Does the notion of paying nothing to jump on a ski lift anytime you choose catch your attention? Good, it should! If you play your cards right, you can effectively ski free for the rest of the 2009/10 season. And it can FEEL like you are skiing for free all through 2010/11!
As is true with every promise of anything free, there’s a catch. But this particular catch can also save you a bundle and get you out skiing more next year. Here’s how it works:
You have to buy a season pass at an area. And you have to do it now. Depending on the area you choose, that can cost you anywhere from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. I know, that doesn’t sound like “Free” but bear with me a moment.
Many areas this year are offering a deal where, if you buy your season pass now, you get to ski or ride for free for the rest of this season. What an incredible offer. You not only get the best skiing of the 2010/11 season, you also get all of next season too. And there’s no better incentive to get out on the slopes than knowing you can go anytime you want for as long as you want and it will actually reduce the per-visit price of your lift tickets.
These areas are offering the “Ski Free Until Closing” deal on next year’s season passes purchased now through the end of March:
Bolton Valley in Bolton, Vermont. $399 Adult (ages 18-69), $249 ($149 if purchased with adult parent’s pass) Youth (ages 7-17) and Senior (ages 70+).
Burke Mountain in East Burke, Vermont, Season Passes $539 Adult, $339 Student/Senior.
Catamount in South Egremont, Mass. 2010/11 Season Passes: $279 Adult, $239 Juniors(7-13), $99 Kids 6 and under, $159 Seniors 70+
Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway, N.H. 2010/11season passes $459 Adult, $269 Teen, $169 Junior.
Jiminy Peak in Hancock, Mass. Season Passes: $689 Adult unrestricted, $599 Teen, $459 Junior, $239 Twilight.
Granite Gorge in Roxbury, N.H. 2010/11 full season passes $425 Adults, $325 Jrs/Srs/College, $1095 Family pass.
King Pine in Tamworth, N.H. 2010/11 unlimited season passes $425 Adult, $365 Teen, $305 Jr./Sr.
Mount Snow in Dover, Nor’Easter unlimited passes (good at Mount Snow, Attitash, and Crotched Mountain) $899 Adults, $699 for juniors (6-18) and seniors. Includes four bonus tickets which may be purchased at $50/each. Classic Pass (Mount Snow only with 12 blackout dates) $549. Pay 30% of the total cost of your pass (including tax) by April 30th and you have until October 11th to make two installments on the remaining 70%.
Mount Sunapee in Newbury, N.H. 2010/11 season passes go on sale March 6 and are at their lowest prices from March 6 through April 30. New pass purchasers can ski through the end of this season and all of next season by paying the May 1 rate (a difference of $56 to $160 depending on the pass.)
Pats Peak in Henniker, N.H. 2010/11 season passes $349 Adult (18-64), $259 Junior (6-17) and Senior (65+).
Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, Mass. 2010-11 season passes $275 Adult (ages 14-69 yrs), $225 Jr. (ages 7-13 yrs), $100 Kids (ages 6 & Under) and Seniors (ages 70+), $500 Corporate (a transferable pass) .
Wildcat in Pinkham Notch, N.H. $599 adult unrestricted, $399 teen, 299 junior.
While we’re at it, here are some other great deals we found lurking out there:
Saturday Nights: Gunstock in Gilford, N.H.: ski, ride, rent or tube for $30 bucks from 4 to 10 pm. Pats Peak in Henniker, N.H.:
Catamount in South Egremont, Mass. Free lift ticket with a private lesson Mondays-Thursday .
Ragged Mountain in Danbury, N.H. $124 “Rest of Season pass (equal to 2 adult tickets!); $25 Thursdays , Family Sundays ($99 for 4 in family; $25 each additional kid)
Burke Mountain in East Burke, Vermont. Purchase a weekend ticket (Sat-Sun) and ski Friday afternoon or all day Monday for free; Tuesday $20 55+; Friday $30 for Tele skiers. Starting March 1st, show your season pass from any other ski resort and get half-price full day tickets!
Ski Sundown in Canton Center, Connecticut, has is offering 2010 – 2011 season passes at 09/10 prices and has an “Easy Payment Plan.”
Smugglers’ Notch Bash Badge Plus ( $199 Adult), $179 Youth 6-18) FREE skiing and riding from 3/8/10 to closing (usually mid-April) plus 20% off at 3 Mountain Equipment and for high performance ski or snowboard equipment demos; 50% off all single and multi-day group lessons and admission to The FunZone.
Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Mass., is offering an Anytime “Rest Of The Season Pass” for $109.
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Tim Jones, Founder and Executive Editor, started skiing at age 4 and hasn't stopped since. In the summer, he hikes, mountain bikes, paddles and fly fishes. In addition to his work at EasternSlopes.com, Tim also writes a pair of syndicated weekly newspaper columns, Active Outdoors and Eastern Slopes, and is Managing Editor of The Angling Report. He lives with his sweetheart Marilyn in New Hampshire with 25 ski hills within easy day-trip distance. 
