2021-22 Season Passes

[Zermatt]

Big Sky and Jackson both need alternative lifts to the summit, waiting over an hour in line to ride a tram is ridiculous. I didn't even attempt to ride it at either place this year due to the lines. Jackson years ago had a lift to the summit then removed it once the new tram went in and I can't understand why they just didn't leave it.

On the other hand, I was told that Big Sky may install a larger tram car one day but they'll never add another lift to the summit. They want to keep the amount of people skiing the peak limited so this ploy may be around for a while. I think when they changed a majority of the trails up there a couple of years ago to triple blacks from doubles it was an attempt at cutting down the crowds but that obviously hasn't worked. Either way charging extra is a bad idea it's just going to piss customers off.

Snowbird does it right they have 2 lifts that get you to the peak in addition to the tram which is one of the reasons why we'll go back there next year instead.

Wasn't the Jackson summit lift temporary while they installed the new tram (no tram for 2 seasons)?

 

[Tonyr]

Wasn't the Jackson summit lift temporary while they installed the new tram (no tram for 2 seasons)?

Yes, wish it would have stayed permanent though.

 

[Tonyr]

If you have skied off the top of Lone Peak, then you know as it is now it can be boney as hell. That peak is not broad at the top, funneling most down one or two narrow paths and it gets dry snow and a ton of wind that shifts the snow around drastically. One year I was there, Otter Slide was completely bare the first two days and closed. Day three I am on the early Tram and the op says Otter Slide is open, which blew my mind as no new snow had fallen. I get up there and go over to it and low and behold, it is full of snow. Skied it and it skied great. I asked on the next ride as was told wind shifted and was strong overnight refilling the line. I cannot imagine what the Peak conditions would be like with a substantial increase in traffic similar to what Snowbird can deposit at its summit.

That said, I know a lift up Dakota to the top of Liberty Bowl terminating just below the Liberty fences has been talked about. I could see that, usually it is solid coverage below the fencing. For now I guess this is ok, will depend on Tram pack pricing when those come out in June.

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to ride the tram so I wouldn't know how conditions looked up there! It appears like more than anything increased traffic at the summit equals more liability for the resort. I'd still take a lift that gets you up the Liberty Bowl but is still below the summit.

 

[slatham]

Here it comes, cheap season passes but if you want to ride say Mt Snow Blue Bird ya gotta pay up. 4 runner quad. Jay Tram.

 

[Edd]

“Dang, I hate trams” is all I can think while reading these threads about long waits.

 

[machski]

“Dang, I hate trams” is all I can think while reading these threads about long waits.

Yes, but Lone Peak summit especially from the side the Tram climbs, really no option otherwise than a tram.

 

[ss20]

“Dang, I hate trams” is all I can think while reading these threads about long waits.

So do I but I had an incredible day at Jay a couple years ago where the Flyer was down for snowmaking so they only ran the Tram on that side (midweek of course). There was only an inch or two down from the night before but with so few people going up on the hill it was sweeeeeet. And a rare chance to lap that summit terrain all day. After an hour or so of skiing I was able to time my rides to correspond with the tram arriving/departing. And I think I only had to wait a cycle (due to people in front of me) once or twice.

 

[dblskifanatic]

So do I but I had an incredible day at Jay a couple years ago where the Flyer was down for snowmaking so they only ran the Tram on that side (midweek of course). There was only an inch or two down from the night before but with so few people going up on the hill it was sweeeeeet. And a rare chance to lap that summit terrain all day. After an hour or so of skiing I was able to time my rides to correspond with the tram arriving/departing. And I think I only had to wait a cycle (due to people in front of me) once or twice.

Well I have been on that same tram as winds started picking up. On the ride just before you get into the top terminal it started moving a lot. Then you look down and see the terrain being rocky and steep and you are fairly high up. The car was full and people were panicking. It was a scary moment. Keep in mind, Jay Peak was my feeder hill so I was used to going up on the tram and have often. But those Jay Peak winds .....

 

[KustyTheKlown]

if you think it is rocky and steep beneath the jay peak tram, you haven't ridden the lone peak tram. that shit is fucked.

 

[dblskifanatic]

if you think it is rocky and steep beneath the jay peak tram, you haven't ridden the lone peak tram. that shit is fucked.

No I have not! I can imagine any tram on a western peak would be crazy below. The Whistler Blackcomb tram must be crazy looking down as well.

 

[jaytrem]

Has this been posted yet. Was away all last week so not sure. Anyway, how not to ski the Big Sky Tram...

Watch: Skier Takes Slides For Life Down The Entire Big Couloir @ Big Sky Resort

Jerry Of The Day was sent some footage of a skier falling down the entire length of the Big @ Big Sky. "So my dad fell down the Big Couloir at Big Sky

unofficialnetworks.com

 

[KustyTheKlown]

No I have not! I can imagine any tram on a western peak would be crazy below. The Whistler Blackcomb tram must be crazy looking down as well.

 

[NYDB]

^When I was there last year they had a guy hanging off of cables in a safety harness at the top shoveling the tram entrances just below the top.

No thank you!!

 

[KustyTheKlown]

ya, and its so steep there arent even any towers, just two terminals'

look how small that one dude skiing the big c looks

 

[Smellytele]

Try the aguille de midi tram in chamonix!

 

[machski]

ya, and its so steep there arent even any towers, just two terminals'

look how small that one dude skiing the big c looks

Actually, any larger of a Tram and there would have been a support tower or two. Thus the reason for the small boxes, biggest they could do with unsupported cables. Can't imagine the cost to some how engineer a tower or two on that terrain.

 

[Dickc]

Well, pulled the trigger on a Boyne NEP Silver. For 65+, its a 50 dollar discount at $729. Felt I kind of had to as daughter works for Sunday River, so to ski with her I need that pass, and Loon is just over two hours from home too, and she would happily meet me there on one of her days off. I also went with the Epic Northeast Value pass. At $359, that is a really cheap, but good value option. Being on the Mass North Shore, there are reasonable number of nearby resorts to go ski with out driving three hours. Sunapee, Crotched, just under two hours, and in the 2 plus hour range, Wildcat, Attitash, and Short of three hours by a few minutes is Okemo And Snow. Might make one trip up to Stowe as I have not been there for 45 years, but not too sure of a 3.5 hour each way day trip.

 

[Killingtime]

Well, pulled the trigger on a Boyne NEP Silver. For 65+, its a 50 dollar discount at $729. Felt I kind of had to as daughter works for Sunday River, so to ski with her I need that pass, and Loon is just over two hours from home too, and she would happily meet me there on one of her days off. I also went with the Epic Northeast Value pass. At $359, that is a really cheap, but good value option. Being on the Mass North Shore, there are reasonable number of nearby resorts to go ski with out driving three hours. Sunapee, Crotched, just under two hours, and in the 2 plus hour range, Wildcat, Attitash, and Short of three hours by a few minutes is Okemo And Snow. Might make one trip up to Stowe as I have not been there for 45 years, but not too sure of a 3.5 hour each way day trip.

Cool. Just pulled the trigger on Epic Local. Gonna pair it with the Indy and do long weekends at resorts that are relatively close together. Attitash/Cannon Mt Snow/Magic Stowe/Bolton Sunapee /Waterville. I got used to doing a lot of driving this year and it really wasn't that bad. Just can't drink too much the night before. Hopefully the Indy line-up doesn't change much.

 

[dblskifanatic]

Cool. Just pulled the trigger on Epic Local. Gonna pair it with the Indy and do long weekends at resorts that are relatively close together. Attitash/Cannon Mt Snow/Magic Stowe/Bolton Sunapee /Waterville. I got used to doing a lot of driving this year and it really wasn't that bad. Just can't drink too much the night before. Hopefully the Indy line-up doesn't change much.

That is an interesting idea! I never would have thought of that. Now need to look into the Indy Pass.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

combining indy with a major pass is the obvious move. avoid saturdays and holidays at the worst crowded places. have a pass with no blackout dates. mountains in the east are small, there is no need to ski the same place two days in a row, and there are so many indy/ikon pairs that just make sense (bolton + sugarbush, stratton + magic, cannon + loon, saddleback + sugarloaf, etc).