Maxing Out Skiing Next Season
This ski season was epic for me, skiing 69 days all over the US, Canada and The Alps – many of those ski day on the Epic Pass at 8 Vail resorts… pretty extraordinary. I’m already dreaming of the first chair next season. Ski resorts are too, already pushing season pass deadlines before their last chairs of spring skiers.
I have my ski heart set on the Max Pass next season… and here’s why. MAX Pass is an alpine acronym for “Multi-Alpine Experience” pass – and I’m all about that. This MAX Pass is kind of the underdogs united pass, as Vail has bought up 14 major ski resorts and brought serious pass volume to their slopes, this alternative alpine experience brings lower volume, lesser visited ski mountains together. The boutique mountain collective at a bargain for skiers and snowboarders. The MAX Pass doesn’t get all the media love, and maybe not the big ski crowds either. I love that you get 5 days at 44 unique, mostly independent ski resorts in the US – East and West, and Canada! 220 days of skiing, no blackout dates, $629 bucks!
You can easily MAX out with a ski trip to Colorado skiing Copper, Winter Park and Steamboat (one of our faves for glades) in one swoop – up to 5 days at each since they’re within two hours drive. You can fly to Salt Lake City and ski neighboring Solitude and Brighton 5 days each.
The MAX pass is ideal for East coasters, it's valid at 8 great New England ski resorts: Okemo, Killington, Pico, and Stratton in Vermont, Loon Mountain in New Hampshire and Wachusett in Massachusetts. New Englanders love to plan a trip out west, so take your MAX Pass to Big Sky Montana, Bachelor in Oregon, Crystal and Snoqualmie in Washington. A kick ass ski trip to the Canadian Rockies could have you skiing the Powder Highway resorts of Kimberly, Fernie, and Kicking Horse for 5 days each.
So while Vail is flooding the market with Epic promos, I am going to quietly get my MAX Pass and ski “the others” under the radar and well-within-budget next ski winter. If I achieve my goal of skiing my age in days, my daily ticket price will be $12… you do the math!
MAX Pass Ski Resorts in the East
Loon, Sunday River and Sugarloaf Maine, Stratton, Okemo, Killington and Pico Vermont, Wachusett Mass, Windham, Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore in New York, Snowshoe West Virginia.
MAX Pass Ski Resorts Out West
Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Steamboat, Winter Park, Eldora in Colorado, Brighton and Solitude Utah, Big Sky Montana, Bachelor Oregon, Alyeska Alaska, Crystal and Snoqualmie Washington, Boreal and Mountain High California, Lee Canyon Nevada,
MAX Pass Ski Resorts in Canada
Fernie, Kimberley, Kicking Horse, Nakiska, Cypress, Blue Mountain, Mont Sainte Anne, Tremblant, Stoneham.
MAX Pass Ski Resorts in the Midwest
Boyne Highland and Boyne Mountain Michigan, Buck Hill and Lutsen Minnesota, Granite Peak Wisconsin.
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