Don Burch “New England Ski Season 2022-2023”
Short productions by ski videographer, Don Burch, have been gracing these pages for a several seasons. This one is dedicated to the memory of Jon Weisberg, co-founder and editor of SeniorsSkiing.com. Don is grateful to Jon for the encouragement and support he gave.
ICYMI for October 2023
Credit:Rinat Khairitdinov
We’re all gearing up (pun intended) for another great downhill and XC season, with snow already dusting the slopes of our favorite areas.
ICYMI (in case you missed it), here are some tidbits of this and that from here and there around the wonderful world of snow sports, to remind us what a great season it was in 22/23, and hopefully will be again in 23/24.
Vail Resorts Opening Dates
Of course it depends on the cooperation of Mother Nature, but these are the tentative opening dates for several Vail Resorts destinations:
- Mid-October (pending early season conditions): Keystone (CO)
- November 10: Breckenridge (CO), Vail Mountain (CO)
- November 17: Heavenly (CA), Northstar (CA), Park City Mountain (UT)
- November 22: Beaver Creek (CO), Crested Butte (CO)
- November 23: Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia)
- December 1: Kirkwood (CA), Stevens Pass (WA).
Another New Ikon Pass Perk
If you like to veg out in front of the TV after an exhilarating day on the slopes, or at home in between ski trips, you are in luck. Alterra and Ikon Pass have partnered with Paramount+ to provide a free three-month subscription for unlimited streaming. You’ll have access to live sports and a library of films, series and concerts, from channels including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, the Smithsonian Channel and Showtime, including movies about skiing and snowboarding. Information is on the Ikon Pass website.
Dan Egan to Manage Tenney Mountain, NH
Former extreme skier Dan Egan, who has been a coach and media spokesperson since retiring from competition, has taken on a new role – General Manager of Tenney Mountain, NH. He has the task of revitalizing the small, independent area, which has shuttered several times since it first opened in 1959. It re-opened last year under new ownership, which has already spent $1.5 million on upgrades such as snowmaking, according to the industry trade magazine Ski Area Management.
Tenney is scheduled to reopen this season with two chairlifts – a triple for recreational skiing and a double for backcountry access, plus night skiing.
Wasting Away in Lake Tahoe
The Margaritaville brand is launching its first foray into lodging in a ski destination with the opening of Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe in December.
It is the former Lake Tahoe Resort, at the base of Heavenly, re-opening after a multi-million dollar renovation as an all-suite hotel. Each of its 399 suites offers either a mountain or lake view, and some have fireplaces. There’s also an indoor heated pool, multiple restaurants and bars and a nine-story indoor atrium. Now accepting reservations for Dec. 20 and beyond. Because it’s always five o’clock somewhere.
Japan
Two of Japan’s largest ski resorts are being linked by a chairlift to create a mega-resort of more than 450 acres. The resorts are Alts Bandai Snow Park & Resort and Nekoma Snow Park & Resort in Japan’s Aizu region. The new lift replaces a long hike between the two resorts via a walking track.
Although the length of the 2,600+ lift might be scary, lift ticket prices are not – the twin areas already have been accessible on a single lift ticket, starting at just $35 ( ¥4,900) for a one-day pass.
Alts Bandai is the larger of the two and boasts high-speed hooded lifts and modern facilities, including the ski-in-ski-out Bandaisan Onsen Hotel. It is also famous for its views over the stunning Lake Inawashiroko to the south. Skiers and riders seeking some of Japan’s best powder and tree skiing are more likely to find it at at Nekoma
The new lift is expected to open in December 2023. In a bit to attract international travelers, the twin resorts are offering a discounted accommodation package for the upcoming season.
Indy Pass Adds 54 New Resorts
The “big three” multi-resort passes – Epic, Ikon and Mountain Collective – need to make room for a fourth. Indy Pass is the fastest-growing new option, for smaller, independent downhill and XC resorts – hence its name, Indy. It features the kind of hills and tracks where we learned to ski and where we first taught the kids and grandkids, plus some gi-normous international destinations.
For this season, Indy Pass has 54 new partner resorts, offering two days free at each member area – some with no blackout dates over holidays. With the 129 returning members, the new sign-ups bring the number of Indy Pass resorts to 183. It’s worth considering on its own, or as an add-on to one of the “big three” you already own.
The three largest new Indy Pass members are the international destinations.
SkiWelt is the largest interconnected resort in Austria, with 88 cable cars and other lifts and more than 200 miles of marked trails and more than 70 ski huts across nine resort villages. Kiroro Resort in Northernmost Hokkaido, Japan, and Big White in British Columbia, are major destination resorts in their respective countries.
Kiroro Japan Skiing Credit: IndyPass
Along with these notable international destinations, Indy Pass has added 30 Alpine resorts, including Montana Snowbowl, and 24 cross-country resorts, including Whistler Olympic Village, British Columbia, and Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.
Pass Sales Resume
After pausing sales last Spring due to unprecedented demand, Indy Pass has released a limited number of passes for purchase. The only way to purchase an Indy Pass is by joining the waitlist and receiving a permission code as space opens up.
Blackout Days Eliminated
Vermont has no blackout days, as Jay Peak, Bolton Valley, Saskadena Six, and Magic Mountain all forgo blackouts this year. Black Mountain New Hampshire, Black Mountain of Maine, Saddleback, and Big Rock Mountain, Maine, also are blackout-free. Find a complete listing of blackout dates here.
Pass Pricing for this Special Release. (There are no discounts for senior, military, or students.)
Pass purchasers may split any purchase into two equal payments.
- Indy Adult Base Pass $399, Indy+ Adult Pass $499
- Indy Kids Base Pass $199, Indy+ Kids Pass $249
Indy AddOn Pass, exclusively for partner resort passholders:
- Indy AddOn Adult Base Pass $279, Indy+ AddOn Adult Pass $379
- Indy Kids AddOn Base Pass $139, Indy+ Kids AddOn Pass $179
Indy XC Pass
- Indy XC Pass Adult Pass $99, Indy XC Pass Kids Pass $49
- Indy XC Pass Adult AddOn Pass $79, Indy XC Pass Kids AddOn Pass $39
New Indy Pass Resorts
West
Baldy Mountain Resort, BC
Big White Resort, BC
Cooper Spur Ski Area, OR
Loup Loup Ski Bowl, WA
Phoenix Mountain, BC
Shames Mountain, BC
Rockies
Fairmont Hot Springs, BC
Howelsen Hill, CO
Montana Snowbowl, MT
Pass Powderkeg, AB
Midwest
Andes Tower Hills, MN
Bottineau Winter Park, ND
Great Bear Ski Valley, SD
Huff Hills Ski Area, ND
Mount Baldy Ski Area, ON
Snowstar, IL
East
Dartmouth Skiway, NH
Maple Ski Ridge, NY
Whaleback Mountain, NH
Mid-Atlantic
Ski Big Bear, PA
Europe
SkiWelt, Austria (consists of 9 resort villages united by one lift ticket)
- Brixen im Thale
- Ellmau
- Going
- Hopfgarten
- Itter
- Kelchsau
- Scheffau
- Söll
- Westendorf
Japan
Ani Ski Resort, Tohoku
Kamui Ski Links, Hokkaido
Kiroro Snow World, Hokkaido
Madarao Ski Resort, Nagano
Pippu Ski Resort, Hokkaido
Togakushi Ski Resort, Nagano
Yubari Ski Resort, Hokkaido
New Allied Resorts
Mont Ripley Ski Area, MI
Skaneateles Ski Club, NY
24 New XC Resorts
West
Black Jack Cross Country Ski Club, BC
Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, BC
Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre, BC
Kimberley Nordic Club, BC
Leavenworth Winter Sports Club, WA
Loup Loup Cross Country, WA
Methow Trails, WA
Mt Shasta Nordic, CA
Nelson Nordic Ski Club, BC
Overlander Ski Club, BC
Telemark Nordic Center, BC
Whistler Olympic Park, BC
Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club, BC
Rockies
Dog Creek Lodge & Nordic Center, MT
Homestake Lodge, MT
Howelsen Hill, CO
Turpin Meadow Ranch, WY
White Pine Touring Nordic Center, UT
Midwest
Andes Tower Hills, MN
Hardwood Ski and Bike,ON
Minocqua Winter Park, WI
East
Garnet Hill, NY
Quarry Road Trails, ME
Trapp Family Lodge, VT
129 Returning Alpine and XC Resorts
West
49 Degrees North, WA
Apex Mountain Resort, BC
Arctic Valley, AK
China Peak, CA
Dodge Ridge, CA
Eaglecrest, AK
Hoodoo, OR
Hurricane Ridge, WA
Manning Park, BC
Mission Ridge WA
Mount Hood Meadows, OR
Mountain High, CA
Mt. Ashland, OR
Mt. Shasta, CA
Sasquatch Mountain Resort, BC
Ski Bluewood, WA
White Pass, WA
Rockies
Antelope Butte, WY
Beaver Mountain, UT
Blacktail Mountain Resort, MT
Brundage Mountain Resort, ID
Castle Mountain, AB
Eagle Point Mountain Resort, UT
Echo Mountain, CO
Granby Ranch, CO
Kelly Canyon, ID
Lost Trail Powder Mountain, MT
Meadowlark Ski Resort, WY
Pomerelle Mountain Resort, ID
Powder Mountain, UT
Red Lodge, MT
Silver Mountain ID
Snow King Mountain Resort, WY
Soldier Mountain, ID
Sunlight Mountain Resort, CO
Sunrise Park, AZ
Tamarack Mountain Resort, ID
Whitepine Mountain Resort, WY
Midwest
Big Powderhorn, MI
Buck Hill, MN
Caberfae Peaks, MI
Chestnut Mountain Resort, IL
Chrystal Mountain Resort, MI
Detroit Mountain, MN
Granite Peak, W
Little Switzerland, WI
Loch Lomond, ON
Lutsen Mountains, MN
Marquette Mountain, MI
Mount Kato, MN
Nordic Mountain, WI
Nubs Nob, MI
Pine Mountain, MI
Powder Ridge, MN
Schuss Mountain at Shanty Creek, MI
Snowriver, MI
Spirit Mountain, MN
Sundown Mountain, IA
Swiss Valley Ski and Snowboard, MI
Terry Peak, SD
The Rock Snowpark, WI
Tree Tops Resort, MI
Trollhaugen, WI
Tyrol Basin Ski and Snowboard, WI
East
Berkshire East Mountain Resort, MA
Big Rock Mountain, ME
Black Mountain of Maine, ME
Black Mountain Ski Area, NH
Bolton Valley Resort, VT
Calabogie Peaks Resort, ON
Cannon Mountain, NH
Catamount Mountain Resort, MA/NY
Greek Peak Mountain Resort, NY
Jay Peak Resort, VT
Magic Mountain, VT
Mohawk Mountain, CT
Pats Peak, NH
Peek ‘n Peak, NY
Saddleback Mountain, ME
Saskadena Six Ski Area, VT
Snow Ridge, NY
Swain Resort, NY
Titus Mountain, NY
Waterville Valley Resort, NH
West Mountain, NY
Mid-Atlantic
Blue Knob All Season Resort, PA
Bryce Resort, VA
Canaan Valley, Resort, WV
Cataloochee Ski Area, NC
Massanutten Resort, VA
Montage Mountain, PA
Ober Mountain, TN
Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, PA
Ski Sawmill, PA
Tussey Mountain, PA
Winterplace Ski Resort, WV
Japan – Tohoku Region
Aomori Spring Ski Resort
Geto Kogen
Okunakayama Kogen
Shimakura
Tazawako
Allied Resorts
Bousquet Mountain, MA
Burke Mountain, VT
Cherry Peak, UT
Dry Hill, NY
King Pine, NH
McIntyre Ski Area, NH
Middlebury Snowbowl, VT
Paul Bunyan Ski Hill, WI
Sleeping Giant, WY
Cross Country Resorts
49 Degrees North Nordic Center, WA
Bear Valley Adventure Company, CA
Black Mountain of Maine Nordic, ME
Catamount Outdoor Family Center, VT
Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, MT
Enchanted Forest, NM
High Point XC Ski Center, NJ
Jackson XC, NH
Manning Park, BC
Maplelag Resort, MN
Meadows Nordic Center, OR
Nickel Plate Cross Country Ski Club, BC
Rangeley Lakes Trail Center, ME
Rikert Nordic Center, VT
Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, BC
Treetops Cross Country, MI
Waterville Valley Resort Nordic Center, NH
White Grass Ski Touring, WV
Woodstock Nordic Center, VT
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