Looking towards Killington Base Lodge from top of Superstar Headwall.

Looking towards Killington Base Lodge from top of Superstar Headwall.

It is nice to be thinking about snow at Killington in December for a change. Based upon local weather reports, it looks like a one-two punch is headed to the area tonight and over the weekend. This evenings storm looks like it may be small by Killington snow storm standards, on the order of 3 to 6 inches. Sunday...who knows. The weather service detailed discussions are talking about a classic Nor'Easter. My powder skis are ready. Are yours?

I did hit the slopes this morning. Conditions can be described as "Flat and Fast". Tuesday nights NCP followed by temperatures in the single digits overnight have basically solidified the mountain. The good news is that it all but assures a white Christmas on the mountain. The bad news is that in some areas it is literally "bullet proof".

Snow surfaces across the mountain were flat, either by grooming action, or gravity pushing down the wet snow prior to it freezing. The most popular trails had all been groomed and were very skiable, although they were also very fast. Given that most of the skiers and riders on the mountain this morning were not meek, that was not much of a problem.

The was one exception, however. The one trail that was dangerous, and I don't use that term lightly, was Cascade. Upper and Middle Cascade had nice snow surfaces; firm but very edgeable. Lower Cascade was an edge to edge skating rink. The group I was skiing with today all knows what they are doing. We all have top of the line, well maintained equipment. We all have plus or minus 10 days on the hill already this year and ski well over 50 days a year. We all thought Cascades was ugly. One thing to note, however, is that Cascade was almost perfectly flat with no bumps. Put a couple of feet of powder on it, and we will all be fighting to get into the box first to ski it before it get's chopped up. But today on Cascade, it was strictly one and done. So it goes.

Everything else on the mountain that we skied was ok. And we were all thinking....today's cold temperatures and light traffic will prevent the mountain from getting bumped up. If we get 3 to 6 inches of snow tonight, with temperatures in the low teens...oh you can only dream!

Let it snow!