Vail Resorts Decreases Epic Pass Prices by 20%

**Sirshredalot** · 03-24-2021, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by schindlerpiste

K12 im with you. For people in pc Epic and Ikon is a no brainer. Maybe it is just our unique situation. My next decision is Snowbird spring pass

Regarding masks, I will probably never ski without one again they are not that uncomfortable and they keep your face warm.

I would take the Woodward/Ikon in a heartbeat if it were offered and then I would ditch Epic. But I've been paying for Epic for the past few years and will continue to do so unless something changes.

With two little kids and a 9-5, I can't justify the cost of both Epic and Ikon.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

**johnnyg82** · 03-24-2021, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by grapedrink

Which is fucking fantastic, you get a seasons pass for less than before, and can take trips to Verbier/3V/St. Anton, Alta/Snowbird, Squaw, Jackson, Sunshine/LL and ski for free. Amazing value

Yeah, I’m definitely a fan

**stupendous_man** · 03-24-2021, 09:55 PM

is it worth buying this pass? seems like the consensus is either vail is fugged or they just want quick cash

**MakersTeleMark** · 03-24-2021, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by stupendous_man

is it worth buying this pass? seems like the consensus is either vail is fugged or they just want quick cash

No, Mark, it is not.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 03-24-2021, 10:11 PM

Damn, that's a good deal. My local pass costs almost that much, and comes with a shorter season and works at 0 other mountains. Must be nice to travel and not worry about lift tickets at day rate. That's what's stopping me mostly. Maybe.

**iriponsnow** · 03-25-2021, 05:10 AM

Originally Posted by stupendous_man

is it worth buying this pass? seems like the consensus is either vail is fugged or they just want quick cash

I think the towns with VR resorts are going to be fugged, as most lack the infrastructure to support MORE ppl in a compact 10 week window.

This is not an us/them or locals/city folks rant, you’re just not going to see EMS, Police, Hospitals, grocery stores, Fire, and water/sewer/streets/parking upscale for a 3 month window.

**SlidewaysShooter** · 03-25-2021, 05:42 AM

Originally Posted by iriponsnow

I think the towns with VR resorts are going to be fugged, as most lack the infrastructure to support MORE ppl in a compact 10 week window.

This is not an us/them or locals/city folks rant, you’re just not going to see EMS, Police, Hospitals, grocery stores, Fire, and water/sewer/streets/parking upscale for a 3 month window.

Vail lowering their pass prices is going to cause the infrastructure of towns to collapse? Does the pass now come with a new condo/home in those towns?

**iriponsnow** · 03-25-2021, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by SlidewaysShooter

Vail lowering their pass prices is going to cause the infrastructure of towns to collapse? Does the pass now come with a new condo/home in those towns?

Speaking from my perspective in Vermont, when you already have 110,000 people jamming into the state per weekend adding more is going to be the degrading of the infrastructure.

Communities in Killington experiencing sewer failures because individuals are packing 32 people into a house, hour plus waits at a traffic light in Ludlow, and Stowe access road now being a multi hour commute do not facilitate a quality mountain experience. Many of our service industry workers have bemoaned that absent their own automobiles, they are scouring for food because they cannot drive two hours to the nearest BJ’s. Fire departments are often volunteer & most towns actually ‘buy’ 30-40 hours per week of policing from the Sheriff or State Police absent municipal forces.

I welcome individuals to move to the state and buy condos or build houses because then the infrastructure will grow properly to the development.

**SlidewaysShooter** · 03-25-2021, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by iriponsnow

Speaking from my perspective in Vermont, when you already have 110,000 people jamming into the state per weekend adding more is going to be the degrading of the infrastructure.

Communities in Killington experiencing sewer failures because individuals are packing 32 people into a house, hour plus waits at a traffic light in Ludlow, and Stowe access road now being a multi hour commute do not facilitate a quality mountain experience. Many of our service industry workers have bemoaned that absent their own automobiles, they are scouring for food because they cannot drive two hours to the nearest BJ’s. Fire departments are often volunteer & most towns actually ‘buy’ 30-40 hours per week of policing from the Sheriff or State Police absent municipal forces.

I welcome individuals to move to the state and buy condos or build houses because then the infrastructure will grow properly to the development.

Is there a correlation between the rise of some of these infrastructure problems (outside of weekend traffic) and the prices of multi-mountain ski passes? I get we want to blame Vail for everything, but the issues you are mentioning to me, seem to extend well beyond the price of an epic pass. Tourism in VT has been pretty steadily rising since like 2011/12.. its not all epic passes.

Also it seems a bit hyperbolic to proclaim there are regular multi-hour commutes to/from stowe. How many times has that happened this season? And in a case like Stowe isn't summer actually the busiest tourist season?

**Benny Profane** · 03-25-2021, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by iriponsnow

Speaking from my perspective in Vermont, when you already have 110,000 people jamming into the state per weekend adding more is going to be the degrading of the infrastructure.

Communities in Killington experiencing sewer failures because individuals are packing 32 people into a house, hour plus waits at a traffic light in Ludlow, and Stowe access road now being a multi hour commute do not facilitate a quality mountain experience. Many of our service industry workers have bemoaned that absent their own automobiles, they are scouring for food because they cannot drive two hours to the nearest BJ’s. Fire departments are often volunteer & most towns actually ‘buy’ 30-40 hours per week of policing from the Sheriff or State Police absent municipal forces.

I welcome individuals to move to the state and buy condos or build houses because then the infrastructure will grow properly to the development.

Good points. And it's not as though these communities are thriving in any other ways. I've watched Rt. 4 leading up to Pico and Killington turn into a boarded up wasteland over the years, where there used to be motels and restaraunts servicing the business. My buddy owns a condo below Pico, and tells me not to leave any valuables exposed in my car because of break ins recently. The disparities have always been bad between tourists and locals (Russell Banks describes these places as towns skiers drive through on the way to fun), but I never saw junkies walking around like I've seen a few times this year.

**Benny Profane** · 03-25-2021, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by SlidewaysShooter

Is there a correlation between the rise of some of these infrastructure problems (outside of weekend traffic) and the prices of multi-mountain ski passes? I get we want to blame Vail for everything, but the issues you are mentioning to me, seem to extend well beyond the price of an epic pass. Tourism in VT has been pretty steadily rising since like 2011/12.. its not all epic passes.

Also it seems a bit hyperbolic to proclaim there are regular multi-hour commutes to/from stowe. How many times has that happened this season? And in a case like Stowe isn't summer actually the busiest tourist season?

The access road to Stowe backed up at least twice all the way to town the last two previous seasons on Saturday. This year, well, a lot of people respected Vermont restrictions.

Vermont sees less tourists off season than western resorts. Much less.

**glademaster** · 03-25-2021, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by Shredhead

I’m 115 days in and haven’t stood in more than a couple of lines all year. Yes, I will show up 30 minutes early on a big powder day, but that’s it.
I rarely even ride up with anyone, unless I know them.

Ikon stopped requiring reservations last week.
Highlands will be empty tomorrow.

Shh, nobody needs to know how good, err, shitty, it really is here.

**SlidewaysShooter** · 03-25-2021, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

The access road to Stowe backed up at least twice all the way to town the last two previous seasons on Saturday. This year, well, a lot of people respected Vermont restrictions.

Vermont sees less tourists off season than western resorts. Much less.

Do the number of sold epic passes increase the grade on Harlow Hill?

**Benny Profane** · 03-25-2021, 07:47 AM

They increase the amount of X5s filled with families trying to get up that hill in stop and go with 4 inches of snow and ice.

**iriponsnow** · 03-25-2021, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by SlidewaysShooter

Is there a correlation between the rise of some of these infrastructure problems (outside of weekend traffic) and the prices of multi-mountain ski passes? I get we want to blame Vail for everything, but the issues you are mentioning to me, seem to extend well beyond the price of an epic pass. Tourism in VT has been pretty steadily rising since like 2011/12.. its not all epic passes.

Also it seems a bit hyperbolic to proclaim there are regular multi-hour commutes to/from stowe. How many times has that happened this season? And in a case like Stowe isn't summer actually the busiest tourist season?

Not all Vail, but the pass holder skier contributes lesser to the community & requires more in terms of support. I'd love to see more ppl move here and not just party n split. This issue in winter is that the timing of lifts opening/closing plus the wet/ice/snow roads often leads to bottlenecks. The Stowe folk could comment more, I've never had issue in summer biking Stowe - yet I now avoid the place in winter.

**iriponsnow** · 03-25-2021, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Good points. And it's not as though these communities are thriving in any other ways. I've watched Rt. 4 leading up to Pico and Killington turn into a boarded up wasteland over the years, where there used to be motels and restaraunts servicing the business. My buddy owns a condo below Pico, and tells me not to leave any valuables exposed in my car because of break ins recently. The disparities have always been bad between tourists and locals (Russell Banks describes these places as towns skiers drive through on the way to fun), but I never saw junkies walking around like I've seen a few times this year.

The have nots are more evident now as the hotels / motels in ski towns are now so poorly occupied with skiers, that owners are pivoting towards accepting homeless as part of the Economic Services initiative:

https://vtdigger.org/2021/03/19/manc...-local-motels/

Manchester is claiming 1600% increase in crime calls at their local hotels. So yea, more epic passes & brown baggers are not going to fix that.

**Dhelihiker** · 03-25-2021, 09:13 AM

fuck vail, Ive used my pass 4 times this year. Down from 30-40 on a normal year. The reservation system is total BS. They have ruined one of the best resorts in the US.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 03-25-2021, 05:56 PM

Supermarkets not stocking up more for ski season is Vail's fault? Sounds like shitty management. There are more people in the world every day. Some of them come to ski towns on the weekend. Up the order for ramen packets a few weeks a year. Fuck.
And figure out better traffic light timings.

**Hott Butt Mud** · 03-25-2021, 06:04 PM

Vail DOES NOT equal Vail Resorts. You morons need to know that Vail is a town in Colorado and also has a ski resort there called Vail.

FYI, the Town of Vail can handle plenty of people during the winter. They have a ton of fucking money and knowledge of how to deal with tourists.

**snowaddict91** · 03-25-2021, 06:19 PM

I thought all of Colorado west of Idaho Springs was just called Vail. My bad.

**EWG** · 03-25-2021, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by snowaddict91

I thought all of Colorado west of Idaho Springs was just called Vail. My bad.

Yes. It’s only Vail until Glenwood Springs.

Don’t make the mistake again.

**Cokey McBlowjob** · 03-25-2021, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by glademaster

Shh, nobody needs to know how good, err, shitty, it really is here.

Must explain why you're such a pleasant guy

**Dhelihiker** · 03-25-2021, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Hott Butt Mud

Vail DOES NOT equal Vail Resorts. You morons need to know that Vail is a town in Colorado and also has a ski resort there called Vail.

FYI, the Town of Vail can handle plenty of people during the winter. They have a ton of fucking money and knowledge of how to deal with tourists.

Vail is simply a state of mind
We are all children of earth

**Flippo** · 03-25-2021, 08:12 PM

I don't think that it will change a lot for Tahoe skiers. I only ski during weekdays and even this year, Kirkwood, Northstar and Heavenly were less busy than what I have seen at Squaw. Locals probably prefer to ski at Squaw/Alpine making them busier in weekdays or powder days. People travelling for the weekend, staying at the hotel, eating outside... 200$ doesn't go a long way and that reduction won't affect their decision to buy a pass or not.