What's the Deal with Brighton's Quad Wednesday?

Not every ski day has to break the bank if you don't have a season pass to that favorite mountain. Lift tickets might seem pricey during holiday prime times, but pick an off day to hit the mountain (powder flu, anyone?) and you don't need a season pass to feel like you're skiing for free. And it's even better when those ski deals coincide with cold weather and snow dumps.

Take last week where cold weather and snow falling across ski country made it hard to believe it was only the beginning of December. A season pass already feels like free skiing since you plunked down the big bucks earlier, and the more days you make it to the mountain, the less it'll cost you per day (or at least that's how this skier justifies a pass purchase). Big Sky Resort in Montana offered $20 lift tickets on December 6. Brighton Resort in Utah offered $20 lift tickets on December 4 provided you brought a gift for the charity it was supporting for the day (in this case, a toy valued at $10 or more for Toys for Tots). It's a deal Brighton likes to call Quad Wednesdays--and it happens on December 11 and 18, too.


Quad Wednesdays give skiers and riders the opportunity to score $20 lift tickets to some of Utah's finest terrain. The resort picks the charity that will be the beneficiary for the day and the suggested items to donate, and all you have to do is bring said gift to the ticket window when you're ready to hit the mountain. Last week, Toys for Tots was the beneficiary with charitable skiers and snowboarders donating new toys worth at least $10. This week, Road Home Homeless Shelter is the beneficiary, and skiers and snowboarders are asked to donate a coat, gloves or an unopened package of socks. Next week, the final Quad Wednesday until next year, the Utah Food Bank will benefit from skiers and riders donating grocery bags of non-perishable food items. Talk about a good way to do a good deed and get something pretty awesome in return.

If you miss this year's Quad Wednesdays, there's always next year. This is a promotion that Brighton has kindly offered for more than one season. Back in 1991, Brighton launched what eventually evolved into Quad Wednesday when it built its Crest lift and wanted to promote it. In a way, Brighton wants to thank you for giving back during the holiday season by giving you something in return. Not a bad trade-off, especially when you see the snow that's falling in the mountains for an amazing early season.