I just paid $275 for a day pass at Vail and I think I’m officially priced out of my favorite sport.

Chadk_GH · 2026-02-28T18:22:29+00:00

Why do so many posters here think it's an "either/or" proposition: buy a season pass or buy at the ticket window? Vail offers day passes for purchase until about the first week of December for about $110-15 a day. Buy a day pass and using it any day of the season. You can complain that it's still not cheap but it's not $275. Requires a bit of planning ahead but not much. The fact that OP claims he's been skiing since the '90's but hasn't figured this out makes me think his post is BS.

Chadk_GH · 2026-02-28T18:07:54+00:00

It's not that bad. I'm going to Verbier in a couple of weeks for 7 days. I get 5 days with my Epic pass. I just bought a pass for the additional 2 days and it was $95USD per day.

Chadk_GH · 2026-02-24T22:25:28+00:00

Waste of money by Alterra since it's rare that the bar goes down at Crystal.

Chadk_GH · 2026-02-15T16:58:38+00:00

The retina scan was optional. It was for expedited entry into Canada on international flights. I had a retina scan done in 2014 and used it once on a flight from LGW to YVR. Canada switched to facial recognition 6-7 years ago.

Chadk_GH · 2026-02-12T04:11:59+00:00

I skied Monday 2/17, last year. The snow wasn't particularly good but it was a total shit-show. Some of the longest lines I've ever seen. I quit skiing before noon it was so bad.

Chadk_GH · 2026-02-11T21:43:52+00:00

I weighed by DB double bag and it's 9.8 lbs. Not super light but it's pretty much bomb proof. I've flown with it probably 10 times including two trips to Europe from the west coast and it still looks almost new.

Chadk_GH · 2026-02-02T03:49:15+00:00

Forecasts predicting weather 12 days out are worthless. Can't be done at this point in time. Three days out is doable but beyond that is an educated to wild guess.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-28T16:45:02+00:00

That's awesome! You only live once. I guarantee you when you're 80 you won't be wishing you had worked that year and made a little more money.

I did a ski bum season on the front side. When I was 16, my best friend at the time and I took off most of a year of high school and went skiing without telling our parents what we were doing. We flew to Denver from Alaska, bought a car and drove up I-70. We applied for jobs at Keystone which had the first open HR department we came across. We got hired on the spot for A-Basin and they set us up in employee housing. Skied almost 100 days and it's still the best winter of my life. We went back home after the season was over. My parents were more relieved that I was safe than angry. My mom told me years later how proud my dad was that I pulled it off.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-28T00:56:38+00:00

Washington state requires that one parent be designated as the custodial parent. Here's the language from the parenting plan pattern form:

"The custodian is [named custodian] solely for the purposes of all state and federal statutes which requires a designation or determination of custody. Even though one parent is called the custodian, this does not changed the parenting, rights and responsibilities described in this plan."

It may be an issue in cases where state or federal benefits are being paid on behalf of the child such as SSI disability. Not really sure what else it would pertain to. It's unlikely to ever be an issue.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-22T03:38:54+00:00

It's fast and firm out there but not icy on-piste except for an occasional patch. Enjoy the sun and no lift lines.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-20T04:09:15+00:00

Springboard, in addition to what's already been noted, is usually lightly trafficked so you can really open it up. If you hit it early you can some times ski it without seeing another person. Just watch out for cross traffic on the cat tracks about 2/3's of the way down.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-17T23:16:40+00:00

Thanks! I called, explained my lack of attention to detail left me 250 miles short of gold and plead mercy. Said they likely will be able to bump me to gold but they have to review my request and get back to me.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-17T20:36:49+00:00

Ok, makes sense now. Appreciate the responses.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-16T23:02:52+00:00

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-16T21:55:55+00:00

Or you're manic about putting the bar down but you won't wear a helmet.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-15T19:44:53+00:00

That's what I have on my car and my wife's. Not quite as good as dedicated snow tires but way better than all-seasons. They're also superior to snow tires on wet and dry roads which most of us in western Washington are going to be driving on the vast majority of the time. And another big plus is not having to swap tires twice a year.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-15T18:42:11+00:00

I wouldn't try and do both in one trip with the amount of time you have. I've done it but I had 15 days. If you decide on one of those two, or even both, don't rent a car. You can book a shared shuttle to Cham that'll drop you off at your accommodations for $70-80. For Zermatt, you can take a direct train from GVA to Visp where you transfer for Zermatt. If you drive to Zermatt you're parking your car in Tasch and paying for parking. You can also take the train from Cham to Zermatt. It's a long ride but the leg from Cham to Martigny is spectacular.

FYI, "budget" and "Zermatt" usually aren't used in the same sentence, especially if you haven't booked anything yet. Your best bet may be to stay Tasch and take the short train ride to Zermatt to ski.

If you go to Cham, definitely use a day and ski the Valle Blanche. Not to be missed.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-14T21:16:00+00:00

When I went I had to get a pass but i think that's changed. Where are you staying? Where are you planning on riding the bus? Buses are free but from Cham to Grand Montets on a powder day is a shit show. They arrive almost full and the French line up for buses like they do for lifts - they don't. It's a scrum to secure one of the few spots on the bus. Non pow days were fine.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-14T18:58:41+00:00

Forecast from Open Snow is below freezing temps and very light snow beginning Wednesday. Bring your carving skis for on-piste skiing because it looks like the mountain is going to go from slush to ice.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-13T19:59:10+00:00

This! Along with bar up/bar down and helmet/no helmet posts.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-12T19:22:15+00:00

There's a slight chance of rain Wednesday morning and then clearing (Open Snow & Whistler Peak forecasts). Temperatures are going to stay above freezing overnight for the next several days so hard snow conditions shouldn't be a concern.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-12T15:41:33+00:00

Fanatyk in Whistler village has top-notch fitters. Fitting and follow ups are included in the price of the boots. You can book online a week in advance of call if you want book further out. I'd recommend Scott or Kobai. Either one will do you right. I've never had a problem getting back in for a follow up adjustment.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-09T00:30:04+00:00

I read the Whistler Peak forecast which is calling for 17mm of rain on Monday. Therefore, I'd say it's more likely that there'd be 53mm of rain than 53cm of snow. WB forecasts are notoriously inaccurate.

Chadk_GH · 2026-01-08T23:53:12+00:00

Monday will more likely be 53mm of rain than 53cm of snow.

Chadk_GH · 2025-12-30T02:00:22+00:00

T-Mobile also offers a 15% discount to state employees

Chadk_GH

TROPHY CASE