![]() ![]() While it’s true that Park City has some of its own vehicular hassles and there are still lots of other skiers making their way to the mountain, it would take a lot to match the traffic of the Cottonwoods (see: Sundance Film Festival). ![]() Remember all that traffic in the winding, one-lane Cottonwoods? Well, the road from Salt Lake to Park City Mountain (Epic’s only unlimited mountain) is something called a “highway,” derived from the Old English “heahweg” meaning “main road from one town to another.” Apparently “highways” can have up to four (!) lanes and cars are able to travel much faster on them. Need more analogies? Or will an actual breakdown help more? Epic Highs Without Epic there would be no Ikon - it’s the yin to their yang, the vanilla to their chocolate, the hammering winter storm to their bluebird spring day. The Epic Pass is the original collective resort pass, expanding from a few well-known resorts in Colorado and Lake Tahoe in 2008 to the global giant that it is today. The Ikon’s one unlimited mountain is Solitude, and although it’s got heavy snowfall and exciting terrain that experts and powderhounds love, it doesn’t always have the same “something for everyone” terrain that always makes Park City Mountain a safe bet for intermediates, groups and families.Įpic Pass ($783) | Epic Local Pass ($583) To be fair, this is also true of the Epic Pass, but the Epic has a slight advantage in that its “one” mountain, Park City Mountain Resort, is actually two resorts (Canyons and Park City) that have joined forces. start now won’t get them on time! Some blame the Ikon, but for what it’s worth, I think what’s to blame is The Greatest Snow on Earth. The skiers once cruised up the canyons at nine, but a six a.m. You can ask why, everyone knows the reason. All that traffic, all that traffic - all that traffic, traffic, traffic! They’ll come with their pickups, their hatchbacks, and vans! They’ll come without snow tires, they’ll crash their sedans! The Grinch hates that skiing, that whole skiing season. Recently the Grinch moved from Mount Crumpit to Mount Superior to get away from the Whos and their noise, but it turns out he hates the traffic in the Cottonwoods just as much. It’s a setup that’s perfect for both families and those who can only get out on occasional weekends. With the Ikon Pass you’ll have seven days each at Deer Valley Resort, Brighton, and Alta/Snowbird, or five each with the Ikon Base Pass. Ikon’s only unlimited access mountain in Utah is Solitude, but the pass makes up for only having one true “home base” by offering tons of access to the other resorts. Let’s be honest, this is Utah - that could easily be a quarter of a season, but you get the point. That’s nearly a full season, or, depending on how often you ski, a half a season. You’ve got 15-21 days at limited-access Utah resorts alone. We haven’t seen a list like that since … well, we’ve never seen a list like that. Among the resorts on the Ikon pass within a one- or two-day drive (or a quick flight) are Jackson Hole (Wyoming), Aspen Snowmass (Colorado), Arapahoe Basin (Colorado), Steamboat (Colorado), Squaw Valley (California), and Mammoth (California). But if the jumps in Utah aren’t satisfying you, it won’t be too hard to escape to some of the other legendary West Coast destinations on the Ikon Pass. Some of the best destinations are just a hop, skip, and a jump away.ĭon’t like hitting jumps? Don’t worry, it’s just an expression. on a Saturday - it’s gonna take a lot of asking around and we probably still won’t find out. But is it the right fit for winter in Utah? That’s like asking if Big Cottonwood Canyon is open at 10:30 a.m. After all, their destinations list pretty much reads like your typical skier/boarder’s bucket list. And you know what? They just might be right. Snag an Ikon Pass next winter and you’ll be punching your ticket to the most iconic resorts in the world, or at least that’s the way Ikon tells it. Ikonic Ikon Pass ($999) | Ikon Base Pass ($729) With ’s help of course! We’re here to break down the two biggest collective passes in the game - the Ikon and Epic - and highlight each one’s strengths and weaknesses so that you, the average skier/boarder who just wants someone to please tell them where to ski in Utah, can have the best winter possible, whether you’re going with the ski pass giants or shopping small. After all, if it’s The Greatest Snow On Earth® and there’s great terrain everywhere, how is anyone supposed to make a decision? Passes for next winter’s ski season are already on sale, and the big question on everyone’s mind is “Where am I gonna ski next year?” You really can’t go wrong with any of the Utah ski resorts, but when you can’t go wrong it's actually a lot harder to choose. Well we’re here to tell you, because we know you better than you know yourself (your ski boot’s unbuckled). Ikon, it can be hard to tell which pass is right for you. ![]()
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