Middle of my gap year. Should I splurge on an ikon ski pass?

[maginvizIZ]

Hello!

I'm 7 weeks into my 1 year break from working a corporate job... AND IT HAS BEEN SO MUCH FUN!

I've been cycling in my head for too long on what I should do during the winter time. I do plan on getting a corp finance job some spring/summer, so I want to make my time off work as epic as possible.

I used to snowboard in highschool; but now that passes are $500+; I could never justify me getting a pass. With no job... I feel like getting a pass is worth it since I can go so many times.


Here are my options:
Brighton Ski Report: $380 for a weekday only pass.  1050 acres.  My weekends are usually filled with friends/socializing; since people work during the day.

Snow Basin Ski Report: $550 for "learn and earn" pass. 3000 acres. They'll give me skis to rent for free. 3 lessons.  Ski pass once I take the lessons.  I have ~5 newish friends that go there.

Ultimate Splurge:  Ikon Base Pass $750.  Theres some blackout days; but its between major holidays... and I'd rather go when it is slower honestly so thats fine. 

I think I could hit all resorts in Utah, Cali, and Colorado (14). I would simply live out of my car (I've watched countless videos on chevy volt owners using heat throughout the night from battery to sleep.) and take 2-3 week vacations there.

It'd be so fun!  But it hurts me to pay $750.  Is it worth it?  Would you do it? Why is spending $750 on something so hard for me?

For some context:
Age: 29
NW: $370k
Income: $100k (when I was working)
Annual Expenses: $20kish.

[ixtap]

I always think carefully about a choice to spend 3% of my budget, especially if it is on top of that budget.

How important is it to you: will you actually use it?

How does La Nina usually affect the ski season?

How cautious are you with COVID? Ideally, one would travel in or out of an area experiencing an outbreak. At least one ski resort did see an outbreak last year and another outbreak had been traced to Mammoth over the summer. Are you purely out skiing or do you expect to eat at restaurants and hang out in the lodge, which may not be open?

[Rocky Mtn FI]

Is the issue that you’re not sure you’d use it? Or you are sure you’d use it, but the sticker shock is holding you back?

If the first, then sure, crunch the numbers and see what you come up with, and good point by ixtap about COVID making things more difficult than normal.

But if it’s the second one, I wouldn’t even consider the pass a “splurge” in your situation, much less an expense to stress about.

[Sibley]

Um, elephant in the room: Covid.

[charis]

Um, elephant in the room: Covid.

That the resorts might shut down do to an outbreak? Yeah, that would be my concern. Other than that, I would have said go for the $750 pass and have fun, just stay away from indoor areas for longer than it takes to use the toilet or grab a bite. Living out of my car at a ski resort sounds pretty terrible actually, and I would only get a pass for a place within driving distance. But if you would love, it's a different story.

[KungfuRabbit]

Yea...Covid....

Seems like an odd year to take off from work, why not tough it out a year and take a year off later?  Suddenly working from home I'm still doing my job well, but with no commute and no random pop-ins or office drama this might as well be a vacation year for me, it's hands down the best working year of my life, and if I could keep up this pace I'll likely delay the RE part of FIRE until I'm swimming in gold coins. 

Also, I don't quite understand your budget / logic.  If you wanted to RE permanently you could almost do so off your $370k NW and $20k expenses, and in that scenario a $750 ski pass would be quite risky and a large part of your budget.  But if you are planning to go back to work this is a one time thing, its not like you need to keep to that budget.  If you wanted to spend 6 months at 5 star resorts partying like a rock star and blow $300,000 you could, AND YOU'D STILL HAVE MORE NET WORTH THAN MOST AMERICANS! 

If you plan to retire 10 years down the road, that $750 making 6% interest will be worth ~$1,350.  At your salary and some rough assumptions of taxes and what not, thats about 1 more week you'd need to delay your RE a decade from now.

So the real question is, is skiing for the winter now worth working 1 more week at your corporate job later? 

[slappy]

Others have addressed covid.

Other than covid, would you be willing to work part time at the ski resort, assuming they offer the pass as a benefit to part time workers? (I have no idea if they do, just a thought to consider.)

Am I understanding that you have not snowboarded since high school? If that's the case, I would go with the cheaper pass to make sure it's something you are actually still interested in. I'm in a similar boat. We have a small mountain pretty close to us, so I'm going to start there and see how it goes. That seems like a reasonable thing to do in your situation.

[YttriumNitrate]

The passes have gotten more expensive since I first bought one (Breck, Keystone, Copper, A-basin for ~$200 in the late 90s), but if you are planning on going more than a few days during they years they are still worthwhile. Single day prices are outrageous (e.g., Tahoe Value Pass pays for itself in about three days).

I spent many Saturday nights in college sleeping in a car at Breckenridge. It was not the most pleasant experience.

[clarkfan1979]

The passes have gotten more expensive since I first bought one (Breck, Keystone, Copper, A-basin for ~$200 in the late 90s), but if you are planning on going more than a few days during they years they are still worthwhile. Single day prices are outrageous (e.g., Tahoe Value Pass pays for itself in about three days).

I spent many Saturday nights in college sleeping in a car at Breckenridge. It was not the most pleasant experience.

I skied as a kid from 1985 to 1991. I switched to snowboarding in 1992. I have averaged about 15-20 days/year for the past 28 years. Now that I'm back in Colorado, my new normal is 30 days/year. 

Yes, the price of passes are more expensive than the 90's, but they have not gone up more than inflation. As stated above, single-day lift tickets have gone way above inflation. The ski industry is trying to push more people into annual passes. If you plan to go more than one weekend, they are steal. Single day lift tickets at Breckenridge are $210/day now with tax.

Commuting time and miles would be a big factor for me. If we assume they are all the same, I would lean toward the Brighton Pass. I would go by myself and focus on getting better. Next year, get the pass with your friends and you will be able to keep up. I have been to Brighton once around 2002. I really liked it. I think I took the public bus from SLC, which was super fun.

If you decide to pay the $750 on the Ikon pass to do cross-country ski resort destinations, the cost of traveling is going to be way more than the $750 for the pass. I would map our your travel plans and add up the costs associated with travel before buying the $750 pass.

[maginvizIZ]

Thank you for your reponses!

Covid:  Ikon pass has a refund policy that if any resorts shut down; I will get that percentage of my pass refunded. So chances are good some resorts do shut down; which means my $750 pass will be less  ($500?  $600?).  I live in SLC and would have access to Alta/Snowbird, Deere Valley, Brighton, and Solitude (45 min drive). 

I know this is silly that I'm shocked at the sticker price... I also know splurging for the $750 will push me to travel to other states; which gas/food cost money.  Living out of a car doesn't sound like the most fun... But I'm young and can manage it.

Anyway; basically I have no idea haha.

I'm leaning heavily on the Ikon pass... I'm just trying to tell myself that $750 is okay.  I really liked the idea that $750 invested for 10 years isn't that much more... I'll have to work an extra week or two at my corporate job in exchange for this.

[Rocky Mtn FI]

If it helps, it doesn't sound like you need to convince yourself that $750 is okay.  You've already committed to spending at least $380 on the Brighton pass, so the question is whether you want to spend an additional $370 on the Ikon pass.  So now you're down to half a week of corporate work.

[charis]

You are relatively young but at almost 30, you may find that sleeping in your car for days or weeks while jumping into a strenuous daily sport, that you haven't been practicing consistently since you were a teenager, gets old quickly. The cost isn't my concern.

[YttriumNitrate]

I used to snowboard in highschool; but now that passes are $500+; I could never justify me getting a pass. With no job... I feel like getting a pass is worth it since I can go so many times.

I live in SLC and would have access to Alta/Snowbird, Deere Valley, Brighton, and Solitude (45 min drive).

Not if you only snowboard.
https://www.deervalley.com/about-us/faqs
https://traveltips.usatoday.com/snowboarding-alta-utah-58723.html

[therethere]

I've heard grumblings of the ski resorts in Colorado looking limiting how much and when you can use your season pass. I believe it is in efforts to limit the number of people on the slopes for COVID spread. I would be wary of that being your only winter plan for that reason. I'm not sure how true it is but something to consider and research a little more.

[Sibley]

Um, elephant in the room: Covid.

That the resorts might shut down do to an outbreak? Yeah, that would be my concern. Other than that, I would have said go for the $750 pass and have fun, just stay away from indoor areas for longer than it takes to use the toilet or grab a bite. Living out of my car at a ski resort sounds pretty terrible actually, and I would only get a pass for a place within driving distance. But if you would love, it's a different story.

That, but really more in general. Should you be going places? Traveling? Honestly, if the predictions I'm hearing are correct, then you'll be holed up in your apartment/house, leaving only for essentials. Even if the slopes don't close, you won't be going there.

[charis]

Um, elephant in the room: Covid.

That the resorts might shut down do to an outbreak? Yeah, that would be my concern. Other than that, I would have said go for the $750 pass and have fun, just stay away from indoor areas for longer than it takes to use the toilet or grab a bite. Living out of my car at a ski resort sounds pretty terrible actually, and I would only get a pass for a place within driving distance. But if you would love, it's a different story.

That, but really more in general. Should you be going places? Traveling? Honestly, if the predictions I'm hearing are correct, then you'll be holed up in your apartment/house, leaving only for essentials. Even if the slopes don't close, you won't be going there.

Why can't the OP go anywhere?

[MayDay]

Um, elephant in the room: Covid.

That the resorts might shut down do to an outbreak? Yeah, that would be my concern. Other than that, I would have said go for the $750 pass and have fun, just stay away from indoor areas for longer than it takes to use the toilet or grab a bite. Living out of my car at a ski resort sounds pretty terrible actually, and I would only get a pass for a place within driving distance. But if you would love, it's a different story.

That, but really more in general. Should you be going places? Traveling? Honestly, if the predictions I'm hearing are correct, then you'll be holed up in your apartment/house, leaving only for essentials. Even if the slopes don't close, you won't be going there.

Why can't the OP go anywhere?

Covid.

[charis]

Um, elephant in the room: Covid.

That the resorts might shut down do to an outbreak? Yeah, that would be my concern. Other than that, I would have said go for the $750 pass and have fun, just stay away from indoor areas for longer than it takes to use the toilet or grab a bite. Living out of my car at a ski resort sounds pretty terrible actually, and I would only get a pass for a place within driving distance. But if you would love, it's a different story.

That, but really more in general. Should you be going places? Traveling? Honestly, if the predictions I'm hearing are correct, then you'll be holed up in your apartment/house, leaving only for essentials. Even if the slopes don't close, you won't be going there.

Why can't the OP go anywhere?

Covid.

All of these areas are being locked down by Covid?

[MayDay]

Um, elephant in the room: Covid.

That the resorts might shut down do to an outbreak? Yeah, that would be my concern. Other than that, I would have said go for the $750 pass and have fun, just stay away from indoor areas for longer than it takes to use the toilet or grab a bite. Living out of my car at a ski resort sounds pretty terrible actually, and I would only get a pass for a place within driving distance. But if you would love, it's a different story.

That, but really more in general. Should you be going places? Traveling? Honestly, if the predictions I'm hearing are correct, then you'll be holed up in your apartment/house, leaving only for essentials. Even if the slopes don't close, you won't be going there.

Why can't the OP go anywhere?

Covid.

All of these areas are being locked down by Covid?

It's not necessarily can't, more shouldn't.

[Laserjet3051]

Your asking the wrong questions OP. What makes you think resorts will be stuffing sealed gondolas to the brim with skieers next season?

[charis]

Um, elephant in the room: Covid.

That the resorts might shut down do to an outbreak? Yeah, that would be my concern. Other than that, I would have said go for the $750 pass and have fun, just stay away from indoor areas for longer than it takes to use the toilet or grab a bite. Living out of my car at a ski resort sounds pretty terrible actually, and I would only get a pass for a place within driving distance. But if you would love, it's a different story.

That, but really more in general. Should you be going places? Traveling? Honestly, if the predictions I'm hearing are correct, then you'll be holed up in your apartment/house, leaving only for essentials. Even if the slopes don't close, you won't be going there.

Why can't the OP go anywhere?

Covid.

All of these areas are being locked down by Covid?

It's not necessarily can't, more shouldn't.

Based on what?  There's not nearly enough info to say that the OP should isolate or will be locked down in his home because "covid."

The risk of closed or unsafe resort areas is, on the other hand, a significant part of the decision.

[Sanitary Stache]

Definitely get a weekday pass.  You don't need the Ikon pass.  Get a pass to whichever mountain is closest and/or least used.  Solitude probably, maybe there is a smaller mountain.  You should go every week day from 8 am to noon.  Try to break 100 days.  The number of acres a resort has doesn't matter.  Riding is about snow quantity and quality.  It changes every day.  Solitude and Brighton get very similar snow and Solitude has significantly fewer people, as I undersand it and fewer gondolas, at leat they did 15 years ago.

Are you buying gear also?  Gear is going to run you more than your pass.

[skiersailor]

This isn’t specific to your resorts, but I suspect all resorts will be making similar decisions this season.

I’ve been an Epic (Vail Resorts) pass holder for many years, but I'm waiting until the deadline this year (9/7/20 for full benefits, but I may wait longer) before purchasing another.  Meanwhile, I'm monitoring news about how the resorts plan to manage their operations for 2020/2021 (mainly by reading stories on vaildaily.com).

Vail Resorts hasn't said much about the upcoming season yet other than that they are planning to hire full staffs and open all terrain.  The Colorado resorts are in discussions with the state of Colorado to see if they can come to some agreement about how to handle COVID.  Presumably the issues include capacity, social distancing and limiting liability.

Vail also owns three resorts in Australia that have been operating during our summer with COVID restrictions.  These resorts have periodically closed during local outbreaks, and during early season they restricted the total number of skiers on the mountain by requiring advanced reservations in addition to lift tickets/passes.  During those restricted days, customers with passes received priority over customers who wanted to purchase daily tickets.  Social distancing rules allowed related parties to board lifts normally, but for unrelated parties only one person was allowed on any chairlift with a capacity of three or fewer.  Four-person or six-person chairs allowed only two unrelated skiers to board.  You can imagine what this would do to lift lines if the overall capacity of the resort wasn't also restricted.

Here are my conclusions for the upcoming season:
1. If there are capacity restrictions, skiers with season passes will likely have priority over non-pass skiers.
2. Don't bother trying to ski on weekends or holidays - either the lift lines will be extremely long, or reservations will be impossible to get.
3. Ski with a group if possible, as the lift lines may allow efficiently sized groups to go to the front of the line.
4. Choose resorts based on their ability to move skiers up the hill despite social distancing requirements.  One resort that will probably have problems with this is Vail Mountain, which moves the majority of its skiers from the two base areas using two gondolas.  If those gondolas are limited to one unrelated skier each instead of their normal capacity of 6-8, the lift lines at the base will be a nightmare (but lines may be short on the rest of the mountain due to the logjam at the base, so maybe arriving for first chair and avoiding the base areas for the rest of the day will be the winning strategy).   

[Apocalyptica602]

You're in a gap year and can live out of your car in some of the best skiing areas in the US. If you don't get your bang for your buck out of a few hundred dollar ski pass, then you're not a skiier/snowboarder (just kidding - but if its a passion of yours and you have the time and make the investment... I don't see how you won't be on the hill a ton)

EDIT: Apologies I glossed over the part where you said you haven't been really into it since high school. You need to make a determination on whether you'd enjoy it enough to go enough. Pretend the pass was free, how often would you see yourself going?

You have unrivaled flexibility, whatever restrictions COVID puts on the resorts this year if any, you'll be much better positioned to work around them than the weekend warrior trying to drive out there on a Saturday morning.

This married w/ toddler Maryland-based icecoast skiier who can only swing 5-6 day trips and maybe 1-2 overnight trips a year is jealous. I'd say go for it and enjoy every minute.

[BikeFanatic]

I think you can afford it and also can go early in morning and on weekdays which means less lines. Of course Covid is a huge question mark. I would do it. I would not be sleeping in my car however in winter. Please don’t freeze to death!

[ericrugiero]

Make sure you consider all the costs.  Equipment, gas, lodging (if you stay anywhere), etc will probably cost more than the season pass. This will probably cost AT LEAST $2000.   

My only real concern with Covid is how they get you up the mountain.  Riding up in an enclose gondola with other people isn't a great idea.  If they socially distance on an outdoor chair lift there isn't a problem IMO.  Regardless, you have the flexibility to avoid crowds and pick the safest options.  You could always wait to buy a pass until you know more but I assume the best deals will expire at some point. 

In your shoes, I would definitely be buying a season pass.  You live within 45 minutes of some of the best skiing in the world and can do road trips to other great resorts.  Skiing is one of my favorite things to do and in your situation the $750 wouldn't even be a question.  You gave up $100k income to have a gap year.  That was the big decision and you already made it.  Spend a couple thousand and have a blast while you have the free time.  Ten years from now the $2000 won't be a deciding factor in your financial health but you will have the memories of all that time on a mountain.  Note: I'm operating under the assumption you do/will like skiing/boarding remotely like I do. 

I'm another east (ice) coast skier who spends limited time on trails that are not anywhere near as good as yours.  I'm trying hard not to be jealous  :-) 

[clarkfan1979]

I'm buying a split-board and back country gear, just in case the resorts close again.

If the resorts do open, I'm counting on the resorts putting limits on the number of skiers per day. I'm planning on going mostly on Fridays. The weekends might have less competition in April - May.

Consistent with the 2018/2019 season, Breckenridge is planning on being open every day until Memorial Day. They were open on two weekends after Memorial Day because they had snow. I was there on closing day on June 9th. I had 3 epic powder days at Breckenridge after May 15th, which is nuts.

Latest powder day of the season was May 30th at A-Basin. The snow was softening by 11:00 a.m., but it was dry powder 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

[legalstache]

I'd probably just do day trips to places near you.  I don't know if buying an Ikon pass with the idea you'll go to a bunch of out of state places on a multiweek trip makes the most sense this year. 

Normally, I'd probably say go for it, but a lot of ski lifts close down around 3:30/4 pm, and with COVID, the dining room/lodges are likely to be closed.  Are you really going to hang out in your Volt from 4 pm on each night for weeks?  That doesn't sound great to me, and I really like snowboarding, but YMMV.  You have a lot of great skiing very close by- I'd take advantage of that via day trips.

[Jack0Life]

Forget all these naysayers, YOLO....
You're young, you have plenty of money and you have a lot of time off before going back to work.
If I was in your position, Its IKON pass all the way. I would make it my bucket list to hit everyone of the resorts on that IKON pass.
I went to live with my brother in Sacto for a year and I hit many of those Tahoe resorts during my year there. I had the best time. My only wish was that I had a buddy to hit the slopes with on a regular basis. That was ages ago.
Just do it !!

[skiersailor]

Vail Resorts just posted their operating plan for the 2020/2021 season.  Pass holders will have priority access.

https://www.epicpass.com/info/letter-to-our-pass-holders.aspx