Skiing is expensive and we are cheap, so we invest a certain amount of time tracking discounts, deals and freebies accorded gray-bearded  customers by ski resorts around the country. (We also notice when someone dramatically increases the prices on olds.)  Thankfully, online ski magazine First Tracks!! has put together a list of breaks and bennies for skiers of all ages at Colorado resorts. The extensive information available at Seniorski.com is both national and a bit more tailored for older skiers, but this list is an interesting complement. And it includes more than just lift discounts.

A couple things jumped out at us on the First Tracks!! list. First, we were pleased to see that Monarch Mountain was waving anyone 69 or older onto the chairlifts. Then we noticed that Echo Mountain was free for anyone age 75 and up. Which is nice and all, and better than a lot of places that don’t offer even a discount to old folks, but at first it seemed like kind of a joke given that life expectancy in the U.S. is 78.1 years, which would limit the utility of this freebie to just 37 months for the typical American.

At second glance, it’s actually very generous, because as one ages, one’s life expectancy also goes up: according to the CDC’s 2010 report on U.S. health, an American who was 75 in 2007 had a life expectancy approaching 87, which means nearly 12 years of free, sweet, Echo Mountain runs.

So: sorry we doubted you, Echo. And big old thanks to Monarch. Hope to see you soon.

Photo of Echo Mountain skiing by Rob Lee via Flickr