Indy Pass

[ChrisC]

I received notification that the Indy Pass is back on sale and am off the Waitlist. I am not going to purchase this year (my code is below), but it is quite the deal for the Northwest resorts:

• Montana SnowBowl
• Big White
• Apex
• Castle Mt
• Mt Hood Meadows
• White Pass
• Mission Ridge
• 49 North
• Silver Mt
• Lost Trail
• Tamarack
• Brundage
• Red Lodge
• Powder Mt
• Sunlight

I bought their Spring Pass for << $200 in 2021 for a NW road trip and used it quite a bit. Seems like this would be a no-brainer for @snowave.
Not sure what are blackout dates are, but some resorts include every weekend.

And Greek Peak is on there too!

 

[Tony Crocker]

I’m getting a free Indy Pass from NASJA again this season. I also have Powder Alliance as part of my free age 70 Mt. High Pass. I doubt will get the use out of Indy that I did in 2021.

 

[ChrisC]

I’m getting a free Indy Pass from NASJA again this season. I also have Powder Alliance as part of my free age 70 Mt. High Pass. I doubt will get the use out of Indy that I did in 2021.

The Indy Pass is a bit regional. The best areas are either in:

• NorthWest
• Northeast
• Mid Atlantic

The Midwest looked OK.

The Northeast had:

• Saddleback
• Cannon
• Waterville
• Jay Peak
• Bolton Valley
• Magic Mt
• Berkshire East
• Catamount

The Powder Alliance is a nice arrangement.

 

[snowave]

@ ChrisC

I have a midweek pass to Brundage, and full pass at Tamarack this year. I didn't get the Indy Pass this year, as last season I barely "paid it off". I do plan to maybe do a road trip to hit 49 North this winter and also Whitewater (not on IP), but decided it wasn't worth the $200 add on at the time, and definitely not worth the $300 it is now. I did get one for my wife, however as she will use the 2 days at Tamarack and also 2 at 49 N. If buying at the time of the regular pass sale, it was only $200... so still worth it for her.

I may go back and get it again next year though, if I plan a trip to use it at more than 1 ski area.

I had surgery on my arm a bit over 2 weeks ago (torn labrum and bicep tendon from 2 yrs ago from ATV flip) . Recovery is going well, and Doc thinks I should have no problem being back on the mtn by Christmas, if not earlier.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Just received our Indy passes in the mail. Ready to start my Tour de Molehills!

 

[jamesdeluxe]

In addition to these new ones that were added in February:

• Les 7 Laux, FR
• Valmorel, FR
• Hohsaas, CH
• Pebble Creek, ID

They just announced:

• Les Contamines, FR: I could've sworn that ChrisC skied there recently but I couldn't find his report.
• Pizol, CH

 

[ChrisC]

Les Contamines, FR: I could've sworn that ChrisC skied there recently but I couldn't find his report.

I did. No write-up on anything yet.

AM - Les Contamines. PM - Megeve. The snow bases were very good down low in France this winter. So many sectors were open in this huge complex, I had to stop and try areas that I skipped previously due to time. Les Contamines to St. Gervais is about 15 minutes by car.

 

[snowave]

^ Damn, that place look insane.... the layout, even crazier.

I didn't use my Indy Pass this year, unfortunately. We had plans a couple times to do the Mt. Hood Meadows, along with Hoodoo, and conditions never really materialized. My wife got to use hers at Tamarack though.

We got add-on's again this next upcoming season, and hope to return to 49N, Big White & Apex next year... plus, I skipped Tamarack season pass this year, so I'll get to use my 2 days there for sure.

The Indy is still a good deal for the wife and I ... but it's starting to get into that price range ($300-add on) where it won't be worth it much longer for our regional trips, partly because many of the smaller areas have great mid-week rates/specials... which is primarily when we'll ski.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I didn't use my Indy Pass this year, unfortunately. We had plans a couple times to do the Mt. Hood Meadows, along with Hoodoo, and conditions never really materialized.

Ouch but not that big a financial hit as an add-on?

I only got 11 days out of my Indy Pass, was hoping to be in the high teens by heading up to northern VT (Jay Peak, Burke) and the Eastern Townships (Owls Head, Sutton), which unfortunately didn't happen. Hopefully next year.

As Indy expands, there's now an interesting (to me) Idaho road trip with a lot of locals' joints:

1. Fly into Jackson airport
2. Snow King
3. Kelly Canyon
4. Pebble Creek
5. Pomerelle
6. Magic
7. Soldier
8. Bogus Basin (not Indy)
9. Tamarack
10. Brundage
11. Fly out of Boise airport

The downside is 850 miles/17 hours of driving (at least it'd be broken up into bite-sized segments). Maybe draw on @Worldskitraveller's MO and visit three areas in one day?

 

[MarzNC]

• Soldier
• Bogus Basin (not Indy)
• Tamarack
• Brundage

My Idaho ski safari in March 2025 was based on starting in SLC and using Ikon and Indy. I often meet up with Bill in SLC. He will drive anywhere from Albuquerque for a ski trip out west if someone else does the travel planning. We were joined by an intermediate Ski Diva from the east in SLC, then another who flew to Boise. The first stop was Sun Valley after driving to Ketchum the afternoon Bill did a pickup at the SLC airport. It was the first time for the intermediate who stuck to Dollar Mountain and really liked it. We stopped by to look at the base of Soldier on the way to Boise. I'd like to ski there in the future for sure. Preferably when conditions are good for taking the snowcat. Happened to be the day Glenn Plakke was there. We didn't see him, but saw his red RV in the parking lot.

We stayed slopeside at Tamarack and did day trips to Brundage. Got in 5 days using Indy, with the third day at Tamarack discounted. The Tamarack lodging had an Indy discount.

After the intermediates flew out of Boise, Bill and I explored Bogus Basin for a day. Well worth paying for a senior lift ticket. We got powder turns there.

Overall it was a good trip. I would be happy to return to Idaho in the future.

EDIT TO ADD TRIP REPORT:

TR Idaho ski safari March 7-14, 2025: Tamarack, Brundage, Bogus Basin

Had a very good time doing an Idaho ski safari with a small crew. From a skiing standpoint, my trip started at Sun Valley and ended at Brian Head in southern Utah. This trip report covers Tamarack, Brundage, and Bogus Basin, March 8-14. Fair to say I liked all of them for different reasons and...

www.theskidiva.com

 

[lexi376]

I’ve actually looked at Indy Pass a few times and it always feels like one of those things that pays for itself if you even take one solid trip. The smaller mountains are usually less crowded too, which honestly makes the experience better than the big-name resorts. If you're already planning a road trip, it kind of makes sense.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Reportedly, Indy Pass is going to announce up to 30 new members over the next week including, one assumes, some additional Euro ski areas. Hopefully, this'll create a few more clusters like what they have in Tirol, Austria and the northeast.

• Innsbruck Region, Austria: Stubai Glacier, Axamer Lizum, Kühtai, Schlick 2000, Hochoetz, Patscherkofel, Glungezer and others.
• SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser, Austria
• Steinplatte, Austria
• Pitztal Glacier, Austria
• Kaunertal Glacier, Austria
• Hochzeiger, Austria
• Rauris, Austria
• Oberstdorf–Kleinwalsertal, Germany/Austria
• Portes du Soleil, France/Switzerland
• Pila, Italy
• Leukerbad, Switzerland
• Baqueira-Beret, Spain

New for 2026-27

• Valmorel, France
• Les 7 Laux, France
• Les Contamines, France
• Bergbahnen Hohsaas/Saas-Grund, Switzerland
• Pizol, Switzerland

 

[ChrisC]

The Indy Pass European current ski partners are mostly non-starters. Nice, but nothing to plan a trip entirely around - except maybe Austria? But most are low-altitude, and you are still limited to only 2 days.

I am not sure what the Indy Pass strategy is:

• Are they going to try to compete with a viable product for Europeans?
• Or just a collection of random Euro resorts that inflate counts and dreams, but really add nothing substantively overall?

I am guessing the latter, and the strategy is just a list of kitchen-sink ski areas/crap against the wall. What's the downside for the Euro resort? A few Americans show up, and they collect 2 days of revenue from Indy Pass and some press/social media mentions? Meh/Mid. Sloppy seconds to inflate Indy Pass counts.

Also, Indy Pass has a major exclusivity problem. Many significant 'indy resorts' in the western Alps belong to the Magic Pass network. Or a regional pass product: Aosta, etc. Assume they will accept anyone willing to join its network.

If you really want to ski smaller, independent ski resorts for one or two weeks cheaply, the 419 CHF Magic Pass is the standout, but it's heavily Swiss-focused.

Vaud
Glacier 3000, Les Diablerets, Leysin, Les Mosses–La Lécherette, Les Pléiades, Les Rochers-de-Naye, Ste-Croix/Les Rasses, Vallée de Joux and Villars-Gryon.

Fribourg
Charmey, Jaun, La Berra, Les Paccots, Moléson and Schwarzsee.

Central Switzerland
Klewenalp-Stockhütte, Marbachegg, Melchsee-Frutt, Mörlialp, Sattel-Hochstuckli and Sörenberg.

Jura / Neuchâtel / Solothurn and smaller Swiss areas
Balmberg, Bugnenets-Savagnières, Crêt-du-Puy, Grenchenberg, Hohe Winde, Homberg, Prés-d'Orvin, Robella Val-de-Travers, Riffenmatt, Rüschegg, Selital, Schwanden, Tramelan, Valbirse and others.

France
Bernex, Hirmentaz, Les Habères, Jura-sur-Léman, Le Grand-Bornand, Massif des Brasses, Métabief, Monts Jura, Praz de Lys–Sommand and Thollon-les-Mémises.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Valmorel and Les Contamines are significant additions. I now know that Baqueira-Beret is significant too. In all of these cases it's a worthwhile perk if you're in the region as with us at Portes du Soleil this past season, but as a mechanism to build an exclusive Euro trip around, that's a hard no.

I have not heard of most of the places on that Magic Pass list. Are there none of mom-and-pop but higher altitude places in the Upper Rhone included?

 

[ChrisC]

Any Geneva/Valais/Western Swiss resident should consider the Magic Pass. I have seen some Brits buy it and write about how to maximize it.

Considering day ticket prices, likely not really appropriate for US visitors.


Tier 1 — destination-worthy
Grimentz-Zinal
Saas-Fee
Lauchernalp
Glacier 3000
Gstaad
Arolla

Tier 2 — definitely worth adding
Belalp
St-Luc/Chandolin
Anzère
Le Grand-Bornand
Meiringen-Hasliberg
Sörenberg

Tier 3 — useful depending on snow
Ovronnaz
Villars-Gryon
Leukerbad
Melchsee-Frutt
Leysin

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I have not heard of most of the places on that Magic Pass list. Are there none of mom-and-pop but higher altitude places in the Upper Rhone included?

Below is the current Magic Pass lineup for 2026-27. They only added three new ones for this season. You've been to a number of the higher ones, off the top of my head Ovrannaz, St. Luc, Grimentz/Zinal, Lauchernalp. The 19 I've been to, in red, are mostly James areas and I'd return to most of them. There are quite a few that I've read about on the German forums, plan to check out, and wouldn't limit myself to the ones that ChrisC mentions.

1. Aeschiallmend
2. Anzère
3. Axalp
4. Balmberg
5. Beatenberg-Hohwald
6. Bergbahnen Gstaad
7. Bernex
8. Blatten-Belalp
9. Bugnenets-Savagnières
10. Bumbach Schangnau
11. Charmey
12. Crêt-du-Puy
13. Devero
14. Domobianca
15. Eischoll
16. Eriz
17. Espace Dent-Blanche (Arolla)
18. Espace Dent-Blanche (Evolène)
19. Espace Dent-Blanche (La Forclaz)
20. Faltschen
21. Gantrisch Gurnigel
22. Glacier 3000
23. Grenchenberg
24. Grimentz-Zinal
25. Grimmialp
26. Gspon
27. Gurnigelbad
28. Habkern
29. Heimenschwand
30. Hirmentaz
31. Hohe Winde
32. Homberg
33. Jaun
34. Jaunpass
35. Jeizinen
36. Jura-sur-Léman (Transfrontalier)
37. Kiental
38. Klewenalp-Stockhütte
39. La Berra
40. Lauchernalp
41. Le Grand-Bornand
42. Les Diablerets
43. Les Habères
44. Les Marécottes
45. Les Mosses-La Lécherette
46. Les Paccots
47. Les Pléiades
48. Les Rochers-de-Naye
49. Leukerbad (Torrent & Gemmi)
50. Leysin
51. Linden
52. Marbachegg
53. Massif des Brasses
54. Mayens de Conthey
55. Meiringen-Hasliberg
56. Melchsee-Frutt
57. Métabief
58. Moléson
59. Monts Jura
60. Moosalp
61. Mörlialp Giswil
62. Nax – Mt-Noble
63. Niederhorn
64. Ottenleue
65. Ovronnaz
66. Praz de Lys – Sommand
67. Prés-d'Orvin
68. Rathvel
69. Riffenmatt
70. Robella Val-de-Travers
71. Rossberg
72. Rosswald
73. Rüschegg
74. Saas-Almagell
75. Saas-Fee
76. Saint-Cergue
77. San Domenico
78. Sattel-Hochstuckli
79. Schwanden
80. Schwarzsee
81. Selital
82. Sörenberg
83. Springenboden
84. St-Luc / Chandolin
85. Ste-Croix/Les Rasses
86. Thollon-les-Mémises
87. Tramelan
88. Unterbäch
89. Valbirse
90. Vallée de Joux
91. Vercorin
92. Villars-Gryon
93. Visperterminen
94. Wilerallmi
95. Wiriehorn