I’ve skied at Stevens Pass for over 20 years, since I was a kid. Parking has always been a challenge, but it was manageable with preparation - if you arrived early enough, you’d find a spot. Show up 15 minutes before lifts open on a powder day? That’s on you.

Now, Vail Resorts is introducing a paid parking reservation system, prioritizing short-term vacation skiers over loyal season pass holders. Reservations on weekends will cost $20 a day, unless you want to arrive after lunch and miss out on half your day.

This new system will nearly double the cost of skiing at Stevens for many of us. The Epic Local pass was $731 this year. If you ski both days on 15 weekends, you’ll pay an additional $600 just for parking. That’s simply unaffordable. Other resorts like Crystal and Snoqualmie also have parking restrictions, but they offer free options for pass holders. Stevens Pass should do the same.

Carpooling with four people isn’t a realistic solution for many. Different schedules, obligations, and the logistics of packing four people’s gear into a single car make it impractical.

Vail’s decision is pushing dedicated skiers away. I’m now considering switching to an Ikon pass simply because I can’t afford to ski at Stevens anymore. Many of friends are as well. If you agree that this is an unfair and damaging change, join me in demanding that Vail find a better solution.

Sign this petition to help keep Stevens Pass accessible for the local ski community.