IKON Pass experiences?

bmwskier

Question for everyone-- does anyone use an IKON pass? I am thinking of getting one for next season as I will be back to volley patrolling and want to take some time to do more areas. A trip out west is also (hopefully) in the cards.

JimK

I don't have one, but a bunch of my friends have them and they seem to work well. They appear to be a good option for a Northeasterner who also makes trips west because they cover a choice of mtns in the East and West.

I have made visits to a few resorts this winter that are on the IKON pass including Snowbird, Alta, Deer Valley, Solitude and Big Sky. Often I met friends there skiing with IKON and they seemed to have few problems using the pass.

Anecdotally, I've ridden chairlifts out West with many IKON pass holders who all seem to love it. I've spent most of my time over the past two months living near and skiing at Snowbird and the pass seems to be bringing people from other good ski locations such as Tahoe and Colorado to ski Snowbird just because it's on their pass and they want to experience a new place.

There is a little anti-IKON sentiment here in Utah because locals blame it for bigger crowds at the resorts, but I honestly think the bigger crowds are mostly due to locals skiing more frequently because snow conditions have been better than average. I wouldn't be surprised if 2018/2019 sets a record for ski visits across all of America.

My son, who is a Utah resident, just bought an IKON pass for next year. He also gets a Snowbird/Alta combo season pass. People turn into ski gluttons out here :-)

rickbolger

I had the forerunner to the Ikon, which was Max pass. If my personal circumstances warranted it, I'd buy it again. But they don't.

In my case I usually buy a variety of punch cards, ski show specials, warren miller coupons, Colorado GEMS card, what have you. Catch-as-catch-can and scramble.

The year I bought Max pass (2017-18) it was more like a set-it-and-forget it. I shelled out some cash and then went anywhere I wanted at any time like a big shot. Occasionally bought a ticket to a non-pass place.

When they changed to Ikon, a few key areas (for me) dropped out and they made it more complicated, made it very easy for me not to buy it. So I'm back to scrounging for coupons with the riff raff.

My total season expenses/average cost per ticket was about the same. Coupons are more fun/challenging.

jaytrem

I just picked up the Ikon Base Pass a few weeks ago. It was good for the end of this year at Squaw/Mammoth. Kid's pass was only $159 each. At that point it became a no brainer. We'll do a Colorado trip next year with it. So even if we don't use it in the East at all the price per day is crazy low.

JimK

Yes, like jaytem my son is planning to use his new IKON for a few days over this Memorial Day Weekend at Mammoth.

jgreco

If you plan to take a trip west, then it almost pays for itself. Used it this season with Stratton as home base, then did a Utah trip and skied 8 days in a row (which at window rates more than paid for the pass).

It WAS a lot of Stratton (that being the closest mtn to me). But with 7 days each at Killington and Sugarbush, it's a great pass if you stick to Vermont only. Add the Boyne mountains in NH and Maine and it's even better.

With that said, I won't be getting one this year. Our western trip plans include mostly smaller mountains, so it makes less sense. Did the resort thing this year, leaning towards a Magic pass of some level and a Mt. Snow pass since I just moved to the immediate area and despite not being a big fan of the mountain, it would be dumb not to ski there.

Edit: I'll add that we were weekend warriors (except for Utah trip) and that if you can ski more midweek, then it's a no-brainer. Even if you're skiing only weekends, then it's still a great deal if you can get out regularly. The options are great.

jaytrem

jgreco;c-35517 wroteOur western trip plans include mostly smaller mountains, so it makes less sense.

Cool, where are you going?

jgreco

Plan to fly into Bozeman revisit Bridger and Disco, then add first-time visits to Maverick, Lost Trail and Lookout. Maybe a few more sprinkled in like Snowbowl and GD. Then hope local buds can find a Big Sky hookup or bite the bullet and pay window/online rate, 'cause, let's face it, Big Sky is a blast and would be a shame to miss if we're right there.

bmwskier

Awesome! Thank you for your inputs. Looks like I will get one then for next season early so I can save a bit when buying it.

Cannonball

jaytrem;c-35515 wroteI just picked up the Ikon Base Pass a few weeks ago. It was good for the end of this year at Squaw/Mammoth. Kid's pass was only $159 each. At that point it became a no brainer. We'll do a Colorado trip next year with it. So even if we don't use it in the East at all the price per day is crazy low.

Have you used it at Squaw this spring yet? I also bought Ikon Base for next season and will be using it at Squaw May 10-12. I'm curious how the process works since they won't distribute the passes buy then. Just walk up to the Squaw window and tell them you have a pass?

jaytrem

Cannonball;c-35523 wroteHave you used it at Squaw this spring yet?

Yes, picked ours up at Squaw. I loaded the pictures up in advance. Probably took about 2 minutes to get the 3 passes, no waiting. I don't think I even had to show ID, though I had it with me. We got there about 15 min before lifts open. Lines were apparently a little longer the day before, but the my cousin-in-law wasn't there that early.

jaytrem

jgreco;c-35519 wrotePlan to fly into Bozeman revisit Bridger and Disco, then add first-time visits to Maverick, Lost Trail and Lookout. Maybe a few more sprinkled in like Snowbowl and GD. Then hope local buds can find a Big Sky hookup or bite the bullet and pay window/online rate, 'cause, let's face it, Big Sky is a blast and would be a shame to miss if we're right there.

Ohhhh, Discovery, that's one of my favorites!

Lookout might been expanding soon. Maybe consider holding off and grouping it with a future Spokane area trip?

Showdown is a cool place and not toooo far from Bridger. Plus you can loop back towards Great Divide and save at least a little driving.

We stayed here for Big Sky...

https://www.buckst4.com/

At the time they had a real nice ski-and-stay package if you booked well in advance. Not sure anymore with all the "pass wars".

Trip planning for MT smaller areas can be tricky with the mid-week closures. But that does increase the powder day odds if you can time it right.

Please let us know how it goes.

Cannonball

jaytrem;c-35524 wrote
Cannonball;c-35523 wroteHave you used it at Squaw this spring yet?
Yes, picked ours up at Squaw. I loaded the pictures up in advance. Probably took about 2 minutes to get the 3 passes, no waiting. I don't think I even had to show ID, though I had it with me. We got there about 15 min before lifts open. Lines were apparently a little longer the day before, but the my cousin-in-law wasn't there that early.

Great. Thanks for the intel.

jgreco

jaytrem;c-35525 wrote
Ohhhh, Discovery, that's one of my favorites!

Lookout might been expanding soon. Maybe consider holding off and grouping it with a future Spokane area trip?

Please let us know how it goes.

Disco is a blast! Did you spin the wheel at the top? Terrain is fantastic, but I was actually blown away by the amount of steep groomers for a smaller (skier visit) mountain.

The Lookout Marketing Dir. is a good buddy, so it's a priority to get a friend visit in.

Will post pics for sure. Showdown is on the alternate list. We were actually headed up there last trip but it was snowing hard and we had to drive past Bridger... soooo... just went to Bridger.

jaytrem

jgreco;c-35536 wrote Disco is a blast! Did you spin the wheel at the top? Terrain is fantastic, but I was actually blown away by the amount of steep groomers for a smaller (skier visit) mountain.

The Lookout Marketing Dir. is a good buddy, so it's a priority to get a friend visit in.

Oh yeah, forgot about the wheel. Good stuff! I haven't gotten down into the new area yet. Gotta get lucky enough that there is coverage and I think hit it on a weekend.

Guess you have an excuse to go to Lookout before and after the expansion. Nothing wrong with that. That whole North Idaho/Spokane area is #1 on my list of places I want to get back to. Figured I'll wait until the Lookout and Snowbowl expansions are complete though.