On skis again!

On skis again!

Mary and I left the inn this morning around 8:15 to head to the Killington Base Lodge (now called the K1 base lodge). Light snow had fallen at the inn overnight. Not enough to accumulate on the roads, but the grass was covered. When we arrived at Ki around 8:20, we were parking about middle of the parking lot, a couple of hundred people were already there waiting for the mountain to open.

Inside the base lodge, we saw a lot of people we have not seen since last ski season. However, the base lodge was not crowded by any means. Just a nice group of skiers getting ready for what for many would be the first runs of the 2007-2008 season. By 8:35 we were outside in the queue at the Ki gondola, waiting in line with about 300 people for the lift to turn and get us up the hill. Just before 9:00 the resort started loading the gondola. By 9:10 we were at the peak getting ready for the first run of the season.

Killington had 4 lifts running today including the K1, Snowdon Triple, North Ridge Triple and Snowdon Poma. Snow surfaces at 9:00 started out firm but not slick. The mountain had put down a lot of snow, but the warm weather and r@*n of the last couple of days (shall we be polite) froze the mountain solid. There were no real problems with the surface the first few runs because of the grooming job done by the resort. On the upper mountain, it snowed all morning so the surface stayed pretty nice. Lower Bunny Buster, aka the "Ribbon of Death" in early season skiing, was rock hard and very slick by 10:00 AM

For a look at the trails...Great Northern was open. By noon the surface was becoming windblown at the peak at the junction with Cascade. The hook at Killink was also "interesting". The rest of the trail was in nice shape for an easy path down the mountain.

Snow blowing operations were going on Upper Double Dipper. The surface was crusty with deep snow from the guns. In March the legs would probably eat it up, but it seemed like wet cement on the first day out.

Reason had a terrain park set up. We did not venture in as a lot of first day boarders were partaking of the ramps, etc.

Upper East Fall was well covered with big whales of man-made snow. The sides were scratchy by noon, but there was no problems setting an edge. They were a lot of fun.

Rime was in great shape with excellent coverage. Above Great Northern the conditions were generally soft with enough bumps setting up that turns were a good thing. Below Great Northern, Rime was firm as it usually gets after a snow-r@*n cycle. Given the number of skiers on it today, I though it's condition held up pretty well.

Lower West Glade, (now part of Great Northern) was fairly soft. At 10:00 it seemed a little slick, but by 11:00 natural snow had accumulated on it enough to soften it up. Again, little bumps held speed down somewhat on this trail, along with early season ski legs.

On Snowdon, Bunny Buster (upper) was in really good shape. Snow making was taking place but the snow was coming our fairly dry. We did several laps on Bunny Buster from top to bottom by way of the Snowdon Triple (resting our legs with the ride uphill). Very nice given the weather we had the last couple of days.

Also on Snowdon, Upper Mouse Run was in nice shape. Again fairly soft snow with snow guns blowing all over the place.

We did not do Mouse Trap. Coverage looked a little sketchy. Snow guns were blowing new cover on it, but we decided to pass.

As far as visible changes to the mountain, the biggest change was the queue system at the K1 gondola. The queue system is tightly packed with ropes between 4 by 4's. At 9:00 the new queue held a lot of people. By 12:00, the ropes had basically been removed with no queue to get to the lift. Maintenance in the Killington Base Lodge was pretty evident. Everything at KBL when we arrived was nice and clean and arranged in an orderly fashion. It had a very familiar look and feel after being off skis for 6 months.

On the crowds, there were a decent amount of people, but once the initial rush to get to the peak subsided there was really no waiting in lift lines. Unlike years gone by, however, basically everyone we saw was a "skier". The resort had warned people that no beginner terrain would be open (not exactly true) which I think may have scared some people away (probably a good thing). Other than a couple of out of control teenagers (who wasn't out of control when they were teenagers) and a couple of small children, everyone else on the slopes seemed like they skied or boarded technically pretty well. I never once felt in danger when passing or being passed by other people on the trails. It made for a very nice, pleasant, day on the hill.

I stayed out on the slopes for a little more than 3 hours. Not bad for the first day of the season. Although, in fairness, I did take a couple of Excedrin after a hot shower. No need for the legs to tighten up later on tonight while I am working. (Don't tell Mary that I said I actually work!)

The ski season has started at Killington.... Let it snow!