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1 week ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
Starting today, I’m going to be writing you a little more personally from time to time—pulling back the curtain on what’s happening behind the scenes at PeakRankings and what’s coming next. At the heart of all this is community. PeakHouse exists because of the connections we’ve built together, and I want to make sure we’re creating space to keep those going outside of the mountains.
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2 weeks ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
Aerial TramwaysBut for some of the world’s most intense ski resorts, regular circulating ski lifts won’t cut it. That’s where aerial tramways come in. Trams are a unique type of lift system that consists of large cabins suspended from thick cables, transporting passengers up and down the mountain in a single, continuous trip.
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2 weeks ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
Eastern Canada’s Le Massif de Charlevoix will be joining the Ikon Pass for the first time for the 2025-26 season, according to a press release put out by Ikon’s owner Alterra this week. This Quebec ski resort, which directly overlooks the St. Lawrence River, will become the second provincial ski resort to join Ikon following Tremblant. The resort will also join the much smaller Blue Mountain, Ontario in Ikon’s Eastern Canada suite.
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1 month ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
Part 1: The Original Growth of Skiing in AmericaBut before we take a look at what stopped ski resorts from being built in America, we have to cover how their development started in the first place. Skiing in America began as a niche activity introduced by Scandinavian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early adopters practiced the sport in snowy regions like the Northeast and the Sierra Nevada, where rudimentary skiing facilities began to appear.
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1 month ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
That said, media attention alone doesn’t explain the sharp rise in both the number of people affected and the severity of casualties this season. On top of the Red Lodge fatality, the Heavenly chair collision on Comet Express hospitalized five skiers, while the Flying Bear detachment at Attitash incident hospitalized another—far exceeding the injury counts of previous years.
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1 month ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
Earlier today, Alterra released the Ikon Pass product suite for the 2025-26 season. Adults can purchase a full Ikon Pass, which comes with unlimited access to 18 resorts and no holiday blackout dates, for $1,329—an increase of 6% from last year. An Ikon Base Pass, which offers unlimited access to 14 resorts with holiday blackouts, goes for $909, an increase of 5% from last year.
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1 month ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
On Tuesday, Vail Resorts announced its suite of Epic Pass products for the 2025-26 winter season. Access will remain similar to last year, meaning Epic’s terms will likely continue to undercut its main competitor, the Ikon Pass, although prices have increased across all levels of passes. The top-of-the-line Epic Pass, which offers unlimited access with no blackouts to all resorts owned by Vail, will start at just $1,051—an increase of 7%, a slightly lower rate hike than last year.
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1 month ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
Indy Pass just dropped some major updates for the 2025/26 season, including a streamlined renewal process, a promise of even more resorts, and details on pricing. For renewing pass holders, rates increase only slightly from last year. The adult renewal rate starts at $299 for the Indy Base Pass and $399 for the Indy Plus Pass. For the first time this year, Indy renewers can opt into the “Easy Renew” program, which guarantees a pass before inventory is released to the public.
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2 months ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
GearOnce you’ve figured out whether you’re skiing or snowboarding, the next thing you’ll want to figure out is gear. Unless you can borrow from a friend or family member, you will almost certainly be renting some gear for your first outing. If you’re not experienced with winter weather, you’ll probably have to buy some articles of clothing as well. Typically, you’ll rent 1) boots, 2) skis/poles or a snowboard, and 3) a helmet.
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2 months ago | 
peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub
1-Day Ticket: $82-$97 Pass Affiliation: None On-site Lodging: No Après-ski: Limited Nearest Cities: Bozeman (30 mins) Recommended Ability Level: World-class expert terrain Family-friendly atmosphere Local feel Lift ticket value Slow lifts Modest size compared to fly-to destinations Avalanche beacon required for some terrain zones Skiable Footprint: 1,640 acres Total Footprint: 2,000 acres Lift-Serviced Terrain: 83% Top Elevation: 8,792 ft Vertical Drop: 2,702 ft Lifts: 8 Trails: 75 Beginner:...
