar and Sierra at Tahoe offer the Double Whammy Pass, which is valid at both resorts.
Double Whammy Value Pass $359. At Northstar it is valid Sun-Friday while at Sierra it is valid everyday. Both resorts have the following blackout dates; Christmas (12/26/09 - 12/31/09), Martin Luther King Day (1/16/10 - 1/17/10), and President's Day (2/13/10 - 2/14/10).
Limited Double Whammy: Adult/Senior $459; Young Adult (13-22) $259. Valid seven days a week at both resorts with blackout dates for Northstar only (same as above).
Unlimited Double Whammy: Adult $699; Young Adult (13-22) $399; Child (5-12) $109; SuperSenior (70+) $109. Seven days, no blackouts at either resort.
College Double Whammy: Adult $259; Young Adult (17-22) $259. Valid seven days a week at both resorts with blackout dates for Northstar only (same as above). Driver's license and proof of a minimum of 6 class credits for the Fall 2009 semester/quarter required at resort to receive pass. No photo copies or faxes accepted.
There is also a northstar only midweek pass for $299 Pay your pass off in 4.66 days. We used $77 as ticket price. Sierra is lower
5. Mt. Rose Ski Resort - Their only offering is a an Unlimted Pass which comes in the following flavors, Adult (16 and older) $333, Child (6-12) $111, Teen (13-17) $222, Senior (65-74) $222, and Super Senior (75 +) $111, College $222 when purchased in person in threes. These prices are available only in September.
Pay your pass off in 5.12 days). Tickets $65.
6. Alpine Meadows - All Unfiltered Passes also include skiing and riding at Homewood. The packages below do not include Moment Skis. Check Alpine's web site for the Moment Ski package info.
Midweek plus Sunday Pass: Adult (19-69) $399.
Slightly Filtered Adult (valid 7 days w/blackout days): $499
Unfiltered Pass: Adult (19-61) $799; Teen (13-18) $299; Youth (5-12) $199; Child (0-4) Free; Seniors (62-69) $469; 70+ $169
College Pass: $299 requires 9 credits. Check website for blackout dates. Pay your pass off in 6.43 days. Ticket prices ($62) are not up on the site yet. Blackout Dates: Dec 26, 2009 - Jan 2, 2010; Jan 16 - 17, 2010; Feb 13-14, 2010
7. Squaw Valley USA - Squaw Valley made big news last winter by announcing deeply discounted early season passes which had to be purchased by May 11. May is gone so here are the new deals, which are still well below any they've had in recent history. All passes include free night skiing.
Bronze Pass: Adult $649; Youth/Senior (ages 13-22, 65-75) $499; Child (0-12) $179. Blackout Dates: Saturdays in January and February. Dec 27, 2009 - Jan 3, 2010; Jan 16 - 17, 2010; Feb 13-14, 2010.
Silver Pass: Adult $749; Youth/Senior (ages 13-22, 65-75) $599; Child (0-12) $249. Blackout Dates: Dec 27, 2009 - Jan 2, 2010; Jan 16 - 17, 2010; Feb 13-14, 2010.
Gold Pass: Adult $1,299; Youth/Senior (ages 13-22, 65-75) $999; Child (0-12) $369. Includes a lot of stuff. see website.
Platinum Pass: Adult $1,749; Youth/Senior (ages 13-22, 65-75) $1,349; Child (0-12) $429. Includes even more stuff. see website. Pay your pass off in 8.43 days. We used $77 as a ticket price.
8. Homewood Mountain - Homewood is now under the same management as Alpine Meadows. The prices below are for Homewood Passes only.
Full Season Pass: Adult (19-61) $399; Teen (13-18) $249; Youth (5-12) $149; Child (0-4) Free; Seniors (62-69) $199; Seniors (70+) $149. There are also locals only passes for residents living between Rubicon Bay and Kings Beach. Pay your pass off in 10.23 days. Tickets $39.
9. Mammoth - Mammoth's best pass deal happens every spring when a very limited number of half price Gold Passes are sold. They will sell out within days or hours of becoming available. That day has come and gone. Mammoth will switch their web site over to winter in the next few days (mid September).
9. Boreal Mountain - Boreal has several offerings including a College Student Pass for $99, but it's midweek so you'll have to skip class.
Anytime Pass Adult $269; Child (5-12) $99; Senior (60-69) $139; Super Senior (70+) $35
SuperSaver- $199 Sunday-Friday, with blackouts
Night Pass $129
Holiday black-outs: Nov. 26-29, 2009, Dec. 25, 2009 - Jan. 2, 2010, Jan. 16-18, 2010, & Feb. 13-15, 2010. Pay your pass off in 4.63 days. We used $43 for our ticket price.
10. Donner Ski Ranch - Season Pass: Adult $249; Young Adult (13-17) $199; Child (6-12) $99; Senior (60-69) $149 Pay your pass off in 6.56 days (This is 07-08 info).
12. Diamond Peak - Prices until September 30, 2008. Full: Adult $454; Youth (13-17) $188; Child (7-12) $156; Senior (60-69) $188; Super Senior (70+) $52. Midweek: Adult $363; Youth (13-17) $150; Child (7-12) $125; Senior (60-69) $152; Super Senior (70+) $42. Prices are significantly lower for Incline Village/Crystal Bay locals with IVGID cards. Pay your pass off in 7.56 days.
