Wasatch 24/25-Stoke, Conditions, and general debauchary

[byates1]

What kind of van should I buy.

The kind that hot guys want to bang you in

[tuco]

"For Immediate Release

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, UTAH (November 13, 2024) — Solitude Mountain Resort is excited to announce the removal of blackout dates for Ikon Base Pass and Ikon Base Plus Pass holders for the 24/25 season. This change reflects Solitude’s commitment to being Utah’s premier Ikon Pass destination and to providing additional value to our Ikon Base Pass and Ikon Base Plus Pass guests.

A large portion of Solitude’s visitors are Ikon Pass holders, who consistently make the resort their top choice for mountain experiences in Utah. By removing blackout dates, Solitude is extending greater flexibility and enhancing the overall experience for Ikon Base Pass and Ikon Base Plus Pass holders.

The removal of blackout dates applies only to Ikon Base Pass and Ikon Base Plus Pass holders. Guests with Ikon Session Passes will continue to have blackout dates as designated.

Join us this Friday, November 15, at 8 a.m. for the opening day party of the Moonbeam lift, featuring DJ + Donuts, conditions permitting. “With the new snow this week and more on the way, we are excited for the 24/25 season to officially begin,” says Amber Broadway, General Manager of Solitude Mountain Resort. Parking reservations will begin on December 21, 2024."

Seems like there should probably be some refunds of the difference of those passes versus the full pass.
This is the kind of shit that should be announced before people make their pass decisions!
Once again, FUCK YOU ALTERRA

[mc_roon]

By removing blackout dates, Solitude is extending greater flexibility and enhancing the overall experience for Ikon Base Pass and Ikon Base Plus Pass holders.

JFC, so all the blackout dates which historically were some of the quietest ones at solitude are now going to be the biggest shitshow days as those passes will now work at solitude but nowhere else...

enhancing the overall experience for base passes at the expense of those with full ones.

[brutah]

Just wait until you have to pay a toll below Solitude Entry 1 starting winter 2025! (Last line of the screenshot above)

[Yukonrider]

Winter of 21 when I was riding the bus (before they halved service) The bus came every 15 minutes, it was a complete shit show on weekends and snowy days unless you played the game well (up on the 730, down on the 245).

If they're doubling bus service (and lets assume doubling ridership which was pretty limited, therefore easy to double) there will still be long lines, but the next issue becomes the very limited parking options down canyon. The park and rides were often full on modest days, let alone peak days.

What a cluster. I assume the resorts will scream about tolling, they must make big dollars off selling parking spots. Maybe the next profit center will be locker rentals for the bus folks, which sometimes cost more than a parking spot!!

[Dantheman]

That has to be a typo and was meant to be above Soli 1. That would be consistent with proposed LCC tolling above White Pine.

[DigSki]

Is Solitude removing blackout dates a sign that Ikon pass is not doing as well as in the past...? I also got an email about having a few extra weeks to get a discounted Ikon pass a month or so ago...

For the record, I think it's stupid and is the opposite direction they should go. I think they should limit Solitude on all passes and have a Solitude only season pass (Crystal, A-Basin, DV model).

They are offering refunds if people want to downgrade from full > base, but jeez Solitude is so trash at managing this stuff. This year the Ikon full pass price went up before they announced this season's parking details - I bought a Bird pass this year because of that...

[schindlerpiste]

It's one resort. I buy the full pass so I can ski 7 at DV, Alta/Bird, Snowbasin and Jackson. Also, I will supplement ALTA/Bird with 50% off after the 7 are used. Most my other days are at Canyons and Solitude. I think that this is much to do about nothing

[jtran10]

I also love spending $5500 a year on passes

[tuco]

It's one resort. I buy the full pass so I can ski 7 at DV, Alta/Bird, Snowbasin and Jackson. Also, I will supplement ALTA/Bird with 50% off after the 7 are used. Most my other days are at Canyons and Solitude. I think that this is much to do about nothing

For my use case(and many others too) this is a shitty deal!
Really other than the 'Bird days, I could really give a fuck about the days to the other resorts.
I agree w/ Digski 100% on everything he said. Including the move to the Bird. Been contemplating the same for the last few years!

[muted reborn]

Hi Everyone! Is Ikon getting you down for hundredth time? Are you worried about tolls located on the wrong part of the canyon? Well, good news because we have a thread for you!!! Fill your black coffee cup and come over to where everyone is complaining about parking/tolls/buses/how does my ikon pass work! Lets moan and whine together over there!!!!!

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...hlight=parking

[schindlerpiste]

By definition, black out dates are crowded. Although, I have read things to the contrary, every time that I have tried to ski Solitude, ALTA, Snowbird, Canyons or DV on black out dates, I have encountered huge lines, traffic and runs filled with gapers. Usually, on these days you will find me out in the woods hiking for turns.
I do understand that people work, and a lot of people need to ski on black out days. I'm just saying that personally, I avoid resort days between X-mas and New Year, Presidents weekend and MLK's B-day at all costs. That is not to say that if it dumps 20+ on Dec. 27 I wouldn't be bummed to miss the day.
I get your points, but "it's only castle's burning". I wonder whether resorts will start doing this because of their desire to fill hotel rooms during these peak dates with people who only get to ski at that time.

I do think that Solitude should allow people to downgrade to the basic pass, to make things fair.

[mc_roon]

By definition, black out dates are crowded. Although, I have read things to the contrary, every time that I have tried to ski Solitude, ALTA, Snowbird, Canyons or DV on black out dates, I have encountered huge lines, traffic and runs filled with gapers. Usually, on these days you will find me out in the woods hiking for turns.

Anecdotally i've had the opposite experience - driving up BCC on MLK or Presidents day weekend is a breeze and solitude is comparatively empty while all the backcountry trailheads are chock full pre-dawn.

I would absolutely believe that Alta/snowbird/PC/DV are junkshows during holiday periods as they are much better known 'ski destinations' where non-locals take an expensive yearly trip, but solitude doesnt have that cachet and floats under the radar against the better known LCC & PC resorts.

Now I'm going to go tune some skis so when the snow arrives I am ready to contribute some actual stoke!

[muted reborn]

actual stoke!

no need to mention where this is IMO, just trying to change the subject

[telefreewasatch]

I'd ski that!

[Meconium]

The kind that hot guys want to bang you in

so like a 1992 Chevrolet Lumina?

[Meconium]

I mean, it kind of has a descending pissboner Hood. Is that sexy?

[Djongo Unchained]

That is a superb chunk of lines. I'd lap that.

[BobMc]

Looking forward to coming back to the truck and heating cinnamon rolls via the defrost while waiting for the snow to melt off the windshield.



My kid has been hitting the gym 4-5 days a week all summer long. I’m looking forward to see how he’s skiing.



In a nod to the travails of skiing here, not looking forward to this.

[byates1]

so like a 1992 Chevrolet Lumina?

Yes. The high roof model w brown shag will have you getting spit roasted down by the river all season

[Goodabouthood]

I remember reading in Alta's master plan they were going to work on the Ballroom traverse but reading around the website I found this:

"The High Traverse Project
As part of a two-year process, a crew of eight employees spent six weeks widening the High Traverse from Jake’s to the pass. This hand-cut traverse will hold more snow earlier in the season and during periods of increased skier traffic and wind erosion. It will also provide a dependable traverse to the grassy slopes of Greeley Bowl during low snow periods."

Anybody got intel on this or better yet a picture?

[telefreewasatch]

The ballroom traverse has a lower gate and a machine wide road through that initial rocky bit til you come out into the open.
The high t got worked from the pass back through Jakes; the worst of the rock and straightened it out a bit about 4 feet wide.
To be continued next year, hopefully that bad rock pile under sunspot.
Gonna be a lower gate making for a slower traverse with less snow getting shoved off. (Jimmy's gate)
Thing about making a flat road or place on a west slope, the predominant wind direction naturally loads it coming upslope.
The avalanche office is all about getting snow cut up and affecting a thin snowpack out the ridge.
Pays huge dividends when not worrying about deep slap every inch of water weight...

[westoxified]

not sure I wanna go any faster. pass choke gonna be even more thrilling.

[brutah]

Heard the new high t gonna make a sweet mtb ride in the summer


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[Lone Star]

Anecdotally i've had the opposite experience - driving up BCC on MLK or Presidents day weekend is a breeze and solitude is comparatively empty while all the backcountry trailheads are chock full pre-dawn.

I would absolutely believe that Alta/snowbird/PC/DV are junkshows during holiday periods as they are much better known 'ski destinations' where non-locals take an expensive yearly trip, but solitude doesnt have that cachet and floats under the radar against the better known LCC & PC resorts.

Past few years, I've experienced Alta the way you've experienced Solitude. Everybody's asking each other where the crowd is and then the light will go off in someone's head: "It's an IKON blackout day!"