The Freedom pass has undergone an extensive remodel for the winter of 2016/2017, and everybody’s talking. The vast majority of us downhillers complain at least once in a while about the exorbitant prices associated with lift access adventure, and while most of us pitch the dough for a season pass at our home mountain, paying 100+ dollars a day to shred our away game has us cringing.

The Freedom pass, initially a partnership between six small-to-medium sized New England resorts, has grown to include 13 mountains spanning the North American Continent. That’s right, we love paying for one pass and getting visitation rights for free!

2016 -2017 Freedom Pass:

• Black Mountain, NH
• Dartmouth Skiway, NH
• McIntyre Ski Area, NH
• Granite Gorge Ski Area, NH
• Bolton Valley, VT
• Magic Mountain, VT
• Lost Valley, ME
• Pajarito, NM
• Sipapu, NM
• Mount Bohemia, MI
• Ski Cooper, CO
• Plattekill, NY
• Eaglecrest, AK

The purchase of a season pass at any of these resorts now comes with 36 complimentary lift tickets: Three free days at each of the other mountains in the partnership. Better yet, there are no blackout dates whatsoever.

“Pass holders simply take their pass to a partner mountain to receive a complimentary lift ticket for the day. There is a limit of one ticket per pass holder, per day and a limit of three tickets per pass holder at each partner mountain over the season. There are no blackout dates, you are welcome to use your complimentary lift tickets any day of the season.”

– Bolton Valley, NH

So, in conclusion, if you like to spend your winters on the slopes, grab a season pass at one of the participating mountains and be part of this movement toward freedom. Geographic diversity ensures good snow conditions, if one is willing to travel (thinking back to last winter in the East), and most, if not all, of the season passes at these resorts are well under a grand. Pack up the Vanagon, and we’ll see you out on some new terrain.