Ski2Live Live2Ski

Vail has said plan for next year is no reservations. For all the complaints about the reservation system, I have gotten 15 days at Epic hills in so far - all on weekends and holidays - everyone at the hill I most wanted to ski on that day. And with the rebate they gave me due to last year's shortened season, that come out to only $40/day if the season ended today. I have also generally been able to switch resorts with no issue a few days in advance, at times with some persistence required. Just yesterday I noticed that the forecast for Sunday at Hunter is for a high of 3 and a low of neg 10 at summit (a balmy neg 7 at base) so I changed my reservation to Roundtop for Sat. Really the only complaint I have had so far is with the length of lines at Jack Frost 16 days ago when they had the East mountain still closed. But I have faced way worse lines at Blue (though lines are more worth it for runs twice as long).

I'd say Peak and then Epic pass pricing has driven down what Blue can charge as - apart from folks who live within ~an hour of Blue - they need to offer a price that is attractive compared to the price of a pass that includes NY and VT options in addition to a PA option (Western options less relevant since Covid has folks reluctant to fly). If I were Blue, I would wait to see Epic price point (and Ikon's if they add a PA option) before setting their price - which needs to be at least $200 less to be attractive.

I believe they were announced Feb 2 and on sale Feb 10

It was surprising last year that Blue let people get passes ahead of President's Day. Makes more sense after that chunk of change is banked.

Personally my first choice development would be for Ikon to add Camelback. I prefer CB to Blue (easier to avoid lift lines and more easily accessible from highway in snowy conditions) and would like to switch from Epic to Ikon to have a different selection of mountains open to me starting in a month or so. And more likely to happen as CB offered a deal on Ikon passes to their passholders last year. But I will see what the options are and make my call. Barring any new PA resorts joining Ikon or Epic, I think ORDA looks most appealing.

When we first got ours in March 2019 for 19-20 we were able to use it right away. I got 3 uses in March 2019, the first one being March 17. It was a nice change as we had 1 mountain passes (Blue) that season.

We are one week away from the day Blue announced their pass prices and on sale date (we are 15 days away from that) last year. And of course buying a different pass for next skison often opens up new ski options for the remainder of this one.

I know you are all still caught up in skiing and stuff, but we are only a few weeks away from "analyze the best pass options for next skison and consider picking one that will broaden your options for the rest of next year" season. I know you are all waiting with baited breath. Not really considering single mountain passes any more, but Ikon, Epic, ORDA, Indy are all contenders and who knows what new options could emerge.

I would expect if Blue did join Epic or Ikon it would likely do the following: 1. Increase crowds at Blue 2. Increase pass prices (I expect them to go up sharply anyway given increase in day prices) 2. End VIP lines - VIP is one of very few resorts may have them and mountains on Epic pass (don't know about Ikon) tend to homogenize operations. So if I were a Blue pass holder I would only be rooting for it if I hoped to do a substantial part of my skiing at places other than Blue. For myself I would be likely to next year get whichever of Ikon or Epic added Blue - as I prefer Blue to the current PA options on Epic (or the lack of any on Ikon).

I'm not saying it is likely, just that it is more likely than Vail purchasing Blue to have a 6th PA Hill which would only slightly strengthen the advantage they already have with mid-atlantic skiers. I expect Alterra is strongly looking at adding a PA Hill to make Ikon more competitive with Epic for folks for whom Windham is too far to day trip (i.e., residents of PA, Baltimore, DC, DE and NJ). I expect Camelback is their most likely partner as they already have done some cross promotion with Ikon (discounted Ikon pass was available with Camelback pass purchase last season).

I'd say Blue is much more likely to become an Ikon participant. Vail: - Already has 5 PA resorts - Does not seem to value any of those 5 that heavily based on how they have been operating them. - has reported cash flow issues this season, which make acquisitions less likely. I'm sure Alterra is also having cash flow issues, but their model does not involve purchasing every Ikon member mountain like Vail's does with Epic.

Thanks for the info. Saw people doing the "over the edge" and emerging unscathed today. No fresh snow but a solid base.

Gave a few looks over the edge. It looked awfully slick. I passed.

Crowds at JF weren't bad today and conditions are nice - including Happy Land. Elevator is open and folks were skiing it successfully.

Maybe just give the topic copping a rest since you engage in free flowing conversation too

Frost closes at 4. Take it to the Blue thread. 🙂

Got that 1/30 reservation so in for Hunter both days that weekend.

Hallelujah - 4 years of Bluebird days on deck

I've been trying to get 1/30 (have 1/31) but oddly 1/30 still not open for pass holders

Howard Johnson just off NYS Thruway exit 20 is a good deal less than 30 min away. Can usually book it on a Sat night for ~$90. Or one exit (10 min) south there are places in Kingston for ~$70

D lift from base is a double that goes up 900' vertical and you can ski down 400' from there and get 1000' F Iift to summit. And never a crowd on North Side express lift (900') or West side lift (if open) (1300'). Worst line I have waited in following that approach is 10 min on F lift at peak times. Main 6 pack lift is the most efficient route up from ~8-9 and ~3-4.

They might re-evaluate availability once a day - hope it opens up for ya

Salty - Message me your phone # and I will text you when I cancel. May give it a day or two to see if forecast changes.

Not sure how it works, but I would think their first choice would be to collect some cash.

My life is in quarantine when not skiing. Working from home and kids schooling from home.