Snow making in full swing on Killington Peak 

To open the resort this weekend, or not to open? This is the question......

Snow making operations are continuing in full swing on the upper levels of Killington Peak. Resort operations are taking advantage of cold temperatures in what is clearly a base building exercise. Cold temperatures are forecasted to persist through late Thursday. Beyond that, it looks like a warm up may be headed to Killington for the weekend.

While snow making is going on at the upper elevations, there was no indication that snow was being made towards the K1 base lodge to complete the circuit for top to bottom skiing and riding. Obviously, this section is critical to reopening the resort to continue the season.

Under the "Things that make you go Huh??" category, 2 solitary fan guns were making snow at base lodges. At the K1 Base, a fan gun is blowing snow in the area around the K1 Gondola Terminal. A fan gun is also blowing snow next to the Magic Carpet at Rams Head. The mountain has gotten several different fan guns from different manufacturers to test in the coming weeks. This may account for the 2 fan guns operating today.

Fan gun making snow at K1 Base (Click to enlarge.)

Fan gun making snow at Rams Head Magic Carpet (Click to enlarge.)

Wether or not the mountain will resume operations this weekend is the question. Weather predictions from multiple sources on the internet offer a collection of different forecasts. All of the forecasts seem to indicate that cold weather will return for multiple days after Saturday afternoon, so the resort being open next week seems like a lock. But before then??? We will know in a day or so...

Let it snow!

Snow making taking place at junction of Great Northern and Bunny Buster above Mousetrap 

Occasional snow showers are lingering at Killington this morning. Temperatures have dropped to the low 30's. Snow accumulation at the inn (1970 feet) is nil. Just a hint of a snow flake in the air. Higher elevations did receive enough to whiten the ground

On the mountain, snow making operations are visible from the top of Killington Peak to the junction of Great Northern and Bunny Buster just above Mousetrap. (roughly 2500 feet) Snow making operations were clearly visible today at the peak all the way down through Rime and Reason.

Light snow fell on the mountain overnight. The mountain is white to about the 2000 foot level, which equates roughly to half way down Snowshed. While the snow fall is not significant, it is a start. With the return of cold temperatures, the light snow cover is another gentle reminder that winter is on the way.

This evening, Mary and I will be hosting a mixer at the Birch Ridge Inn for the Killington Chamber of Commerce. The mixer runs from 5 to 7 PM. If you are in the area, feel free to stop in.... Let it snow!

Ki Gondola Station engulfed in snow squall 

It is a somewhat messy pre-winter day at Killington. Temperatures have dropped to the near freezing mark. Very heavy snow squalls have been moving through the area randomly. They have not had much of an impact on the lower elevations, other than if you are trying to drive through one of them, but they are coating upper elevations white.

On the mountain, the resort has resumed snow making operations on Killington Peak along great Northern through Rime and Reason. Snow guns and snow cannons look like they are set up on Lower Bunny Buster for the return to the K1 Gondola, but they were not operating when I visited the mountain at noon. With any luck the resort will get favorable weather through out the week to allow them to resurface the necessary terrain to open again for the season later this week. Let it snow!

Neatly stacked wood pile at the Birch Ridge Inn 

Last weekend there was a palpable excitement to Killington. The election was imminent, with all the controversy and passion that it generated in the local establishments. The resort opened early, providing a nice diversion for many of the local residents, myself included. The economy was clearly in the tank, but who cared...we were skiing and riding again!

This weekend, unfortunately, we are back to twig season. If you want to buy a Chevy, you might be able to negotiate a good deal. The messages of fear and hope that we were inundated with on the television and radio for months have been replaced by Cha Cha Chia! (oh dear...talk about going cold turkey!) The spring temperatures we basked in during the week have melted most of the lower terrain snow the mountain hand crafted with care, resulting in a temporary suspension of the 2008/2009 ski season...so it goes!

But all is not lost in this the most transitional of seasons at Killington.

I did ski 2 days this week. One was longer than the other, but hey, I was on the mountain on skis! Mary tried out her new ski boots. She brought them down for some adjustments. She is ready again to give them another shot. The warm weather allowed us to finish most of our pre-winter outside work. Most of the leaves are all raked up. (I don't think you can ever get all the leaves raked in Vermont!). The white lights which frame the inn were installed this week for the winter season. The wood pile was moved from its' summer habitat to the front of the Great Room and a fresh cord was delivered. And after a week of warm weather, it's starting to get cold again.

The weather forecast for the week indicates that more seasonable temperatures will return. It looks like it will be cold enough for the resort to start making snow again. And with the promise of snow, the buzz will resurface in anticipation of resuming the ski season. Excitement for the coming winter will return!

Winter is coming! Twig season is doomed! Let it snow!

I'm melting.....melting.... 

Unfortunately, the Killington Resort will be temporarily suspending skiing and riding operations with the close of business on Thursday. The unusual warm temperatures we have been experiencing this week have caused Resort management to make the decision to close down the resort until more favorable weather conditions return....so it goes!

When they opened last weekend, the team at the resort was hoping to be able to sustain operations without requiring a temporary shut down. The resort team had said all along that they would operate only if they could provide a hight quality top to bottom product. Unfortunately, daytime temperatures in the 60's and night time temperatures in the 40's have created an environment where that is not possible. The reality is that the worlds largest snow making system can't function with temperatures consistently above freezing, which we have experienced at Killington this week.

The current long range forecast indicates that temperatures will return to more seasonable levels late Sunday and into early next week. The resort is hoping that conditions will be favorable enough to resume snow making operations to allow a re-opening of the resort by the planned season opening date of November 14th.

With the presidential election now over, ladies and gents, it's time to fire up your snow dances if you please!......let it snow!

I Voted stickers handed out by
poll workers in Killington 

No Excuses.....

If you have not already gone to your local polling place and voted, stop reading this blog, quit your internet browser, close your email, turn off your computer, and GO TO VOTE!

If you have already voted....Thank You!

.....let it snow!

Mary taking her first turns of the 2008/2009 ski season. 

Day 2 of the Killington 2008/2009 ski season saw my partner, Mary, take her first turns. Snow coverage continued to hold, but weather conditions were very different from what I experienced on Sunday.

The very top of Killington Peak was cloud covered to just below the top terminal of the North Ridge Triple. Snow surfaces were holding up well, although if Sunday was powder (and it was not), then Monday was heading towards mashed potatoes. Temperatures at the top of the mountain through noon time were just at the freezing level. At the K1 Base, temp's at noon were in the mid 40's.

The weather forecast for the next couple of days at Killington is unseasonably warm. Temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday are predicted to touch 60. So it goes!

Remember on Tuesday to go and vote (if you have not already).....let it snow!