Figuring Out 2022-23 Season Pass Programs is More Complicated Than Playing Chess

Earlier this month, the Ikon Pass released its 2022-23 pass prices. The cost of an Ikon Pass went from $999 to $1,079. The discounted renewal rate is $979 (until April 21). The Ikon Base Pass went from $729 to $769 (renewal discount is $719). The Ikon Session Pass comes in two-, three-, or four-day increments. As in the past, Ikon is offering discounts on under-the-age of 12 children’s passes for ($239 Ikon Pass, $199 Base Pass, with the purchase of an adult pass.

Jointly owned Snowbasin and Sun Valley are leaving the Vail Epic Pass after this season to join the Ikon and Mountain Collective passes. According to the Storm Skiing Journal, “full Ikon Pass holders get seven unrestricted days at each resort. The resorts will not join the Ikon Base Pass, but passholders can buy up to the Ikon Base Pass Plus – which also includes access to Aspen, Jackson Hole, and, new for this year, Alta and Deer Valley – for an additional $200 and get five holiday-restricted days at each mountain. Mountain Collective passholders will have two unrestricted days each at Sun Valley and Snowbasin. The ‘Platinum’ versions of both mountains’ 2022-23 passes will include an Ikon Base Pass, in line with similar options for top-tier passholders at Taos, Aspen, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, and other Ikon destinations”.

You might have to read that paragraph a few times to be clear on the details. Oh, and there’s more.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley is joining Ikon. The standard Ikon package applies – seven days with no blackouts, on the full Ikon Pass and five days with holiday restrictions on the base pass.

Alterra yanked its last three owned resorts – Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth, and Sugarbush – from the Mountain Collective. Now Ikon will be the only multi-mountain pass providing access to these three ski areas.

The Ikon Pass will not act as a season pass for Crystal Mountain, Washington next season although Ikon Pass holders will still received seven unrestricted days at Crystal, and Base Pass holders will get five days subject to holiday blackouts.

Deer Valley and Alta are leaving the Ikon Base Pass tier and joining Ikon’s Base Pass Plus. Snowbird, formerly a separate destination from Alta, will offer five holiday-restricted days on the Base Pass. As the Storm Skiing Journal explained, “Full Ikon Pass holders will continue to receive seven unrestricted days at Deer Valley, Jackson Hole, and Aspen Snowmass. On the full pass, however, Alta and Snowbird are again considered a single destination, and skiers receive seven total days between them”.

Confusing? This is just for starters. The post doesn’t even cover Epic, Indy Pass, Powder Alliance, or Mountain Capital Partners (a little known program). Next time!