Ski2Live Live2Ski

Definitely ski a lot more challenging stuff now than I did in my 20s, though I find it less challenging. I did start wearing a helmet when I became a father

They are psyched for NY, VT, NH

To me even Hunter is a night and day difference. The runs are 50% longer, there are way more skiable trees, natural bumps rather than seeded ones, and the double blacks on Hunter west challenge me - while there is nothing at Blue that challenges me unless it is because it gets scraped to ice. It will be a nice way to keep the girls skills progressing.

I think Hunter, Mt Snow (and I expect, though I have not been there) Wildcat and Attitash are all significantly better skiing than Blue, and like having Frost for when we dont want to drive more, and BB for some local April turns.

Mt Creek is further than Blue for me.

I dont like skiing at Mt Creek. My first choice is Peak Pass. Let's see where we come out.

For us the difference with the Ikon base is it would save us $380 but limit us to 5 days at each of the 3 VT areas. Kids ranked CB as their least favorite of the options, so it got voted off the island, tiki torch and all

Kids need to be consulted further tonight now that I have roughed out a calendar of where we would ski when each season with each option. I have also ruled out Ikon base pass, so our three options are Peak Ikon standard Montage

Healthy blood pressure, though Luke Perry spooked me as a seemingly healthy guy younger than me dropping dead from sudden natural causes

Epic out of the running. Even their local pass would cost us $90 more than the full Ikon pass. And I would rather have Stratton/Killington/Sugarbush as my VT options than only Okemo (the only VT option on Epic local). They both have great options in Rockies so that isn't a factor. So choosing between Ikon, Peak and Montage at this point - and most likely we will do one of the passes not "option 7" as the kids are with me both winter long weekends next year, when PS&R cards and the BOGOs we get with their season rentals are blacked out.

They did away with it.

Could be fun to do a western trip with you guys some time definitely

Peak released its pass info today and I am leaning towards that. It would cost $1427 for 3 unlimited passes, but we probably would not make a full family Western trip - which would save a major chunk of that (I might still make a trip with a buddy). Most likely the plan would be Winter and/or Spring break trip to Attitash/Wildcat, Mt. Snow on MLK and Presidents weekends (and any longer breaks we did not go to NH), and otherwise ski either Frost or Hunter, maybe checking out White Tail once. At only $70 more than ORDA for the 3 of us, it is a better deal than that because the Jack Frost option is attractive for when we want to drive less. Similarly the NY, VT, NH options make it worth paying $140 more than for Blue. Kids are not real into CB option so that is out. With Montage we would probably spend more in the end by taking some other trips to further destinations like NY, VT, CO. Still considering Ikon (and waiting to hear word re Epic), but I consider Peak the front runner at the moment.

Looks very cool thanks

At least I made a dedicated thread for it now so it wont bother those who dont care to read it

Best hotel options in Catskills are the chain hotels by the Thruway exits. The local hotels have seen better centuries.

The main differences with Ikon base - a lot of Mts you only get 5 days at - including all the VT options. So we would basically get 5 days each at Killington, Sugarbush and Stratton and also ski out West on the pass. - a lot of Mts have holiday black outs - including all the VT options. So it would force us to go to Rockies over winter break, and force us to pay for other lift tix MLK and Presidents weekends.

Yep Catskills sucks for hotels, as does Elk.

Catskills I may or may not use a hotel but it is a long day without one. Anywhere further requires hotel.

I don't see Montage as far enough that a hotel required, we would just use Hampton Inn there if we wanted to ski both days on a weekend, in which case my analysis would be the cost of the hotel was worth saving a RT drive

Peak is likely to be significantly more expensive than Blue. But the fact that it works for more challenging places that we would want to take weekend trips could make up for it. If we sprang for that, the trade off would likely be no Rockies trip for girls, just trips to VT and NH. Same would be true for ORDA pass. If they want a Rockies trip they should opt for Ikon, Montage, CB or #7

I really dont like Mtn Creek, while Inlike Montage a lot. So at $50 extra per person for M and ntage, that wins even with the extra drive.

About 50/50. At present one is leaning more towards the Ikon route and lots of weekend and longer trips to VT and CO, and the other is concerned that this means less grandparent time. Wont go that route unless they are both fully up for it. A compromise could be doing Ikon base pass for a smaller number of weekend trips and then also do some local skiing. But again only if both are fully up for it. I dont need to be springing for gas/planes/lodging for big ski trips and reducing grandparent time if both are not fully on board with it. They are both very pleased they are being consulted and helping to make the decision.

Options currently under consideration 1. Montage 2. Camelback Value 3. ORDA (pass for kids, I get Ski3 card) 4. Ikon Base and some PA skiing 5. Ikon Standard 6. Peak 7. PS&R cards/BOGOs/Liftopia, etc Blue having more than doubled their price for us from $597 to $1287 priced themselves out of consideration