Season pass question

[gmcunni]

in all seriousness, can someone with good organizational skills and follow through (this excludes me) setup a MAGIC/AZ day this coming season?

 

[mondeo]

Last year.

Ok, only date I could pick off from that was 2/27.

Everywhere looked like that, snow-wise, that day.

I'm not going to say Killington is as good or better than Magic when it's dumping, or that it has better terrain. But in freeze/thaw cycles, droughts, and early and late season, all that terrain goes to waste if you can't maintain it. Groomers are better than nothing when everything else is glazed over an inch thick, and with snowmaking you can actually turn hardpack bumps into powder bumps. Check out any of the Killington TRs from January through mid-February last year. Manmade powder bumps all the time.

Possible epicness isn't a major basis for a season pass decision, in my book. Consistency is. At $130, though, I will give combining a Magic pass with another mountain as a legitimate route if he can swing the extra dough. (Because my approval means so much to everybody.)

 

[RustyGroomer]

I will get with Matt (MTL76?) here & set something up. But you all have an open invite to come ski. Send me a note, post something, find me, whatever. I rarely miss a weekend, holiday, or powder day. Although I missed the biggie last year. Feel free to rub it in roark.uke:

 

[mondeo]

Also, for the record, I wouldn't expect anybody to fully believe me about Killington conditions, the Rusty or Roark about Magic, Greg/Brian about Sundown, BMM about Sugarbush, etc. We all have our biases.

 

[RustyGroomer]

Ok, only date I could pick off from that was 2/27.

Everywhere looked like that, snow-wise, that day.

You'll have to take mine & roark's word for it. We did not get a ton of snow but got it every time we needed it. It was incredibly consistent all year. There was only one bad weekend (Ironically when I skied w/a Boston Globe repoter!) & even then it bounced back for the next.

Edit: For the record mondeo, i'm certainly not knocking Killington. Just trying to tell people Magic had a much better snow year than most think. I can't say why, maybe lack of skiers perserved it a bit, good timing of snowfall? No core shots whatsoever last year for me which is something I cannot remember.

 

[mondeo]

Edit: For the record mondeo, i'm certainly not knocking Killington. Just trying to tell people Magic had a much better snow year than most think. I can't say why, maybe lack of skiers perserved it a bit, good timing of snowfall? No core shots whatsoever last year for me which is something I cannot remember.

It was at least a consistently cold year. It may very well be that while at the major resorts, a freeze/thaw and a week without snow have the same end result while at a low traffic area like Magic, as long as it's cold the snow stays decent. Meanwhile, everybody experiencing a crappy winter everywhere else because of lack of snowfall extrapolates it to Magic - it's bad here, imagine Magic where they don't make snow. For a while Killington was getting a couple inches a night, that goes a lot further when you shut down mid-week.

 

[mondeo]

Also, Killington's looking for season pass reps at colleges, UMass included. Check their FB page.

Nice timing for that post.

 

[skiNEwhere]

thanks for all your reply's

I'm def gonna go with the magic college season pass, not sure what i'm gonna add on top of that yet though

 

[riverc0il]

My suggestion is going to be a little different than most suggestions on here but I think it is definitely the best option: Stowe. If you are a college student, their rates are indeed the highest college pass in New England but their college pass is almost as cheap as any other mountain's adult season pass. You only get to take advantage of that type of deal for a limited amount of time, so go for it. 3 hours from Amherst is definitely a day trip, IMO.

OR how about the Magic pass AND the Triple Major (Jay, MRG, Bolton). You hinted that you were considering both Jay and MRG. If you are a college student, you don't have to choose and you get the Bolton option as well if you want. MRG is a little over 3 hours. Jay about 3 3/4. And Magic for your local option. Probably same price for both of these as one Stowe pass.

Magic pass for sure for that cheap. They are working on the snow making this summer but even with the upgrades, you still can't expect early season and mid to late season is entirely in Ma Nature's hands. Something else for a sure shot in case of bad weather wouldn't hurt.

 

[threecy]

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?

If you want to get in the maximum amount of skiing possible, Berkshire East would be your best bet. It's the closest full time ski area to Amherst and is something you can drive up to after work or school (less than an hour drive...I could get up there in 45 minutes when I went to UMass Amherst).

$439 gets you 7 days a week, mid December through mid March (weekends early Dec. and late March), and 4 nights a week, January-mid March. By the time Berkshire closes for the season, the larger guys up north are discounting their day tickets.

No seeded bump runs, but legit expert terrain (similar vertical to the North Face at Mt. Snow), variety of tree skiing, and generally small lift lines. Significant off season work being done to upgrade the snowmaking system as well (in conjunction with the installation of a wind tower) - top of the line SMI Polecat snowguns now line the major main mountain trails.

 

[roark]

Good mention of BEast, somehow I always forget... something just seems wrong about driving south to ski!

 

[bvibert]

Berkshire East is a fun place to ski, especially if they're improving their snowmaking. When the natural terrain is open it's really nice, lots of glades and old school type trails.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Not to hijack this thread, but while reading this it just dawned on me, I am going back to college on the 30th of this month....so where should I get my college pass at? It's amazing that this just dawned on me now. So I guess this might be the only benefit of losing my job and deciding to go the college route again. Hey it's only been 10 years since I finished my last degree.:-D

I think I already have my answer, but I figured I would throw it out there. My wife and I live in Claremont, NH so we are pretty close to everywhere. Right now I am leaning towards the SOS pass. I have never carved at Okemo, Stratton or Sunapee, but have not heard really positive things in regards to terrain and snow. I would consider myself an advanced free ride boarder and previously have had a Killington pass, but my wife hates the drive these days (she use to live and work at Killington). I also noticed that Sunapee has the New Hampshire Pass, which includes Gunstock (would probably never go), but Wildcat peaked my intrest (never been). So what other options are out there? Also what is Wildcat like? Thanks and again sorry for the hijacking of this thread.

 

[skiNEwhere]

I haven't been to wildcat in years, but IMHO its the best place in NH to ski, a lot of challenging terrain, or at least challenging to look good going down

 

[Glenn]

Snow is good bet based on travel. I've ridden the chair with a few folks from Amherst. I think they take route 2 to 91? I dunno...it's been a long time since I've been to that part of Western Mass.

I ski Snow weekly. It's not as "big" as some of the other mountains, but between goomers, bumps, glads and terrain parks, there's plenty to keep you interested.

 

[drjeff]

I ski Snow weekly. It's not as "big" as some of the other mountains, but between goomers, bumps, glads and terrain parks, there's plenty to keep you interested.

I think you also forgot one of Mount Snow's most significant attributes when it comes to getting a pass there Glenn, DEPENDABLE snow quality from a usual mid-early November opening until a late April close!

And that doesn't even get into such awesome intangible qualities there, like you and I and a few other AZ'ers there as regulars

 

[Glenn]

We do have a helluva a crew up there!

Hey! Brewfest next weekend! wooo!

 

[speden]

I also noticed that Sunapee has the New Hampshire Pass, which includes Gunstock (would probably never go), but Wildcat peaked my intrest (never been).

Man, I wish they offered that NH College Breakout Pass to non-students. I ski most often at Sunapee and Gunstock, and could probably make it up to Wildcat a few times a year too, so that would have been a good pass for me.

Sunapee and Gunstock are probably best for intermediates, but an advanced skier could probably find a few trails they like too. If you're in Claremont that looks super close to Sunapee. For only $259 that seems like it would be a good deal for you. Plus as a student, you'd probably be able to go skiing on weekdays when Sunapee is not too busy.

 

[bigbog]

Think I'd get some AT-function bindings on those Pontoons....

 

[Black Phantom]

Man, I wish they offered that NH College Breakout Pass to non-students. I ski most often at Sunapee and Gunstock, and could probably make it up to Wildcat a few times a year too, so that would have been a good pass for me.

Sunapee and Gunstock are probably best for intermediates, but an advanced skier could probably find a few trails they like too. If you're in Claremont that looks super close to Sunapee. For only $259 that seems like it would be a good deal for you. Plus as a student, you'd probably be able to go skiing on weekdays when Sunapee is not too busy.

That is why it is called a "College Pass".