New $1,499 Pass Allows Skiers To Skip the Line, Some Locals Aren’t Happy

Skiers and snowboarders are petitioning against a $1,499 ski pass that offers priority chairlift access at the Alterra Mountain Company-owned Crystal Mountain, Washington, arguing that it creates a “class-based system on the slopes.”

The product, called the Crystal Mountain Reserve upgrade, is new for this coming season and lets holders use “priority lift lines” that grant quicker entrance to all of Crystal Mountain’s high-speed detachable chairlifts, like the Rainier Express and Green Valley Express. 

The upgrade is an add-on and additional cost on top of an Ikon Pass or other season pass. Daily Reserve upgrades will be available for $199, too.

The pass works on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from early December through March 29, 2026. In an FAQ web page, Crystal Mountain compared the Reserve priority lift lines to the express lines used by ski school students and their instructors, noting “it is an ideal way to maximize your day on the mountain.”

The two-seaters Chair 6 and Northway—both popular haunts for expert skiers on powder days at Crystal Mountain—weren’t mentioned by the ski resort as being included in the Reserve.

The change.org petition opposing the Reserve has garnered more than 1,000 signatures so far and is attributed to Rick Smith.

“Implementing such a system threatens the community atmosphere and will pit skiers and boarders against each other,” the petition reads. “By allowing priority access through additional charges, Alterra Mountain Company risks alienating the average ski enthusiast who makes up the core of the skiing community.”

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The petition also urged Alterra to cancel the Reserve program and “explore alternative solutions that enhance the visitor experience without segregating customers based on financial ability.”

A representative for Alterra confirmed in an email that the company is aware of the petition.

“These products may not be attractive to all season pass holders, but for a family that is coming for a week’s vacation or a quick weekend, this is the ultimate upgrade to help them get the most out of their experience,” they said. 

The representative added that the Reserve Passes will only be “available in very limited quantities,” ensuring that “the Crystal Mountain experience remains fantastic for everyone.”

Other Alterra mountains are offering the Reserve program ahead of the 2025-26 season, including Sugarbush, Vermont, and Solitude, Utah. At Sugarbush, the Reserve Pass offers access to The Fifty 8, a new ski-in ski-out lounge with food and cocktails. Sugarbush’s Reserve Pass is capped at 275 sales for its first winter.

At POWDR Corp.-owned mountains like Copper Mountain, Colorado, and Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, there is already Fast Tracks, a similar program to the Reserve. 

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