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May, 2025

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Most affordable mountains on Ikon pass?

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s0ulbucket
Posts: 306 - Karma: 542
So I got the Ikon pass this year and wanna plan a trip out west. These are all of the unlimited locations on the pass but I am also considering bachelor as well. What I'm wondering is which mountains in general are affordable to stay at?
5 years ago
4 0
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Hellblazer_23
Posts: 526 - Karma: 1,925
Any lesser known mountains are better, don't stay at the big hotel at the bottom of the hill, and avoid major weekends and holidays.
5 years ago
4 0
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5098 - Karma: 18,688
How far are you willing to drive?
5 years ago
1 0
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9620 - Karma: 71,575
you can crash on my couch if you want to hit up any of the cottonwoods, just don't steal my shit.
5 years ago
15 0
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,903
Don't come to bachelor
5 years ago
3 3
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Jbleddy
Posts: 179 - Karma: 1,209
Steamboat is pretty cheap to sleep in the town, theres tons of shuttles to the ski resort and night life/bars/restaurants in the main strip. The mountain is pretty big too.
5 years ago
4 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10086 - Karma: 76,519
SLC for sure. Plenty of airbnbs in people's basements with separate entrances for cheap. Next would be Denver and just drive a ways to the mountain each day
5 years ago
4 0
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CLQ
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 11,271
Do WP/Steamboat and drive to copper for the day if you want to hit the park.
5 years ago
1 0
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
COs probably got some local air bnbs, if you come to Utah you’ll end up in traffic for 2 hours because of the other ikon pass holders.
5 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7462 - Karma: 79,931
Titus69COs probably got some local air bnbs, if you come to Utah you’ll end up in traffic for 2 hours because of the other ikon pass holders.


I feel like the peeps in utah have no idea what i70 turns into on the weekends and pow days.
5 years ago
10 0
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
BiffbarfI feel like the peeps in utah have no idea what i70 turns into on the weekends and pow days.


I’ve seen photos from friends, seems fucked. CO resorts have more groomers for the beaters to chop up though.
5 years ago
4 0
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dropinoutofschol
Posts: 265 - Karma: 905
Accomodation can be hard to find in Revelstoke but if the borders open up it's usually 20% off because if the dollar. The lines only come on holidays or when there's 20cm of powder, just have to compromise on the terrain
5 years ago
1 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
The hostel at Jackson hole is really inexpensive and gets you slope side, you could also travel to other resorts while staying there.

OP if you post more details such as you want slope side, or are willing to drive 15,30,90 minutes to resort??? You thinking $100/nt or $300 for your max? Would get ya better suggestions.

My final tips are, look for a place that has more your style and culture and the features you want, ya don’t wanna save money on accommodations/hotel and miss out on premium skiing, tho for us ice coasters the west is always a step above. Try and find people to go with, for me this has been difficult none of my colleagues ski. Use your pass wisely, you could stay at a motel 6, or mom n pop and save bank and be just a few hours from many different resorts. Try and be preemptive on trave and storm chasing and travel on weekdays ahead of time when possible.
I’ll be going to big sky this year, my main choice was terrain, acreage, lack of congestion.
5 years ago
1 0
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s0ulbucket
Posts: 306 - Karma: 542
Yo the hostel is sick! I'm more leaning towards flying to an area where there is unlimited skiing at. I would be going with at least 3 or 4 friends so like $150 a night or whatever would be good if possible.
SavageBiffThe hostel at Jackson hole is really inexpensive and gets you slope side, you could also travel to other resorts while staying there.

OP if you post more details such as you want slope side, or are willing to drive 15,30,90 minutes to resort??? You thinking $100/nt or $300 for your max? Would get ya better suggestions.

My final tips are, look for a place that has more your style and culture and the features you want, ya don’t wanna save money on accommodations/hotel and miss out on premium skiing, tho for us ice coasters the west is always a step above. Try and find people to go with, for me this has been difficult none of my colleagues ski. Use your pass wisely, you could stay at a motel 6, or mom n pop and save bank and be just a few hours from many different resorts. Try and be preemptive on trave and storm chasing and travel on weekdays ahead of time when possible.
I’ll be going to big sky this year, my main choice was terrain, acreage, lack of congestion.
5 years ago
1 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
I’d post up at copper , it would put you in the center of a bunch of ikon resorts
5 years ago
1 0
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.squirrely.
Posts: 7563 - Karma: 7,546
SavageBiffThe hostel at Jackson hole is really inexpensive and gets you slope side, you could also travel to other resorts while staying there.


100% go to the hostel place is awesome
5 years ago
1 0
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5098 - Karma: 18,688
OP should probably stay at the Peppermill in Reno and ski SquawAlpine or whatever they change the name to.
5 years ago
4 0
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4884 - Karma: -719
abar.Don't come to bachelor


It sucks people like you don't have the balls to say that to anyone's face when they visit and pump money into your community.

Bend has affordable hotels IIRC OP (I never stayed in one drove back to my fleabag in Salem OR the day I skiied Bachelor.)

Its fucking expensive to drive to places out West nothing is close to each other. My advice to you is if you are flying reserve your rental car right now maybe reserve a few at a few different places. No credit card required and you'll get a steal. The fees on rental cars are so fucking insane that you need a super low rate. Then you'll have some flexibility.
5 years ago
3 1
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,903
PeppermillRenoIt sucks people like you don't have the balls to say that to anyone's face when they visit and pump money into your community.

Bend has affordable hotels IIRC OP (I never stayed in one drove back to my fleabag in Salem OR the day I skiied Bachelor.)

Its fucking expensive to drive to places out West nothing is close to each other. My advice to you is if you are flying reserve your rental car right now maybe reserve a few at a few different places. No credit card required and you'll get a steal. The fees on rental cars are so fucking insane that you need a super low rate. Then you'll have some flexibility.


Lol I'm just salty that this was the first year I've been unable to park in skyliner lot at 9:30 on peak days. Shits just been blowing up the last few years, not stoked for the ikoners. If you've been to bend you know plenty of people are already pumping money into the community
5 years ago
1 0
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Price_Police
Posts: 444 - Karma: 1,785
The cheapest mountains on the ikon pass are the ones you don’t go to
5 years ago
0 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
What rental place does not require a deposit or cc ? I’ve always had to leave card on file... Hell I drive, no fly never. Driving to big sky for a week this year at end of Jan then down to Co for 2+
PeppermillRenoIt sucks people like you don't have the balls to say that to anyone's face when they visit and pump money into your community.

Bend has affordable hotels IIRC OP (I never stayed in one drove back to my fleabag in Salem OR the day I skiied Bachelor.)

Its fucking expensive to drive to places out West nothing is close to each other. My advice to you is if you are flying reserve your rental car right now maybe reserve a few at a few different places. No credit card required and you'll get a steal. The fees on rental cars are so fucking insane that you need a super low rate. Then you'll have some flexibility.

It’s still very uncool to say and make someone feel unwelcome at “YOUR” mountain, you should be excited for people to experience it, see how truly magnificent it is compared to what so many of us ice coasters regularly experience.
I get it tho, I’ve seen how a resort can benefit as can the employees, but I’ve also seen how it can “slow” the mountain, crowd things up, and even open it up to enough different types of people that a mountains vibe can change. Improvements will come with the increase of money, more lifts better and more efficient trails and slopes etc...
Try to keep in mind, your saying “ don’t come “ to 1 guy or his group of buddies is only directed at a small group, and one of our own, your comment won’t free space on your mountain, it just makes all “ bachelors “ look like possessive dicks. Your a rep for your mountain and people as a local, be what you want your mountain to be.
abar.Lol I'm just salty that this was the first year I've been unable to park in skyliner lot at 9:30 on peak days. Shits just been blowing up the last few years, not stoked for the ikoners. If you've been to bend you know plenty of people are already pumping money into the community


localsonvolklsThe cheapest mountains on the ikon pass are the ones you don’t go to

Y not?
5 years ago
0 0
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Anti-Hero
Posts: 1269 - Karma: 344
You should go to mammoth. I’ve been wanting to go there for a long time.
5 years ago
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bquick222
Posts: 124 - Karma: 365
BiffbarfI feel like the peeps in utah have no idea what i70 turns into on the weekends and pow days.


So much this, yeah traffic is bad on weekends especially in LCC, but after living with a buddy in Denver for a couple years in the winter I absolutely hate I70 traffic. On the weekdays the resorts are practically empty here. I never stood in a lift line and some days felt like I had the place to myself up at Soli
5 years ago
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