SnoNews

As we bid a fond farewell to 2018, the editors at SnoCountry take a look at the news that shaped skiing and riding at mountain resorts across North America over the year.

Now part of the Alterra Mountain Company and the Ikon Pass, the quaint slopeside village and trails of southern Vermont’s Stratton will soon offer a new lift and restructured trails that benefit every level of skier and rider at the mountain.

Renovations all around at early-opening California ski and snowboard resorts – in restaurants, base lodges, bars and on the hill.

New England boasts six resorts for Ikon Pass holders, all within five hours of each other. With an easy flight into Boston, you can hit them all in six days. Here’s an inside look at the Northeast’s Ikon adventures.

Alterra Mountain Co. has announced it has an agreement to purchase Crystal Mountain Resort in Washington – the first Pacific Northwest holding for the Denver-based resort conglomerate and its Ikon Pass.

Those in the market for 2018-19 season passes at Vermont resorts still have time to save big, thanks to fall deadlines on some of the best deals in the business. 

Taos Ski Valley is the latest ski and snowboard resort to join up with the Ikon Pass for the 2018-2019 season.

Thredbo in New South Wales, Australia is the newest partner of the Ikon Pass, now offering access to more than 64,000 acres at 27 mountain destinations around the world. 

After buying 11 ski and snowboard resorts in 2017 -- its first year of business -- Alterra Mountain Co. brought its portfolio to an even dozen by announcing the purchase of Solitude Mountain Resort.

Epic Pass expands your horizons. (Epic Pass/Facebook)

The initial price of $899 is the same, but there’s plenty to choose from as the major multi-resort players put their best face forward in the season pass wars.

Add Revelstoke and Banff Sunshine Village to your bucket list next winter. (Sunshine/Alterra Mountain Co.)

The newest player in the multi-resort pass game has announced pricing for 2018-2019 and has added SkiBig3 in Alberta, Canada, Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia, Canada and Sugarbush Resort in Vermont, as its newest partners, for a total of over 63,000 skiable acres of unique terrain at 26 mountain destinations in North America.