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Epic Pass options expanding as more Colorado ski areas open early

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November 6, 2018, 2:17 pm
a basin full on winter

It was full-on winter at Arapahoe Basin on Election Day. Shout out to my sponsor, Blizzard (JK). Seriously, though, love my new Bonafides.

Some Colorado ski areas have been hit by more than four feet of snow so far this season. Too bad most of them still aren’t open. But that’s about to change on Wednesday, Nov. 7, with two more Epic Pass resorts cranking up their lifts for the 2018-19 ski season – Breckenridge and Keystone.

The two resorts just over Vail Pass in Summit County are both opening a couple of days early because of all the fresh snow – joining fellow Epic Pass resort Arapahoe Basin and nearby Loveland Ski Area. Eldora, closer to the Front Range, is also opening Wednesday, and Wolf Creek, a southern Colorado ski area that has been open on weekends since early October, re-opens on Friday and stays open for the rest of the season.

Vail opens for the season on Friday, Nov. 16, and Beaver Creek gets things going on Wednesday, Nov. 21. And now comes news that nearby Ski Cooper, high on Tennessee Pass on the way to Leadville, is getting in on the action by opening early on Friday, Nov. 23.

I can personally attest to the quality of the snow at A-Basin, where I took some Election Day turns on Tuesday, Nov. 6 (don’t worry, I already voted). The Basin was reporting 6 new on top of 10 the day before, for a two-day total of 16 inches, but there are still just three runs open and only one of nine chairlifts. That seems likely to change in the coming days.

Still, what was open was great, and it felt good to get in my first turns of the young season. Forecasters are calling for a couple of more minor storms on Thursday and Sunday, with cold temperatures ideal for snowmaking.

Last call for buying an Epic Pass is Sunday, Nov. 18, and here’s a presser from Vail Resorts with all the details:

Epic Pass Now Includes Access to Seven World-Class Colorado Resorts for the 2018-19 Season and Nov. 18 is the Last Chance Buy

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Nov. 6, 2018 — The Colorado ski and snowboard season is just beginning, with both Keystone and Breckenridge opening early, on Wednesday, Nov. 7, after receiving more than four feet of snow in the last week and the last chance to purchase a season pass to experience Colorado’s premier resorts is Sunday, Nov. 18. Whether visiting a tried and true favorite or hitting the slopes at a new destination like Crested Butte or Telluride, Colorado skiers and riders can ensure a season of great skiing and riding at world-class resorts just a short drive from home.

Skiers and snowboarders can use the Epic Pass to seize the season with early-season turns at Arapahoe Basin, open now, as well as Keystone and Breckenridge – both scheduled to open early on Wednesday, Nov. 7. Vail Mountain is scheduled to begin the season on Friday, Nov. 16, with Beaver Creek on Wednesday, Nov. 21, and Crested Butte and Telluride on Thursday, Nov. 22.

The Epic Local Pass offers the greatest value for unlimited, unrestricted skiing and riding at four resorts in Colorado plus a total of 10 days at Vail, Beaver Creek, Whistler Blackcomb and more. At just $709, the Epic Local Pass pays for itself in just over four days of skiing and offers unlimited, unrestricted skiing or riding at Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, and Arapahoe Basin with limited restrictions at Park City Mountain in Utah and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe region of California and Nevada and a total of five consecutive days of skiing and riding at Hakuba Valley’s nine ski resorts.

For the best deal for unlimited skiing in Colorado, the Keystone A-Basin Pass offers access to two amazing mountains for one low price. Skiers and snowboarders can enjoy unlimited access to Keystone and Arapahoe Basin with holiday restrictions, available for only $389. The Keystone A-Basin 4-Pack, available for just $219, joins the Keystone A-Basin and Epic Local season pass lineup as a popular option for local skiers and riders.

Seize the Season by taking advantage of early season events, discounts and opening day celebrations across all resorts including theBeaver Creek Xfinity Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup (Nov. 29-Dec. 2); Vail Snow Days including a free outdoor concert by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats (Dec. 13-16); Dew Tour at Breck (Dec. 13-16); Kidtopia at Keystone; special events and giveaways for Military Pass Holders; plus cookie competitions, tree lighting ceremonies, “Flash Your Pass” perks and so much more.

Crested Butte Peak Pass and Crested Butte Peak Pass Plus are still available for purchase for the 2018-19 season and are also subject to the same deadline. To purchase a Crested Butte only pass product, please visit www.cbski.com.

The last chance to purchase the entire lineup of Epic Pass and Crested Butte Season Pass products is Sunday, Nov. 18. For more information on season options and to purchase, visit www.epicpass.com.

2018-19 Season Pass Options for Colorado Skiers and Snowboarders

  • Epic Pass™:For $949, the Epic Pass offers unlimited, unrestricted access to 19 mountain resorts plus additional access to 46 more, including 20 new mountains for the 2018-19 season. Discover 65 of the world’s premier resorts throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. The Epic Pass pays for itself in just under five days of skiing or snowboarding. Enjoy unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Stowe and Okemo in Vermont; Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; and Perisher in Australia for the 2019 season. New for the 2018-19 season, Epic Pass holders will receive seven days of skiing or snowboarding with no blackout dates at both Telluride in Colorado and at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (Fernie Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort in British Columbia, Nakiska in Alberta, and Mont-Sainte Anne and Stoneham in Quebec), in addition to five total consecutive days with no blackout dates at Hakuba Valley’s nine ski resorts in Japan. The Epic Pass also grants limited access to Les 3 Vallées, Paradiski and Tignes-Val D’Isere in France; 4 Vallées in Switzerland; Arlberg in Austria and Skirama Dolomiti in Italy. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $499.
  • Epic Local Pass™: For $709, guests receive access to 27 resorts, including unlimited, unrestricted access to Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Stevens Pass, Arapahoe Basin, Wilmot, Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton with limited restrictions at Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, and Stowe, plus a combined total of 10 days at Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb with holiday restrictions and five total consecutive days with no blackout dates at Hakuba Valley’s nine ski resorts in Japan. The Epic Local Pass pays for itself in just under four days and includes access to 13 new mountains for the 2018-19 season. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $379 and a teen pass (ages 13-18) is $569.
  • Keystone A-Basin Pass™:The best deal for unlimited skiing in Colorado, the Keystone A-Basin Pass offers unlimited access to Keystone and Arapahoe Basin with limited holiday restrictions. The pass is $389 for adults and $289 for children (ages five to 12).
  • Keystone A-Basin 4-Pack: For just $219, enjoy four days of skiing and riding with limited holiday restrictions at Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado. That’s under $55 per day.

The deadline to purchase a 2018-19 season pass is Sunday, Nov. 18. For additional information on season pass options and to purchase, visit www.epicpass.com.

 

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David O. Williams

Managing Editor at RealVail
David O. Williams is the editor and co-founder of RealVail.com and has had his awarding-winning work (see About Us) published in more than 75 newspapers and magazines around the world, including 5280 Magazine, American Way Magazine (American Airlines), the Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), the Anchorage Daily Press (Alaska), Aspen Daily News, Aspen Journalism, the Aspen Times, Beaver Creek Magazine, the Boulder Daily Camera, the Casper Star Tribune (Wyoming), the Chicago Tribune, Colorado Central Magazine, the Colorado Independent (formerly Colorado Confidential), Colorado Newsline, Colorado Politics (formerly the Colorado Statesman), Colorado Public News, the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Colorado Springs Independent, the Colorado Statesman (now Colorado Politics), the Colorado Times Recorder, the Cortez Journal, the Craig Daily Press, the Curry Coastal Pilot (Oregon), the Daily Trail (Vail), the Del Norte Triplicate (California), the Denver Daily News, the Denver Gazette, the Denver Post, the Durango Herald, the Eagle Valley Enterprise, the Eastside Journal (Bellevue, Washington), ESPN.com, Explore Big Sky (Mont.), the Fort Morgan Times (Colorado), the Glenwood Springs Post-Independent, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, the Greeley Tribune, the Huffington Post, the King County Journal (Seattle, Washington), the Kingman Daily Miner (Arizona), KUNC.org (northern Colorado), LA Weekly, the Las Vegas Sun, the Leadville Herald-Democrat, the London Daily Mirror, the Moab Times Independent (Utah), the Montgomery Journal (Maryland), the Montrose Daily Press, The New York Times, the Parent’s Handbook, Peaks Magazine (now Epic Life), People Magazine, Powder Magazine, the Pueblo Chieftain, PT Magazine, the Rio Blanco Herald Times (Colorado), Rocky Mountain Golf Magazine, the Rocky Mountain News, RouteFifty.com (formerly Government Executive State and Local), the Salt Lake Tribune, SKI Magazine, Ski Area Management, SKIING Magazine, the Sky-Hi News, the Steamboat Pilot & Today, the Sterling Journal Advocate (Colorado), the Summit Daily News, United Hemispheres (United Airlines), Vail/Beaver Creek Magazine, Vail en Español, Vail Health Magazine, Vail Valley Magazine, the Vail Daily, the Vail Trail, Westword (Denver), Writers on the Range and the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Williams is also the founder, publisher and editor of RealVail.com and RockyMountainPost.com.