Season Pass - Which Resort?

[cody]

I'm having trouble deciding between Mt. Rose or Northstar again. I don't really want to do the same resort (Mt. Rose) 2 years in a row and some buddies on the other side are getting the Double Whammy pass (North Star and Sierra at Tahoe).

For the month of Sep. this year Mt. Rose is $349 and the N. Star Double Whammy is 369 or 479 depending on if you want Saturdays or not (and I do).

Homewood is $399 and kinda far, and I've never been there before. Any info?

Any other inexpensive suggestions?

[bxracer69]

alpine for sure.... im getting a pass there and at rose

[doubleurx]

Alpine here also. Northstar sucks. Not very challanging and is by far the most crowded resort of them all. Once you arrive at the parking lot which is a total joy, it is almost 30 minutes before you are at the top of the gondola where the skiing starts. Then you stand in line for 20 minutes to get to the bottom of the lift that goes to the top. After another 20 minutes in line you finally are on your way to the top. If Rose and Northstar are your only options, pick Rose. If you think Alpine is too far, one thing is for sure: you would be on the snow at Alpine far ahead of Northstar, even though you arrived at Northstar 20 minutes sooner. Oh, and if you arrive at Northstar on a weekend after 9:30, chances are you will be parking at the airport and taking the shuttle, putting you on the snow by 11:00 if you are lucky.

[cody]

Alpine isn't too far, just too expensive. I'll have to check my fundage though...I have really enjoyed it the few times I've been. But at $779 for a 7 day pass, I'd have to go 20 times to justify it.

[JonnydaJibba]

Eh, Rose is the shit. And by the shit I mean like literally shit. It sucks. I really can't see anyone spending 379 bones for a pass there. Maybe if they used topless hot womens as lifties...

[skimonkey30]

Originally Posted by cody

I'd have to go 20 times to justify it.

and the problem is??

I have had my pass at alpine for the past 2 years great place to ski and ride and I cant reccomend it more highly. This year I have gone with the double-whammy pass just due to the simple fact that all my friends ski and ride at northstar now and I ended up paying for 5 or 6 days there last year and didnt use my alpine pass as much.

Alpine is definetly the way to go

[cody]

Maybe I just won't buy a pass this year...

[doubleurx]

The Sunday through Friday pass is $549 which is valid from opening day till Christmas and after March 22 - 7 days.

There is just no comparison in the terrain. Personally I think it is a much better deal that Northstar simply for the fact that you are not constantly standing in lines. The terrain difference is just a bonus after that. Alpine is basically 2000 acres in bounds of limitless skiing and if you are willing to hike a little that area more than doubles. Northstar is the same acreage that is limited by thick below tree line area. More than 3/4 of the area is beginner level at best. The only challanging part of that mountain is the backside or Lookout and those are small portions of the mountain.

But yes, $779 is pricier. At least it's not as exensive as Squaw. Whatever you chose you'll have fun. I used to get the Northstar pass because it was so cheap. I did it for two years and finally realized it wasn't worth it.

[doubleurx]

Originally Posted by skimonkey30

and the problem is??

I have had my pass at alpine for the past 2 years great place to ski and ride and I cant reccomend it more highly. This year I have gone with the double-whammy pass just due to the simple fact that all my friends ski and ride at northstar now and I ended up paying for 5 or 6 days there last year and didnt use my alpine pass as much.

Alpine is definetly the way to go

Pussy!

No Alpine pass for you? WTF!

[bxracer69]

I was so bummed last year when i didnt get my alpine pass, everyone would go and have their epic powder days, not to say i didnt get mine also, but i love the alpine steeps, deep snow, and non-existant long lines

[cody]

I can't decide!

[skimonkey30]

Originally Posted by doubleurx

Pussy!

No Alpine pass for you? WTF!

closer to my ski lease

I'll come over and ski a few days with ya......you think I can actually give up the sherwood bowl??

[Libila]

Originally Posted by JonnydaJibba

Eh, Rose is the shit. And by the shit I mean like literally shit. It sucks. I really can't see anyone spending 379 bones for a pass there. Maybe if they used topless hot womens as lifties...

It's $379 now!? Last time I bought a pass (before I moved and before I worked there) they were $200-300.

[cody]

It's $349. Last year it was $300 and I heard the year before it was $250.

[Ezdno]

I dont snowboard, but Rose would be nice and its still got a lot of terrain, if I would prefer Squaw over all of them. Homewood was pretty good the last time I was there back in like 89 hahaha..I am sure its better now.

[rusty470]

I might have some bias because I worked there last season, and plan to work part time this season also, but Sugar Bowl is awesome. Other than the fact that the snow wasn't very good untill the end of last season, that mountain was sweet last year. Its kinda pricy, but it gets my vote.

[cody]

Yah, the snow tended to suck at Rose last year too. It just wasn't cold enough most of the time. I'm 99% sure I'm going to buy my pass at Rose and just buy tickets when I go elsewhere. Rose is the only place that I'm sure I'll go enough to justify the cost of a pass.

[doubleurx]

By the way it is snowing up here right now!

[cody]

And it begins...

[doubleurx]

Originally Posted by cody

And it begins...

So have you ruled out Alpine. Out of all the areas you are looking at, Alpine by far has more terrain and better diversity of steeps, open bowls etc. I have skied all the areas up here and it is my favorite. You definately get more skiing done in a day there than any other area. To me the extra $200 is well worth it. This is especially true when you compare it to Northstar. The crowds will be there in force this year with the village nearing completion.

Good luck in your selection.

[Nick Koan]

Originally Posted by doubleurx

By the way it is snowing up here right now!

Are you serious? I have to drive over the mountain tonight.

Damn.

[doubleurx]

Originally Posted by nKoan

Are you serious? I have to drive over the mountain tonight.

Damn.

Yes, but it melts on impact. You will have no problems.

[cody]

Originally Posted by doubleurx

So have you ruled out Alpine. Out of all the areas you are looking at, Alpine by far has more terrain and better diversity of steeps, open bowls etc. I have skied all the areas up here and it is my favorite. You definately get more skiing done in a day there than any other area. To me the extra $200 is well worth it. This is especially true when you compare it to Northstar. The crowds will be there in force this year with the village nearing completion.

Good luck in your selection.

Yah, I just don't think I'll go there 20 times so I'll just pay for lift tickets when I go there.

[knucklesplitter]

Originally Posted by cody

Yah, the snow tended to suck at Rose last year too. It just wasn't cold enough most of the time.

The Mt.Rose area almost always has the best snow conditions around here due to its elevation and it being east of the Sierra crest.

Get the Purple Pass - it's free and never crowded. You can show up after work and still get fresh tracks. And the season lasts from October through July on an average year.

[cody]

Originally Posted by knucklesplitter

The Mt.Rose area almost always has the best snow conditions around here due to its elevation and it being east of the Sierra crest.

Get the Purple Pass - it's free and never crowded. You can show up after work and still get fresh tracks. And the season lasts from October through July on an average year.

I went to Rose ~20 times last year and very few of those days were nice powder days. Could have just been bad timing on my part.

What's the purple pass? Boarding through the forrest?