Grace Donner skied 66 mountains across five countries in a single season, all with one Epic Pass. But you don’t have to replicate her globe-spanning ski season to make the pass worthwhile.
For skiers and snowboarders weighing whether an Epic Pass is worth it, Donner’s experience shows just how much ground one pass can cover. Even a few days at a nearby mountain, one big ski trip or a combination of the two could help you get more value out of your pass.
How Grace Donner skied 66 mountains on one Epic Pass
Donner’s itinerary stretched from destinations including Switzerland, Japan, and Australia — among many others. But one of the most personal parts of the journey was much closer to where she started skiing.
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A Minnesota native who learned at Afton Alps, Donner joined her dad for a road trip to nine Midwest resorts in eight days across five states. The trip gave them time together on the slopes while bringing Donner back to the region where she first learned to ski. Her travels also showed how much the experience of the sport can change from one destination to another.
“There are so many cool places one Pass can take you and ski culture looks completely different across the world. It’s important to lean into it wherever you are to learn how and why others experience it differently!” Donner said.
Epic Pass is a multi-resort ski and snowboard season pass from Vail Resorts.
What you get with an Epic Pass
Epic Pass is a multi-resort ski and snowboard season pass that offers unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail Resorts’ 42 owned and operated mountains, plus additional access at partner resorts worldwide.
Partner access varies by Pass product; that distinction matters when choosing among pass options. Rather than counting how many resorts are available in total, start with the mountains you realistically expect to visit and how often you plan to ski or ride.
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Donner’s 66-mountain itinerary represents the far end of what a ski season can look like, not a benchmark travelers need to match.
With Epic Pass, young skiers can choose the pass that matches the mountains you intend to visit and the number of days you are likely to ski or ride.
How young skiers can save on Epic Pass
Price is also part of the calculation.
Adults ages 18 to 30 can save 20% on an Epic Pass or Epic Local Pass. For the 2026/27 season, ages 13 to 30 save 20% on Epic Pass compared with young adult pricing.
Passholders can also use Epic Mountain Rewards for 20% off eligible food, lodging, group lessons, rentals, and more; those benefits can make lift access only one part of the math when planning a ski trip.
The practical approach is to choose the pass that matches the mountains you intend to visit and the number of days you are likely to ski or ride. For some travelers, that might mean regular laps at their local resort. For others, it can mean adding a bucket-list destination to the season.
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And if Donner’s trip proves anything, a single ski season can cover a lot of ground.
This story was produced with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on 10Best.com: You can ski 66 mountains in just one season with this adventure pass
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