While Epic and Ikon dominate the season-pass conversation, there's a third option with a very different map: the Power Pass, a multi-mountain pass built almost entirely around smaller ski areas in the American Southwest. This winter, its geography might turn out to be an advantage. Forecasters at OpenSnow say El Niño patterns tend to push the storm track south, bringing average to above-average snowfall to the Southwest - exactly where most Power Pass mountains sit. The caveat, as meteorologist Sam Collentine points out, is that these patterns don't hold every time, so a forecast is a nudge, not a guarantee.
The full pass covers unlimited skiing with no blackout dates at resorts including Purgatory in Colorado, Arizona Snowbowl, Brian Head in Utah, Sipapu, Pajarito and Sandia Peak in New Mexico, Lee Canyon in Nevada, Nordic Valley in Utah, and Willamette Pass in Oregon. It also stretches to the Southern Hemisphere: passholders get up to 10 days split between Valle Nevado and La Parva in Chile, which could extend your season into the northern summer. Three partner days at Monarch, Sundance and Loveland add extra flexibility in Colorado and Utah. Off-season, the pass covers mountain biking at Spider Mountain Bike Park in Texas.
Who is it actually for? Skiers who live within driving distance of several participating mountains get the clearest value, and road-trippers can build a whole trip around stringing together New Mexico and southern Colorado ski areas. Families should note that kids 12 and under ski free with the full pass, and age-based tiers cut prices for young adults and seniors. Standard perks like discounted friend tickets, dining, rentals and lessons sweeten the deal further.
The honest trade-off is scale. These are compact, regional hills - less terrain, fewer restaurants, no sprawling base villages. But that's part of the appeal for many: shorter lift lines, powder that lasts hours instead of minutes, easy parking within walking distance of the lifts, and terrain small enough that you can actually find your group. Advanced skiers won't find many long, steep runs, but they may appreciate uncrowded snow more than vert.
If you're flying in from the East Coast for one big ski trip a year, an Epic or Ikon destination resort probably still makes more sense once you factor in airfare. The Power Pass isn't a replacement for the giants - it's a regional play. But if the El Niño pattern delivers and you're based in the Southwest, this could be the season its small-mountain bet pays off.
