Skiers passing Snow Gun
on the way to Snowdon
March 16, 2006, 10:30 AM 

Snow squalls continued last night to spread new snow across the area. Temperatures have warmed up this morning, resulting in some snow compression. From bare ground yesterday morning, the snow stake at the inn now is about 3 inches. Not a huge amount, but everything is white again.

On the mountain, the resort is making good on their promise to fire up their snow making system, at least on cross over trails. Grooming operations are continuing to mix the fresh snow into the base. Conditions should steadily improve as we head into the St. Patrick's day weekend.

Snow Storm on Killington Peak
March 15, 2006, 11:30 AM 

Mother Nature is fickle indeed. Winter has returned to Killington!

Overnight temperatures dropped from the mid 40's to the low 20's. Snow squalls continue to move through the area. Around the inn, we have had on the order of an inch; nothing to require a snow blower, but enough to remind us that it is still winter outside.

On the mountain, it has been snowing on and off all day. Very strong winds are moving the snow around, so it is hard to estimate total snow fall, but it is probably in the 1 to 3 inch range. Conditions on the mountain have clearly firmed up substantially since yesterday. Temperatures are predicted to get colder as the week progresses, so surface conditions on the mountain should stabilize. Todays picture of the mountain was taken during one of the snow squalls. You can barely make out Killington Peak in the snow; and it has been like that most of the day.

High Road between Skye Lark and Bitter Sweet
March 14, 2006, 11:30 AM 

Yes it did! Mother nature shot a bullet at Killington; but Killington Lives!

Ok, so much for irrational exuberance. Now the facts.. The last 3 days have not been kind to ski resorts in the northeast. Killington, which has been blowing snow all winter, was hit hard, but it is a long way from being out.

Mary and I casually got to the mountain this morning around 10:00 AM. Temperatures were in the low 50's, with mid overcast and a 20 MPH wind. As the grass around the inn is now showing, we did not know what to expect. We took the K1 directly up to the peak. On the way up we got a good look at the Canyons and Cascade. Both looked quite skiable, with no ice or water bars showing, however, they were roped off and closed. Downdraft at the peak was also roped off and closed, but it looked good as well. Why these trails were closed is anybody's guess. East Fall was open. While we did not ski it, it looked in good shape with some small bumps on it.

We traversed across the mountain to Bear on Great Eastern. The traverse was very dicey because of high traffic (it is Canadian week up here eh!) There were a few spots where pond skimming for 10 feet was in order. Killington will need to blow a lot of snow on the cross over in the next couple of days.

When we arrived a Bear, we took Wild Fire. Sweet. Really good snow cover, nice soft little bumps, with a consistency somewhere between mashed potatoes and vanilla ice cream. A lot of fun. The terrain park on Lower Wild Fire was closed (from the Skye Peak lift it looked in tough shape) so we took lower Bear Claw. Again, nice soft little bumps with plenty of snow cover.

After Bear, we did a lap over on Cruise Control. Skier's left was in good shape (under the guns); skier's right had some thin spots as usually develop in the spring. Skye Lark top to bottom was in great shape. Super Star also survived quite well.

Thus far, the mountain has survived. Temperatures are going lower this afternoon with snow forecasted (from flurries to out an out snow) over the next 3 days. The resort has a lot of work ahead of it over the next couple of days to repair the damage from the warm weather, but conditions could have turned out much worse. I will hazard to guess, that ski conditions this coming weekend should turn out pretty good...with the caveat that you should sharpen your edges as the mountain will firm up when the temperature drops.

Rebuilding Bear Mountain Superpipe
March 13, 2006, 12:30 PM 

If you are in the ski business....ya gotta believe!!!

Like Tony Soprano, old man winter has wounded Killington these last couple of days, but the mountain has a lot of life left before the 2005-2006 ski season ends.

Needless to say, surface conditions today at Killington were wet. Primary slopes where the mountain has done a lot of snow making this season are holding up fairly well. Secondary slopes are another story. The weather forecasters, and when have they been right this winter, are implying that we have another 18 hours of so of this weather, before winter returns with snow showers on the back side of the storm.

Killington continues to get ready for the Sprint US Freestyle Championships scheduled for March 22 thru 26th. Workers were photographed today using 3 snow grooming machines roughing in the new Superpipe, which Killington filled with snow last week. When they rebuilt the pipe in the past, it has usually taken 3 to 4 days to complete the work, which would probably be the case this time as well.

Skye Peak to Killington Peak
March 12, 2006, 12:30 PM 

Guests at Killington this morning experienced soft, spring conditions under cloudy skies.

Early reports from friends indicate that the mountain started with a few firm spots in the valleys this morning, as temperatures in low areas dropped below freezing. Higher elevations appeared to have stayed soft, evidently due to a temperature inversion on the mountain. Snow surfaces were generally consistent, although surface damage is visible in areas with little snow making, for instance skiers right on Snow Shed. We plan to be out on the slopes several days this coming week to report directly on conditions.

Superstar starting to Bump Up!
March 11, 2006, 2:30 PM 

Spring made an appearance at Killington today. Yesterdays gloomy weather has given way to mild temperatures in the mid to high 40's with beautiful sunshine and a warm breeze.

Around town, much of the natural snow cover is melting. The large hill at the front of the inn is basically free from snow. The snow stake in the back of the inn is down to ground. The 5th green of the Killington Golf course looks like it is ready to begin play, although I am sure that the course is still a little wet.

On the mountain, operations were slow to start this morning as snow surfaces froze overnight. Killington sequentially opened lifts, as grooming machines were out in the morning preparing surfaces for the day. Inn guests are returning to the inn talking about nice spring conditions with medium sized crowds. Most are returning with the beginnings of a tan, although a few fair haired guests had the red glow of a sun burn. They all spoke of soft snow. The skiers in the group were praising conditions; the novices were feeling their legs after a good work out. Overall, it sounds like it was a good day on the hill.

It is your basic quiet day at Killington.

Temperatures have warmed up substantially since yesterday, approaching the mid 40's around the inn. Yesterdays light snow has given way to an intermittent drizzle. When you combine it with the temperatures, it is definitely wet outside. Visibly, the mountain looks like it is holding up well. Guests are returning to this inn with reports that the mountain was nice and soft. The only complaints were related to the drizzle, and poor visibility in spots caused by fog.