The announcement comes a day after Vail Resorts, with its Epic Pass family of products, sprang the news of its planned acquisition of Whistler Blackcomb—the largest mountain resort in North America.

Whistler Blackcomb is currently included as one of the destinations on The Mountain Collective Pass, but this will be the last winter that Collective passholders can get their two days in at the beast of B.C. The newest addition to VR’s portfolio will be added to the Epic Pass for the 2017-18 season. That future colossus may well leave other season pass alliances looking to grow, too, in order to compete. It appears the Mountain Collective has responded first.