Killington Peak - Mary and Bill
"In the box!"
January 17, 2006 

Mary and I went skiing together for the first time since before Thanksgiving. Of course, Mary has been out a bunch each week, but I had been at the inn nursing a bum ankle. But it seems much better now...

I would rate overall conditions today as "OK". If you lived and worked at Killington, or were here visiting, you should have been on the mountain for some time today. We arrived around 9:00 AM to beautiful sunny skies with a temperature of 14 degrees and minimal wind. Conditions from the K1 at Killington Peak were firm, but we did not run into any ice problems. We made a "speed run" from the start to get to Highline, but but the time we got there a rope was across the trail. Bunny Buster and Mouse Trap were well groomed and gave us a pleasant run out back to the K1.

We then traversed across to Bear Mountain. Pipe Dream across South Ridge was glacial and roped off. But Great Easter was in very good shape. Bear Trap was "Interesting". The terrain park was set up and well maintained, but surfaces to skiers right were very sketchy with windblown ice and exposed rock ledge. Looks like the mountain took care of the park and forgot about skiers not wanting to do the terrain features. But not to complain, because Upper Wildfire was very well groomed. It was set up for crusin, and we did a couple of laps through it before heading over the Needles Eye.

While I thought Wildfire was the run of the day, Mary favored Panic Button-Needles Eye. Both had fresh blown snow that was groomed flat and fast. We did a couple of very fast laps (that's why we wear helmets) before heading over the Skyelark and calling it a day.

All told, while it definitely not a powder day, plenty of decent skiing and riding was available. I took a lot of pictures, but quite frankly, they were of trails that were empty, and as a result not visually interesting. Of course, Mary and I enjoyed the empty trails...Where were you??

Killington Peak - Manmade Blizzard, January 16, 2006 2:30 PM 

Cold, blustery, sunny, brilliant sky, fresh snow, man-made blizzard, packed powder, blue ice... Pick your adjective, and today at Killington probably fits with it.

We were very fortunate this weekend to have a full inn, even after the storms that started the weekend off. Many of our guests this weekend have stayed with us before, so they were very comfortable with being at Killington. They helped the first time guests, by telling them about things to do, and seeing them out and about town. Guests over the weekend had skied in every conceivable combination of weather. Friday - Sunny and 50, Saturday - Torrential NCP, Sunday - Icy Cold with strong winds, Monday - Brilliant Sunshine. Ah.. winter in New England.

But in addition to skiing, we had shopping trips to Manchester (very serious credit card damage by the way), art gallery hopping in Woodstock, moonlit dog sled rides at Mountain Top, the Budweiser Clydesdales, and a weekend of playoff football. Quite literally something for everyone.

The mountain is in the process of major resurfacing operations. When I visited the mountain in early afternoon, it looked like every snow gun Killington owns is blowing snow somewhere. It should make for a decent week on the hill.

The weather turned very quickly last night. At 6 PM the temperature was 52 degrees with a driving r@#n. By 8 PM, the temperature was 30 and snow and ice were falling from the sky.

Overnight, we had 4 inches of snow fall at the inn. Guests were reporting variable conditions on the mountain. Winds had drifted much of the snow. Skiing cold be characterized as mounds of powder separated by ice.

Killington turned on their snowmaking system full force late in the afternoon. Temperatures are dipping into the Minus numbers tonight with a warm up to 20 predicted for tomorrow. Ideal snow making conditions.

Highline at Killington, January 14, 2006 11:00 AM 

MLK weekend is in full swing at Killington. Now if we could get the weather to cooperate.

Mary and I are quite busy with a full inn. We had a good group of people join us for dinner on Friday night. Guests seem to be taking the torrential NCP (Non-crystaline precipitation) in stride, as the weathermen are still predicting a change to snow later this afternoon.

I went up to the mountain around 11. Crowds in the parking lots were light, as expected with the weather, but there were still many people skiing and riding. Trails that had extensive early season snow making look to be holding up well. Today's picture gives a graphic example of that. Highline is the trail to the left of the picture. Killington blow's snow on it regularly to support race programs. Conclusion is the trail on the right side of the picture. It is a natural trail and it has taken a beating with the weather. To put the picture into context...Killington has snowmaking on over 140 trails so the mountain still offers plenty of skiing and riding. However, let's hope the weathermen are right and the weather changes later today.

Warm temperatures have overspread the area. Temperatures today are in the high 40's. From speaking with inn guests and friends who were on the mountain today, skiing was very good. Winter snow conditions on the upper mountain, spring conditions on the lower mountain. Of course, what will happen over the next day or 2 is anyones guess. As is usually the case, you can shop your weatherman for the forecast you like best. Some are calling for considerable NCP, others are calling for NCP turning into over a foot of snow. Of course, we will know the result come Sunday morning.

The area is preparing for the Martin Luther King weekend. Budweiser is doing a big promotion on the mountain. Once again they have brought a team of Clydesdales to the hill. Temporary stables have been erected in the field near the "Fireside Lodge" across the Killington road from the Grist Mill.

At the inn, we are getting ready to host the Killington Ski Club. The Ski Club will be holding a cocktail party in our Great Room on Saturday. A 5 dollar donation to the Ski Club will be charged for admission. The money is being donated to various programs being run by the Ski Club over the course of the season. The party starts at 6:30 PM. And of course, don't forget the Patriots are playing the Bronco's on Saturday night. Game time is at 8:00 PM.

Highline at Killington, January 12, 2006 10:00 AM 

While driving up to the mountain this morning, I was a little concerned. Last night we had a howling storm at the inn with considerable NCP. The snow at the snow stake at the inn declined by almost 3 inches. Yet the weather stations were reporting that altitudes over 2000 feet would probably see snow. You can never tell until you get in the car and check things out for yourself.

Last nights storm clearly had 2 personalities. Up on the mountain, looking at Snowshed and Lower Ramshead, it was pretty clear that last nights precipitation was liquid. But, and here is the hook, when I went up to the K1 Base Lodge, things looked entirely different. At the base lodge itself, there was probably some NCP. But, if you look at the picture I posted today of Highline, you can see that the trees were coated with a heavy frost and some snow about 200 feet above the Killington Ski Club (roughly the 2400 foot level). Superstar had the same look. I could not see the peak because of cloud cover, but Killington is reporting that the mountain received 2-3 inches of snow last night. Looking at the K1 Base Lodge, that report probably accurate. when I speak with guests in the bar tonight, I will know more and I will post it in tomorrows update.

Great Northern in the Clouds, January 11, 2006 

Day 2 of my restarted ski season at Killington. I got a late start this morning as we had guests check in last night just before 3:00 AM. I slept in until 10:30. Made my way on to the mountain around 11.

The mountains today were totally cloud covered with clouds from an oncoming storm. Clouds covered down to around the 1900 foot level at 11:30AM. I took a run up to the Glades. Pretty much "Seeing Eye" skiing, although snow surfaces were in great shape. I then traversed over to Bear. Work was still going on in the new park on Lower Wildfire. A quick run down Cruse Control then up to Skye Lark and I called it a day. Not a lot of runs, but it was "Official".

Snow surfaces on all of the mountains was superb. Surfaces were very soft, almost spring like. Many areas had nice small bumps, which if my ankle was not injured I would have enjoyed. I did catch the tip of my left ski on one of these bumps while I was in a traverse. My ankle did not like it..but it was my own fault. I had violated one of the cardinal rules that a friend of mine, Billy Mac, is know to say..."Keep the tips pointed downhill you chickens@#t." For the rest of my time on the hill, I kept repeating Bill's mantra...and my ankle felt a lot better for it.