admin
Powder Mountain recently announced that season passholders will enjoy exclusive access to the mountain on the four February weekends in 2025.
“When we say ‘Escape the Masses,’ we mean it. This new offering is about preserving the core value of the Powder experience, providing passholders with unique access to the mountain on the very best days,” said Reed Hastings, Powder Mountain’s CEO. “Our team continues to explore novel ways to create exceptional value for our passholders. We’ve already invested heavily in our public lift infrastructure, and now we’re ensuring the experience on those lifts is exactly what our passholders expect: lap after lap of incredible skiing, while other resorts resemble ants on a sugar cube during those busy weekends.”
Day tickets, now available for purchase, will not be valid on February 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23. However, Ski Utah Passport redemptions, Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports lessons (and corresponding day tickets), and night skiing tickets—still priced at $19—will remain available, even during February weekends.
Powder Mountain’s recent policy changes have stirred confusion and mixed reactions as the resort shifts its public-private access model. Three lifts are now reserved exclusively for homeowners, though they access less remarkable terrain, raising questions about the value of this exclusivity. Additionally, the decision to charge $12 for weekend parking seems like a minor move likely to provoke backlash. The exclusive passholder access on February weekends mirrors a strategy successfully implemented by Mount Bohemia, which restricted weekend access to passholders to reduce crowding and reward loyalty.
The aim is to enhance the skiing experience by reducing overcrowding, encouraging season pass purchases, and acknowledging loyal customers. However, the abrupt timing of the announcement—after many had already made plans expecting regular ticket availability—has drawn criticism. These changes come as Utah faces increasing pressure from a growing number of skiers, with resorts trying various strategies to manage crowds while maintaining the quality of the ski experience. While Powder Mountain’s exclusive weekends could serve as a model for other resorts facing congestion, the execution and timing of this new strategy have raised concerns.
Known for its vast terrain and uncrowded slopes, Powder Mountain’s policy might be its savior—and a trendsetter—in keeping skiing enjoyable for all.
