SLOP POST IX

untracked Sun Valley    photo- Andrew Toft

I know, planning for next season when it's still this season is nearly impossible. If you are like me- rent is a bigger issue than next years pass, but the best deals can be had now.
So do what you need to do..... It's only money. Paper for snow- it's a no brainer....

Deals and ways to win things.

ATTTITASH

$40 Fridays in March.

http://www.attitash.com/summer-blog.html?id=5479 

BELLEAYRE   GORE   WHITEFACE   NY

Season pass for  for all three mountains for the 2013/2014 season- $749. Also ride for free the rest of this season. That's 13 days before you break even. This deal is only good until 4/20/13.

http://nyski3.com/details.html

CRANMORE- NH

$25 tickets if you have a season pass somewhere else.

OUTSIDE TV
Show what you did this winter! Submit as many pictures as you would like before 3/20/13. You can win an Outside TV prize pack. I think that means a portable TV that you can throw in the snow.
http://www.facebook.com/outsidetelevision?v=app_448952861833126&rest=1 

RIDE SNOWBOARDS

Enter everyday to win 3 things you always loose- headphones, t-shirt, and beanie.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151813632052598&l=3034171518

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SUPER PASS
This pass is $499 until 4/15/13.
It's unlimited days at Copper and Winter Park. 6 days at Steamboat and three at Monarch. 6 days at Steamboat is $594- so you get two season passes and a vacation. You only need to put $49 down (snow layaway!). You get 20 discounted lift tickets for your heads. 
http://www.coppercolorado.com/media/media_blog/authors/copper_colorado/improved-rocky-mountain-super-pass 

SUN VALLEY- ID

End of the season stay and ski package. Starting 4/1/13 stay at the fancy lodge and ride for $79.50 a day. I've done this for years now. Drivers from the lodge also pick you up all over Ketchum for free, if you happen to, lets say- drink your weight in beers as big as your head at Grumpys and no longer know where you are.

http://www.sunvalley.com/trip-planner/deals/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=spring&utm_campaign=WInter%2B2013

STEAMBOAT
Win a trip for 4 for next season. Or win a heli trip. 
http://www.steamboat.com/sweeps/boatload-sweepstakes.aspx 

TIMBERLINE- OR

Ride from 3/4/13-5/27/13 for $109. So rad.

http://www.timberlinelodge.com/play/skiing-snowboarding/spring-pass/

WHITEFACE  NY
$42 Wednesdays with a Coke can. 
http://www.whiteface.com/tickets/deals?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Start+Skiing+on+Your+2013-14+Seasons+Pass+in+4+Days%21&utm_campaign=2013

HOW MUCH !? START SAVING FOR NEXT SEASON IV

Yuri Czmola is all about the love- Bromley VT  photo  Harold Meehan

MONTANA

Big Sky

deals before 10/31/12

Frequent Ski Card $89- saving $50 ($139 after 10/31/12). This card is like an early/late, gives you 14 free days early season and late season. And all sorts of sales all year long.

http://www.bigskyresort.com/Activities/Winter/Season_Pass-Sky_Card/Frequent_Sky_Card.asp

NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE

Loon, Sunday River, and Sugarloaf

deals before 10/8/12
 Gold New England pass $1,025 (price goes up after 10/8/12). That's about 14 days before you break even. This pass is good all season for all 3 mountains. There are other passes with blackout dates, a college pass, and a college graduate pass with the best deals purchased before 10/8/12.

http://www.loonmtn.com/info/winter/rates_passes.aspx 

NEW YORK

Plattekill

deals before 10/18/12
 Season pass $549 (price goes up after 10/18/12). That's about 10 days before you break even. There are also junior, senor, and student passes with the best deals purchased before 10/18/12.

http://www.plattekill.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.browse&category_id=1

Hunter

deals before 10/15/12
Gold pass $849- saving $100 ($949 after 10/15/12). That's about 13 days before you break even. Hunter also has family passes and a value pass (good for weekdays with discounted weekends) with the best deals purchased before 10/15/12.

http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/tickets-passes/season-passes.aspx

OREGON

Mt. Bachelor
deals before 10/1/12
Season pass $829- saving $200 ($1,029 after 10/1/12). That's about 11 days before you break even. There are also discounted midweek passes and a discounted 12 day pass if purchased before 10/1/12.

http://www.mtbachelor.com/winter/mountain/tickets/season_passes 

UTAH

Brighton
deals before 10/31/12
Coupon books- 5 nights $100 ($20 a night), 5 days $245 ($49 a day), and Powder Pack Promo-10 days $430 ($43 a day). These coupon books can only be purchased before 10/31/12. You can buy as many as you want and can use as many as you want on the same day.

http://www.brightonresort.com/ticketspasses.couponbooks.html

VERMONT

Bromley
deals before 10/15/12
 Season pass $949- saving $100 ($1,049 after 10/15/12). That's about 15 days before you break even. There are also passes with blackout days, midweek passes, and college passes with the best deals purchased before 10/15/12.

http://winter.bromley.com/tickets/season-passes/

Stratton, Okemo, and Sunapee
deals before 10/8/12
Ultra pass $1,569 (price goes up after 10/8/12). That's about 22 days before you break even. The Ultra pass is good for all 3 mountains. There are also Stratton only passes, midweek passes, and college passes with the best deals before 10/8/12.
http://www.stratton.com/lift-tickets-and-passes/season-passes.aspx

Stowe

deal before 10/30/12
 Stowe Seven Season Access $1,483- saving $369 ($1,852 after 10/30/12). That's about 19 days before you break even. There are also midweek and college passes with the best deals purchased before 10/31/12.

http://www.stowe.com/ski-ride/season-pass/2012-13-season-pass-rates/ 

WASHINGTON

Crystal

deals before 9/30/12
Gold pass $899- saving $600 ($1,499 after 9/30/12). That's about 14 days before you break even. There are also midweek passes and some other passes that I don't understand with the best deals purchased before 9/30/12.

http://www.crystalmountainresort.com/Tickets-and-Passes/Season-Passes

WIN TICKETS

sugarbowl twitter contest

http://www.sugarbowl.com/weekly-twitter-contest?utm_source=socialhub&utm_medium=6309&utm_content=6148149144929656242&utm_campaign=twitter-contest

 Amy Gan just hanging at Okemo - VT   photo Yuri Czmola

HOW MUCH?! START SAVING FOR NEXT SEASON III

 Outer Limits- Killington  photo- Amy Klein and Lil Mo

VERMONT

Mt Snow

 deals before 10/9/12

Nor'Easter pass $1,099- saving $150 ($1,249 after 10/9/12). That's about 14 days before you break even. Also have midweek passes and Sunday only passes with the best deals purchased before 10/9/12.

http://mountsnow.com/seasonpass/

Killington

deals before 10/8/12

Season pass $1,199- then I assume the price goes up- the website does not say. There are also midweek passes, college passes, and an express card deal.

http://www.killington.com/winter/plan/tickets_and_cards/comparison_chart/index.html

deals before 10/11/12

discount tickets for $58

http://www.killington.com/winter/plan/tickets_and_cards/k58/index.html

Jay Peak

deals before 10/15/12

Season pass for Jay and Burke $799- saving $250 ($1,049 after 10/15/12). That's about 11 times before you break even. There are also Jay only season passes for $50 less. There are also family passes, college passes, and specialty passes with the best deals purchased before 10/15/12.

http://www.jaypeakresort.com/skiing-riding/tickets-passes/season-passes 

UTAH

Canyons

deals before 9/15/12

Season Pass $849- saving $300 ($1,149 after 9/15/12). That's about 9 days before you break even.

Also have discounted passes for kids, college students, teachers, firefighters, and coupon packs with the best deals purchased before 9/15/12.

http://www.canyonsresort.com/season_passes.html?summer=yes

Solitude

save 35% off lodging all season if you book before 9/30/12

http://skisolitude.com/lodging/reservations.php

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Wildcat/ Attitash

deals for all of September

mid- week nonholiday tickets for $30

http://www.skiwildcat.com/wild-deals.html

 

MONTANTA

Bridger

deal before 10/9/12

Season pass for $580- saving $100 ($680 after 10/9/12). That's about 12 times before you break even. Wow- Bridger is so sweet.

https://store.bridgerbowl.com/passes/adult_season_pass/

CANADA

Whistler

deal before 10/8/12

Season pass for $1,489- saving $300 ($1,795 after 10/8/12). That's about 17 days before you break even. You can also purchase discount lift tickets before 10/8/12. 

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/tickets-and-passes/season-passes/index.aspx

LIFTOPIA

 

My go-to deal site- Liftopia has started with their deals for this season.

http://www.liftopia.com/

killington trees

START SAVING FOR NEXT SEASON II

Mr. T the fox 907 NYC

Buy your Wildcat and Attitash season passes before 6/1/12. After that prices go up $100.
http://www.skiwildcat.com/seasonpasses.html

Buy your Sugarbowl season pass before 6/1 and you get 2,500 points. Points can be used for food, lessons, and lift tickets for friends.
http://www.sugarbowl.com/email_May_30_2012

Sun Valley last fall

SAVE FOR YOUR MOM

Miss Veronica Veronica @ Hunter throwing bows

Many places in the east are yelling "Last Call". So hit these before you hike....

If you have a season pass somewhere else Hunter will sell you a ticket for 1/2 off
http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/tickets-passes/otherpassholders.aspx

buy one tckt at Plattekill get one for free
http://www.skicoupons.com/winter/?p=2215 

if you have a Whiteface season pass then bring a friend for a 1/2 price ticket
http://www.whiteface.com/tickets/wf_season.php?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Spring+Skiing...Get+Your+Pass...Ski+for+Free&utm_campaign=2012

me- Plattekill  photo- Bill Miles

SAVE TO RIDE ANOTHER DAY II

me- Targhee

ski free at targhee
http://www.grandtarghee.com/lodging/winter_lodging_specials.php

carpool and earn $ for gas- go green!
http://public.zimride.com/ride/add?event_page_id=797&Kirkwood=true
gas bonuses for 1st 500 drivers that book $40

now through april 1 2012 2comp 2 day lift tickets and a 100 dollar gft card when you book a 3 night consecutive stay with amex at Limelight Lodge in Aspen

ski coupon deals
http://www.skicoupons.com/winter/?p=1666

Buy a helmet- get a free lift licket
Killington
http://buy.killington.com/eStore/Content/Commerce/Products/DisplayProducts.aspx?ProductGroupCode=1000001&ProductCategoryCode=28&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

not saving- but giant air bag at Okemo!
http://okemo.com/okemowinter/ourmountain/mtnamenities/bigairbag.asp?utm_source=&utm_medium=link&utm_content=bigairbag&utm_campaign=enews

Woodward Gallery- LES -NYC

SAVE TO RIDE ANOTHER DAY- DISCOUNTS- EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS

Hmmmm- something's wrong here- Willyb BK

$5 & $10 off of Snowbird & Alta
ow.ly/7XWG8

Epic passholders get to ski free at Big Sky in Jan.
http://www.bigskyresort.com/Media/index.asp

New Hampshire discounts
Buy six tickets to your choice of 17 New Hampshire resorts (Bretton Woods, Loon Mountain, Attitash, Mount Sunapee, Waterville Valley, Wildcat Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Gunstock Mountain Resort, Ragged Mountain, Cranmore, Crotched Mountain, Pats Peak, Black Mountain, Dartmouth Skiway, Granite Gorge Ski Area, King Pine, and McIntyre Ski Area) and save up to $20
http://www.skinh.com/deals/anytime-anywhere-lift-ticket-packages.aspx

Vermont discounts
(Bolton Valley, Bromley Mountain, Burke Mountain, Cochran's, Jay Peak, Killington, Magic Mountain, Mount Snow, Okemo, Owls Head, Smugglers Notch, Stowe, Stratton, Sugarbush, and Suicide Six)
http://vtsports.com/the-best-local-lift-ticket-deals-2011-12

If you volunteer at the NYSEF races Whiteface will give you a voucher for another day. Plus you can hit the hill before the race, during lunch, and after the race.
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/755589/2d7148931d/1324052889/a217f70681/

Sun Valley is $35 on Jan. 22nd
http://www.visitsunvalley.com/about/web-specials
you need to buy them from different shops- go to the Board Bin and get half off a demo that day!

Something's wrong here- oh, it's Staten Island- Photo- Jenna

THINGS TO JUMP ON II

me at Meadowlands before Giants/Dolphins this Nov.

If you are in the New York area Meadowlands is having it's Mount Everest Ski & Snowboard Sale Dec. 6th- 10th. You can get discounts on gear, but also on passes. There are a lot of giveaways and contests to go to tons of resorts.
http://www.ridemteverest.com/giants-stadium-sale/
I have been spending entirely too much time in New Jersey

Jersey City

HEADS UP VII

photo- The Rician

TELLURIDE- CO
Season passes are $1,298 and come with a three day pass to Taos (http://www.skitaos.org/). This pass will go up $700 on 10/29/11. These next three deals are only available until the 10/29/11 and then they are gone: Teluride Card- gives you 20% off on all of your tickets ($80), 6 Day Pass- $450 ($75 tickets), 10 Day Pass- $650 ($65 tickets). Those are some pretty steep deals- but this mountain is known for being super exclusive. Last year tickets were $98 and who knows if they will be raised..........
http://tellurideskiresort.com/TellSki/info/season-passes.aspx

BRUNDAGE- ID
Brundage has a special sale from 10/20/11- 11/3/11. The first 50 people that buy the "Best" Season Pass also get a cat skiing trip, a private lesson, and a demo for $489. All of that extra stuff comes out to be $382- so you are riding as much as you want for $107.  The first 50 people that buy the "Friendly" Season pass get five tickets to give to whoever for $489. People will like you. You can also get a Midweek Pass for $199; that's for Mon-Thurs. with discounted weekends. (If you ride four times you break even.)
http://www.brundage.com/preseason/

SADDLEBACK- ME
Season Passes are on sale until 10/12/2011 (that's tomorrow- sorry). They are $649. Then they go up to $699.
https://www.saddlebackmaine.com/e-store/home.php?cat=254

KIRKWOOD- CA
The Premium Pass + Alpine is a season pass that is good at Kirkwood, Alpine Meadows (http://www.skialpine.com/), and Homewood (http://www.skihomewood.com/). You also get 10 days at Durango (http://www.durangomountainresort.com/) and four discounted tickets per day for friends. This pass is $799. (That's 13 $65 days) The 7Wood is a Season pass for Kirkwood, it is good everyday for $429 (If tickets are $65, then you break even at seven days). The Midweek (5Wood) is $199 and there are some restrictions (You break even with three days). I think these deal end 11/8/11.
http://www.kirkwood.com/site/tickets-passes/season-passes

MOUNTAIN CREEK- NJ (stop laughing every time I say New Jersey)

An adult season pass is $399 (eight days to break even). A midweek is $249 (five days to break even). These passes are good for night skiing. These deals are good until the first two inches of snow or 12/4/11. 

http://www.mountaincreek.com/tickets/season-passes/

photo- BLK LNG

HEADS UP IV

14th St- NYC

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN- WA

A Gold Unlimited Season pass is $949 (you need to go 13 times with ganjula access to break even).  With this purchase you also get 10 days at any of these resorts: The Summit at Snoqualmie (WA), Big Sky (MT), Boyne Highlands (MI), Cypress (Canada), Brighton (UT-), Loon (NH- http://elevatedlocals.blogspot.com/2011/08/heads-up-for-next-season-part-ii.html), Sugarloaf (ME), and Sunday River (ME). There is also a Silver Midweek for $599 and a Bronze unlimited for $699, these passes do not include ganjula rides. Get these deals before 9/30/2011
http://www.crystalmountainresort.com/Tickets-and-Passes/Season-Passes


 JAY PEAK- VT   

book your Jay vacation before 9/23/2011 and save 25%

http://www.jaypeakresort.com/index.php/landing_pages/book_early_save

We love Shéady Acres, though- http://www.sheadyacres.com/ (http://elevatedlocals.blogspot.com/2011/03/elevated-locals-of-jay-peak-oshea.html)

KILLINGTON- VT

K57 ticket deal- If you live around the city you should do this. Killington doesn't really do tickets on Liftopia and you know you're going to go there. $57 tickets until Oct. 20th, 2011. There are some black out days (Dec. 26, 2011 - Jan. 1, 2012; Jan. 14 - 15 and Feb. 18 - 26, 2012) http://www.killington.com/winter/plan/tickets_and_cards/k57

Purchase the Express Card for $86 until Oct. 21st. The Express Card gives you 50% off of tickets midweek and 25% off of tickets on the weekend. http://www.killington.com/winter/plan/tickets_and_cards/express_card  


MT BATCHELOR- OR
I haven't been here in a while, but man did I have fun on this mountain!
 Batchelor's pass deals are good until 9/30/2011. The season pass is $829 (12 times to break even), if you buy this after 9/30 it's $1,039. They have a midweek for $549 (8 to break even). You should probably go ahead and be in between the ages of 19 and 23, then you get a season pass for $379. They also have a 12 day pass for $450 ($37.50 a ticket).
http://www.mtbachelor.com/winter/mountain/tickets/season_passes
Would you like to know more?
http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/40080/mount-bachelor-runs-september-pass-sale?utm_source=20110915_Nltr&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=W11_OTS_Nltr&utm_content=Feat_story_2&XE_LNK=Newsletter
(thanks onthesnow.com)

  SUN VALLEY- ID
It's $79 for a room and a lift ticket Nov. 23rd- Dec. 20th. You need two people for the deal. Call 800-786-8259

Greek style

A PRESENT, SOME SAVINGS, WIN STUFF, AND PIC.S OF PIGS

Big ups to JR for always sending me killer mash ups (still can't get over that Wu VS Beatles) here is a Fela Kuti meets De La Soul (http://boingboing.net/2011/09/16/fela-soul-fela-kuti-meets-de-la-soul-gummy-soulamerigo-gazaway-mashup.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29) It's nothing but sweetness.

GRAND TARGHEE- WY  
Book three days of lodging or more by 9/30/2011 and save 40%. You have to call 800-827-4433. Warning, they aren't very good at answering the phone or calling you back. Last year I must have called ten times with no response. Then when I finally complained to a real person there was no apology. I am ashamed to say- we still did our annual Targhee trip (http://elevatedlocals.blogspot.com/2011/03/grand-targhee-snorkeling-in-mountains.html). Dealing with incompetence is a small price to pay for no lines, perfect powder, and a beautiful terrain.
Ps- it's already started snowing there

This weekend (9/17 & 9/18) the Road Warriors will be in Syracuse at the NYS fairgrounds. Just show up with your gear on and you can win tickets for Whiteface and enter to win a Whiteface season pass. (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130980356993632) The Road Warriors will be in Westchester on 8/8- 8/9 (das classy).

HEADS UP FOR NEXT SEASON PART III

NYC

BIG BEAR RESORTS- BEAR MOUNTAIN and SNOW SUMMIT- CA
I went to high school by these resorts; small mountains and big parks. You can purchase an anytime season pass for both of these mountains that includes night skiing for $559 (You would need to go ten times to break even during the day).  A midweek season pass is $249. A midweek plus Sundays season pass is $349. A night season pass is $129. You can also just purchase season passes for Bear Mountain. Here's the deal- these prices are only available for one day, September 24th, 2011 and you have to go to there and attend the Bear Mountain's 8th Annual Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails Summertime Snowboard Event. If you want to get these passes online they are $50-$100 more online until Dec. 4th, 2011.
http://www.snowsummit.com/ski/rates/season-passes/


TAOS- NM
I always wanted to go here, they just decided to let snowboarders drag their knuckles here- too bad we don't do that anymore (we are way more violent). You can get a season pass for $799 (11 days to break even). You can get a millennium Pass for $575, this pass is good for 70 days ($8.22 a day). They also have this crazy pass I have never seen before: Sundowners Pass- unlimited days after 3PM, it's $100. These deals are available until Oct. 1st, 2011 after that the Season Pass is $999.
http://www.skitaos.org/content/season-pass


WHITEFACE and GORE- NY
I have never been here, but trips are in order. Whiteface has been called Iceface, this mountain is known to be gangster and is home to two Olympic games. Gore is supposed to be equally fun. Season Passes (for both mountains) have been cheaper (earlier in the year), but as of now they are $849. I don't know how much Whiteface tickets are but Gore tickets are $65, so that's 14 times to break even. They also do a transferable pass for $2,250 which anyone can use. If you split that with four people it would be $562 each. This deals need to be purchased before Nov. 15th to get these discounts.
http://www.whiteface.com/summer/tickets/wf_season.php#

I'm too tired to do more: go buy stuff now

Big Basin- Idaho  I really like mushrooms

DISCOUNTS- HEADS UP FOR NEXT SEASON

me- Jay- Valentine's day last year   photo-The Giant

So most mountains sell discounted passes during the fall. Here are some deals and deadlines if you need to save for a bit;  I never have piles of money lying around.

Sun Valley:
So the season pass is a fortune $1,549 (you need to go 23 days to break even), but there are some sweet deals in here: http://www.sunvalley.com/tickets/passes/. I got the early/late last year, and it rocked. The best deals need to be purchased before 9/5/11.

Jackson:
Jackson's season is Nov. 26th- April 8th (135 days) so if you hit the hill 100 times it's like $12 a day with a $1,195 season pass- no working allowed (nineteen days to break even) But seriously, they have sweet college deals (Mary). http://www.jacksonhole.com/season-pass.html

Breck snow sculptures- two years age     photo- The Giant

Jay Peak:
My east coast fav. The Season Pass is $649 until Oct. 11th. Tickets are $69 so you need to go 10 times to break even. http://www.jaypeakresort.com/#/skiing_riding/rates_hours/season_passes/

Targhee:
It's $599 (9 days to break even) for a season pass before 9/11/2011. It's $249 for a college pass (Mary- four times to break even). http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-mountain/rates/season-passes.php

Killington:
Their midweek pass is $499 until 10/13/2011. Their lift tickets are $69 so you need to go 8 times during the week to break even. http://www.killington.com/winter/plan/tickets_and_cards/comparison_chart/index.html

Hunter:
A season pass is $849 before 10/15/2011 (http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/tickets-passes/season-passes.aspx). That's 13 days to break even. But the midweek is $299, only five times to break even.

Pomerelle:
A season pass is $316.94 with tax. http://www.pomerelle-mtn.com/lift-rates/season-passes/index.htm
That's nine times to break even. This deal is good until Sept. 20th.

Breck, Vail, Beaver, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, and A-Basin:
The amazing epic pass is $649 and gives you unlimited access to all of these resorts. There isn't a deadline on the website, but I know you can't get this deal after the season starts. http://www.breckenridge.com/plan-a-trip/season-passes/season-passes-explorer.aspx?page=viewall Every time I see this deal I can't understand why I don't live there.

Ok, that's where I know I'm going next season- so that's all that matters- Ahahahahah
not really, I'll do more next Fri.

Targhee- Rach and me last March

DISCOUNTS- PASSES FOR NEXT YEAR AND SOME INSPIRING PHOTOS

Many season passes are cheaper during the summer.

Whiteface and Gore sell a joint season pass- non-holiday is $565 and full season is $720. This deal is good until the 21st of June.  A lift ticket to Whiteface is $57 so after ten times you are riding for free. When you have a season pass at these mountains you can get discounted tickets, tunes, and food. After the 21st of June prices go up. (http://www.whiteface.com/tickets/wf_season.php?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Whiteface+%2F+Gore+Season+Pass+Deadline+Approaching!&utm_campaign=2011)

Squaw has three different types of season passes. You can ride whenever you like with the Gold Season Pass. The Silver Season Pass does not allow you to ski: December 26-31, 2011, January 14-15, 2012, and February 18-19, 2012. The black out dates for the Bronze Season Pass are: December 26-31, 2011, January 14-15, 2012, February 18-19, 2012, and all Saturdays in January and February. The Gold is $699, the Silver is $499, and the Bronze is $399 until June 15th- then prices go up. A lift ticket at Squaw during the regular season is $86 so you ride for 8 days and then you are skiing for free with the Gold pass. (http://www.squaw.com/season-pass)

You can buy an Epic Pass through Breckenridge for $649. An Epic pass is named appropriately because it gives you unlimited days at Breck, Vail, Beaver Creek, A-basin, Keystone, Heavenly, and Northstar. Basically you should sell all your stuff and buy an Epic Pass. If you are a local you can get an Epic Pass for $499, but there are blackout dates. (http://www.breckenridge.com/plan-a-trip/season-passes/season-passes-explorer.aspx) Enter to win an Epic Pass (http://www.facebook.com/elisabethtoft#!/NorthstarAtTahoe)

What I Got for Christmas

6 days at Sun Valley, 3 days at Pomerelle, 2 days at the dreaded dentist- that'll teach me the importance of teeth brushing. What a wonderful visit home.

There was a big dump in Sun Valley while I was there. Man, was it fun to go everywhere. On the powder day the parking lot was full of locals at 8:30. There was a line for the gangula and the lift at the bottom of River Run (Which broke down and shattered dreams- people were stuck for a while). By 10 AM the top of Baldy and the bowls were skiied out (skied out for Sun Valley- very different than actually being skied out). Then all the locals went to work and the hill was empty. Dream day.

Blue Bird from elisabeth toft on Vimeo.

ELEVATED LOCAL - RACHEL
I love riding with this one: She's a snow-maker. While we drink beer and stare at things after we get off of the hill, Rachel is digging out snow guns and checking the snow. She is shoveling. She is sledding all over the mountain. She controls the FFP (fresh, fake, powder). There are bad nights, her eye lashes have been known to freeze together, and I heard it's been -10 lately. But mainly, Rachel and her snow-making family enjoy the gorgeous nights on the mountain. So after all this, she takes a nap and then meets me on the hill. Just to check on the snow- she is dedicated to her work. In the summer she makes money acting like Bill Muray on the golf course.

THE RIPER
I chased this cat everywhere around the mountain. He rips. Anyway, I have no idea who he is, but I followed him to many a secret stash.  Mountain crush (he's probably 12 and I'm gross). Thanks secret bright guy



AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY GAPING:



DISCOUNTS
Sun Valley: Liftopia, Costco in Twin Falls does deals for 2 or 3 days, and early and late season you can stay at the lodge and ski for around $80
Pomerelle: They wont give me a discount and I taught there and my fam still teaches there, but the freshies in the trees all day is worth the $38

MY BROTHER'S GIANT HEAD: