There’s still time, so here’s the skinny on planing a trip out West this season

In the glades at Winter Park. (Chris Wellhausen)

One of the benefits of the mega-passes is that their uses stretch from coast to coast and beyond. New England clearly drew the short straw when it came to good conditions to start the season, and based on some chatter while riding lifts, it appears that more people are taking advantage of going long distances to get prime conditions by using their passes at faraway destinations.

While New England enjoyed a lengthy stick season — hiking 4,000-footers in November without seeing a patch of snow or ice — resorts in California, Colorado and Utah were buried by early season snowfall. While most of my idle chitchat was done during midweek skiing (which figures to be a group more able to get up and go), Utah was a popular destination for people who already had been out West or booked a trip later in the season.

It simply could be who you talk to. Ski Utah’s Alison Palmintere said the website traffic on skiutah.com has been “pretty flat year-over-year. Anecdotally, I think Easterners are definitely considering booking trips out here given the snow, but unfortunately don’t have a ton of data to back that up.”

Neither Ikon Pass, owned by Alterra Mountain Company, nor Vail Resorts Management Company’s Epic Pass representatives responded when asked about any increases in redemptions or bookings from New Englanders. But it’s still nice to dream about far-off places with fresh refills coming on a seemingly daily basis.

There might not be a huge difference when deciding between Sugarbush and Sugarloaf or Stowe and Okemo, but heading out West is a different kettle of fish. From picking a resort — whether it be tree-lined groomers at first or thigh deep powder in a back bowl — where to fly to, can you get there nonstop, bring your gear or rent, where to stay, is there a need to rent a car and how does one contend with altitude? It can get downright overwhelming.

Some scrolling through the weeds might be required, but social media can be helpful as people share what worked — and what didn’t — in their experiences. There are plenty of options on Reddit (r/ikonpass, r/skiing, r/ski, r/icecoast — an East Coast-based sub that sometimes has people looking for advice going out West). Also, the major passes have busy Facebook pages where first-timers hunting for information often is part of the dialogue.

Flights 

Nonstop flights to Denver are available from Boston and Hartford, while Boston also has nonstop service to Salt Lake City, which has 10 resorts within one hour. JetBlue also offers seasonal service between Boston and Hayden, Colo., which serves Steamboat (Ikon), and Bozeman, Mont., which serves Big Sky (Ikon, Boyne) and Bridger Bowl.

While those who have gone before are split on whether to lug their own gear through the airport or to rent/demo at their destination, most suggest doing whatever it takes for your boots to be part of your carry-on, because comfortable feet go a long way. Having them with you in the cabin eliminates any chance of them being lost by the airline.

Ikon allows pass-holders to build their trip through its website, including flights. While it is convenient for one-stop shopping, it might not provide the best rates. Epic offers a 20 percent discount through its Mountain Rewards. The Indy Pass also offers discounts at certain properties, though not every resort has lodging options included.

Ski Utah (skiutah.com) offers a trip planner that suggests which resort might be best for you based on whether you are going as a family or as a group of powderhounds to help narrow the search down.

Getting there from the airport 

If you thought a trip up Interstate 93 heading to New Hampshire and Vermont was tough, I-70 west out of Denver to the mountains is a downright nightmare. But renting a car oftentimes is not required. Amtrak offers a ski train Friday through Sunday during the ski season from Denver’s Union Station to Winter Park (https://www.winterparkresort.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here/winter-park-express) for day trips, weekends or weeklong stays.

The Utah Transit Authority has a number of ski bus routes (https://www.rideuta.com/Rider-Info/Ski-Service) that run daily from the valley to the resorts in the Wasatch Range. Grabbing a hotel along one of those routes can save big bucks compared to staying slopeside. Bus service is free to Ikon Pass holders with Solitude and Brighton on the route that runs through Big Cottonwood Canyon; Snowbird and Alta are along the route that runs through Little Cottonwood Canyon. There is one-stop service from downtown Salt Lake City to Park City (Epic) and Deer Valley (Ikon).

There also are a number of private transportation options including the Cottonwood Connect (Thursday-Sunday), which is only $10 roundtrip.

For those staying at one resort for the duration of their trip, Snow Country Limousine offers private service to and from the airport (both in Salt Lake City and Bozeman, Mont.) to resorts.

Cost-saving measures 

There are other ways to help make the trip not seem too far off financially. While it is no longer available this season, Colorado offers a $59 ski passport (coloradoski.com/passes-and-deals/ski-passport) for children between the third and sixth grades that offers four days of skiing at 20 different mountains. That includes Ikon-affiliated Arapahoe Basin, Aspen, Copper, Steamboat and Winter Park. Vail and Beaver Creek are the biggest of the resorts that do not participate.

Utah offers a similar program (skiutah.com/skiutahpassport) with 15 resorts offering three days each for children in fourth through sixth grades for $55. Both programs are open to those from out of state but also have blackout dates. Based on the amount of snow both states have received thus far, April vacation dates would be in play for most of the bigger resorts.

Boyne’s New England Pass (platinum/gold levels) has a reciprocating agreement with Big Sky in Montana that offers three days of complimentary skiing and steep discounts off the window price for any extra days.

At the height of it all

Most of the resorts in the Rockies have a base elevation higher than the summit of Mount Washington (6,288 feet), so contending with the altitude can be a challenge. Hydrate properly — before you get thirsty — and eat foods high in carbohydrates. Things to avoid include alcohol and salt.

It’s been deep out there. You have the pass already. Why not take the plunge down some champagne powder? Remember, you’ve skied in New England so you already know that you can ski any conditions thrown at you.