Letter: Nickel-and-diming the seniors

Time was when age 70 got you a free lift ticket and, in some shops, a free rental. Then Aspen Skiing Co. started chipping away, initially charging $99 for a season’s Silver Pass. Every year since saw, percentagewise, the biggest jump in lift-ticket prices. Now at age 84, my wife and I are looking at a Silver Pass in the neighborhood of $500.

Typical days now equate to, provided there is decent weather, maybe three or four runs on intermediate terrain — hardy a strain on lift cables or shredding up the grooming!

Even Alta in Utah has had free lift tickets for folks older than 80 since day one. Telluride makes the same offer now, and many Western areas still provide free skiing at age 70.

Get real, Skico! Time to give us a break! Your slopes would be pretty empty had it not been for us!

Cathy and Ramon Rosswaag

Milford, N.J.