Season pass question

[skiNEwhere]

I'm going to be living in Amherst, MA come September, I've never had a season pass before and I'm seriously considering getting one.

What resort would be the best value considering price of pass and amount of travel?

I love the bumps and glades, Jay is a little too far for a day/overnight trip though

I'm hoping to get a pass that includes more than one resort.

Suggestions????

 

[snowmonster]

You might want to get something in Southern VT. Magic would be on top of my list for great glades. I think the only multiple pass in that area is the Sunapee-Okemo-Stratton combo. Pricey and these resorts tend to groom a lot though they have the occasional bump run.

 

[Puck it]

I'm going to be living in Amherst, MA come September, I've never had a season pass before and I'm seriously considering getting one.

What resort would be the best value considering price of pass and amount of travel?

I love the bumps and glades, Jay is a little too far for a day/overnight trip though

I'm hoping to get a pass that includes more than one resort.

Suggestions????

I would suggest Mt Snow or Stratton. Much closer then anything else. Mt Snow wil give you Attitash and Stratton is hooked up with Okemo and Sunapee.

 

[skiNEwhere]

I'm thinking Mount Snow because it is only an hour and a half away, although I'm afraid I'll get bored of there terrain quickly. If that happens I'll have to work on honing my snowboarding skills, when I really wanna hone my bumps skills. I think you can only ski Ripcord so many times before it gets mundane.

I'm also considering MRG, although that'll be a borderline overnight trip.

What ever happened to the good old ASC? O yea....

 

[thetrailboss]

Depends on what kind of terrain you want to ski primarily. Snow is the first resort that comes to mind based on location. But if you ski Mad River and you mentioned "Jay," then Snow will get old fast. I second Magic....with the caveat that it is more au naturale than other options.

 

[thetrailboss]

Wow. Great minds think alike...re: Snow getting old fast.

Magic probably offers the gnarliest terrain south of Route 4.

 

[gmcunni]

I love the bumps and glades,

i'd spend the $389 for a season pass to Magic. if you get bored there (not likely if you are into bumps and glades) you'd still have plenty of cash left over to do day trips to other mountains.

 

[farlep99]

This is a no brainer. Magic. The college pass is like $129 or something close to that. If you like Jay & MRG you'll like Magic. Jay is my favorite place in NE, but being that it's practically in Canada, I go with Magic. It's a 4hr drive for me & it's the best skiing in S. Vermont (if you like trees, steeps)

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Might want to consider either Magic or Killington. You said MRG was borderline, well Killington will shave about and hour or so of and only add about 1/2 hour or 45 minutes longer then Mount Snow and Stratton. Plus with Killington you will get decent trees, bumps and variety.

 

[mondeo]

....with the caveat that it is more au naturale than other options.

Which is why I'd shy away from it as a season pass, but it's dependant on how often you'd want to ski. A season like last one, a pass to Magic wouldn't have been that great. Every weekend, probably better off getting a pass somewhere else and hitting Magic when it's good. Just going when it's good, a college pass to Magic would probably be worth it.

Bumps/glades/trees, I'd go Killington (and do.) Killington's probably only 1:45-2 hours away from Amherst, not a bad trip at all. Sugarbush might be another option to look at, I'd think it would be daytripable from Amherst and the pass is a little less than Killington (but cost is likely a wash at best after gas money.)

 

[RustyGroomer]

^^^ Are you kidding me? You guys are just begging me to post pics ain't ya?

Edit: page top, that was directed @ Mondeo.

 

[bvibert]

Another vote for Magic, especially if you can get a cheap college pass.

 

[RustyGroomer]

Last year.

Upper Magician was skied from New Years to closing day. All my years i've never seen it so good.

Now let's address this "Magic probably offers the gnarliest terrain south of Route 4 "

Magic pass is clearly the answer.

 

[roark]

I did the Mt. Snow/Magic combo for a few years. Last year it was just Magic & Crotched (close enough for nightskiing) + day tix/deals elsewhere. Mt Snow is bland and *crowded* on weekends. But so are most other options within a reasonable drive. Their snowmaking capacity is impressive and they offer a consistent product.

If you're a college student, the Magic pass is unbeatable. Even the regular pass is pretty darn reasonable. Q: do you want be able to ski midweek non-powder days? Magic's operating schedule could be a factor.

 

[bvibert]

I did the Mt. Snow/Magic combo for a few years. Last year it was just Magic & Crotched (close enough for nightskiing) + day tix/deals elsewhere. Mt Snow is bland and *crowded* on weekends. But so are most other options within a reasonable drive. Their snowmaking capacity is impressive and they offer a consistent product.

If you're a college student, the Magic pass is unbeatable. Even the regular pass is pretty darn reasonable. Q: do you want be able to ski midweek non-powder days? Magic's operating schedule could be a factor.

Good point, didn't think about the midweek thing...

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

when get bored...tele

 

[gmcunni]

if you are looking for other options in south VT i just noticed this.

College Pass with benefits at Okemo, Sunapee & Stratton now on sale for $279! Valid all season, no restrictions. But only through Oct 11th

http://www.okemo.com/okemowinter/ratesandrentals/specialdeals/collegedeals.asp

 

[roark]

Just re-read my post. It isn't nearly positive enough about Magic, especially since you seem to be interested in something other than groomers or icy scraped bumps. No brainer. If you'll get out regularly midweek add a Kmart or Snow (if offered? dunno) midweek pass.

 

[RustyGroomer]

Here's roark hating life on another crappy Magic day.

Check this vid out, ignore the zany antics in the beginning or have a laugh on me. Back to my comment about Upper Magician being the best i've ever skied it this past year. Those who have skied it or even just looked down it know the huge tombstome like rocks on it. Check my run @ 2:57. Not one rock poking through @ all.



This notion that last year was a crappy one blows my mind. Apologies if I sound like a broken record.

 

[roark]

This notion that last year was a crappy one blows my mind. Apologies if I sound like a broken record.

agreed. Maybe not as many powder days as one would hope for, but things generally stayed cold and helped preserve a good surface all season (no January thaw). I skied Magician more times last season in one weekend last season than any prior year.