Aspen Debuts 20-21 Winter Plans | Free Skiing For Essential Workers!

- Passes to go on sale Oct. 7

- Free skiing for essential workers

- Reservations required for Ikon Pass holders

With Ikon and Epic both announcing their respective policies as it concerns skiing during the 20-21 winter, skiers and riders across the country have contemplated what independent industry leader, Aspen Snowmass might do in terms of access for the upcoming season.

Their solution: common sense and compassion. Starting October 7th, a series of new and flexible pass products will be available to the public including a FREE, 7-day pass for local, essential workers who've sacrificed the most over the course of the last 7 months. Those eligible include Roaring Fork teachers, school workers, select frontline workers at area hospitals, as well as select grocery store clerks. How about that for good ski karma?

Related: Breaking Down Ikon vs. Epic COVID-19 Guidelines And Reservations

By breaking down pass products into certain categories, with certain access and benefits, Aspen CEO Mike Kaplan is confident the operating plan provides adequate levers for resort officials to pull if crowding becomes an issue. "We’ve worked thoughtfully to come up with a pass and ticketing strategy that addresses the reality of operating in a pandemic and maximizes our chances of staying open for the full season,” said Kaplan in release this morning. “Our passes and pricing this season are designed to spread people out and enable capacity controls should the pandemic require them." One of those capacity controls includes a reservation system for all Ikon Pass holders in case it's needed, although resort officials hope it's not necessary. Take advantage of Ski.com's Ikon Pass Concierge to lock in your days for the 20-21 ski season.

In addition to the new products, Aspen Snowmass will also be instituting new safety protocols across the entirety of the resort, including contactless lift ticket purchasing as well as limiting social crowds in high traffic parts of the four separate base areas. You can find the entire details of the Aspen Snowmass release below.

Aspen Snowmass Opening + Closing Days

- Snowmass and Aspen Mountain: November 26, 2020 - April 18, 2021

- Aspen Highlands: December 12, 2020 - April 4, 2021

- Buttermilk: December 18, 2020 - April 4, 2021

*The following products will be available at early bird pricing from October 7 - Nov. 13.

The Premiere Pass - Aspen Snowmass Season Pass

The Premier Pass, which provides unlimited skiing/riding across all four mountains with no blackout dates, an Ikon Base Pass, more than $1,000 in exclusive benefits, and unlimited summer gondola and chairlift sightseeing access, costs $1,799 for Chamber members ($2,399 non-Chamber) through Nov. 13, 2020. The exclusive benefits include transferable vouchers providing discounts on lift tickets, lessons and rentals in addition to passholder discounts of 50 percent off lift tickets at Mountain Collective destinations, and discounts on ski/snowboard lessons and rentals from Four Mountain Sports. Premier senior passes cost $1,799, Premier Child, Teen and College cost $899, and Premier Silver costs $819.

Buy yours today: Ski.com - Aspen Snowmass Season Passes

Valley Weekday Pass

The new Valley Weekday Pass is for Roaring Fork Valley residents only and gives passholders a full season of access to the four mountains of Aspen Snowmass, Monday through Friday, with a handful of days blacked out over the Holidays, and costs $899 for Chamber members ($999 non-Chamber) through Nov. 13. Additional days can be purchased for weekends and the holiday blackout period at a discount of at least 50 percent off the 1-day ticket rate.

Valley 7-Pack

The new Valley 7-Pack costs $399 through Nov. 13, and gives purchasers seven days throughout the season, with a limited number of blackout dates over the holidays, with the flexibility to add more days, or days during the blackout period, for at least 50 percent off the 1-day ticket rate.

Gratitude Valley 7-Pack

Aspen Skiing Company is providing a complimentary Gratitude Valley 7-Pack to all Roaring Fork Valley teachers and school workers and select frontline workers at area hospitals. In addition, select employees on the front lines at area grocery stores will receive a complimentary Gratitude Valley 7-Pack.

https://twitter.com/Skicom/status/1303718616152576000

Other Details:

2019-2020 Pass Holder Credits:

In recognition of the abbreviated 2019-20 season, Aspen Snowmass issued all 2019-20 passholders credit to apply towards 2020-2021 purchases. Credits are valid on all Aspen Snowmass pass, lift ticket, activity, rental and lesson purchases through April 30, 2021. Credits are not valid for on-mountain dining or hotel stays at Limelight or The Little Nell properties. Credits do not have to be used in one transaction. Credits may be used for online, over-the-phone and in-person purchases. Credits cannot be redeemed for cash. Credits for Chamber passes were issued to the business that purchased the pass, not the individual passholder.

Reservations:

Aspen Snowmass intends to start the season without requiring reservations on any Aspen Snowmass products. * Reservations may become required based on prevailing state and local Covid-19 metrics as determined by health and government agencies. Should these metrics show an increased rate of community spread that initiates additional restrictions and regulations, we may implement a reservations system across all products. If this happens we cannot guarantee that every passholder will be able to obtain a reservation on the days they want. The system can flex based on changing metrics.

* Ikon passholders are all required to make a reservation through the Ikon reservation system, though we intend to start the season with no limitation on inventory. Mountain Collective passholders are strongly encouraged to pre-fulfill before arriving.

Refunds:

If operations are shut down due to Covid-19 for 10 or more days of the season, we will issue refunds, prorated for each day we are fully shut down compared to our published season dates, for all passes, except the Valley 7-Pack and Classic Pass. Refunds will not be issued in the event we implement a reservation system regardless of whether you are able to obtain a reservation for your desired days. All pass products are 100% refundable through November 20, 2020. Unused day tickets are fully refundable.

Blackout Dates:

Valley Weekday and Valley 7-Pack blackout dates are December 26, 2020 - January 2, 2021 and February 13 - 14, 2021. Discounted extension days may be purchased during these periods.

Get a free quote from a Mountain Travel Expert and begin planning out your winter vacation in Aspen Snowmass for the 20-21 ski season.