Plane tickets and shuttles out west 2021-22!

[seastraight]

We just checked plane tickets from Washington DC out to Colorado! Holy Mackeral! What happened? In the past, I have flown to Denver and then used Epic Mountain Express to the slopes. More recently, I was splurging on tickets to Eagle Airport near Vail and Beaver Creek. But this year that splurge is looking like $800 and $900 a ticket!!!! I would rather spend that on something other than a plane seat, so it looks like Denver will have to do. Does anyone have experience with other shuttles between Denver and Avon? And I definitely am going to try out some mid-Atlantic skiing this year!

 

[marzNC]

Welcome to 2021 ski trip planning. I expect things will evolve before the 2022-23 season but there are all sorts of factors as to why booking plane tickets, car rentals, shuttles, and hotel rooms is very different in Oct 2021 compared to pre-pandemic years.

All the airlines reduced flight schedules, and have ended up with fewer employees. They were scrambling during June for summer flights. Figuring out what will work for the upcoming Hollidays and the winter season is clearly a work in progress. Did you see the headlines about what happened for Southwest passengers last weekend?

I and a few friends booked tickets to ABQ from assorted cities back when the Southwest schedule was released a few weeks ago. More than one of us has had to change our itinerary because the first flight to a hub airport no longer exists. We booked lodging back in April, knowing that there would be pent up demand.

 

[marzNC]

And I definitely am going to try out some mid-Atlantic skiing this year!

Where in the mid-Atlantic?

I opted to plan a ski safari based on Indy in the east instead of a second mid-season trip out west. Not having to deal with flights was one of the reasons.

Also decided to take the time to drive out to Colorado for to meet up with friends to ski at Wolf Creek in Dec. I've got a new AWD SUV that replaced a 2WD minivan. Since I'm retired and do long drives often in the east, I figured it will be less stressful than flying back the week before Christmas. Helps that one ski buddy will be driving back with me, although he's going to fly out to start the trip.

 

[seastraight]

I am now revamping plans based on the plane tickets. I have Epic and Ikon passes this year, so am looking at the list of what is covered and comparing it to plane and car travel.. I haven't skiied in the east in years, except at Smuggs every couple of years. But I am thinking snowmaking has gotten a lot better, so have looked at the stats for Snowshoe, Timberline, Canaan, Massanutten, Liberty, Roundtop etc, and just looked up Montage too! And I am definitely planning to try out Inside Ski!!

 

[Jilly]

Tremblant is on your Ikon pass. So if you have a passport and right now still need a Covid PCR test to come into Canada...

 

[marzNC]

But I am thinking snowmaking has gotten a lot better, so have looked at the stats for Snowshoe, Timberline, Canaan, Massanutten, Liberty, Roundtop etc, and just looked up Montage too! And I am definitely planning to try out Inside Ski!!

If you have any questions about skiing in VA or WV, happy to answer them in the MidA/SE thread. I've also skied at Whitetail, Blue Knob, Roundtop, Montage, and Elk in PA.

Mid-Atlantic/Southeast skiing (PA, NJ, DC, MD, VA, WV, NC) for 2021-22

While it's still pretty warm around my house, the leaves are starting to turn in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast mountains. Time to start news and discussion for the 2021-22 ski season related to skiing/boarding in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, southern New York, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia...

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