In the U.S., much of the land where ski areas could exist is owned by the government, typically National Forest or BLM. Some ski areas actually lease the land f

In the U.S., much of the land where ski areas could exist is owned by the government, typically National Forest or BLM. Some ski areas actually lease the land from the government, which puts constraints on operating hours and overall length of the allowed ski season. The prospect of the government ever selling the protected wilderness to private companies is often met with public outcry. Personally, I think the Ikon Pass is a fantastic deal and skiing is more accessible and affordable than it has ever been in my ~25 years of hitting the slopes.