By Karen D. Lorentz
KILLINGTON—Skiers and riders interested in Killington have a new season pass option for winter 2018-19 called the Ikon Pass.
Killington and Pico will continue to offer their respective season passes, but those rates have not yet been released. The M.A.X. Pass is not being offered next season.
The Ikon Pass, a partnership pass curated by Alterra Mountain Company, includes Killington as a destination but does not include Pico or Okemo, both of which had been on the M.A.X. Pass along with Killington. The three areas are expected to release their respective 2018-19 season pass information in mid-March.
Since the Ikon Pass was announced last month, three new areas were added to the partnership pass – the SkiBig3 (Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay in Banff National Park in Canada), Revelstoke (British Columbia) and Sugarbush (Vermont). The addition “brings tremendous value to the Ikon Pass, and expands access in Canada and the East Coast,” commented Alterra Mountain Company Chief Marketing Officer Erik Forsell in a press release.
The Ikon Pass, which now includes 26 destinations in nine states and four Canadian provinces, is a collaboration of Alterra, Aspen Skiing Company, Boyne Resorts, Powdr, Jackson Hole, Alta Ski Area, Snowbird, SkiBig3, Revelstoke, and Sugarbush.
Although Alterra does not own all 26 destinations, the partnership pass presents access to a total of 63,000 skiable acres of terrain in North America. Alterra does own 12 resorts.
The Powdr-owned resorts on the unlimited passes include Copper and Eldora, both in Colorado. Killington, also a Powdr resort, is on the five and seven-day vacation destination list. Stratton and Sugarbush are the only other Vermont areas on the two pass iterations.
While the access to Killington is limited on the new Ikon, it could be intriguing to skiers/riders who might want to try the mountain for a vacation. It might also interest local and other Killington season pass regulars who purchase more than one pass and would like to experience other areas for vacations.
The Ikon Passes are not valid at Pico.
Ikon benefits include: discounts for family and friends lift tickets; a one-year membership to Protect Our Winters; and a discount on CMH summer adventures and early winter booking privileges.
Ikon Base Pass
The Ikon Base Pass costs $599 and offers unlimited access to eight destinations plus five-days and five-days combined with three blackout periods.
The areas with unlimited access are Winter Park, Copper, Eldora, Big Bear, June Mountain, Tremblant, Blue Mountain, and Snowshoe. There is also season long access to Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows with some holiday restrictions.
The additional five days at an area with holiday restrictions at all of them include: Sugarbush, Stratton, Killington, Steamboat, Mammoth, Deer Valley, Jackson Hole, Big Sky and Revelstoke, for potentially 45 days.
The five-days each at combined areas also includes holiday restrictions and at the four areas of: Aspen Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk; Alta and Snowbird; SkiBig3: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, Mt. Norquay; and Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Loon for a total of 20 additional possible days.
The teen, college, and military Ikon Base Pass costs $479, and the Child Base Pass (12 and under) is $149 but only through April 9, 2019, with the purchase of an adult Base Pass.
The holiday exclusion dates are Dec. 26-31, 2018; Jan. 19-20, 2019; and Feb. 16-17, 2019.
The Ikon Pass
The adult Ikon Pass offers unlimited access to 12 destinations plus seven-days each at a listed destination resort and seven-days at combined areas with no blackout dates. The price is $899 and goes on sale March 6. There is currently no end date or deadline for this pass price, according to Kristin Rust, director of public relations for Alterra Mountain Company.
The areas with unlimited access include Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper, and Eldora in Colorado; Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Big Bear, Mammoth, and June in California; and in the East, Stratton, Snowshoe, Mount Tremblant and Blue Mountain.
The Ikon Pass also includes seven days each at all of these resorts: Sugarbush, Killington, Deer Valley, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, and Revelstoke, for a possible grand total of 42 days.
The Ikon Pass also includes a mix-and-match seven (combined) days for Aspen, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk; Alta and Snowbird; the SkiBig (Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise and Norquay); Sunday River; Sugarloaf; and Loon, for an additional 28 days.
The military, college and teen Ikon passes are $719.
A corresponding child’s Ikon pass for ages 12 and under is $199 with the purchase of an adult pass, but this special deal lasts only through April 9, Rust said.
Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, said about the exclusion of Pico: “In creating the Ikon Pass, the focus was on developing mountain clusters with iconic regional and destination resorts with diverse terrain for skiers of all abilities,” he said. “Pico offers an amazing big mountain skiing/riding experience with small mountain charm, but it does not align with this particular pass product. We look forward to continuing the tradition of Pico Mountain’s community focus through continued partnerships with local schools who participate in the Junior Explorer Program, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports and BROC Community Action.”
