re: 2018-2019 Season Long Ski Thread

Summit county getting dumped on today! Concerned about travel so I ditched the rental car and just got a shuttle. I70 in a snowstorm is not a place my coonass needs to be. HAHA. Big powder day tomorrow!!!!!

11” last night in keystone

Well I got boned with no fresh powder, but finding some fun in Whistler/Blackcomb alpine and bc

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The Ikon pass has overwhelmed ski resorts in the west. A lot of hate from locals wherever you go.

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Public enemy #1 in Jackson.

Scarlet Letter of Jackson

People always find something to bitch about.

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People always find something to bitch about.

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This is undeniably true in mountain towns, especially. And Jackson locals are the worst about it -- "Jackson sucks, tell your friends."

However....

Jackson Hole Season Pass-holders pay anywhere from $1300 (discount through local businesses) to $2200 for a 2018/2019 pass. We get zero reciprocal benefits at any Ikon resorts on our pass.

There is nothing the Ikon Pass has done to benefit the average Jackson Hole local. There's been non-holiday weekends where up to 40% of total passes scanned at JHMR were Ikon Passes. Parking lots at the village regularly reach capacity. Traffic getting from the village into town can take an hour to two from 3:30-5:00pm on some days.

I try to stay away from the typical "jaded-mountain-town-local" attitude, and realize I'm still incredibly lucky to ski nearly every day at a world-class ski resort, but I would not be upset if Jackson Hole slipped off the Ikon Pass sometime soon.

Unfortunately, there are rumors that we've been sold to Alterra, the parent company of the Ikon Pass, so it's not looking good.

I would be more upset at Jackson Hole the resort for selling out. The people are just buying the service offered to them.

Is there a reason you bought a Jackson hole pass for double rather than the Ikon(not bashing, just curious)?
Take a look at A Basin. They are doing the opposite. They just broke off from Epic to do their own gig. More resorts should go this route IMO.

Another storm hitting wed-fri. Skiing at Powder Mountain, Utah this week. Great snow and no lift lines.

I don’t blame a single Ikon Pass holder. I would buy it if it worked in my favor. I was an Epic pass holder when it made sense for me. I do blame the mountain. No one else. I’ve told that to any Ikon Passer I’ve encountered where the discussion came up. But I’ve also explained why everyone is hating on it.

We can’t buy the Ikon Pass because it only gets you a max of 7 days at Jackson. Works perfectly for those visiting, but doesn’t work as a season pass.

As far as ABasin, I was so stoked to see them not renew their contract with Vail. My buddy had hinted that was happening to me this time last year. I am a big fan of ABasin. I was a weekday pass holder there last season for $219. Unbelievably cheap. Steep skiing with amazing hike-to terrain plus a parking lot you can ski to. I’m the biggest ABasin fan you can meet.

I’m told Ikon has a three year contract. If that’s true, then I would expect exponential growth next year, and even worse congestion.

There isn’t a lot the resort can do to build out to handle demand. I figure you need a three roundabout junction at 390 and 22. And another roundabout at the entrance to the village. Then you need to expand parking, but with hydraulic pressure, you can’t build an underground garage. And I don’t see them approving an above ground option.

How much of the land around the resort is theirs to use for lot expansion?

I’ve heard mixed things about revenue too, oddly. The Moose is only up 5% apparently?