Snow making operations
continuing on Killington peak. 

It's a quiet Sunday in Killington. We had a little snow action last night, receiving around 1/2 inch of snow at the inn; most of it in the process of melting. The resort is continuing to make snow at higher elevations. That will probably form a backdrop to life in the area for the next couple of months, when conditions for snow making are favorable.

In addition to going about the business of the inn, Mary and I have been making our own preparations to begin skiing. Last night we made arrangements to bring our ski's in to the shop to get them tuned for the start of the season. Today, we both made the trek to the Killington Season Pass office at the Snow Shed base lodge and got our ski passes for the winter. We need to be prepared for opening day, when ever that may be.

On the business end, we are preparing to host the November mixer for the Killington Chamber of Commerce on this coming Tuesday, November 7th. The mixer is scheduled to run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the Great Room of the inn. Our chef Steve has been busy planning some nice hors d'oeuvres for the event. If you find yourself at Killington on Tuesday, feel free to join in.

Dr. Seuss is right. 

Sometimes skiing does not matter!

The feeling of frustration around the town of Killington is palpable. Most of the ground in white.... snow guns are running.... it's the first weekend of November and the mountain is NOT OPEN FOR SKIING! What's wrong with this picture???

But then reality sets in. You look at the ground and realize it's just a fake out. Mother nature has dusted the area with a ephemeral coating of powered sugar. It looks great, but if you look too long you will find that it just goes away. You look at the weather forecast, and realize that next week the temp's are supposed to be in the 50's during the day...great for finishing up any delinquent yard work, but not great for early season snow cover. Then a card comes in the mail, and reality sets in.

Unknown to most of you, Mary's nephew, Scot, has spent the last year in Iraq. Mary and I have our opinions about the the situation in Iraq, but having grown up in the sixties, we STRONGLY know the DIFFERENCE between supporting troops deployed overseas in our country's name, and supporting the policy of politicians who deployed them.

I try not to be to political on this blog. Anyone who knows me, knows where I stand. But this is not a political blog, it's a blog about life in Killington. If you want to talk politics, I own a bar. And in the great New England tradition which fomented the American Revolution, I will spend hours with you in the bar talking politics if you want. But I digress to the self explanatory.

Over the last several months, Mary has been making little care packages to send to her nephew. Just little things... banana nut bread... peanut butter cookies... little things to help brighten up what can be a drab diet for troops deployed in forward areas. We really didn't thing much about it. We had some fun in the kitchen figuring out how to vacuum pack the items so they would stay fresh in transport. But it was just something nice Mary felt she needed to do to support her nephew, and make sure that he knew people back home were thinking of him.

A couple of weeks ago, we got some good news. Scot's unit ended it's tour in Irag; he was in transit out of country, and would be back at his normal base in a few days. A few days later, we get this card at the inn (see today's picture... double click on it to see the card in detail). It turns out Mary's nephew had been sharing his goodies with his unit. When they got back to their base, the all signed a card thanking Mary for the care packages. "Thank you very much SPC Reed", 'Your cookies made my day...Todd B", "Thank you so much for sending us your love and support...Lt Chung"; "Thank you for thinking of us in Iraq. The cookies really hit the spot. Spc Douglas", "I can't thank you enough, But we need more(lol)...Spc Danier"; "Thanks for all the much needed TLC...Sgt "Izzie" Isabell"; "Real food is better.. Scott".

So you see...in the end....skiing just doesn't really matter very much.

What ever you may be doing next Tuesday, November 7th, please go and vote. No matter which side you choose, the ultimate way to support people in service to this great nation, and American Service Men and Women deployed overseas is to vote. And if you can, also send the troops cookies.. They really appreciate knowing that people care about them.

Snow guns operating at junction
of Rime and East Fall at Killington 

Late yesterday afternoon, the Killington resort started to make snow for the 2006/2007 ski season. Snow guns are operating on upper trails at Killington peak. Snowmaking is visible from the K1 base lodge on sections of Great Northern, Rime, and Reason. Killington is not currently blowing snow on lower trails leading to the K1 Base Lodge.

Killington has not made any comments yet about when they will open for skiing and riding for the season, other than to say that they will open only when conditions allow top to bottom skiing. At the K1 base lodge, I did observe various food and beverage vendors delivering supplies, which would seem to indicated opening day is near.

Temperatures at the K1 base lodge this morning at 10 AM was 30 degrees. The key to opening would appear to be making snow on lower trails, which could start any time now. Get your equipment ready, because opening day is not far away!

Killington Peak covered in clouds 

A small low pressure system passed over Killington last night. Precipitation started as r@!n but turned to snow in the early morning hours. At the inn, at 10:00 AM the snow stake measured 1 1/2 inches of very high moisture snow. Temperatures are in the high 30's, with snow melt taking place. It is unclear if the snow cover will last the day around the inn, without the temperatures getting colder.

On the mountain, the temperature at the K1 Base lodge, when I went up to take pictures this morning, around 10:15 AM, was 34 degrees. Conditions were very similar to what I was seeing around the inn; a couple of inches of heavy wet snow that was melting into puddles. Killington peak was covered in a dense cloud bank, probably due to all of the humidity from the melting snow.

Snowmaking operations were not in progress when I visited the mountain this morning. Killington operations has put out the word that they will be making snow as soon as the temperature and the humidity drops to reasonable levels, perhaps as early as this afternoon assuming the peak clears. I would guess from looking at the mountain, that temperatures were close at the peak, but the r@!n and wet snow from last night have created too much humidity for snow making to be successful. What ever happens, it is clear that the resort is very close to starting up their snowmaking system, and close to starting their push to open the resort for the ski season.

Halloween 2006.
What are you going to be??? 

Although the ski season is still a few days away, today is the official start of the party season at Killington. Tonight, the Wobbly Barn starts the ski season party going with their 42nd annual Halloween Party. Joey Leone's Chop Shop is the featured band. Costumes are required (it's a Halloween party...get it!). What are you going to be?

Wind whipped snow on Killington 

Early this morning, the Killington resort turned on it's snow making system for the traditional early season test. I ran into Dave Rathbun, Killington's VP of Brand Management, while we were both getting a sandwich at the Killington Market (that's how things really happen in a small town), and he told me that the system was tested earlier today. 14 new low energy guns were tested on an upper trail named 'Reason". So the traditional "blow the mice out" test is now done...check!

Dave went on to tell me that Killington is watching the weather closely, and as soon as the situation is favorable, the mountain will be lit up with snow guns to push to get the season opened. The next couple of days do not look good as temps in the high 50's are due on Tuesday. However, that is all due to change. Late Wenesday/early Thursday, according to Dave, Killington is expecting temperatures in the teens at the peak. The only question about opening day is when can they blow enough snow to get skiing and riding from top to bottom? It will be a day by day thing, as the run up begins to the opening of the 2006/2007 ski season at Killington.

Driving Snowstorm at Killington Peak 

Whoa! Today was one of those days... just plain nasty.

The back side of the torrential rain storm which drowned the area on Saturday has produced a wind driven snow storm all day at Killington. Many trees are down in the area. We lost power this afternoon for more than 3 hours after a large pine tree snapped and fell across the Killington Road at the "Little Buckhorn", taking out the power lines as it fell.

The snow that is falling around the inn has been the heavy and wet variety. Because it is so high in moisture content, it is not accumulating much. It is basically compacting itself as it falls. What snow is falling is being whipped around by very high winds. I do not have a wind speed indicator, but the local weather people on TV are saying that winds in Vermont have been gusting over 70 MPH, and from what I have seen and heard outside, I believe it.

Because we have received measurable snow, I have started the "Snow Stake" pictures for the winter season. Today's picture was taken around 2:00 this afternoon. If your browser is compatible with "AJAX" technology (Asynchronous Javascript and XML), you will also see the beginning of a running Snow Stake photo gallery, so we will be able to get a view of how the winter is progressing.

Temperatures in the area the next couple of days are headed towards the mid 50's, so I doubt the wet snow will survive for long. However, the forecast calls for much lower temperatures towards the end of the week. Word around town is that Killington will turn on their snowmaking system on Wednesday if conditions are favorable. Skiing next weekend anyone?...It's way to early to tell, but as they say, hope springs eternal.