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Good morning wonderful people 😮‍💨 

Remember that ski trip in Vermont I was talking about a month ago? Well, we’re bringing this week’s (Wednesday edition) newsletter from Mount Snow in Vermont 🏔️. We’re hitting the slopes and talking about a great college student Epic Pass exclusive for our thrill-seeking friends out there looking to go on a ski trip next season. 

• ⛷️Save hundreds on ski lift tickets as a college student with Epic Pass

What’s Epic Pass

For those unfamiliar with Epic Pass, it’s a multi-resort season pass offered by Vail Resorts and its partners. Epic Pass provides skiers and snowboarders access to ski resorts all across North America (and several international destinations) with a single pass. Whether you’re just a beginner or a seasoned pro, Epic Pass is usually more affordable than buying individual lift tickets. Epic Pass has a wide range of different passes that can be customized to fit your individual needs including multi-day, mountain-specific, and regional passes to unlock unlimited skiing and snowboarding all season. 

Northeast Value Pass

The specific pass we’re talking about today is the Northeast Value Pass which typically ranges from $500-600 depending on the date of purchase — you’ll pay less upfront the earlier you purchase in advance. Although there’ve been several price increases since I purchased my Northeast Value Pass in May 2023 at the student rate of $299 that’s still significant savings. The Northeast Pass includes access to 21 resorts across the Northeast (and several in the Midwest) during the 2023-2024 season. You’ll have unlimited access to 17 resorts, unlimited access excluding peak dates at Okemo, VT, Mount Snow, VT, and Hunter Mountain, NY, and 10 total days excluding peak dates at Stowe, VT at no additional cost. After receiving your pass, Epic Pass will request a valid student ID card and unofficial transcript to verify your student status and activate the pass. 

It’s important to note that peak-date restrictions fall during the busiest holiday times of the year, so if you’re planning a trip during that time frame you might opt for a pass without these restrictions. 

Cost Breakdown 

How does Epic Pass compare to buying lift tickets directly from a specific resort? Let’s say you’re planning a trip to Mount Snow on the same dates as me from January 3-6. The online price for a ‘3 Day Ticket’ is $390 (and even more at the window) without Epic Pass. That’s about $130 a day! 

Remember how I bought the Northeast Value Pass for $299? Right off the bat, I’ve saved almost $100 by not having to pay insane high rates. In addition to the three-day trip, I can continue snowboarding at any of the included Northeast resorts excluding peak dates without worrying about any additional costs for the rest of the season. Now, let’s say I go to my closest mountain White Tail which takes about an hour and a half to reach. After several days on the slopes, the pass essentially pays for itself with unlimited access to the Northeast. That’s extremely cost-effective.

Other Epic Pass Benefits

On top of access to the resorts, Epic Pass provides several other benefits and discounts: 

• Epic Mountain Rewards – 20% off food, lodging, group lessons, rentals and more.

• Epic Coverage - Refunds for job loss, injury, illness & more with Epic Coverage.

• Plus, discounted tickets for you, friends and family

Should I get the Epic Pass next season?

Before deciding if the Epic Pass makes sense for you, it’s important to consider how frequently you plan to head to the slopes throughout the season. If you plan to go for only one day out of the entire season, then it’s probably not worth it. However, an Epic Pass will save you money– even on a short trip–when purchased in advance and offers incredible value.

Not planning on heading to the Northeast? Check out other College Epic Pass options. 

Skiing may not always seem affordable, but don’t be discouraged as purchasing a pass in advance offers a cost-effective way to maximize your number of days on the mountain with instant savings. 

We hope this inspired you to head to the mountains next winter, but we’ll let you get back to your day.

Stay fly,

Dustin Tran

Founder & Content Lead