The end of the season is on its way, which means an abundance of pond skimming contests, outdoor music and active SPF for lunch and apres on the deck of wherever you are using your lift ticket.

Speaking of lift tickets – passes for next season are on sale now at the best prices.  See our recent article about Ikon, Epic and Mountain Collective prices and perks for next season.

https://seniorsskiing.com/save-money-buy-passes-now-for-next-season/

There also are many local and regional passes which might fit your needs.

Note that these early bird prices won’t last long.  Expect price increases by Memorial Day, even sooner.

First, though – two good news tidbits about next season –

Snowbasin confirms they will have RFID scanning gates next season, so no more taking out your pass to be hand-scanned at each lift.  Also, they are replacing one of their oldest lifts, Becker, being upgraded to a high-speed quad.  It will get you to the top terminal in six minutes, half the current 12.

Killington confirms it is replacing the sometimes-cranky Superstar Express Quad – which dates from 1987 – with a new high-speed six-pack.  It’s a $12 Million investment scheduled to open in December 2025.

Now for some local and regional season pass choices – note that these early bird prices don’t last long.  Some evaporate at the end of March, others the end of April.

New England Pass

Access to Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Loon Mountain Resort, offering a total of 388 trails, 2,647 acres, 17 terrain parks, and 47 lifts, and sister resort benefits including to Big Sky and Brighton. Benefits include Buddy tickets, retail, dining and tuning discounts.  There also are discounts for 65+ available for some passes.

Gold New England Pass – The most popular pass with unlimited access to Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Loon, and Pleasant Mountain, plus 3 free days at Big Sky Resort, Brighton, and other western Boyne resorts, 50% off on additional full one-day tickets and 50% off at Mountain Collective resorts.

• Renewal: $1,389 Adult, $599 Youth
• New Purchase: $1,449 Adult, $599 Youth
•  Add an Ikon Base Pass or Loon MTB Plus Pass for $299

Silver New England Pass – Daily access except for 12 blackout dates, plus 50% off full one-day tickets at Pleasant Mountain, Big Sky Resort, Brighton and other western Boyne resorts.

• Renewal: $999 Adult, $459 Youth
• New Purchase: $1,039 $489 Youth

Bronze New England Pass – Valid Mondays through Fridays except for blackout dates and expanded weekend access during early and late seasons at select resorts.

• Renewal Purchase: $679 All Ages
• New Purchase: $729 All Ages

Afternoon New England Pass – Ski and ride starting at 12:00pm, with no blackout dates, all season long.

• Renewal Purchase: $599 Adult,  $379 Youth
• New Purchase: $599 Adult, $379 Youth

Saddleback, Maine

An unrestricted Adult Season Pass, with no “blackout dates” is $1,099. That’s more than for the current season, but includes some new benefits.

Returning Benefits Include:

• FREE SKIING for the remainder of the 2024-2025 winter season
• Buddy Tickets: 50% off lift tickets for friends
• 50% off ski lessons at the Roger Page Ski & Ride School
• Demo, Tuning and Retail Discounts

New Benefits for 2025-2026 Season Pass Holders:

• Free UNLIMITED Summer Chairlift Rides
• Free UNLIMITED Summer Mountain Bike Park Access
• Summer Retail Discount: 10% off logo wear

https://www.saddlebackmaine.com/season-passes/

 Taos, New Mexico

Taos celebrates its 70^th Anniversary next season.  Passes purchased now include lift access for the remainder of the season.

Super Deals – Five-Day and 80+ Ski FREE

• The best deal – five days of skiing, with limited blackout dates, for $495.
• Free 80+ and 6 & under season passes are available on Opening Day.

Kachina Pass: 

• $1475 or $1395 for passholders in the last 5 years, for unrestricted skiing/riding 7 days a week, with no blackout dates
• $250 credit per season to the base area hotel, The Blake, plus discounts for Ikon and Mountain Collective pass holders.
• Two unguided days at Silverton Mountain and one free heli-skiing drop in December or January.

Value: 

• $925 or $875 for passholders in the last 5 years for skiing and riding 7 days a week, with holiday blackouts
• One unguided day at Silverton Mountain, one free heli-skiing drop in December or January. Starting March 24,

Midweek: 

• $525 or $495 for passholders in the last 5 years for unlimited skiing and riding Monday-Thursday, with holiday blackouts.

High Noon: 

• Also $525 or $495 for passholders in the last 5 years, for unlimited skiing after 12 PM, 7 days a week, with holiday blackouts.

Visit www.skitaos.com for more information.

 See you on the slopes!

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Evelyn Kanter

Evelyn Kanter is a NYC-based travel and environmental writer and a senior skier who would rather ride a chairlift, river raft or zipline than the subway, and has done so in the more than 100 countries she’s visited, skiing in many of them. In what she calls a “previous life”, she was a TV and radio news reporter for ABC News and CBS News, now a regular contributor to major publications, including airline inflights and AAA magazines, and has written or contributed to more than a dozen travel guidebooks.Her latest are “100 Things to Do in NYC Before You Die”, Fodor’s Essential Germany and Fodor’s New York City. Evelyn's website is www.ecoxplorer.com

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