A comparison of resorts on the Ikon pass

[Ken in LA]

In preparation for winter I created this comparison of Ikon resorts. I didn’t include every resort, only those I might be interested in visiting (most of them). The data was culled from www.skiresort.info . Decisions, decisions...

USA WEST

California

Alpine Meadows
Altitude (meters): 2083-2632
Vertical (meters): 549
Length of Piste (km): 100

June Mountain
Altitude (meters): 2288-3075
Vertical (meters): 787
Length of Piste (km): 36

Mammoth Mountain
Altitude (meters): 2424-3369
Vertical (meters): 945
Length of Piste (km): 90

Squaw Valley
Altitude (meters): 1890-2760
Vertical (meters): 870
Length of Piste (km): 100

Colorado

Aspen:

Aspen Highlands
Altitude (meters): 2451-3559
Vertical (meters): 1108
Length of Piste (km): 135

Aspen Mountain (Ajax)
Altitude (meters): 2422-3418
Vertical (meters): 996
Length of Piste (km): 103

Buttermilk Mountain
Altitude (meters): 2399-3018
Vertical (meters): 619
Length of Piste (km): 34

Snowmass
Altitude (meters): 2473-3813
Vertical (meters): 1340
Length of Piste (km): 237

<<=============>>

Copper Mountain
Altitude (meters): 2926-3767
Vertical (meters): 841
Length of Piste (km): 126

Eldora
Altitude (meters): 2804-3292
Vertical (meters): 488
Length of Piste (km): 52

Steamboat
Altitude (meters): 2103-3221
Vertical (meters): 1118
Length of Piste (km): 165

Winterpark
Altitude (meters): 2743-3676
Vertical (meters): 933
Length of Piste (km): 143

Montana

Big Sky
Altitude (meters): 2072-3398
Vertical (meters): 1326
Length of Piste (km): 250

New Mexico

TAOS
Altitude (meters): 2805-3795
Vertical (meters): 990
Length of Piste (km): 113

Utah

Alta
Altitude (meters): 2600-3215
Vertical (meters): 615
Length of Piste (km): 116

Brighton
Altitude (meters): 2668-3200
Vertical (meters): 532
Length of Piste (km): 66

Deer Valley
Altitude (meters): 2003-2917
Vertical (meters): 913
Length of Piste (km): 100

Snowbird
Altitude (meters): 2365-3353
Vertical (meters): 988
Length of Piste (km): 103

Solitude
Altitude (meters): 2434-3000
Vertical (meters): 566
Length of Piste (km): 64

Washington

Crystal Mountain
Altitude (meters): 1341-2137
Vertical (meters): 796
Length of Piste (km): 50

Snoqualmie
Altitude (meters): 800-1180
Vertical (meters): 380
Length of Piste (km): 28

Wyoming

Jackson Hole
Altitude (meters): 1924-3185
Vertical (meters): 1261
Length of Piste (km): 116

USA EAST

Maine

Sugarloaf
Altitude (meters): 426-1286
Vertical (meters): 860
Length of Piste (km): 119

Sunday River
Altitude (meters): 250-957
Vertical (meters): 707
Length of Piste (km): 84

New Hampshire

Loon
Altitude (meters): 300-930
Vertical (meters): 630
Length of Piste (km): 45

Vermont

Killington
Altitude (meters): 355-1285
Vertical (meters): 930
Length of Piste (km): 126

Stratton
Altitude (meters): 600-1181
Vertical (meters): 581
Length of Piste (km): 92

Sugarbush
Altitude (meters): 452-1240
Vertical (meters): 788
Length of Piste (km): 87

CANADA

Alberta

SkiBig3:

Lake Louise
Altitude (meters): 1646-2637
Vertical (meters): 991
Length of Piste (km): 139

Mt. Norquay
Altitude (meters): 1630-2133
Vertical (meters): 503
Length of Piste (km): 16

Sunshine Village
Altitude (meters): 1660-2730
Vertical (meters): 1070
Length of Piste (km): 109

British Columbia

Cypress
Altitude (meters): 824-1440
Vertical (meters): 616
Length of Piste (km): 51

Revelstoke
Altitude (meters): 512-2225
Vertical (meters): 1713
Length of Piste (km): 55

Québec

Mont Tremblant
Altitude (meters): 230-875
Vertical (meters): 645
Length of Piste (km): 79

JAPAN

Niseko United
Altitude (meters): 300-1200
Vertical (meters): 900
Length of Piste (km): 44

 

[KingGrump]

Nice list.

How do they ski?

 

[DanoT]

Nice list.

How do they ski?

Without average annual snowfall on the list it might be hard to tell. Some measure of snow quality would also help, maybe monthly average temperature. And then there is percentage of Expert, Intermediate. Beginner terrain that needs to be listed as well.

Nice start to the list, though.

 

[KingGrump]

Without average annual snowfall on the list it might be hard to tell. Some measure of snow quality would also help, maybe monthly average temperature. And then there is percentage of Expert, Intermediate. Beginner terrain that needs to be listed as well.

Good topic for a PhD thesis.

Me, I go by the seat of my pants.
Can't tell until I've been there.

 

[DanoT]

Good topic for a PhD thesis.

Me, I go by the seat of my pants.
Can't tell until I've been there.

I have been on the seat of my pants at one time or another at almost all of the western ones.And a few eastern ones.

 

[KingGrump]

Been to most of the US east & west.

Not sure I want to hit the eastern ones in Canada.
Only been to LL on the Canada west list. Definitely have to hit the Big 3 & Revelstoke.
Cypress? Nah, even you haven't been to Cypress and you had a pass there few seasons back.

Japan - Maybe the 2020 season. Got to get some really fat tires so I can drive across the Pacific.

 

[DanoT]

Not sure I want to hit the eastern ones in Canada.

While you may want to avoid in Jan and early Feb due to possible very cold temps, the rest of the time Tremblant is as good or better than anything in Vermont, just ask @Jilly if you don't believe me.

 

[Jilly]

Come in March with the Ski Diva's!! Middle of February till the end.....much nicer for sure. If you're cold at K'ton, you'll be colder at Tremblant.

The Olympic mantra, was "we have ice in our veins" is so true!!



SkiBam, the Ski Diva and Jilly. End of January 2107!!

 

[KingGrump]

My usual schedule takes us out west by the new year. We don't usually head back until end of April or Mid May so Tremblant in March is definitely a no go. This coming season we may hang around the NE for an additional 2-3 weeks to take advantage of the Ikon pass's eastern resort. So we may sneak up to Tremblant mid Jan.

 

[luliski]

Brrrrr

 

[Jilly]

Luv to meet up with you and the Mrs. Sorry but powder like WB probably not going to happen, but you might bring us a storm. I'm sure @SkiBam will join too.

 

[KingGrump]

@Ken in LA , please accept my apology for the thread drift right off the line. I know you put up the thread to help you decide. Some of us have been to lots of these areas. They all have different flavors. Ask away and may be we can help you decide.

 

[KingGrump]

Will definitely give you a shout when we get there.
No worries about the "firm powder". One of my favorite ski is the Atomic FIS SL. My son and I have 5 pair between us.

 

[Jilly]

This is my first foray into the multiple place pass. I will probably continue even if I should decide that Tremblant isn't enough. There are so many options. And the exception I see is Blue Mountain in Ontario. I wouldn't drive the 3 hours for that..but I would drive 8 hours for Sugarloaf !!

 

[x10003q]

Meters?

 

[KingGrump]

And the exception I see is Blue Mountain in Ontario. I wouldn't drive the 3 hours for that.

Does that mean you'll visit us at Snowshoe. Beats W/B hands down any day.

 

[Jilly]

Does that mean you'll visit us at Snowshoe. Beats W/B hands down any day.

Not planning any trips south. 25% on my loonie!! But shouldn't say never.

 

[KingGrump]

Not planning any trips south. 25% on my loonie!! But shouldn't say never.

No worries, mate. Neither will we.
Since the OP did not list the stats for Snowshoe. I figure I'll post it as a PSA. This is from their web site.

41 trails
7 lifts featuring the Ballhooter & Soaring Eagle Express High Speed Detachable Quads
100% snowmaking
800 foot vertical drop

 

[dbostedo]

^^^^
C'mon... be fair. That's just for the main area. They also have a lift across the street that's nearly 1500 feet of vert... with not one, but TWO runs off of it!

 

[cantunamunch]

^^^^
C'mon... be fair. That's just for the main area. They also have a lift across the street that's nearly 1500 feet of vert... with not one, but TWO runs off of it!

And ...on that side they tell you Jean-Claude Killy designed it twice as often as on the Ballhooter side.

Call me weird, I think I'd actually enjoy skiing Blue, especially if the lake effect is in full force.