Ikon Pass

raisingarizona · Aug 28, 2018

KustyTheKlown said:
smuggs is gonna be vail's one day. its gotta be. they will interconnect and revamp smuggs' lifts and make the premier eastern mega resort separated by the best lift accessed backcountry in vermont.

i am hopeful that ikon adds jay. even in receivership. seems to be a nice way for them to guarantee some revenue and new visitors, even if its just for one year. even better if alterra is the ultimate buyer. just no vail please.

pretty happy about solitude. right now my western agenda is 6-7 days winter park in december, 3 days copper in january, 9-10 days in uth in february, and silverton/monarch 4 days in late march/early april

I want to see that. It’s gonna be the biggest skiing in the east then, nothing can top that combination of terrain, classic New England ski town, snowfall and side country access.

cdskier · Aug 29, 2018

raisingarizona said:
I want to see that. It’s gonna be the biggest skiing in the east then, nothing can top that combination of terrain, classic New England ski town, snowfall and side country access.

Good luck ever getting approval to physically interconnect the resorts. I just don't see that part happening.

robocop · Aug 29, 2018

Great news for east coast skiers!! Access to Loon, Sunday River, and Sugarloaf just tripled! Ikon announced that you can now ski each resort 5(base pass)/7(full pass) days, rather than a combined total as it was before. Ikon also added Snowqualamie, Cypress, and the Boyne resorts in Michigan.

deadheadskier · Aug 29, 2018

cdskier said:
Good luck ever getting approval to physically interconnect the resorts. I just don't see that part happening.

+1

Outside of a return to a basic trail connection like once was, I just don't see it happening.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using AlpineZone mobile app

Edd · Aug 29, 2018

robocop said:
Great news for east coast skiers!! Access to Loon, Sunday River, and Sugarloaf just tripled! Ikon announced that you can now ski each resort 5(base pass)/7(full pass) days, rather than a combined total as it was before.

That was the biggest reason I passed on it. Kudos to them for addressing a clear flaw in the eastern offerings but I’ve missed out on the early price. Still, it’s a good deal if you’re certain to head west.

TheArchitect · Aug 29, 2018

deadheadskier said:
+1

Outside of a return to a basic trail connection like once was, I just don't see it happening.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using AlpineZone mobile app

The only issue is the environmental impact, I assume? I don't know if there are other issues. I've never followed what it typically takes to get this kind of thing approved.

abc · Aug 29, 2018

cdskier said:
Good luck ever getting approval to physically interconnect the resorts. I just don't see that part happening.

But Stowe and Smug is already "physically" connected. It's only logistic that prevents people from skiing back and forth (reciprocal lift ticket agreement).

My guess is Smugg wouldn't sell. Or it would have already happened.

So yes, I agree it will happen one day.

Edd said:
That was the biggest reason I passed on it. Kudos to them for addressing a clear flaw in the eastern offerings but I’ve missed out on the early price. Still, it’s a good deal if you’re certain to head west.

Those added days could tip the balance for some who only ski the east.

KustyTheKlown · Aug 29, 2018

robocop said:
Great news for east coast skiers!! Access to Loon, Sunday River, and Sugarloaf just tripled! Ikon announced that you can now ski each resort 5(base pass)/7(full pass) days, rather than a combined total as it was before. Ikon also added Snowqualamie, Cypress, and the Boyne resorts in Michigan.

makes total sense and is awesome. but where do you see thsi already announced?

crystalmountainskier · Aug 29, 2018

KustyTheKlown said:
makes total sense and is awesome. but where do you see thsi already announced?

https://www.alterramtnco.com/news/2018/08/29/regional-access-and-boyne-announcement

KustyTheKlown · Aug 29, 2018

beautiful. so glad crystal is back and the new england access basically doubled.

speden · Aug 29, 2018

That's excellent news that they tripled the days at Loon, SR, and Sugarloaf. They must have realized their east coast offering was a little thin after Epic added unlimited days at Okemo and Sunapee. Looks like Boyne is going to be a strong partner for Alterra. But I hope this doesn't mean Alterra is done adding northeast resorts for this season.

cdskier · Aug 29, 2018

TheArchitect said:
The only issue is the environmental impact, I assume? I don't know if there are other issues. I've never followed what it typically takes to get this kind of thing approved.

I suppose you could say environment impact is the "only issue", however it is a monumental issue considering it would involve crossing or running along the Long Trail between the two resorts on state forest land.

abc said:
But Stowe and Smug is already "physically" connected. It's only logistic that prevents people from skiing back and forth (reciprocal lift ticket agreement).

My guess is Smugg wouldn't sell. Or it would have already happened.

So yes, I agree it will happen one day.

When people say Vail buying Smuggs would allow Stowe/Smuggs to become a "mega resort", a physical connection via hiking is not what they are typically referring to. If people want to consider hiking access between the two as being "physically connected", then sure, that part could easily happen one day when Smuggs decides to sell. What people like myself and DHS mean when we say it will never happen is that we mean an actual lift between the two would never happen. Without a lift between the two, they will never be considered a "mega resort" by most people as it is logistically very challenging to get from one to the other. Hiking access is something only a small percentage of people would be interested in. Sure many people on here wouldn't mind that, but to most skiers unless there's an actual lift, they wouldn't consider a Stowe/Smuggs combo as one resort even if they had the same ownership.

KustyTheKlown · Aug 29, 2018

ugh i misread cypress as crystal

BenedictGomez · Aug 29, 2018

cdskier said:
Good luck ever getting approval to physically interconnect the resorts. I just don't see that part happening.

Shouldn't be too hard IMO. The same party that the environmentalists unilaterally support (this is key) is the same party that will receive the $$$ necessary to make it happen. Vermont is politically one of the top-five most corrupt states in America. You're either overthinking this or putting too much faith in the "virtue" of politicians.

cdskier said:
it is logistically very challenging to get from one to the other.

It is logistically very simple to get from one to the other. I've done it both on skis & via foot probably a combined few hundred times. How many times have you done it?

Edd · Aug 29, 2018

KustyTheKlown said:
ugh i misread cypress as crystal

Yup, that’s a bit different [emoji16]

FBGM · Aug 29, 2018

Best deal out there.

Blow me Vail. Blow me Peaks

speden · Aug 29, 2018

If they would just add 5 night skiing days at the Wachusett ice capades I'd be all set. Come on Alterra, throw Boston skiers a bone.

BenedictGomez · Aug 29, 2018

So it does seem like Alterra is trying to out-Vail, Vail.

https://unofficialnetworks.com/2018...222098721&mc_cid=bf108b2310&mc_eid=7dda217ebc

cdskier · Aug 29, 2018

BenedictGomez said:
Shouldn't be too hard IMO. The same party that the environmentalists unilaterally support (this is key) is the same party that will receive the $$$ necessary to make it happen. Vermont is politically one of the top-five most corrupt states in America. You're either overthinking this or putting too much faith in the "virtue" of politicians.

You're vastly under-estimating the environmental challenges and restrictions. This isn't about politics. In particular, that specific area between Spruce Peak and Smuggs is already designated as a "Highly Sensitive Area" in the Mt Mansfield State Forest Long Range Management plan. I have a better chance of winning the lottery than of any significant development happening along that route.

It is logistically very simple to get from one to the other. I've done it both on skis & via foot probably a combined few hundred times. How many times have you done it?

I was referring to non-hiking methods which should have been quite clear from my entire comment. My very next sentence in fact said hiking is a method that would not appeal to most people in order for it to be considered a single "mega" resort.

BenedictGomez · Aug 29, 2018

cdskier said:
I was referring to non-hiking methods which should have been quite clear from my entire comment. My very next sentence in fact said hiking is a method that would not appeal to most people in order for it to be considered a single "mega" resort.

Well I still dont know what you mean, because skiing it is even easier than hiking it.

From Stowe to Smuggs it's downhill and if you keep your speed you can make it basically gliding the entire way. From Smuggs to Stowe it requires some light xc skiing over a small section of the pond & then a few hundred feet of uphill skating, but it's not a big deal at all for anyone Intermediate or higher. I dont see why you think this is so "very challenging" of an ordeal. Have you ever done it?

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