Group discount ski snowboard 2025/26 season pass available to SnowPals.org members
Which season pass are you aiming to buy?
☑ Epic Pass
☑ Ikon Pass
☑ Mountain Collective Pass
☑ POWDER Alliance Pass
☑ Indy Pass
☑ Cali Pass
☑ Or resort-specific passes like Sugar Bowl, Mt Rose, Diamond Peak, Boreal, Sierra at Tahoe, etc?
If you're interested in a discount season pass purchase, and we'll let you know which season pass we have a discount for. Join SnowPals to take advantage of our group pass discount offering.
What is the advantage of buying a 2025/26 season pass now?
Multi-resort season pass such as Ikon will include spring skiing for the current season as an add on bonus so the earlier you buy the pass, the sooner you get to use your pass for some spring skiing. Check Ikon Pass' website for details. The 2025-2026 Epic Pass, which is on sale now, does not offer spring skiing access.
When will pass prices go up?
To get the lowest price, buy your pass before April 30, 2025. Pass prices go up May 1, and will continue to go up until the last opportunity to buy 2025/26 season passes will be in early December 2025.
Can't decide which season pass to buy?
♥ Summary of pros and cons of 2025/26 ski snowboard multi-resorts season passes:
"Determining the "best value" multi-resort ski season pass depends on several factors: where you plan to ski, how many days you’ll hit the slopes, and what perks matter most to you (e.g., no blackout dates, unlimited access, or flexibility). Based on the latest available data for the 2025-26 season, here’s a breakdown of the major options—Epic Pass, Ikon Pass, Mountain Collective, and Indy Pass—to help you decide which offers the best bang for your buck.
- **Resorts**: 40+ North American resorts with unlimited access (e.g., Vail, Breckenridge, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb) plus 7 days at Telluride and partner resorts in Japan, Europe, and Australia.
- **Value Breakdown**: At $1,047, the full Epic Pass breaks even after about 4-5 days if you’re skiing at premium resorts where day tickets often exceed $200 (e.g., Vail’s walk-up price can hit $250+). The Epic Local Pass ($778) offers unlimited access to 29 resorts with some holiday restrictions at top-tier spots like Vail, making it a steal if you ski 4+ days at places like Keystone or Heavenly.
- **Best For**: Frequent skiers (5+ days) who want unrestricted access to big-name resorts, especially in the Rockies or Midwest/East Coast. The 10 Buddy Tickets (for the full pass, if bought early) add extra value for group trips.
### Ikon Pass
- **Price**: $1,329 (adult); $1,229 (renewal); Ikon Base Pass: $929; Base Plus: $1,049
- **Resorts**: 58 destinations worldwide. Unlimited access to 17 resorts (e.g., Winter Park, Steamboat, Mammoth) and 5-7 days at others (e.g., Alta/Snowbird, Aspen, Jackson Hole). Base Pass has blackout dates at some spots.
- **Value Breakdown**: At $1,329, the full Ikon Pass needs about 6-7 days to break even at $200/day resorts. The Base Pass ($929) is better value if you ski 5+ days at unlimited resorts like Solitude or Palisades Tahoe, though blackout dates (e.g., Dec 26-31, Jan 18-19) could limit peak-season use. The $100 renewal discount and 12 Friends & Family tickets (25% off) boost its appeal.
- **Best For**: Skiers chasing variety across the U.S., Canada, and Europe (e.g., Chamonix, Niseko), especially if you hit 7+ days. Less ideal if you’re locked into holiday skiing.
- **Resorts**: 26 independent resorts, including Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, Alta, and Snowbird. Offers 2 days at each, 50% off additional days, and a bonus 3rd day at one resort (limited-time offer).
- **Value Breakdown**: At $649, you get 52 days total (2 per resort) plus the bonus day, averaging $12.50/day if you max it out—an insane deal for road-trippers. Even at 5 days across 2-3 resorts (e.g., Alta and Snowbird), it’s $130/day, undercutting most walk-up tickets. No blackout dates is a huge plus.
- **Best For**: Infrequent skiers (2-6 days) or travelers hitting multiple bucket-list spots. Less value if you ski one resort repeatedly, as it lacks unlimited access.
- **Resorts**: 130+ independent resorts across the U.S., Canada, and Japan (e.g., Jay Peak, Cannon, Powder Mountain). 2 days at each, no blackouts with Indy+.
- **Value Breakdown**: At $329, that’s $1.60/day if you somehow ski all 260 days—a ridiculous hypothetical. Realistically, 4-6 days (e.g., 2 at Bolton Valley, 2 at Saddleback) costs $55-$82/day, beating most day tickets at smaller hills ($80-120). Indy+ ($429) eliminates blackout risks.
- **Best For**: Budget-conscious skiers (2-10 days) near indie resorts or those avoiding crowds at mega-resorts. Limited appeal if you crave big-name terrain.
### Which is the Best Value?
- **Epic Pass ($1,047 or $778 Local)**: Best value for 5-10+ days at Vail-owned resorts. The Local version shines if you’re near Colorado or the Northeast and can dodge holidays.
- **Ikon Pass ($1,329 or $929 Base)**: Worth it for 7-10+ days across diverse, high-profile resorts, especially with renewal perks. Base Pass is solid if you’re flexible on dates.
- **Mountain Collective ($649)**: Unmatched for 2-6 days across premium indie resorts. Perfect for a single epic trip (e.g., Aspen + Jackson Hole) without breaking the bank.
- **Indy Pass ($329)**: Cheapest per-day option for 2-6 days at lesser-known gems. Ideal for locals or families near its resorts.
### Recommendation
- **If you ski 2-4 days**: Mountain Collective ($649) or Indy Pass ($329) wins for flexibility and low cost per day.
- **If you ski 5-7 days**: Epic Local ($778) or Ikon Base ($929) balances price and access, depending on your region (Epic for Vail zones, Ikon for Alterra spots).
- **If you ski 10+ days**: Full Epic ($1,047) or Ikon ($1,329) maximizes unlimited access—Epic edges out slightly on price, Ikon on variety." - AI Search Result from GROK
Ask yourself: where do you plan to ski, and how many days are you aiming for? That’ll nail down which season pass gets your hard earned money.
🚠🏔️❄️⛷️🏂
Group discount ski/snowboard 2025/26 season pass available to https://t.co/6pBHEYiIIn members
We have an amazing and spacious 3 bedroom and 3 bathroom Chalet near Kirkwood and are looking for some members to join. It has a hot tub and we accept dogs.
Friday, January 3, 2025 – April 27, 2025 (4 months, 16 weeks)
-$1,595.00 per person (not per group) for 4 full months. That’s only $100 a week for the whole season.
-Will give a deal to couples that share a bed
-Dogs welcome. Must disclose the age, size, and breed.
-Only a short drive from the house to the mountain
-Full time: 7 days a week (weekdays and weekends open)
-3 bedroom (Bedroom 1 – king; bedroom 2 – two twin XL; bedroom 3 – two sets of adult bunk beds, 4 beds)
-3 bathrooms
-Private hot tub jacuzzi
-Video game and cinema room
-Outdoor gas fire pit
-Fiber-optic “lighting fast” Wi-Fi. You can work remote from the Chalet.
-2 car garage
-Plenty of parking
-Lots of storage
-Utilities, cleaning fees, snow removal to be discussed as a group (roughly around $60 per person a month)
-No full time residence, you must have a primary residence elsewhere.
-Guests are welcome (extra fee to help pay for cleanings). Each guest can only stay for a certain number of days otherwise they will have to become a full member.
Join SnowPals to get that work life balance, and to engage in snow sports recreation. Join SF Bay Area Professionals to expand your circle of ski and ride buddies, btw, that’s how we came up with our name: Snow (Snow-Sports) + Pals.
Founded in 1999 by a small group of friends; we are now 8k+ members and growing. For 2023/24 winter, we celebrate our 25th year of connecting folks to expand their circle of snow sports activity partners. Also, a great way to network professionally since most of our members are busy Bay Area and Silicon Valley professionals who share the joy of snow-sports.
Connect with skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels for trips to Tahoe and to snow destinations covered by your multi-resort ski season pass like Epic, Ikon, Powder Alliance, Indy Pass, and the Mountain Collective Pass.
For the 2023/24 winter season, join us to celebrate our 25th anniversary!
SnowPals facilitates San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento to Lake Tahoe rideshare/carpooling for residents and visitors to Tahoe during the ski season, and notably, some snow sports enthusiasts extend their ski season by taking advantage of Ikon, Epic Pass access to the southern hemisphere resorts to ski, ride South America and Australia resorts when it’s the summer months here in the Bay Area.
Join SnowPals to meet winter sports recreational activities partners and off-season activity partners for golfing, hiking, camping, biking, rock climbing, water sports and other outdoor recreational activities.
Who joins SnowPals.org?
SF Bay Area Sacramento Area working professionals, retirees, and college students.
When was SnowPals.org founded?
In 1999, a handful of like-minded fresh out of college kids founded SnowPals aka Snow-sports Pals (formerly known as Ski Pals and Bay Area Ski and Snowboard).
How do members connect for rides to Tahoe and other snow destinations?
SnowPals’ members only forum connects members for trips almost every day of the week since we have members who are college students, Bay Area working professionals, digital nomads, visitors on vacation to Lake Tahoe as well as retirees(who likes to ski off-peak weekdays, non-holiday periods) who engages in an active snow sports lifestyle.
Below is a screenshot of SnowPals’ members forum messages for Tahoe ride-share:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Who are your behind the scene crew/the people who helps manage and run SnowPals?
Q: I live in Monterey/Santa Cruz/Sacramento/Davis/Roseville/Stockton/Central Valley California, are there Bay Area members who can give me rides to Tahoe?
A: Yes, if you live along the route to North Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada ski resorts, you can find rides since members stop along the route for a pitstop/to pick-up passengers on the way to Tahoe or other high Sierra resorts.
Q: Do you have ski/snowboard families? We are a skiing/snowboarding family and would like to meet other families who frequent Tahoe often to share snow sports experiences to give kids opportunities to meet new ski/ride friends to make the experience more fun.
A: Yes, many of our members have kids and would like to connect with other families to enjoy snow-sports together; often-times members collaborate to share a ski cabin to reduce their ski cabin lease expenses. Some parents enrolled their kids in resort based ski, snowboarding race training team programs. Many of our members got married over the years and became parents so naturally they would like to connect with other like-minded parents.
Q: I mainly do backcountry skiing/boarding, are there backcountry skiers/riders in the group?
A: Yes, we have many members who are backcountry skiers at various levels from beginners to expert touring level.
Q: I want to find folks for Nordic skiing/cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; are there members who engage in Nordic type snow sports?
A: Yes, we have members who cross train and who enjoys Nordic skiing/snowshoeing; a favorite destination is Lake Tahoe area’s backcountry trails, in addition, many often go to Yosemite National Park to not only engage in snow sports but to engage in winter snow photography and to enjoy off the beaten path Nordic skiing adventures.
Q: What’s the best way to meet people?
A: Make a point to attend our meetups to meet skiers, snowboarders in person to quickly establish rapport and plan Tahoe trips. Nothing beats in-person socializing which instantly creates rapport and connection by way of sharing similar interests and activities.
Screenshot of Tahoe Ride-share Contacts Preferences:
After college, it’s likely that our circle of friends become smaller and smaller with each passing year as family and work responsibilities require a bulk of our personal time, so at SnowPals, we would like to help expand your circle of snow-sports buddies so you can go on more powder ski and snowboarding trips than you have done in previous years.
At SnowPals, we help to expand your FUN horizon by connecting with SF Bay Area professionals of all ages/skill levels, college students and even retirees for Tahoe ski, ride trips and POWDER trips to snowy destinations world-wide. Network, connect and socialize with our active and friendly members.
Before the ski season starts (in October), join our pre-snow season ski-and-ride movie screenings, ski/board festivals, connect for ride-shares and join winter ski leases to make the most of your ski pass.
Our members often extend group activities into the summer seasons. We encourage an active lifestyle of not only snow-sports but the entire gamut of outdoor recreational activities, in the off-season, members often engage in various activities from active travel adventures to tropical R & R destination vacations or travel to bucket list destinations, or locally connect for nature hikes, surfing, sky-diving, rock climbing, mountain biking, wakeboarding among other outdoor activities.
Over the years, we’ve noticed that ..
Ski and snowboard friendships often last a lifetime as they are built on a core shared interest.
“Create ski and snowboarding memories today so when in later years, you’ll reminisce about moments that will likely trigger joyful smiles. That is in two words: ‘truly priceless’ 😉 “- SnowPals
What adventure(s) have you checked off your bucket list this year?
* To get an idea of folks who join SnowPals, the following are excerpts of members’ intros:
“I love snowboarding and starting to get into backcountry riding. Open to riding with new people and meeting others who are into BC riding/skiing.” – Daphne from Newark, CA
“Will be based in Tahoma and skiing on the Tahoe Local Epic pass this season. Getting back to skiing after a 10-year hiatus.” – Lydia
“I finally moved back to Roseville after living in Portland for the last 5 years. I’ve got a season pass to Sierra at Tahoe & hoping to have a good snowboarding season! I’ll be mostly going on the weekends, and taking a few days off here and there on weekdays. I’m interested in tahoe rideshare & possibly finding mates for snowboarding!” – V from Roseville, CA
“I’ve lived in the Bay Area for nearly 4 years now. I’ve skied off and on for about 19 years (with a big layoff in between). I started skiing annually again about 5 years ago. I mainly ski in Park City, UT (A big group of friends host an annual ski trip there).
This year I decided to really lean in and embrace skiing more. I purchased my own equipment and an all resort Epic Pass. I plan on visiting Tahoe a few times this year and hopefully a few non-CA resorts as well. I would love to find a buddy or group to join for a few trips this year. I’m open to joining a ski lease as well.” – Kevin from Emeryville, CA
“I am a digital nomad and thought it would be fun to spend some time up in Tahoe improving my boarding and skiing skills. I would love to find a ski lease that could be a month continuous or at least two to three weeks at a time, maybe twice over the season. I am a fun, easy-going person who can be social or quiet, as needed. I don’t want to live in a party house, but love to cook, enjoy wine, beer and cocktails and board games (sorry!). I am from LA, but please don’t hold that against me, I love San Francisco” – Dagney from SF, CA
“I am an intermediate snowboarder who enjoys park and free riding. 19/20 will be my 2nd full season. I have a season pass for Heavenly and Sierra and looking to ride up with people who enjoy snowsports. I live in San Jose.” – Mike
“Hi Skiers and Snowboarders!
I’ve been snowsporting in Tahoe my whole life and would like to move there someday. My boyfriend Aaron and I are from Los Gatos, and we have both Ikon and Epic passes but love to visit smaller resorts as well. I also love going to ski movie premieres to get pumped up for the season. We can cook pretty well so you definitely want us in your ski lease. Can’t wait to meet you!” – Anna
“Hi, I am from Chicago, moved here in 2018 from DC and spent many excellent weekends at Kirkwood last season. Typically overstoked Midwesterner, have AWD car, Epic local pass. Mostly a weekend warrior to save vacation days, open to ski lease options, and living in Oakland. In warmer weather I’m climbing in Yosemite and elsewhere. Looking for folks excited to hit the slopes all day long!
Looking to connect with others who have Epic Local- Kirkwood is my favorite, but also open to Northstar/Heavenly.” – Josh from Oakland.
Hi my name is Claire and I’m based in SF. I have the Ikon pass, and am interested in finding people to carpool with to Squaw Alpine.
I like to Ski and do Cross-country skiing too.”
“Hi, I grew up in SF, am 24, and recently got into skiing. I am hoping to go up more this season and am looking for a group or ski buddies to go with! 🙂 ” – Harmony
“Hello, I’m frequently driving back and forth from South Lake Tahoe to the Peninsula close to the weekends. I ferry my 6 year old daughter back and forth so we can ski together, but she’s with her dad during the school week. So, sometimes she’ll be in the car and sometimes it’s just me. I have a ski lease now, but hope to relocate to the area. I only travel during low traffic times. Hoping to connect with some weekly carpoolers!” – Ellen
“Hi All! I just moved out to San Francisco after spending some time in Chicago and New York, I am currently on Volunteer Ski Patrol at Squaw Valley So I’m up most weekends and looking to offer rideshare or catch a carpool with others. Myself and some of my family and friends are currently starting a new ski lease in Homewood and we’re hoping to use it to make some new friends! I’m 26 and work as a Programmer.” – Brian
“I am an intermediate skier living in the East Bay. “I’d like to go skiing more often than I used to. Willing to team up with others to share rides to Tahoe. I have a flexible schedule and can go most days during the week. I am professional in the tech field. Prefer to go to Kirkwood, Heavenly & Northstar.” – John
“Hi, I’m from the UK working as a doctor at UCSF and looking to do as many day trips/weekend trips as possible. I’m mainly looking for a ride, but if friends happen, it was meant to be! I am clean and travel without skis.” – V.
“I love skiing (resort and backcountry) and all sorts of climbing — rock and ice, especially alpine routes. Most of my climbing was up in the OR + WA Cascades, so I’d love someone to show me around the Sierra climbing and backcountry skiing. For 2018-19, I have an Ikon Pass and am looking to connect for rides to IKON resorts.” – Alex
Hello POWDER LOVERS, I’m Brian, 47, and I love to Snowboard, advance level, Surf, watch the SF Giants, and go to Happy Hour. I’m married with two great kids (in the middle school range). My wife is from Canada, and she’s realized her dream of making me a devout snow monkey. We bought season passes for the first time this year, so I’m aiming to put as many miles on my Epic Pass as I can. The kids play sports so our Tahoe trips are tag team with one schlepping kids while the other ski’s/boards. I drive our Subaru Outback when I go and like not needing chains. I’m interested in carpooling with anyone else who wants to day trip. I typically go to Kirkwood from San Mateo on weekends, and some weekdays.” – Brian
“Hello! I’m AJ, a PhD student at UC Berkeley who loves XC skiing. I also like snowshoeing. I’m hoping to get out to Tahoe on the weekends, and maybe even for longer during the holidays. Here for good company, new friends, ride shares, ski buddies, and also lodging-sharing.”
“Hi everyone! I’ve lived in SF for about 3 and a half years and am hoping to get up to Tahoe as much as possible on the weekends for some riding (intermediate/advance) this year. I would definitely be interested in ride-sharing with anyone who has space in their vehicle (I don’t have one). I’ve got the Ikon Base Pass so I will likely mostly be going to Squaw/Alpine, but open to other locations on Blackout Dates.” – Mike
“Hey, I live in Menlo Park, moved here from Toronto, Canada 1.5 years ago. Interested in carpooling up to Kirkwood, Heavenly, Northstar. Epic Local Pass holder. Preference is to drive up on Friday nights. I have an AWD SUV with chains, can comfortably take 3 plus gear. I don’t have a ski lease so I am very interested in exchanging driving for a guest stay nights at a lease. I am planning on getting into the backcountry scene as I accumulate the required gear.” – Andrew
– “Hi, I have been in the Bay Area for awhile (since 2000), married with kids, but still like to go snowboarding / skiing when I can. I have used the ski bus a number of times in the past, but this year I have an Ikon pass so I have to focus on ride-sharing to Squaw Valley as often as possible. Either me driving up and taking a passenger, or joining in with someone who is already driving up. I’m the “quiet / dependable” engineer type. If I say I’ll be ready to go at 4 am I’ll be there on time and ready to go. Cheers!”- Eric
“I’m super excited since I just relocated to Petaluma which is a bit closer to Tahoe and one of my fav most beautiful places to snowboard. I’m mainly interested in the Tahoe rideshare because I don’t have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and don’t trust driving in storms. I am flexible on resorts we go to and am interested in crashing at a ski lease as a guest for only a couple of nights if available. I usually can take off Fridays so we can leave early in the AM. I’m also able to meet up somewhere in East Bay or Sacramento and then we carpool from there. Super excited to shred some gnar!” – Megan
“Hello there! I moved here from Illinois last year and tried snowboarding for the first time last season. Fell in love with the sport and bought a pass to Sierra at Tahoe as well as an Epic Local for the upcoming season! Along with a ton of awesome gear so I don’t have to stand in long rental lines anymore. I’m interested in finding people who plan on getting out to Tahoe pretty much every weekend this season. I was told I should come here, so here I am!” – Marcus
“New to the Bay Area and pretty clueless about the various Tahoe resorts. I had a great ski group back East and I definitely miss them. Have Epic Pass and opened to Tahoe trips. Originally from South Carolina have been a Bay Area Resident as of August 2018.” – Matt
“Hello, A little bit about myself: single mom with 2 kids. We live in Scotts Valley. I work in Tech in Menlo Park so lots of commuting and computer hours.
I have been a skier since I was about 8. Last season we were at Heavenly quite a lot and spent $$$ on ski school and accommodations. I did find the ski school absolutely fantastic though and one of my friends recommended their ski team.
So here we are, I have signed both kids up for Heavenly’s Comet program and so looking forward to it and connecting with SnowPals who have kids who are in similar resort programs.
Thanks and looking forward to a great season.” – Mercedes
“Hello there! I moved from France to the Bay Area a couple of years ago but finally decided to get a season pass this year (Epic Local for Kirkwood, Heavenly and NorthStar) I don’t have a FWD car so I’m looking for ski buddies who would be willing to share the ride, ideally super early Sat mornings, but could also make it work some Fridays. I am an intermediate / advanced skier, perfectly comfortable skiing on my own but I would love connecting with people of similar level – powder is always more fun with friends!” – Laura
“Hi, I’m a Montana-native, newly transplanted to the Bay Area. Driving three hours (each way) alone is a bummer, so let’s ride together. I like to Ski, Snowboard and do Back-country skiing or snowboarding” – Adam
“Long time advanced level snowboarder. I prefer weekdays as Friday to Sunday are too crowded. I have the epic Tahoe local pass. I go to Northstar, heavenly and Kirkwood. Interested in finding snow board buddies and interested in a ski lease.” – Patricia
Hello there, I grew up snowboarding in Colorado and have been in the Bay Area for the last year. I am trying the Ikon pass this year so hoping to get a few trips to Squaw. I like to Snowboard (Advance level), Cross-country skiing, Snowmobiling, Snow shoeing and Ice skating” – Ellen
“Always looking for a ride up to the mountain. Kirkwood, Heavenly, Northstar. Epic Local Pass holder. My family owns a cabin about an hour away (depending on conditions). I like to leave the Bay Area Thursday evenings, stay at the cabin, ski Fridays and Saturdays and be home by Sundays. Can definitely host at the cabin. Rustic, but sleeps 3 comfortably. Can meet at any BART station for ride share.” – Josh
“Hi! I live in Sausalito, expert skier ( I lived in Vail for 3 seasons and taught 6-12 yr olds in ski school), and i purchased the Epic Pass this season— will be going to Vail for a week, Mar 9-16, but looking to utilize Epic Pass more this season, Locally~! Looking for other advanced/expert skiers to carve some turns within Tahoe, at any of the Epic Pass accepted resorts. Also looking for ride shares to Tahoe, and occasional places to stay/share. I work for myself, so my driving schedule is VERY flexible—-prefer to NOT be stuck in traffic, and weekdays are fine with me. I have an AWD Cayenne that fits 4 -5 people and equipment, or am happy to pitch in, if someone else can drive. I’m also a single, successful professional, I own my own company, and am hoping to meet other singles (men) that are active and enjoy the sports I am passionate about—- which include skiing and road biking/cycling:) Lets go skiing!!” – Janna
“Hi, I’m from Sonoma and work as a Chef. Been skiing Tahoe my whole life; have a family cabin on Donner. Currently living in Sonoma and skiing primarily midweek, storm chaser looking to connect with the same, all business; got a Sugar Bowl pass.” – Brannon
Why are new members required to send in a self-intro as part of SnowPals’ new member application?
Although internet interactions are quick and easy, they tend to be very one dimensional, unlike meeting someone face-to-face where you can immediately relate with and can readily establish rapport with; hence, to offset this, we need a catalyst in the form of a self-introduction whereby new members send in a self-intro as part of their membership application to facilitate social connections. Reading a person’s self-intro helps members to get to know more about the new member and to learn more about what his/her snow sports interests which helps to serve as conversation starter and can result in cultivating new friendships, or, at the very least to connect for Tahoe ride-sharing to share carpool trip expenses and to help reduce our carbon footprint impact to our natural environment for our benefit and for our future generations.
How do I join? Is there a membership fee?
Unlike traditional ski and snowboard clubs with yearly recurring membership fees, join us with a one-time fee of $20. Please complete the TWO STEPS NEW MEMBER APPLICATION BELOW.
This one-time fee helps us pay for web hosting, backend technical website services, time invested in growing the club, club management and various time consuming backend work such as facilitating Bay Area-Tahoe ride shares and organizing social events.
Alternatively, if you’d rather commit to volunteering two hours of your time to help us grow or manage the group, your membership fee will be waived; just inquire for details.
Our members range from newbies to experts in snow sports. Members’ ages vary from 18 to well into the 70s (single people and married and separated couples with and without kids).
Membership perks:
✔ Access to our Tahoe ridesharing/carpool members network of 8K+ members. We’re a free alternative to fee-based Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing services. Expand your circle of ski and ride buddies for resort skiing and riding or opt for the backcountry and have the safety of a wing man and woman to stay safe.
✔ Participate in fun and engaging social events
✔ We often hold giveaway raffles for swag and lift tickets at our events and online
✔ In the off-season, we may facilitate connections for outdoor activities such as hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, wakeboarding, surfing, etc. to encourage an active lifestyle.
TO JOIN, PLEASE SUBMIT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBER APPLICATION BELOW:
** FOR EXPEDITED NEW MEMBER APPLICATION (For those looking to joining ASAP to connect for Tahoe ridesharing/day or overnight trips).
using the email address you’d like to join with, and be sure to include a brief intro about you (approximate age, city of residence, how often do you ski/ride), why you’d like to join, which season pass do you have if any, your ski, board skill level; share your LinkedIn, Facebook or other social media links so members can easily connect with you, and lastly in the off-season, what recreational sports or activities do you engage in? At SnowPals, we encourage an active outdoors lifestyle to help balance work and play 😉 To complete your application, send in a one time $20 membership fee payment (opens in a new window). PLEASE allow us time to review and process your new member request once your payment has been received.
If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours, . Thank you!
** REGUALR APPLICATION
STEP 1: SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBER APPLICATION FORM
➡ STEP TWO: send the one-time $20 membership payment.. New member application processing time typically takes 24 hours (Monday-Friday); if you’d like to request to rush your application because you’re looking for a Tahoe rideshare, please submit your application and payment, then to expedite the new member invite request.
* Please note: our club/group’s name was changed from Ski Pals to Snow Pals to be inclusive of all snow sports (ski, snowboard, Alpine skiing, kite-skiing, riding, cross-country, telemark, backcountry, ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding, tubing, ice hockey, snowmobiling, etc).
** In addition to Tahoe trips, join us to plan POWDER Destination Trips to:
1) Mammoth Mountain Trips (in Central Sierra Nevada)
2) Utah
3) Colorado
4) British Columbia Trips / Whistler Blackcomb
5) Hakuba, Niseko also known as the Japanese Alps
6) Other international ski and ride trips to Europe, South America, Australia (endless winter skiing and riding) covered by your multi-resort pass
Trip dates and lodging are open to discussion and planning by all club/group members; you can propose a trip and if folks are interested, can join in.
♥ Got family and friends who like to ski or snowboard? Please tell them about SnowPals.org – “Join SnowPals to expand your circle of ski and ride buddies, connect for Tahoe ride-sharing (share trip expenses) and help reduce your carbon footprint impact, hence helping to preserve our environment for us and for future generations.”
Share this page with friends and family via , twitter, facebook.
As ski resorts open, the most commonly asked question on the minds of many skiers’ and snowboarders’ is:
What will the 2020-21 Tahoe ski season will be like during coronavirus with resorts implementing COVID-19 safety measures?
Tahoe area ski resorts indicated that cleaning and sanitation will increase in frequency and rigor and that physical distancing and masks will be required in indoor areas, base areas, lift mazes, on chairlifts and on shuttle buses.
Only related groups can ride together on chairlifts; there will be occupancy limits at indoor spaces and on shuttle buses, and Ski & Ride School will operate with reduced capacities.
Most resorts will have a reservation system to limit resort and slope-side capacity. Resort visitors will be required to make a reservation before arriving at the mountain. Resorts will limit the number of people allowed on site daily. Many will require you to buy your lift pass and book your time on the slopes at least a day in advance; you can no longer just show up on a powder day and buy lift tickets the day of.
Those with season pass will still need to reserve slope-side days. Resorts will likely sell-out for several days in advance especially on powder days. How does Epic Pass resort reservation system works?
Also as many transactions as possible will be conducted online prior to arrival to reduce interactions.
If you’d like to book your resort visit for fresh POWder days & holiday weekends, the best strategy is to..
Megan Michelson, a reporter with the San Francisco Chronicle, details what Tahoe ski season could look like during coronavirus/COVID-19:
“Winter sports can still happen in the COVID era. Skiing and snowboarding are relatively well suited to a viral outbreak. They take place outside, generally away from others, and skiers are used to wearing face coverings and gloves. But life at ski resorts — assuming they’ll be able to open safely this winter — will not look the same. Many resorts were able to open for limited summer operations, like biking and hiking, and Southern Hemisphere ski resorts in places like Chile and New Zealand opened with strict COVID guidelines. With guidance from public health experts, California ski resorts are now working on reopening plans and how to best protect guests, employees and ski-town communities.
“Things will be different this winter, but we are a highly adaptable industry, having faced droughts, excessive snowfall and road closures,” says Katie Hunter, director of sales and marketing at Sierra-at-Tahoe. “We believe that winter outdoor recreation, when practiced safely, will be a source of healing for people.”
Goggle tans no more
Masks will be required at most ski resorts in congested areas. Vail Resorts — which operates Tahoe’s Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood — is requiring face coverings in designated zones, like inside the lodge, in lift lines and in ski school corrals. “Just as other tourist destinations have required, we must ensure that face coverings are not optional if you are walking around with a drink or snack in your hand,” Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz wrote in an open letter to guests.
Proper masks are preferable to the standard skiers’ Buff. “Synthetic fibers like those in a Buff are technically not as good as a cotton mask, which has more three-dimensional structure to block the potentially virus-laden droplets more efficiently,” says Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and an infectious disease specialist at UCSF. “But in community mask wearing, fit and convenience trump quality of the mask. For skiers, it’s perfectly fine to use the neck gaiter if it means you will wear it when you need to.”
Give a ski’s length in line
Physical distancing guidelines will also be in place. You’ll find signage and marked spots on the ground to remind you to give at least 6 feet of space while you wait for food, rentals, lifts and other services. You’ll load chairlifts and gondolas only with those in your existing group. (Singles will likely need to ride solo or with empty spaces in between.) Lift lines will inevitably move slower and stretch farther in length.
In the lodge, you’ll find signage that could indicate one-way traffic or specific doors for entering and exiting to eliminate congestion. Yes, everything will take a little longer, but that’s OK. Take a deep breath and be thankful you’re out there.
What day is it anyway?
While everyone used to live by traditional Monday-through-Friday work and school schedules, with schools and jobs going remote, expect to see more crowds midweek and less of a hustle on weekends. With many city dwellers relocating to the mountains with remote jobs, the typical Friday-night traffic flow to Tahoe may be reduced. Best news? If you’ve already relocated to the mountains, your kid can now ski for PE on a Monday and you can squeeze in a midday powder session between Zoom meetings.
Plan your ski days ahead of time
Ticket sales may be capped to limit the number of skiers on the hill each day. Homewood, for example, plans to limit season-pass sales and cap daily lift tickets during peak periods. So this is not the season to spontaneously go skiing. Plan well ahead and purchase lift tickets online and in advance.
“When there are capacity restrictions, you can expect advance registration systems,” says Adrienne Saia Isaac, spokesperson for the National Ski Areas Association. “Ski areas will be responsible for creating clear, up-to-date messaging across their channels, and skiers and riders will need to check the ski area’s website before they hit the slopes to learn about whatever local regulations may be in place.”
Lunch will be served on the tailgate
Ski-town and on-mountain restaurants are pivoting to offer more takeout and outdoor dining options. Think grab-and-go windows, food trucks and patio seating. You’ll still be able to enter lodges and order food, but you’ll find more heat lamps and outdoor firepits to encourage you to dine alfresco. You’ll also see a lot more people packing their own lunch and eating at their car or slopeside condo. In towns like Truckee or South Lake Tahoe, gone are the days of weekend crowds surging popular bars and restaurants. You’ll order food and drinks to go and bring it back to your cabin.
“For skiers, many settings are low risk — particularly those in the open air and while enjoying the slopes,” says Chin-Hong. “One area that is especially at risk is the après-ski setting at the lodge where people may be eating, drinking. I would avoid that area if possible and take your hot chocolate outside or back to your room.”
Goodbye, carpooling
Carpooling to the mountains with people not in your household is a thing of the past, so you may see an uptick in cars heading from the Bay Area to Tahoe. When in the mountains, you can still ride public transportation like buses or on-demand rides to the ski hill, but plan on wearing a mask, sitting far from others and keeping the windows open. Most likely, you’ll be driving your own car or staying close enough to the mountain that you can walk to the lifts. Before you go, check resorts’ apps or websites for up-to-date parking and transportation tips.
Lifties gone robotic
Resorts are moving many services to digital to reduce face-to-face contact. Take Sugar Bowl. The resort has invested in radio-frequency identification scanning gates at all primary chairlifts for this winter, as well as new self-service stations for other services to promote contactless transactions. It’s official: Gone are the days of human ticket checkers scanning your pass in line. This winter, you’ll purchase or reload your lift ticket, sign up for ski lessons and talk to guest services online or via the resort’s app.
You can always cancel
New cancellation policies and beefed-up refund guarantees are now in place to give you peace of mind in case the ski season gets shut down due to COVID or you need to cancel plans for any reason. Vail Resorts introduced Epic Coverage, which comes free with every Epic Pass this season, to provide refunds for certain resort closures, as well as job loss, illness or injury. Ikon Pass — which works at Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain — now comes with Adventure Assurance to let you defer use of your pass for any reason to next year.
Sierra-at-Tahoe has a Play it Forward Guarantee that lets you credit this year’s pass to next season due to any unforeseen circumstances, and Homewood’s new guarantee offers prorated refunds on passes if the mountain is forced to close before March 1 due to non-weather events.
Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows has tentative plans to open on Nov. 25. “Our team is doing everything we need to do to be ready to offer skiing and riding for the upcoming winter season,” says Ron Cohen, president of Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows. “We are planning for a dynamic environment, building a full set of tools to be able to best respond to whatever comes our way, so that we can continue to offer outdoor recreation to all of our dedicated skiers and riders.” – SF Chronicle.
Looking to join a shared ski lease or are you a ski lease organizer? We’re trying to gauge sentiments, consider sharing your input with the following survey..
Like many of you, the ski/snowboard community is trying to adjust to the new normal with the COVID-19 pandemic still at the top of many of our minds. You can help us by sharing your opinion about ski lease housing options.
Please take a few minutes to help us at SnowPals understand your thoughts for the upcoming 2020/2021 Ski Lease season. Your opinion matters and will help ski Lease operators better adjust. We will publish the top level results for everyone to benefit from.
Survey questions created by Mike K., ski lease organizer.
Ski resorts opening dates and operations are contingent on state and local public health restrictions and guidelines during the pandemic; read the latest on COVID-19 pandemic emergency alert to see what businesses are opened:
“The Tahoe-Truckee region is governed by 6 counties, a city, a town, two states, and the federal government. This can create a lot of confusion even when we aren’t operating under COVID-19 restrictions. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.
Keep in mind, guidelines and laws are changing almost daily; check the latest update at
What’s the best value ski season pass deal for 2019/20?
IKON Pass ($749/$1049), Epic Pass ($699/$939), or Mountain Collective Pass at $489?
Here’s why the MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE PASS 2019/20 is the best value season pass:
Ski, Ride & Explore 18 Mountains Around The World. 2 Days At Each Resort. No Blackout Dates, 2 Days at the Collective Ski Resort Destinations for Passholders.
For the 2019-2010 season included is a BONUS THIRD DAY AT THE DESTINATION OF YOUR CHOICE. Perfect Ski Getaway. Adults and Kids’ Passes. That’s a total of 35 lift tickets included with the pass.
Unlimited 50% off single day lift tickets after the 2 days of lift tickets per resort, plus exclusive lodging deals at each destination. Includes big name resorts like Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, Aspen Snowmass in Colorado, Taos in New Mexico, Niseko United (Japan) & more (see full list below)
The pass includes two days of lift tickets at each of the following resorts:
+ Taos Ski Valley (New Mexico)
+ Jackson Hole (Wyoming)
+ Big Sky Resort (Montana)
+ Sugarbush Resort (Vermont)
+ Revelstoke Mountain Resort (British Columbia, Canada) – sets record for highest vertical at 5,620 feet & longest ski season in Canada and is only 35 miles away from Banff Sunshine
+ Banff Sunshine (Alberta, Canada)
+ Lake Louise (Alberta, Canada)
+ Niseko United (Japan) – watch the epic powder riding video below; Japan skiing is on many skiers’ bucket list
+ Coronet Peak | The Remarkables (New Zealand)
+ Thredbo Alpine Village (Australia)
+ Mt Buller (Australia) – added for 2019/20
+ Valle Nevado (Chile) – added for 2019/20
How is THE MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE SKI SEASON PASS a best value deal?
1) Ski or ride three days and the pass will have more than paid for itself; keep in mind a single adult regular lift ticket goes for $169 at Squaw Alpine and similar resorts cost just as much. Once you have redeemed three days of lift tickets, you still have 32 more days of skiing at other resorts. The more days you ski and ride, the more value you get from the pass. So the key question is from your past experience, how many ski days do you actually take? If you have a busy work schedule, this pass offers the best value for the price aka the best bang for your buck.
2) THE MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE SKI SEASON PASS gives you the opportunity to ski and discover big name resorts like Alta, Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Snowbird, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, Niseko United (Japan), Banff Sunshine, and Taos Ski Valley resort. The pass gives you an excuse to explore new resorts. Take to 2-3 days at one resort, then take a road-trip to another as opposed to staying in one place for a week or longer. This pass is your ticket to adventure.
3) If Tahoe area resorts suffer from lack of snow as a result, you can chase powder dumps at your choice of 16 other resorts included in the pass, namely Alta (Utah), Aspen Snowmass (Colorado), Big Sky Resort (Montana), Banff Sunshine (Alberta), Coronet Peak | The Remarkables (New Zealand), Jackson Hole (Wyoming), Lake Louise (Alberta), Mammoth Mountain (California), Niseko United (Japan), Revelstoke Mountain Resort (British Columbia), Snowbird (Utah), Sugarbush Resort (Vermont), Taos Ski Valley (New Mexico), and Thredbo (Australia). THE MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE SKI SEASON PASS lets you go where the powder is. In case Lake Tahoe area resorts suffered from insufficient snow, you have a list of other resorts you can go to.
With the Mountain Collective, it’s possible for passionate skiers and riders to discover thousands of vertical feet and chase ideal winter snow conditions across Alberta, Australia, British Columbia, Japan, California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, New Zealand, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR PASSHOLDERS
+ 2 days at Chamonix in France*
Chamonix — France
* Benefits at Chamonix apply to their 2019/20 season. Mountain Collective global affiliate benefits are valid only at the current Mountain Collective Global Affiliates. Global Affiliates are subject to change each ski season.
Looking for an EPIC POWDER ski/ride trip that will stay with you for life? Watch the YouTube video below to see why Japan is on many skier’s POWder galore bucket list.
Every year consistently Epic POWder: Niseko, Japan
Included in the pass is one of the top ski destination: Niseko United (Japan), where you’ll discover simply some of the driest, lightest powder aka champagne powder in the world. Consistently recording winter seasonal snowfall of 45.9 feet of snow or more, it’s a favorite powder skiing and riding destination.
The ski resort Niseko United – Annapuri/Grand Hirafu/Hanazono/Niseko Village is located on Hokkaido (Japan). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 44.5 km of slopes available. 32 lifts transport skiers and riders to the summit (check out the resort’s trail map). The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 300 and 1,200 m.
Seasonal winds from the Eurasian continent pick up moisture over the warm currents of the Sea of Japan to form snow clouds and in turn some of the driest, lightest powder in the world. With its rich variety of terrain and beautiful winter woods, Niseko offers an unforgettable experience for all levels of skier/snowboarder.
The Niseko United is composed of four resorts on one pass: Annupuri, Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu, and Hanazono. With over 14 meters of powder per year, fantastic lift-accessed backcountry, a short 20-minute hike from the top lift to the 1308m-high peak, and night skiing until 8:30pm throughout the season; Niseko offers the best ski resort experience worldwide. The international nature of the resort means that even English speakers can travel to Japan without any language barrier worries.
Watch the video below to see what riding powder looks like at Niseko United (Japan):
Join us for an epic silky powder ski/ride trip to Hakuba + Niseko, Japan Feb 1 to 12, 2020; details @
Thank you everyone for your vote for our ‘Best of Tahoe List” and tips. Congrats to winners (announced on Tuesday January 22, 2019 at 11 pm PST) on our Facebook page 🙂
Planning a getaway to Lake Tahoe to enjoy snow-sports?
Check out our ‘Best of Tahoe List’ and tips from our veteran skiers and boarders 😉
– pitstops en route to/from Lake Tahoe; best place to refill gas for low prices
– North Tahoe & South Tahoe apres-ski spots/venues + happy hour deals
– pet-friendly hotels
– pet-sitting
– winter driving tips
– wind protected Tahoe resorts, etc.
Travis S. tips:
(1) What is your favorite place for a pitstop whenever you drive to and from Tahoe & why?
(2) Owners of all wheel drive vehicles, this tip is for those looking to buy an AWD or 4WD vehicle for Tahoe trips/driving on snow/icy roads, what make & model do you recommend? why?
I think it’s less about the model and more about getting snow tires. They make all the difference.
(3) For winter snow & icy roads, which tire brand do you use and recommend for best traction control and why?
I like and use Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires. They’ve served me well, from Tahoe to Montana, Colorado, Utah, and all over icy/snowy conditions in the west.
(4) For Apres ski & ride, what places do you like to hang out to enjoy drinks / snacks? happy hour?
Tahoe Aleworx in South Lake Tahoe is the best. You can’t beat RFID wristbands to pour your own beer 🙂
They have 2 locations in South Lake Tahoe (Stateline near Heavenly Village and at the “Y”).
I’ve seen countless people driving to and from Tahoe in cars that have no business being in the mountains in snow and icy conditions. Have or use 4WD/AWD *and* snow tires!
(6) Which resort do you recommend for first time beginners and advance level/expert skiers and snowboarders?
– True beginners/first timers: Tahoe Donner
– Beginners: Sierra at Tahoe, Northstar
– Advanced: Heavenly, Kirkwood, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows
(8) What’s your favorite Tahoe area for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing?
(9) On high wind days, which resort is your go to that is mostly protected from high wind/gusts? FYI, on high wind days, many resorts put ski lifts on wind hold; to avoid, good to know which resort is unlikely to be affected?
– Homewood
– Northstar
– Sierra at Tahoe
(10) For those who are new to skiing and snowboarding, what are your tips for gear? Buy new or used? Learn from friends/family or from ski resorts experts?
If planning to develop and progress, buy new. If just going for a few times then buy used or rent.
(11) What’s your favorite place for Tahoe area petsitting?
(12) Which Tahoe area resort have the best lake view run?
Heavenly-Ridge Run
(14) What’s your favorite Tahoe area hotel? Fave hotels that are dog & pet-friendly?
– Edgewood is the best, and priced accordingly.
– Best pet friendly: Basecamp (South Lake Tahoe & Tahoe City) or a vacation rental (such as those found on dogtrekker.com
###
Marc D tips:
(1) What is your favorite place for a pitstop whenever you drive to and from Tahoe & why?
If driving to South Lake Tahoe, one good pitstop for the cheapest gas and coffee is the new Fuel Express Station between Folsom and Placerville. Stay along highway US-50 and take exit 39 for Shingle Springs Dr.
Coming back from SLT along the US-50 after a good skiing day, best is to escape SLT before traffic builds, drive all the way to Placerville where you can enjoy the best BBQ in town at the Hog Wild Bar-B-Que (good food and reasonable price). If you are not a meat fan, then not far away still in Placerville is Let’s Poke restaurant. Quick and delicious.
(2) Owners of all wheel drive vehicles, this tip is for those looking to buy an AWD or 4WD vehicle for Tahoe trips/driving on snow/icy roads, what make & model do you recommend? why?
Some newer cars like the RAV4 AWD, it is not AWD all the time but when required. This is good if you are driving on fresh snow on a flat road but I don’t like it when going downhill or uphill. So check your car before driving to ensure it is full time AWD or if it is a 4WD then put it to 4H and drive carefully.
(3) For winter snow & icy roads, which tire brand do you use and recommend for best traction control and why?
The best is to have studded snow tires but we all know most of the people live in the Bay Area and can’t have these snow tires in the city. So another safe option is to have All Season Tires. These tires can be identified with a Mountain / snowflake Symbol on the side of the tire or an M+S label.
(4) For Apres ski & ride, what places do you like to hang out to enjoy drinks / snacks? happy hour?
Again this is for Skiing Heavenly and staying in SLT.
If skiing from the Gondola, then you have multiple choices for drinks and food for Après-Ski. Azul Kitchen and California Burger in Heavenly Village have good happy hour deals (4 to 6pm) and good food too.
If you are parked at the California lodge (top of Ski run Blvd) then don’t worry no need to drive after your long epic day. Himmel Haus is a great German restaurant across the street from the parking lot and have great drinks and food.
(5) Winter snow and ice driving and safety tips?
Driving on snow is tricky and the best is to avoid sudden braking or turning. Try to use engine braking when going downhill versus braking all the time. Don’t use your phone and get distracted, again sudden reactions when driving on snow can lead you to an accident.
Accelerating, stopping and turning take longer and are less predictable when driving on snow.
Slow driving is the key to maintaining control.
(6) Which resort do you recommend for first time beginners and advance level/expert skiers and snowboarders?
– for first timers, Heavenly has good easy runs (maybe easier on California side), but another great and easy resort (my favorite) is Northstar. Very convenient for families.
– for advance skiers and snowboarders, then Squaw Valley and Kirkwood are the best places around Tahoe to enjoy double diamond runs and push your skiing limits.
(7) For Lake Tahoe backcountry skiing/snowboarding, what are 2-3 of your favorite backcountry areas?
The north side of the lake (around Mt Rose) has great backcountry areas.
Also the road to Kirkwood along the 88 has multiple spots for backcountry (Waterhouse peak being the easiest).
Best is to check the App Snow Project for locations and levels.
(9) On high wind days, which resort is your go to that is mostly protected from high wind/gusts? FYI, on high wind days, many resorts put ski lifts on wind hold; to avoid, good to know which resort is unlikely to be affected?
Both Heavenly and Kirkwood get very windy during stormy days. Heavenly is probably the one that shuts down first.
Squaw as well is known to receive strong winds.
Northstar on the contrary is well protected from winds, being in the back side of Lake Tahoe so that would be my best option in a bad stormy day.
(12) Which Tahoe area resort have the best lake view run?
For best views over Lake Tahoe I recommend Heavenly and Mt Rose.
(13) What’s your favorite Tahoe area restaurant / eatery?
Adam J tips: is our 2nd prize winner; he innovates with his Subaru DIY POWder chaser makeshift sleeping pad so he can be slope-side for first tracks – see pic below (passionate pow seeker sans ski cabin)
(1) What is your favorite DIY money-saving strategy for Tahoe trips?
My greatest realization was that with a little bit of effort, I can make the back of my Subaru a very comfortable (and cheap) place to sleep for the night. So now, I drive up to the Truckee rest stop the night before, crash out in back since I’m usually tired from driving, and then pop up bright and early in the morning and I’m parked in the front row of free parking at Squaw within 20 minutes. Then I can take my time getting ready cuz I’ve already got a great parking spot! I love it.
(2) Owners of all wheel drive vehicles, this tip is for those looking to buy an AWD or 4WD vehicle for Tahoe trips/driving on snow/icy roads, what make & model do you recommend? why?
Subaru. Period. Also, luggage racks make your car top-heavy and reduce fuel efficiency people.
(3) For winter snow & icy roads, which tire brand do you use and recommend for best traction control and why?
Anything at Costco, mostly because they will do rotations for free. More importantly, have a good set of CHAINS. Also, make sure to test the chains before you need them! Amazon sometimes sends you chains for a different tire size by mistake.
(4) For Apres ski & ride, what places do you like to hang out to enjoy drinks / snacks? happy hour?
My backpack. The resort takes enough of my money. My wife’s sammiches are the bomb! Also, remember those lil flasks you see people use on tv? They work well for apres ski, too!
(5) Winter snow and ice driving and safety tips?
Checklist: Chains (that fit), good tires (lots o tread left), and good wipers (Rain-x, baby!). Don’t crowd the plow!
(10) For those who are new to skiing and snowboarding, what are your tips for gear? Buy new or used? Learn from friends/family or from ski resorts experts?
Thicker socks don’t help! If your feet are cold, they probably aren’t getting sufficient circulation (took me years to figure this out). Try loosening your boots.
🏂⛷❄️❄️❄️
Check out our Tahoe money saving tips such as where to go for lift ticket deals, free birthday lift ticket, learn to ski, snowboard package deals, apres ski happy hour venues, etc at
* Rideshare to your favorite Tahoe resort and for those who are holders of Epic Pass, Ikon Pass, Mountain Collective Pass, or other multi-resort season pass, connect for POWDER trips to Utah, Colorado, Whistler, Europe, Japan, South America and other worldwide snow destinations.
♥ Share this page with friends and family via , twitter, facebook.
For the 2016-17 winter season, what’s the best multi-mountain/resort ski season pass?
We’ve crunched the numbers and compared the best multi-mountain/resort passes; the following is a summary guide. Remember that the more days you ski or ride, the more value you get from your pass. Also, keep in mind the best time to purchase a pass is in the spring, typically around early April. Many resorts offer a discount bonus and a spring ski / ride FREE the remainder of the current ski season when you buy your pass early.
One of the most popular ski passes, the Epic Pass gives you unlimited access to twelve resorts, including Australia’s Perisher. Adult Pass: $849 (Pays for itself in 6 days) Resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton, Arapahoe Basin International Resorts: Verbier (Switzerland), Perisher (Australia)
The Mountain Collective pass offers two days at each of its 14 resorts for a total 28 days of skiing/riding. Home resorts are SunValley, Stowe Mountain Resort, Taos, and Thredbo. Adult Price: $419 (Pays for itself in 5 days based on on individual resort pricing) Resorts: Alta/Snowbird, Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Mammoth, Ski Banff/Lake Louise/Sunshine, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, Stowe Mountain Resort, Sun Valley, Taos, Thredbo, Whistler Blackcomb International Resorts: Valle Nevado (Chile), Hakuba Valley (Japan), Chamonix (France)
The M.A.X Pass gives you access for five days at each of its 39 participating resorts. There are no blackout dates and many options on both the east and west coast. Adult Price: $699 (Pays for itself in 7 days) Resorts: Big Sky, Boreal Mountain Resort, Brighton, Copper Mountain, Crystal Mountain, Lee Canyon, Mt. Bachelor, Steamboat, The Summit at Snoqualmie, Winter Park, Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain, Killington, Loon Mountain, Pico Mountain, Snowshoe, Stratton, Sugarloaf, Sunday River International Resorts: Cypress Mountain (Canada), Blue Mountain (Canada), Tremblant (Canada)
This pass includes unlimited access to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, four days at Sierra-at-Tahoe and Sugar Bowl, unlimited 50% discounts on lift tickets at Mountain Collective resorts, and a worry-free guarantee that will credit users up to four days towards a 2016/17 pass if they don’t ski at least five times this year. Adult Price: $899 (Pays for itself in 9 days) Resorts: Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Sierra-At-Tahoe, Sugar Bowl International Resorts: Two days at Zermatt (Switzerland)
Get access to multiple resorts in Colorado as well as resorts in places like New Zealand, you’ll be able to enjoy the snow year-round. Additionally, the Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus offers many benefits from free “friends and family” tickets to discounts on rental equipment and tuning. Adult Price: $629 (Pays for itself in 7 days) Resorts: Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Eldora Alpine Pass, Steamboat, Crested Butte, Alyeska Resort International Resorts: Tomamu (Japan), Alts Bandai (Japan), Nekoma (Japan), Cardrona (New Zealand), Mt. Ruapehu (New Zealand)
Access Southern California’s mountains every day with this pass. It offers unlimited skiing, five “bring-a-friend” tickets, and up to 20% off lodging at Mammoth Lodging Collection properties. Adult Price: $849 (Pays for itself in 11 days) Resorts: Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Bear Mountain, Snow Summit
*Listed pricing is current as of November 1, 2016. Click on the name of the pass for the most up to date pricing details.
♥ Share this page with friends and family via , twitter, facebook.
