The lifts are churning at more resorts every day, and now's the time to cash in on the cheap lift ticket deals circulating the country. Find these at Liftopia.com.
Loveland, Colo.: Lift tickets are $30 a piece from now through Dec. 12. Regular price: $46
Arapahoe Basin, Colo.: Lift tickets are a lovely $20 on 12/1, 12/8 and 12/15. And on Monday through Thursday, 11/16-19, the rate is $40. Regular price: $49
Jay Peak, Vt.: Lift tickets are $12 on 11/27, then nudge up slightly to $17 on 11/28-29. Regular price: $67
Jiminy Peak, Mass.: Lift tickets are $25 on 11/21-22 as well as 11/27-29. Regular price: $58
Here's the latest on Copper: the ticket window price is now $65. I skied there yesterday and the snow quality was actually pretty good - no rocks, no actual ice, but it's only 2 runs and was crowded with really novice skiers and riders, lots of intermediates/advanced people, plus racers who'd left the roped-off third run that was for race training only and who were passing everyone else at +50 MPH -- on a crowded public blue run.
I have a season pass, and can use it to get $55 lift tickets for friends now. But under the circumstances, it's not worth even $45 and it's definitely not worth $55 or $65 right now. I did see one guy yesterday get a free sled-down courtesy of Ski Patrol. Save your $$ or go to Loveland.
Copper wants $45 to ski two runs on icy, man-made snow? Who's stealing from whom? At least the ride in the patrol's sled will be free.