Way early I know, but anyone considering skiing this winter should know that big changes are coming because of covid. Vail Associates (Epic Pass) announced this week that a reservation system will be put in place for lift tickets to all of their destinations, along with reduced lift capacity and other restrictions. Alterra (IKON Pass) hasn't announced any changes yet, but the expectation is that they will follow Vail's lead.
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I got credits from my Epic passes last year for the family that I can apply to this year's passes, but honestly, I think skiing is off the menu for this season. As much as it pains me.
When this pandemic is officially over, there's going to be a huge travel boom.
Have skied 2 days at Squaw Valley. Not much snow and very limited terrain open. Mostly went to check out their Covid protocols. Everyone wearing masks except while on a lift or skiing. Restaurants takeout only. Lifts are family and friends (and will be very long lines when they get more snow). Weird to ride a six-pack chair by myself.
I don't see myself doing a lot of skiing this season. Our Taos trip for February is cancelled obviously and even local skiing isn't sound very exciting. I have no interest in waiting in long lift lines due to spacing requirements.
Not that it matters much to Forum members, but Tahoe just got 6' of powder (not Sierra cement). Unfortunately, CA will be in a drought (again) if we don't get a lot more.
we're supposed to get about 10 inches of snow here in Baltimore over the next two days. No lines for ski lifts, as there are no ski lifts. Not much in the way of hills either, though.
From the lack of interest in this topic, I know many did not ski this year for many different reasons (thanks - I'm at 28 days and counting). If you are considering skiing in the 2021-2022 season, you might be interested in this comparison of ski passes.
Last chance to buy ski pass this season: Epic vs. Ikon vs. Mountain Collective (thepointsguy.com)
I skied 8 days this season: 4 at Brighton/Solitude and 4 at Mammoth. Interesting that in red state Utah, indoor dining and hot tubs were open, and strangers were much more likely to let me sit with them on chair lifts. In blue state California, dining was outdoors (brrr) or carry-out, hot tubs were closed, and a lift operator ordered me to wear a medical face mask over my neoprene face warmer because the latter had perforations. Oh well, the skiing was great in both places, and I was thankful to be able to enjoy it.
Didn't ski a single day this year.
I was not interested in the possibility of spending most of the time in the lift line for single skiers.
Steve 8 - I too thought that Covid would negatively impact skiing this season, but it actually didn't; at least where I skied (UT, CO, Tahoe, Mammoth). Skiers actually conformed to the rules (masks everywhere but on the slopes). I even saw lift attendants not allow people on their lifts if they didn't wear acceptable masks. What sucked this year, more than anything else, was minimum snow coverage. I'm hoping for a better snow season in 2021-22; especially since I'm planning on Europe next Jan.
