Living, Playing & Writing in the Outdoors
I have to admit that I’m getting a kick out of these blogging conferences. FREE STUFF! I’d be lying (and there isn’t a single friend who would believe me) if I said I didn’t like swag. One of the brands at the Build Your Blog Conference showed up to demonstrate how we could immortalize our Instagram photos.
You know all of those ski pics you shared on your last vacation? Turn them into a photobook.
Check it out:
It’s time again to set your kids up with the Epic SchoolKids program in Utah and Colorado. The Vail Resorts’ plan to get hundreds of K-5th grade students out on the hill is one of the best deals in the industry but don’t wait too long. They do tend to pull the registration before summer.
Enroll kids online for five free days of skiing and snowboarding at Park City and Canyons during the 2017-2018 winter season.* “It is incredibly important that we continue to find ways to make snowsports accessible and sharing the experience of skiing and snowboarding with the next generation continues to be a top priority for us at Park City,” said Bill Rock, Park City’s chief operating officer. “Our hope is that this program will help foster a lifelong connection to the outdoors and the mountains we love.”
The SchoolKids program was launched in 2015 at Park City when Vail Resorts took over operations. All Utah students (in school or home-schooled) are eligible regardless of their ability level. Kids get five free direct-to-lift days, and one free first-timer ski or snowboarding lesson with equipment rental used in December and January.
The registration process couldn’t be easier. Go online, fill out the parent info, and info for each of your kids, click submit and that’s it. You’ll get an email confirmation in 2-3 weeks. Take your kids to the season pass office at PCM, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone for their pictured pass anytime after August 2017. You can even wait until your first day skiing. If this is your first time registering, make sure you bring a copy of the student report card/transcript/school ID from a local school or birth certificate. Parent should also bring a local state driver’s license.
The kids are back in school. Yes, it’s only August and the logical assumption is that it’s still summer. Damn you, School Teachers. Why must you take a day off every other week? Back in the day we had real summers. Off around Memorial Day (IOW end of May), and starting after Labor Day, (IOW the first weekend of September). Three full months. Now kids get two. Poor guys.
Good thing we skiers here in Utah spend more time looking forward to winter than summer. To help tease that anticipation, the countdown to the end of season pass deals is on. Buy now or you’ll regret waiting.
The 2016/17 ski season at Snowbird will offer newly expanded food (yay!), ticketing and Mountain School services at Creekside Lodge, an enhanced guest check-in experience at The Cliff Lodge, and of course the longest ski season of any resort in Utah. The best news is that Snowbird didn’t do the traditional, yearly price hike. Passes will cost the same as last season- $999- until Spet.10 when they bump up to $1199. YIKES*&@#$^*
All “Unlimited” passes come with the Wasatch Benefit if those haven’t sold out (3 tickets to Alta and 3 to Deer Valley; nope, no Solitude), and the Mountain Collective for 50 percent off tickets to 14 different resorts including Jackson Hole, Mammoth, Whistler and Sun Valley.
Some of the other pass alternatives like the midweek unlimited and Chairs Only will also go up in price Sept. 9, 2016.
Alta Ski Area’s passes also include the Wasatch Benefit and the Mountain Collective and cost the same as The Bird’s. You do have a few extra weeks to decide to pull the trigger so if you miss Snowbird’s Sept. 10 pass increase deadline, you can still get a season pass for $999 at Alta until after Sept. 28. Right now, they are $999 but count on an additional $200 if you wait. The irony is that a child’s pass is $200 less than the Bird’s so it’s cheaper for everyone to get Alta passes if you are a family of 3 ($2157 v. $2347). If you have two kids, the smart way to go is with the Family Pack ($1999 at either resort for 2 adults and 2 children). What am I saying? Even if you only have one child, get the Family Pack. Duh.
Season passes went on sale this week with adults costing $879 and increasing to after Oct. 31, 2016. Passholders get three days of skiing at Brighton and four at Deer Valley (snowboarding is still not allowed at DV). Included in your pass is the option to purchase the MAX pass add-on for $300. The Mountain Collective and Epic Pass competitor is good for five days of skiing at each of the Max’s 32 ski areas, including Winter Park, Alyeska, Copper, Crested Butte, and Big Sky.
Kids 10 and under ski free. That’s the best ski deal in the land. In addition, the $799 adult season pass gets you two tickets to Deer Valley and two to Solitude along with the option to purchase the Max Pass Add-on ($300).
The posh resort is a bit sneaky with their $2185 season passes. There’s a separate website just for them – https://seasonpass.deervalley.com/. The Price goes up $370 after Oct. 31. Eligible pass holders can receive up to 6 buddy passes, 3 day passes at Alta and Snowbird each, 4 day passes at Solitude Resort, 2 day passes at Brighton Resort, summer mountain biking and, new this year, 3 complimentary passes to Steamboat Ski Resort.
The Epic Pass used to be a steal. True to all expectations, the price has now risen to $809 and will go up even more after Sept. 5, 2016. Pass holders have unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Wilmot, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton, Perisher (2017 access) and Arapahoe Basin. If you have no plans to travel this winter and don’t mind a few holiday blackout dates, you’re better off buying the Epic Local Pass for $609.
The Basin has the best beginner package in the Beehive State and it lasts all season long-The Learn & Earn program supplies any first-timer 3 lessons, 3 lift tickets, and seasonal rentals for $399. You also get a free season pass when you complete the program. A season pass will run you $799 before Set. 5, 2016. Passholders also get 5 days at Sun Valley and three free days at each of 14 Powder Alliance resorts.
Powder is capping their season pass and day passes sales this season to keep the ratio of 1 skier per 2 acres of skiable terrain. Passes are $870 and include Sunlight Mountain Resort, Grand Targhee Resort, Purgatory Resort, Sipapu Resort, Pajarito Resort,Snowbowl Resort, Loveland Ski Area.
Season passes are $569 until Oct. 31 and include night skiing, three days at Brian Head and 2017 summer mountain biking.
Pick the Mountain Collective on its own for two free Alta/Bird tickets and 50 percent off for the rest of the season. You could also buy the Max Pass on its own. Utah kids K through 5th grade get five days free at Park City/Canyons with the Epic SchoolKids Ski Pack. It’s free but you need to sign up by Oct. 9, 2016.
The Deep Powder Pass (30 days at each of the four Cottonwood Canyons resorts on a fully transferable pass) has yet to announce their sale date or price (It was $2100 last season) but check with REI’s Public Lands desk if you don’t want to miss out.
Ski Utah offers their Silver Pass ($3150), 30 days (60 days at Park City) to all 14 resorts, and a Gold Pass ($4800 for 50 days), the Ski Utah Yeti Pass (1 day at all 14 Resorts for $649). 5th and 6th graders HAVE TO sign up for the Ski Utah 5th and 6th Grade Passport Programs, which offer 3 days or 1 day of skiing, respectively, to all of Utah’s Resorts. The passport is $35.
BTW, Ski Utah is giving away a Yeti Pass to the person who best represents waiting for winter. Don’t forget to tag @SkiUtah and use #WaitingForWinter in your social media posts.
Tecnica Blizzardand Keely’s Camp for Girls want to send two girls to ski camp. I wish I was 15; I’d be all over this. Hopefully, by the time Sage is old enough she can find a scholarship this cool. The 3rd Annual Girl on Fire sponsorship program is serving up equipment and training for two motivated and committed female skiers. One alpine racer and one big mountain free rider who show dedication and a passion for skiing both on and off the hill will score two pairs of Blizzard skis, one pair of Tecnica boots and a 2015 spot to race or freeride at Keely’s Camp.
Tecnica Blizzard athlete and U.S. Ski Team alumni, Keely Kelleher, founded Keely’s Camp for Girls to “empower, inspire, educate, and connect the next generation of girls in skiing.” It started for young racers but has since embraced big mountain girls as well. Those camps are open to intermediate and higher level females, ages 10 to 17. They get video analysis, avalanche awareness, gift bags from sponsors, Blizzard powder ski demos, and the chance to be coached by big mountain pros, Olympians, and ski racing champions. There’s a mini competition for prizes on the last day. The custom freeride and race camps bring some of the best all female, Olympic and world class coaches to Mt Hood, Ore., Alta, Utah, and Big Sky, Mont.
Girls ages 13 to 18 can actually win a spot to this camp (and the swag) through the Girl on Fire Contest. But it’s not a sweeps. They’ll need to write in 250 words or less their future goals in skiing, involvement in their community, and what it would mean to be a ‘Girl on Fire’. A winner will be announced Nov. 16, 2015, so enter ASAP; it’s not too late.
Even if you don’t win the sponsorship you can still sign up for a camp. The Alta Big Mountain sesh April 9-10, 2016, should be ultra cool. Not only are you ripping Alta but April still holds some of the best Wasatch powder days around. The price is $425 for the activities and coaching. Tickets and lodging are separate.
Follow along:
FB: @keelys ski camp for girls
@tecnicanorthamerica
@blizzardnorthamerica
Twitter/Instagram:
@KeelysCamp
@TecnicaBlizzard
Hastags:
#girlsmovingmountains
#takeyouthere
Talk about time sneaking up on you. Feels like just a few months ago we were debating whether the Mountain Collective should be the only pass you purchase. The first big deadline to buy a season pass before a hefty price increase, rolls in after Labor Day. If you’re thinking about pulling the trigger, do it sooner rather than later. No reason to lose any more of your hard extra money.
A lot will go into your decision to purchase a season pass but make sure you do the math. Figure out how many days you might ski this coming winter. Be realistic. Last year was one of the worst ever. Folks who normally skied 60+ days were only booting up 30-40. If you think you’ll average about 20-25, consider buying ticket books or something like the $150 Alta Gold Card that gets you half-off lift tickets and it’s got RFID so it’s straight to the lifts just like you would with a pass.
At Solitude, you can buy a 10-Pak ticket book for $500. Whatever days you don’t use roll over to next season. Be aware that there’s no more ‘cherry picking’ your days now that Deer Valley is running the joint. Solitude used to sell a multi-ride pass that was not only unique but effective. You could buy, say, 30 ‘rides’ and then ski only three runs a day and make it last for 10 days. Gone.
Here are some figures to help with your decision; in ascending order. FYI, there are less expensive midweek options in addition to the ticket packages available at all of the resorts, so click on the individual areas for the full rundown:
Prices rise Oct. 31, 2015
Adult Unlimited = $529
Junior Unlimited (ages 6-12) = $209
Students Unlimited (ages 13-18) = $259
College Unlimited = $439
Adult = $740
Young Adult (ages 7-21) = $300
Family Pass (2 Adults and 2 K-12 – each additional K-12 $100) = $1620
Prices rise September 7, 2015
Adult Premier (age 27-64) = $749
Adult Value Pass (age 27-64) = $549
Young Adult Premier (age 19-26) = $499
Teen Premier (age 13-18) = $299
Youth Premier (age 7-12) = $199
Child Value (ages 6 & under) = $10
The Value passes have holiday blackouts and do not come with the Powder Alliance benefit.
Park City Mountain/Canyons at Park City
Full Adult Epic = $769
Epic Pass Child = $399
Epic Local Pass Adult = $579 Epic Local Pass Teen = $459
Epic Local Pass Child = $299
Cheapest option for Utahns in school, and who only want to ski Park City-
Park City Youth Pass College = $399
Park City Youth Pass Teen = $309
Park City Youth Pass Child = $289
FYI- There are blackout dates on the Epic Local- Vail, Beaver Creek, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, & Kirkwood restricted: 11/27/15-11/28/15, 12/26/15-12/31/15, 1/16/16, 2/13/16-2/14/16.
Prices rise after 9/16/15
Brighton bucked a forever trend by actually REDUCING pass prices this season.
Adult (ages 24+) = $799
Young Adult (ages 17-23) = $499
Youth (ages 11-Grade 12) = $299
Kids 10 and under Free!
Adult Season Pass = $849
Young Adult (Age 18-23) = $529
Junior (ages 13-17) = $319
Youth (ages 7-12) – $219
Big Cottonwood Pass (valid at both Brighton and Solitude)
Adult – $1,199
Young Adult (18-23) – $839
Junior (7-17) – $479
Kids 6 and under ski free
Alta*
Adult: $999 ($1,119 after 9/30/15)
Mid Week Pass (Monday-Friday): $799
Ages 18-25: $599 ($1,199 after 9/30/15)
Utah College Student / College Spouse: $599
Kids 7-12: $159; 13-17: $199
The best deal by far if you can wrangle a gang together is the Family Season Pass Package (2 Adults / 2 Children): $1,999 ($2,229 after 9/30.15)- you’re basically getting two free kids’ passes!
Prices rise 9/10/15
Adult Passes Unlimited = $999 ($1,199); Chairs Only = $799 ($1,099)
Young Adult (Ages 18-25) Unlimited = $659 ($729); Chairs Only = $449 ($599)
College Student Passes Unlimited = $659 ($729); Chairs Only = $449 ($599)
Childs Pass (Ages 7-18) Unlimited = $349 ($438); Chairs Only = $279 ($369)
Kids under 6 = $25
Alta / Snowbird Passes (Skiers Only)
Adult Unlimited = $1,399 ($1,599)
Young Adult Unlimited = $1,148 ($1,348)
Senior Unlimited = $1,148 ($1,348)
Family 4-Pack (2 Adults + 2 K-12) with Unlimited Tram & Chairs = $1999 (after 9/10- $2,399); Chairs Only = $1599 ($1,999)
Prices rise after 10/31/15
Adult (Ages 24-64) = $2085
Young Adult (Ages 18-23) = $1295
Teen (Ages 13-17) = $890
Child (Ages 5-12) = $535
DV passholders also get four tickets to Solitude, three tickets to Snowbird and three to Alta (skiers only)
*Those who purchase a Snowbird or Alta pass early also receive the Benefit of the Wasatch (3 tix to Alta or Snowbird, and 3 tix to Deer Valley) and the Mountain Collective for 50% off tickets at: Aspen|Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Mammoth, Lake Louise/Sunshine Village, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Valley, Stowe, Taos, Thredbo. Alta passholders get an additional 50% off tickets at Homewood, Red Lodge, Wachusett Mountain, and Bridger Bowl.