Overcrowding is a big deal these days, as the pastime enjoys a popularity surge, and as sales of Epic and Ikon passes spike. These multi-resort passes, available for as little as $700, are now honored in some manner by nearly every major resort in North America. But not every resort wants to be part of this phenomenon, choosing instead to maintain a crowd-free environment.
USA Today, MSN, and the New York Times all featured Powder Mountain stories prominently in late February, noting how empty our lifts and slopes appear even on days when we’re sold out. The USA Today story traveled to the front of MSN, while the NYT story hit both the digital and print versions. Clearly, Powder’s strategy to limit crowds has been working as planned. This year, with crowds crushing other resorts people looking to secure a crowd-free skiing experience are purchasing more tickets in advance. Sold out days have more than doubled year over year.
“With over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, limiting ticket sales to 1,500 a day and seasons passes to 3,000 a year, Powder Mountain has the lowest skier density of any major resort in North America,” says Powder Mountain’s general manager, Mark Schroetel. “We impose and adhere to such a strict limit to provide skiers and riders with an exceptional on-mountain experience. One where lift lines are all but unheard of and fresh tracks can still be found days after a storm. It is skiing and riding the way it is meant to be, allowing guests the room to explore and the freedom to roam.”