SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., March 27, 2026—Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) plans to invest more than $37.5 million in capital improvements across its Power Pass network ahead of the 2026-27 season in the United States and the 2026 season in South America, with projects focused on snowmaking expansion, lift infrastructure, and terrain development. 

The most significant project is at Pajarito Mountain, N.M., where a new snowmaking system is tied to the broader Jemez Mountain Regional Fire Protection Project, a public-private partnership involving MCP, FEMA, the state of New Mexico, and Los Alamos County. The effort includes construction of a pipeline and a 10-million-gallon reservoir that will supply water for both wildfire suppression and snowmaking. 

The infrastructure is expected to increase snowmaking coverage at Pajarito by roughly 50 percent. The resort plans to install about 10,000 feet of pipeline and 13,000 feet of electrical distribution. It will also expand its snow gun fleet by 200 to 300 percent. The added capacity is expected to extend the average winter season length from roughly 60 days to 120-140 days, according to MCP.

Additional infrastructure work at Pajarito includes a full overhaul of the Aspen chairlift, with upgrades to the motor, gearbox, braking systems, and communications.

Elsewhere in the MCP portfolio, Lee Canyon, Nev., will install a new Skytrac fixed-grip quad that will access five new intermediate trails in the West Bowl. The 1,370-foot-long lift will serve 800 feet of vertical. It will be Lee Canyon’s fourth new lift in three years.

Purgatory, Colo., will install a refurbished Skytrac fixed-grip triple, the Gelande lift, which will create a new access point from the Gelande parking area to the summit. The project will support development of up to five new advanced and expert trails on the resort’s frontside. Snowmaking will also expand on the Divinity trail, near Lift 4, to improve reliable access to popular beginner terrain, and Lift 1 will receive a control systems upgrade.

Valle Nevado and La Parva, Chile, are slated for more than $17.5 million in upgrades that include lift modernizations and continued snowmaking expansion as well as the addition of 39 new Aconcagua Ski Residences, a luxury apartment offering with hotel-style service. 

Lift upgrades at Valle Nevado include a new drive and electronics on the Valle Gondola, new control upgrades on the Andes lift, and a new drive and controls on the Prado lift. At La Parva, lift modernizations include a full motor rebuild for primary and auxiliary motors for the Tortolas lift, new haul ropes for the Alpha and Vegas lifts, and a new electronics interface for the Aguilas lift.

MCP will also implement RFID access systems for the 2026-27 season across its U.S. portfolio.

MCP said the investments are aimed at improving reliability, expanding access, and strengthening operational consistency across its network as it continues to emphasize price stability for pass holders. The company is holding Power Pass prices flat for a fourth consecutive year, with the unlimited Power Pass starting at $749 for ages 37 to 64. MCP has a tiered pricing system that offers different discounted rates for ages 13 to 18, 19 to 24, 25 to 29, and 30 to 36. Season passes are free for kids age 12 and under.

“While much of the industry has accepted annual price increases as a foregone conclusion, we believe the future of skiing depends on affordability,” said MCP head of marketing Stacey Glaser. “We are holding the line on pass prices for a fourth consecutive year because skiing and snowboarding shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be a way of life for the families and young adults who are the heartbeat of our communities.

“By holding our rates while simultaneously investing more than $37.5 million in infrastructure, we are reinvesting not only in our mountains but in our guests as well,” she said.