Killington Peak, 9:20 AM, November 9, 2005

Killington Peak, 9:20 AM, November 9, 2005

UPDATE TO STORY (Posted at 10:00 PM EST)...Since just before 3:00 PM this afternoon, we have been experiencing heavy rain, driving winds, and periods of freezing rain. It would appear that conditions on top of Killington are very unfavorable at this time to attempt to make snow. The mountain issued a press release after 5:00 PM today saying that they planned to turn on the snowmaking system late Thursday afternoon. While temperatures are supposed to drop in the evenings the next few nights, unless there is a miraculous change in the current driving rain storm to snow, it is unlikely that Killington will open for skiing this weekend as planned. The press release said that they would try to re-open the mountain "next week...as soon as we can provide a quality top to bottom skiing and snowboarding experience"... It's time for all of us to break out our favorite snow dances to get this season started. A symbolic sacrifice to the god of winter, Ullr, may also be appropriate...END OF UPDATE....

Dreary, cold, and damp. That best describes today at Killington.

I went up to the mountain this morning to see if the resort managers had turned on the Killington snow making system. Temperatures at the inn last night were below freezing. When I left for the mountain to take the picture at 9:30 AM, it was still just 32 at the inn. Much to my surprise, and disappointment, there was no snow on the top of Killington.

The resort is still making optimistic noises about being open for skiing and riding this weekend. Snow, sleet and freezing rain are predicted for the area this afternoon and evening. Colder temperatures are forecasted for the area thru the weekend. We will keep an eye out for the sign of snow being blown on the mountain, which would be a leading indicator of the resort attempting to open.