There has not been much discussion about this anywhere yet. But we’ve been asking questions and testing theories. There are some very lucky people on this planet. Normally skiing 6 different resorts in Tahoe requires multiple pass purchases or an investment in the California Gold pass at $2450. But some forward thinking Alpine Meadows skiers and boarders bought an Unfiltered Pass through Alpine Meadows for around $800 before September 27. Due to the magic of previous mergers, potential mergers and new mergers, those passholders now have access to 6 mountains, with no limitations.
It all started with JMA, who owned both Alpine Meadows and Homewood. There is some evidence than an acquisition of Kirkwood was discussed, resulting in shared passes between Alpine Meadows and Kirkwood. And as we all know, KSL purchased Alpine Meadows in September, giving us the PineSquawWoodWood pass.
Last month, Vail Resorts successfully bought Kirkwood. Since Vail Resorts also owns Northstar and Heavenly, reciprocal pass privileges were immediately announced. And that’s something that went quietly unannounced around Alpine Meadows. Yes, apparently your Kirkwood pass now allows you to access both Northstar and Heavenly.
The process is not as simple as it seems. You can’t just roll into Northstar and jump on the gondola with your Alpine Unfiltered pass. Here’s the details:
• You already know your pass works at Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley
• You can pick up your pass at Homewood by presenting your Alpine Unfiltered pass.
• You can pick up your pass at Kirkwood by presenting your Alpine Unfiltered pass.
• Access Northstar or Heavenly by presenting your Kirkwood pass at that mountain’s special tickets office
Note that all of this goodness is offered only for this season. When everyone purchases new passes for ’12-13, the mega-corps that own our mountains will likely no longer feel obligated to honor agreements. We actually hope that this deal never become available again because it would likely mean that someone has monopolized the Tahoe resort market.
Nonetheless, we hope some people are able to take full advantage of the situation while you can, before resorts start closing. It sounds like a good project for a week in Tahoe, or a daring weekend adventure. If you do it, send us the pictures and the story!
Well, last weekend (March 3rd) Northstar let me use this pass to ski there, but today the ticket window person at heavenly did not. They had a printout that said “alpine unfiltered pass not valid at Vail”. Pity 🙁
Hmmm…that would be a bummer. I know more than one person that had success at Northstar.
Did it really say “Not valid at Vail” or “Not valid at Vail Resorts”?
The first one is a given. The second one would make me glad that it’s not Vail Resorts that bought Alpine Meadows.
I sure hope people don’t just take this as the end of the story. Go test it out yourself.
I agree – but as I said it works at least sometimes. Its definitely worth a try if you’re going there.
The printout that the person at Heavenly had said “Not valid at VR” I think; I’m assuming that meant Vail Resorts.
Also, at Heavenly I presented it to them and said “I have an alpine pass, I should be able to get a lift ticket?” where as at Northstar I said “My kirkwood pass lets me ski here, right?”. It might be how you present it. They have to actually look at the pass and understand that it says “Alpine Adult” on it. It doesn’t appear that they have their computer systems integrated yet, and I doubt that this will occur this season anyway. Given that the only way Kirkwood identifies Alpine Unfiltered pass holders is by a big printout of everyone who bought one, its probably going to be hit or miss.
The Kirkwood faq page http://www.kirkwood.com/site/node/976 says “Kirkwood is still working out the details on the Alpine Unfiltered Pass”.
I definitely have heard success with people who physically went to Kirkwood and picked up a Kirkwood pass.
Right, thats what I did (but the kirkwood pass still says “Alpine Adult” on it). Hence it depends on how good they are at identifying passes; I might have screwed myself . That said, I don’t know what a kirkwood only pass looks like.
If you bought the Kirkwood (as the home mountain) and added alpine (this is “Alpine Plus”, right) then surely that one should work. I don’t know if you can tell the difference.
I went to Northstar yesterday to test it. I presented my Kirkwood pass (Alpine Unfiltted) and they give me an EPIC day pass and told me to present both EPIC day pass and Kirkwood Pass at Heavenly when I go there. They asked my birthday and address. That is all. I notice my last name is spelled wrong when I got home. They put my wife’s last name on my pass which makes me think they have my info in their computer.
That is great news David. Trying to clear my schedule to do all 6 next week.
I just notice Kirkwood has the wrong last name on my pass. That is why Northstar puts the wrong name on my pass. I guess this sort of indicate they don’t have me in their computer system