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.

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Still hard for me to believe, but I have decided not to get a Jay Peak pass this year. Which is not to say that I will not be skiing at Jay more than any other mountain this year. Surely I will ski Jay more times than any other mountain during the season. However, I could not justify the risk of a season pass.

There are two risks in getting a season pass: financial and medical. The financial picture is very easy to work out. Take the total cost of a season pass and divide by what you would pay in ticket costs. If you can easily attain that number of days, it is a no brainer. If you will likely attain that number of days, the decision is likely. If you are uncertain you will attain that number of days, the decision is more difficult. Combine that with the risk of personal injury that would ensure you do not achieve that number of days and the picture is much more murky. Having had an injury last season that sidelined me for an entire month and a major injury three seasons ago that sidelined me for three months, I am wary of the risk.

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After four years of being a season pass holder at Jay Peak, I have come to pose a question of whether or not the season pass is worth it. When I lived in Saint Johnsbury, it was an absolute no brainer. But as a resident of central NH, the geographic hurdles are sufficient to incite thoughts of going back to being a wanderer.

Reviewing my trip reports from the last two years, I have noticed a lot more variety concerning my ski destinations that when I lived in Saint Johnsbury. These past two years, I barely broke even on a season pass two years ago and would have lost money on a season pass last year had I paid for one. I enjoy seeking out the most snow instead of being locked down into one mountain and feeling like I am loosing money if I pay for a lift ticket somewhere else. Especially when I am already barely breaking even.

Here is how the economics break down. (more…)