[Rye]

Has anyone noticed prices on 1-day weekend lift tickets? Killington.....$72, Mount Snow.....$64, Sunday River...a discount at $56 (probably because it's 3.5 hours away). Are they kidding? Let's figure this out....5-6 hour round trip, probably $30-40 in gas, say $10 (at least) in the lodge for an overpriced hamburger and flat soda, and one of the above ticket prices. Over $100 to go skiing for a day! WTF!

[Rice-rocket1]

Originally posted by Rye
Boycott American Skiing Co.

No problem, I don't strap boards to my feet and throw myself done mountains any way. But I'll do my best to help you out there buddy......

[Rye]

Don't knock it til ya try it. LOL.

[Cowboyrider]

that's why you make friends with free passes.....

[KevinB]

Or ski mid week, prices a much easier to swallow.

[Honclfibr]

Originally posted by KevinB
Or ski mid week, prices a much easier to swallow.

OR buy a season pass, $299 ges you into attitash AND sunday river all season long with only 12 blackout dates, weekends and all. Sorry bud I'd love to help you with the boycott but I kinda bought the ticket already

[Rice-rocket1]

Originally posted by Rye
Don't knock it til ya try it. LOL.

If I were to do it:

1. I would find it's another sport that I can't afford.
2. You would be pealing me off a tree or repelling down a cliff to find me...

3. The ankles are bad enough with out tearing up my knees

[benVFR]

I got the snowshoes and the insane desire to climb UP the mountain.

Now I just need the skillz to fly back down without a trail and I'll be happy to ditch the lift tickets.

Ben

[Rye]

Backcountry and New England don't really go well together Ben. LOL. I'm not really boycotting their mountains, I'll probably end up at one of them this year, but I'm just making a point that things have gotten a bit outta control over there in VT. I wonder if it has anything to do with the license plates you see in the parking lots.....NY and NJ.

[benVFR]

I went to Killington once and that was enough, I agree with you about the NY and NJ plates. Yes it's silly to say that, but in general once they show up a place is way over commercialized.

Since I have family in Burlington, I can go to Stowe and have a place to stay for free, but it is so expensive, I usually go to Bolton Valley instead if I'm there. Last year I had a really great day at Sugarbush on New Years day too... that was a fun place.

And maybe the NY plates are a bad sign but they do have Lake Placid. Whiteface is supposed to be awesome.

Ben

[bentbryan]

Originally posted by Honclfibr
OR buy a season pass, $299 ges you into attitash AND sunday river all season long with only 12 blackout dates, weekends and all. Sorry bud I'd love to help you with the boycott but I kinda bought the ticket already

I think it's up to 329 or something now, still a killer deal. You wouldn't want to ski on the blocked out w/e's anyway. I still haven't got mine, what's the matter with me?

[Nikon]

Originally posted by benSV
I went to Killington once and that was enough, I agree with you about the NY and NJ plates. Yes it's silly to say that, but in general once they show up a place is way over commercialized.

Since I have family in Burlington, I can go to Stowe and have a place to stay for free, but it is so expensive, I usually go to Bolton Valley instead if I'm there. Last year I had a really great day at Sugarbush on New Years day too... that was a fun place.

And maybe the NY plates are a bad sign but they do have Lake Placid. Whiteface is supposed to be awesome.

Ben

Let me know when you plan to go out this year and maybe we can hook up and ride together. I try to hit Jay as much as possible but I know my way around Stowe the best. I didn't out too much last year with the old job that I had but I may get out a bit this year. I tend to make trips over to Loon in NH when I have the chance b/c my parents have a condo there and my dad works there so I ride for 15 bucks on Sat and 10 the rest of the time. Plus I get to see my family

I get my fill at Wachusett, and sometimes I go "back to the basics" and do Nashoba Valley... Plus, I don't have to spend 6-8 hours in transit...

Fuck $72 for a lift ticket... Thanks for the info., now that's one less person that's going to Killington...

[Cowboyrider]

Nikon: I tend to make trips over to Loon in NH when I have the chance b/c my parents have a condo there and my dad works there so I ride for 15 bucks on Sat and 10 the rest of the time. Plus I get to see my family

Who's your daddy? I work their as well...so am I just curious.

[sahd03]

I've got news for you, Rye - Skiing at a major, destination resort with heavy duty facilities is going to cost you anywhere. Stratton and Okemo also have similar prices to the ASC resorts. Most of the places in Mass do not qualify as "destination resorts" and the ticket prices are proportionate (smaller mountains with less terrain = cheaper tickets). Stratton and Okemo fall right in line with ASC ticket prices, Stratton being equal with Kilington for a hell of a lot less terrain and what they do have is a total bore.

The total daily cost of skiing, per person, is quite similar to that of golf. I agree that both are wildly expensive. But if you are truly passionate about either, there are many ways to go cheaper if you learn where to look and when to go (early season, midweek, many resorts have deals where you buy say 7 tickets up front and have all winter to use them total is cheaper then buying each one separately).

As far as Vermont goes, tourism IS our primary industry and it's all those NY and NJ plates that make the wheels turn. You can boycott whoever you want, for whatever reason, but the cost of skiing is what it is. It boils down to this: you have to pay for lots of terrain here in the east. So either suck it up and save your pennies, or find a cheaper sport.

And now it is time for this passionate skier who has been invovled with the industry forever to get down off her soapbox and get back to work so I can ski three or four days a week this winter.

[LatinRider]

I understand some of these prices are pretty insane, but any extra-curricular activity will cost you $$.
Join a Ski House…..you save on the hotel fees and it makes it a bit more worth your while to drive up the 3 hours to VT.
Anyone interested…I’ll be up at Mount Snow this year.
Perhaps Loon on the off weekends…..can’t pass up on Cowboyrider’s offer.

[benVFR]

I'm going to be in NH the vast majority of the time. I just sent in $600 for my share of a Ski House.

I'll probably go check it out this weekend. Not sure what I'm going to do about a possible pass, etc..

I had a really hard time making myself do it. The cost/day really bugs me, for the amount I ride my motorcycle, it is cheaper than skiing/riding I think.

Ben

[legalspeed]

Where were you ten years ago when I was saying that and people looked at me perplexed?

Wildcat is the only lifted resort I knew of not owned by ASC.

They prolly own that now too.

We used to pay 5.50 and bitched when the price went up to 6.25!

About all you can do now is stay at their hotels and pray for a lift ticket to be included!!!

[bentbryan]

Originally posted by LatinRider
I understand some of these prices are pretty insane, but any extra-curricular activity will cost you $$.
Join a Ski House…..you save on the hotel fees and it makes it a bit more worth your while to drive up the 3 hours to VT.
Anyone interested…I’ll be up at Mount Snow this year.
Perhaps Loon on the off weekends…..can’t pass up on Cowboyrider’s offer.

There aren't really any "off" weekends at Loon. I had a ski house up there a couple of years ago and can tell you every w/e is JAMMED. Don't bother with Loon on the w/es.

[LatinRider]

Well you're right about that one.....it does get pretty packed up there on the weekends.....BUT is there any mountain that's worth going to around here ever NOT packed?
I'll be in VT......it's OK...I can hang with the NJ & NY people

[sahd03]

LatinRider if you ever need a place to crash, I've got a killer-comfy futon and we're only 4 miles from mt snow.... more than welcome to crash there! and we can pore over maps for cool summer 04 rides while you're there.

[LatinRider]

Oh nice sahd03

I just might do that. It’ll be fun to hang out once again
We never rode together this year, so we definitely have to map something out for next year.
I noticed you’re on the track day list…so you go girl!!!! So am I.

[Rye]

Sahd03- What about Cabot....you've got a cheese industry and even syrup! LOL. I can see your getting them twisted defending VT skiing so I end this conversation on this note.....I'll do what you said, excercise my right not to ski those rip off mountains.

[KevinB]

I just took a tour of the Cabot Factory a few weeks ago, they got a ton of free samples. I plan on skiing Burke Mt and Jaypeak, both have reasonable lift rates for what they offer, plus having a house up that way helps out too.

[sahd03]

Now, Rye, don't forget we also have BEER!!!!!! In addition to tourism and Cabot and syrup! Of course, VT also has one of the highest alcoholism rates in the country..... hmmm....

Go to Mt Snow midweek - it's cheaper and the skiing is better then!