My suggestion to the OP would be to ski Europe again this year and go to Colorado next year but buy your Epic passes EARLY.
This past season was the first season you could purchase the Epic Pass on-line. Normally, you had to physically show up to initially purchase your Epic Pass so a photo can be taken (subsequent renewals could be done on-line).
We probably won't know until at least April if they will offer the Epic Pass on-line again for first-time purchasers.