07/08 Killington Pass Rates

[ski diva]

There's been a lot of speculation about the Killington & Pico season pass rates for 07/08, given the sale of the mountain by ASC.

So here goes:

Unlimited Pass (no blackouts)
Adult: $999.
Young Adult & Senior: $799.
Junior & Super Senior: $699.
Summer Payment Plan*

Blackout Pass:
ALL AGES
18 blackout days: 11/23-11/24/07, 12/26/07-1/1/08, 1/19/08-1/20/08, 2/16/08-2/22/08, Summer Payment Plan*
$599.

Midweek Pass:
Monday through Friday excluding: 11/23/07, 12/26/07-12/28/07, 12/31/07-1/4/08, 2/18/08-2/22/08
$299.

*Summer payment plan: purchase your Unlimited or Blackout pass(es) by July 31 and 50% of your total purchase will be charged to your credit card at the time of purchase and the 50% balance will be automatically charged to your card on August 31.

 

[RachelV]

Pretty reasonable. The ASC bronze pass was such a deal, I was spoiled.

$600 is borderline worth it for us. We can get discounted tickets for something like $55/day through my husband's work, so we'd have to ski about 11 days to break even. Throw in the random Mt. Snow weekend, a week out west, and a long weekend here and there somewhere else, and we're probably right around 10-12 days at K.

This is all making me realize how much we really spend on skiing. :o

 

[Jilly]

Now I don't feel so bad about Tremblant. We purchased our passes 2weeks ago as that was the first discount cut off. I paid $970 Cdn plus taxes of almost 18%. Hubby is a senior so he gets his for $499 plus the taxes. If he's still skiing at 70 then the price is $199. They also have a midweek - Hooky pass and other family type passes. So Tremblant doesn't look that bad after all for all inclusive.

 

[ski diva]

BTW, there's a pretty good article in today's Rutland Herald about the state of things at Killington, for anyone who's interested:

https://rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070618/NEWS04/706180376/1003

 

[RachelV]

Interesting. I only started skiing Killington recently, so it's interesting to hear all this talk about restoring the lifts, lodges, etc to their former condition. Everything I've heard so far is pretty promising. Any improvements, no matter how gradual, are fine by me.

I see you posted the article on epic, too - Highway Star has already been kind enough to point out (for the 5 millionth time) that the new owners are lying and they won't improve anything, etc etc etc. I'm getting pretty sick of that guy. I wish he'd just decide not to buy a pass and quit whining about it, already.

This whole thing is just reinforcing in my mind how much people hate change of any type. Powdr could have announced that they were giving everyone free season passes and people would complain that then they'd never go to Stowe or something. "What are you trying to do, lock us into Killington??? EVIL!!!"

 

[ski diva]

I don't ski Killington that much, but I'd have to agree with the article that the infrastructure over there has really deteriorated. ASC just didn't have the money -- or the desire -- to make any improvements.

I hope that Powdr lives up to its promises. The mountain could definitely use some help!

 

[ISki]

What was the price last year? How much did the new owner raise the pass price?

 

[RachelV]

Last year they offered "all for one" passes, good at any of the former ASC-owned resorts in the east (Killington, Mt Snow, Attitash, and a few others). The prices varied based on which one you got:
https://www.allforonepass.com/dates.html

I forget the exact prices, but bronze was ~$350, silver was $600-$650,
gold was ~$1000 and platinum was ~$1400. You got other benefits with gold and platinum, too -- discounts at hotels and equipment shops, lift access at 7 or 7:30 am (as opposed to 8am), etc.

So unless you bought the bronze pass - which we and many others did - these new prices aren't really any more expensive (about $600 for a season pass with blackout days), but now it's only good at Killington as opposed to several mountains.

Anyways, to make a long story short, ASC was in a ton of debt, and the bargain pass prices were one reason why. No one else in the east offered anything comparable, because it wasn't really a viable price. So now the passes are more or less at market value, and people are flipping out. "What are we going to get for the extra money, etc etc?" Well, what you're hopfully going to get is a ski area that's actually profitable and can afford to make the improvements it needs.

BUT, I could rant on and on about this, so I won't. I'm taking a self-imposed break from all the Killington pass price gossip on epic before it drives me crazy. We will be happily skiing there next year with our not-unreasonably-priced passes and having a very nice time.

 

[ski now work later]

I too have been reading the Killington threads on Epic and on this forum. Men complain that women b*tch and moan a lot but our posts are pretty positive compared to some of the whining over on Epic! Anyway, I ski Killington in the very early season because they usually have snow on Thanksgiving weekend and sometimes I go back in December if there isn't much snow further South. Here are my thoughts about Killington in no particular order:

The lodges and food are pretty nice, though pricey.
The local shopping is pretty good.
The trail maintenance is inconsistent, sometimes very icy trails are left open.
There is little safety patrol and people zoom around in a scary way, one almost steamrolled my 13 year old who was skiing at Snowshed (she's a beginner).
They exaggerate about snow and trail conditions on their web site.
There is a lot of variety, especially for more advanced skiiers. It is a more challenging mountain than Okemo or Stratton or Mt. Snow.
It seems to be a good pick up scene for 20 somethings.
I constantly have to check my map because trails are short, closed off, and it's confusing to find my way around.
They have a lot of stuff happening for park rats like me.
I love the way the K-1 gondola cars look.
There are more snowboarders at Killington than anywhere I've skiied in the East except Stratton.
The bus service from parking lots is slow and cumbersome compared to Stratton.
The lodging options are limited and the one place I stayed in was filthy and yucky.
They open first and close last in the East every season.

 

[ski diva]

My thoughts re Killington -- or any other ski area, for that matter:

Different strokes for different folks.

Everyone seems to have different reasons they like a specific ski area. For some people, Killington is just right. And if so, then by all means, who am I to rain on their parade?

That said, I have to admit, I'm not a fan.

That's not for lack of trying. Every year I go to Killington once or twice and think, well, lots of people love this place. So maybe if I just give it one more chance I will, too.

I think I essentially have a few problems:

1) Ski now, you're right about snowboarders. There are always TONS of boarders there, even on the weekdays. I understand they need a place to play, too, but I've seen a lot of reckless behavior there which I don't necessarily see other places.

2) it's CROWDED! All the time! Really! I have a thing about crowds, so maybe it's just me.

3) I don't think they take care of the mountain or the infrastructure. Maybe that'll change with the new owners. That'd be nice.

4) I hate the schlocky access road. I find it depressing. Again, that's just me. (Oh, blow it out your ear, Diva -- didn't you go there to shop for your new ski boots??? :p )

5) And here's another thing that's probably just me and would probably change if I went there more: I always get lost. The signage is awful. So I find it really hard to get around.

6) True, they open early and stay open late. But they only have a couple trails available. So everyone funnels into these and it's a death defying act to get down without getting creamed.

I know it's more challenging than a lot of other mountains in Vermont. That's true. But it has a vibe that just doesn't agree with me. Maybe that'll change when Powdr takes over. Then I'll have to give it yet another chance. :D

Just a side note: I made my first trip to Killington in the early 70's, so I have a long history with the place.

And Rachel, I agree with you -- the new lift prices are not out of line. They have to make a buck to keep the place going and to make some improvements. That's the hard, cold reality. Better they do that than close.

 

[abc]

Different strokes for different folks.

Lots of truth in that. In fact, the "strokes" are different even for the same folk -- "me", at different times.

I went from liking the place to going elsewhere and going back and hating it... Simply, at different stage of my skiing past, I found something there I like, dislike, or in different. And depending on what I'm looking for, sometimes Killington serve up the goods, other times it failed miserably.

When I was a intermediate, I hated Killington. There's too much traverse, which 90% of intermediates hate. I mean, how much pushing your pole does ANYONE enjoy in their skiing holiday? More over, trails turn from blue to black and then to green in random order. A careful study of the trail map only led me to a closed blue run next to an open black! So on and so forth...

I swore off Killington, intended never to return. But after a few more seasons in Mt. Snow, Stratton and Okemo, I went back to Killington when proded by my skiing buddies. I found it a delightful place! There're trails with bumps on one side and smooth on the other, making it easy to bail if I'm in over my head. Most trails are wide enough that I can often found a small strip of powder at the edge. And the chaotic signage and trail arrangements actually add to the sense of adventure! Traverse? Doesn't slow me down much at all. In fact, great chance to show off by skating pass those pole-pushing intermediates! ;) As for crowds? I stood by the edge of the trail, left them go first and catch them right up! :D But the access road? There's really no redeeming value to that at all! :( Well, almost none, I bought my boots and skis there and both were great gear for fantastic prices!

Then, I discovered Stowe. Snow were better, terrain were just as varied, lift line were shorter. Only the drive was longer. But not by that much. So, I started going to Stowe. And when I went back to K for the rare occasions, I found it unbearable!

But last season, when I needed new boots and new skis, I went back to K. The un-redeemable access road, with the large collection of shops, were exactly what I need to try out as many gears as I can find! Even though the random trail arrangement and traverse don't bother me any more, I still didn't like the crowd, the line, or the nearly non-existing shuttle bus! :mad:

So there you have it. Every resort has its character. It would appeal to some and repel others. Killington isn't a "bad" resort. It's just not up to what a lot of people's "talk". I'm not sure if it EVER was the "best of the east". It certainly isn't, *for me*, at this stage of my skiing pattern!

 

[RachelV]

Then, I discovered Stowe. Snow were better, terrain were just as varied, lift line were shorter. Only the drive was longer. But not by that much.

Another few weeks and you'll have talked me into it.

 

[ski now work later]

Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention that the ambassadors are super nice at Killington and make me feel very welcome. Stratton has an ambassador or to, especially at the end of a day, but Killington does a great job with that and other mountains could benefit by modeling that program.

 

[abc]

Another few weeks and you'll have talked me into it.

You've got to try it to see for yourself!