Season lift tickets
 

Isn't this the time of year for the crazy season pass deals at all the ski resorts? Anybody have any info on what's available and what's coming up?

I think last year it was september at Mt Rose, not sure about the other resorts. I got a pass last winter and used it once. It was only when I got to the slopes that I remembered that I didn't like skiing. I am a genius.

You usually need to buy them before end of August or September (depending on the resort) for the best price. You can usually get an unlimited pass for only a couple of hundred.

Check the websites of the resorts you are interested in for more information. They usually display their killer deals in big advertising words.

New to Reno, is Mt. Rose cool or really windy all the time? The two times I've been there it was storming.

Rose is nice, I had a pass this last season and it was great. It gets wind time to time just like any other place. I love Rose because you can head up just for the morning and be back in time for lunch. It's just so close.

I agree. I have had passes at many of the North Shore resorts.

I can drive to Rose in about 20 minutes, get my groove on for a few hours and get home in time to get some work done. When going to the other places, it turns into a full day's outting.

I will be purchasing a pass at Rose this season.

Thanks for the input. I guess the only thing that makes me want to get the N. Star, Sierra at Tahoe combo pass is that my CA friends tend to get that too. N. Star tends to get a lot less wind than other resorts too. I bet Mt. Rose is a lot cheaper though.

Damn, I was wrong. N. Star double whammy and Mt. Rose are both $300 on their sites. Any way to get a local discount or somthing at Rose?

I stick with my Alpine Meadows pass

but a good value is the Northstar/Sierra Double Whammy pass

Stupid Alpine Meadows is $750 for me. Stupid me being too old and a non-student to not get any discounts :(

I don't like that all Saturdays are blacked out at N. Star and Sierra is what...2 hours away? What's Alpine Meadows...45-60 minutes from Reno?

Alpine Meadows is right next to Squaw. So, yeah about 45 depending on traffic and conditions.

Anyone know if season pass holders can get discounts for guests at either Mt. Rose or N. Star? Nothing is mentioned on their sites.

399 for me :(

it was 199 last year.....but its damn good skiing so I'll buy it one more year

$269 for the double wammy... $30 student discount. 4 blackout weekends (5 days over christmas) at northstar, but no blackouts at Sierra.

Anyone interested in a cheaper Alpine pass just let me know. Every year we get a large group together to purchase the season passes. Nick the Sunday through Friday is a great deal it will be somewhere around $500. Full season will probably be around $650.

Alpine is really worth it. While I like Northstar, it is pretty flat and as of the last two years has become the most crowded of all resorts. Just take a wild guess as to how many of those $299 passes are sold. We eventually stopped going because the only way to get a parking space was to be at the mountain before 8:00 am. Otherwise you were either at the back of the lot or parking at the airport. Either way from the parking lot to the top of the mountain still takes almost 45 minutes. Alpine gets you to the top in less than 15 minutes even with a line.

That's still a lot more than Mt Rose. Is there anything wrong with Mt. Rose? Does it get crowded? It's a bit small no?

Let me think about it. Sunday through Friday might not be too bad at $500, but not that I'm working full time, Saturday is one of the main days I'd want to go (esp. if people are visiting from out of town, want to ski on Sat, drive home on Sun).

Let me think about it. How soon will you be purchasing them?

I haven't been, but here's what I've heard.

Its the closests to Reno, so it gets a lot of people. Plus the snow isn't as good, its kinda small, and since its a sole peak, it gets really windy.

Don't know firsthand, just passing along what others have told me about the resort.

Figure out how many Saturdays you think you will go. It is $39/day. If that equates to more than $150 worth of days, then get the full season.

top pic - Alpine

Bot pic - Flat , I mean Northstar

That is pretty close, although I have to admit there is some great terrain there. I've skied there a few times and it was great each time.

good point. 3-4 saturdays, might as well go for the full pass.

damnit, I still need new boots before the season starts :p

I've been twice (in one weekend) and it was crappy weather so I didn't really explore the whole thing, but the one time I went to Alpine I was in love. Damn, I don't want to spend $650. I'd have to go 17 times to make it worthwile. :eek:

I'm a cheap bastard, I think I'm leaning toward Mt. Rose. At $300, I can still justify going elsewhere on top of that.

BTW the big news for Alpine this year is that they replaced the Sherwood lift with a high speed quad. For those that like to do back country hikes, this is a huge bonus for making laps in less than 1/2 hour.