Vail Begin Switch Of Lift Passes to Phones

Vail Resorts, which operates more than 40 ski areas in Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the US, has announced it will launch its new My Epic App this Autumn ahead of the 2023/2024 season.

The app will contain guests Mobile Pass and Mobile Lift Ticket as well as a host of other features. The move is in line with the group's 'Commitment to Zero' sustainability ambition with the objective of reducing waste created by lift passes on plastic cards with RFID chips over time.

The app's features will include interactive trail maps with GPS location tracking; real-time and predictive lift line wait times; personalized stats, including vertical feet, number of lift rides and other data; mountain and resort alerts, including operational information like grooming updates, terrain status, snow reports and base conditions; direct access to ski patrol for emergency situations and weather updates, snow cams and more.

The app will also feature 'Resort Charge' for in-resort purchases, automatically applying eligible Epic Mountain Rewards discounts, by scanning a barcode.

Well ..sound like a great ap ...but I cant imagine having to get my phone out in -20c temperatures with no gloves on

I carry my phone in my bag switched off but for emergency contact only so its a no for me.

And all the potentially broken/lost mobile phones is going to be greener than a potentially reusable plastic lift pass?

Typical knee jerk reaction to "trying to be green" in my opinion. Just do like many European resorts do, have a deposit on the pass, collect them back in and then reuse. Passes in sleeve pockets makes far more sense. What happens when it gets really cold and the phone goes flat after a couple of runs?

A no from me to :(

Totally impractical - wonder if anyone who planned this even skis?