This past fall, I made the decision to go independent and not purchase a season pass. It was a difficult decision. After having a season pass for three seasons, I started to develop a mantra that “you don’t bet against Jay.” But I ultimately decided I could keep that mantra without needing a season pass.
Lacking a season pass has opened up options that I had not considered in several years. The amount of new areas I visited these past three years was truly pathetic. I once had a goal to ski every open area in New England. That goal was rather aggressive. And now, living in New Hampshire instead of Massachusetts makes that goal a bit unrealistic since I do not drive south to ski! But I think I am getting excited again about carrying on the spirit of that notion if not the actual goal itself.
This coming weekend is a tremendous opportunity to rediscover this exploratory spirit. While the hordes will be descending upon Sunday River and Sugarloaf, I am considering Black Mountain or Mount Abram in Maine and Balsams in New Hampshire as possible options (Saddleback and Black Mountain, NH as well but I have history with these mountains). Not only would the lesser known ski areas provide crowd free powder surfing without lift holds but also very cheap lift tickets.
The main benefit of being without a season pass is exceptional choice without obligation. Financial consideration becomes about skiing today (present) versus total season cost (future). Without the need to consider total days versus season pass cost, one is truly open to fully explore all the options without conscious or unconscious pull towards the season pass mountain. On a powder day, that is a very important freedom. Especially when your home mountain is likely to be booked solid during a holiday weekend whether or not they actually get the most snow or not.
In related news, I also just completed an application for a US Passport Card. After years of saying “I need to ski the Townships” and “I need to ski the Chic-Chocs”, I am going to make it happen this season.